Lauren Smith

Lauren grew up in Washington, NJ and began riding horses at the age of 7. She showed Quarter horses in local saddle club shows throughout most of her childhood, and the first thing she ever wanted to become when she grew up was a jockey. Around middle school, she developed an interest in equine veterinary medicine and began to consider a career as an equine vet. However, she gravitated towards a completely different career in her high school years and decided to pursue vocal music in college. She graduated with her Bachelor of Music degree from Rutgers University in 2016 and immediately moved to Nashville, Tennessee to begin a career as a singer/songwriter. Lauren performed in and around Nashville for almost five years, but she never lost interest in horses and became involved in an Appaloosa breeding program in Tennessee. She developed a special bond with one of the yearlings at the farm named Sara, who has now become her personal horse. While still performing, Lauren also worked as a farrier’s assistant, as well as assisted in live breeding, foaling, and weanling training at the farm. When the 2020 pandemic hit, Nashville’s live music venues closed their doors. After months of waiting for the city to reopen and revive its struggling music industry, Lauren decided to return to New Jersey and pursue a career in the equine industry. She attended Centenary University and graduated with an Associate of Science degree in equine studies in 2022. While at Centenary, she completed a vet assistant internship with Dr. Jesslyn Bryk-Lucy, as well as a summer internship with The Jockey Club in Lexington, KY. In her free time, Lauren enjoys spending time with her family and friends (including her dog, Sadie, and cat, Luna), as well as running and competing in 5Ks.