University student Kristin Webber, 22, died Tuesday from injuries that occured in a horse riding accident.

Webber was always smiling and was someone who shone brightly, no matter where she was, said Cindy Thaxton, owner of High Point Farm in Bishop, where Webber worked as an assistant dressage trainer. A family member said Webber was taking the semester off from school.

“The best word to describe her would be what one of my customers said once, which was that Kristin was a little sparkle. She had a good, peaceful energy,” Thaxton said. She was passionate about teaching children how to ride horses in competitions and loved the children she taught, Thaxton said,

Webber worked on the farm for two years. But Tuesday morning, the horse she was riding lost its balance, throwing her off and causing a head injury. Webber was sent to St. Mary’s Hospital, where she passed away in intensive care around 4 p.m. Tuesday, Thaxton said.

Spencer Smith, a sophomore from Hull and friend of Webber, said he was sad to hear of her passing, and he knew her to be a nice person who got along with everyone she knew.

“She was really sweet,” Smith said. “She was never at odds with anyone, and no one was ever at odds with her.”

This sentiment was reflected at the memorial service at High Point Farm Wednesday afternoon, where friends, family and students gathered to honor Webber. About 150 people traveled to the farm to hear Thaxton and Ray Finger, children’s minister at Prince Avenue Baptist Church, speak about Webber’s life.

“I believe our gathering here serves as a testament to her genuine love,” Finger said, his voice breaking intermittently through his message. “The greatest thing that could be said about Kristin was the fact that she entered into a personal relationship with God the Father.”

After leading the group in song, Finger concluded the service with a prayer.

“Lord, thank you for Kristin.”

But the support for Webber didn’t stop at the memorial. Friends wrote messages of love on her Facebook profile and created two groups dedicated to her memory.

“We will miss you Kristen. I know your in a much better place.

You will forever be remembered,” Daniel Dewitt wrote on her profile Wednesday.