AMATEUR JUMPING

ENTERING AMATEUR COMPETITION WITH A BANG.

BY CHRISTINE HAMILTON, FIELD EDITOR
 

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Amara Packwood and her giant 1991 gelding Prince Dell Te Fire, “Delta,” made an impact in their first World Show winning the amateur jumping world championship.

“I’m really excited to be here,” Packwood said. The pair had been to two AQHYA World Championship shows prior to entering amateur competition and were the 2004 youth world champions in jumping.

“The competition is a lot more stiff (here),” Packwood said. “I was really impressed with the horses I was riding against. It was a very good class.”

Jumping is always a crowd pleaser, and this year’s amateur jumping finals were no different. The field included World Show campaigners like past jumping world champions Jettin Boone, Ferns Ruby and The St Louie Special.

By the time the 10 finalists all had a go, there were four left with clean rounds for the jump-off: Luvs High Noon and Laurie Guest; Ferns Ruby and Raymond Coutley; Rio Toro and Paulette Stoudt; and Packwood and Delta.

2004 youth jumping world champions Amara Packwood and Prince Dell Te Fire win the 2005 World Show amateur jumping finals.

“The pace was set with the first jump-off, everybody had to follow it,” Packwood said. Luvs High Noon jumped clean in 43.094. “I think it made it a lot more fun for everybody,” she added.

The little mare Ferns Ruby jumped a blistering 36.968, but had four faults; then Rio Toro jumped a 41.781 but also with four faults. Packwood had to jump clean and fast.

“My strategy for a jump-off is always: if I see a turn I could take, I take it,” she said. “If there’s anywhere I can cut without a big risk of taking a pole, I take that cut, always. If there’s a risk you’ve got to take it in a jump off, there’s no other way to do it.”

So, how does she get such tight turns out of such a big horse?

“When I first got (Delta), we did barrels and poles,” Packwood explained. “He’s still got the turns down, and it’s something I just kind of kept doing, and it works really great for jumpers. He uses it to his advantage that’s for sure.”

Delta is owned by Packwood’s parents, Bill and Darlene. “They’re the non-riding parents that support everything I do,” she said with a smile. They were on hand for her win along with her younger brother, Tristan. She also had a contingent back home in Kansas watching via the Fort Dodge World Championship Web cast.

It might be Packwood and Delta’s first World Show, but it won’t be their last.

“I’m so excited he just keeps proving everything he can do,” she said. “No matter what height I take him, he just keeps getting better and better with age. He’s my guy. We’ll be back for years to come.”

WINNER STATS Horse name: Prince Dell Te Fire Owner: William or Darlene Packwood, Leavenworth, Kansas Exhibitor: Amara Packwood, Leavenworth, Kansas Breeder: Frank Chapman, Iron Station, North Carolina Pedigree: By Sonny Dell Te X Shus Super Girl by Flashy Thom (TB) Total Class Entries: 11 Purse: $3,674 World Champion Prizes: Gold trophy, Montana Silversmiths buckle, Cripple Creek jacket, WeatherBeeta product, Justin ostrich Tekno Crepe boots, Professional's Choice products, Nutrena feed, neck ribbon