Sixteen year old Trinibagonian equestrian show jumper, Amber Thompson, has recently placed 2nd in a class of over 50 competitors at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida. Riding in a Speed class at 1.15 metre heights, on Saturday 21st February, Thompson jumped an excellent clear round, beaten into 2nd place by a rider with marginally better time. Thompson is riding a thoroughbred jumper named Vertigo.That class was Thompson and Vertigo’s 3rd class for 2015.
On Saturday 14th February, she rode in a Speed class at 1.10 metre heights, achieved a clear round and placed 7th, beaten by riders with faster time.
The following day, she rode in the Classic (with immediate jump off) and placed 4th in a large class, riding two clear rounds, beaten by time in the jump off round.
Thompson and Vertigo entered in the Children’s Modified Jumper class on Sunday 22rd Feburuary, after her 2nd place in the Speed class. This class was 1.20 metre in height, which is the highest that Thompson, has ever showed. There were 12 jumps including double and triple combinations, which made it 15 jumping efforts. Thompson did very well, receiving 4 faults when Vertigo turned quickly over a jump and Thompson’s knee knocked over the jump standard.
Vertigo and Thompson will continue competing on March 14th. They are training with the Millar Brooke Farm of Canada. Amy, Jonathan and Ian Millar have all ridden internationally for Canada. Ian Millar, fondly known as Captain Canada, is the most decorated Canadian equestrian.