Jamie Ackerman and Driek won the tbird Jr/Am Jumper Classic at the West Coast Classic. Photo ©tbird/Kady Risby
Jaimie Ackerman (CAN) knew her horse Driek was in winning form when the 16-year-old gelding had the energy to try to unseat her in the warm-up ahead of a four-horse jump-off in the tbird Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic 1.30m.
"[Then] I almost came off in the victory gallop," Ackerman said, laughingly. "So, he's kind of 16 years, going on 6."
Ackerman and her partner of five years crossed the timers of Marina Azevedo's (BRA) short course nearly two seconds fastest (44.71s) to capture the victory. Sierra Geisler (USA) and Cincinnati Kid 7 finished second (46.22s), with Helen Wade (USA) and Gatsby third (46.87s).
Driek, whom Ackerman calls her "heart horse," may have displayed some antics in the warm-up—and is quite the character at home, regularly engaging in his own personal soccer games in his paddock—but the veteran gelding was with his rider every step of the way on course.
"I got quite deep to number two in the jump-off, and my horse was a good horse there and got out of the way," Ackerman expressed. "Once you've kind of gotten away with one lucky one, you might as well just carry on!"
“I got quite deep to number two in the jump-off, and my horse is a good horse there and got out of the way,” Ackerman expressed. “Once you’ve kind of gotten away with one lucky one, you might as well just carry on!”
A chiropractor by trade, Ackerman has been vigilant when it comes to keeping her teenage partner feeling physically fit. One of the things she’s come to believe in is the Tempulse B-Sure Boot, which is a wearable technology that allows one to view a horse’s leg temperature readings on a smartphone.
“Our strategy with this horse is to make sure he stays sound and happy,” she said. “I’m really lucky to have access to a technology called the B-Sure Boot that I put on [Driek’s legs] before and after I ride. It lets me know of any heat changes, so I can be really ahead of injury prevention. That’s great at any age, but especially for a 16-year-old!”
Ackerman, who’s won at the international level with Driek at tbird, plans to jump him in grand prix competition at next week’s Western Family.
“I’ve got to play my cards right on Wednesday and Friday, but it’d be nice to be in the Grand Prix next week,” she said. “That would be an excellent goal before August.”
tbird Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic 1.30m
Horse / Rider / Nationality / Owner / Faults / Time
1. Driek / Jaimie Ackerman / CAN / Jaimie Ackerman / 0/0 44.71
2. Cincinnati Kid 7 / Sierra Geisler / USA / Sierra Geisler / 0/0 46.22
3. Gatsby / Helen Wade / USA / Helen Wade / 0/0 46.87
4. Chasanno / Kate Hamilton / CAN / IB Moller / 0/0 48.59
5. Kazavantos VTH / Julia Stanley / CAN / Julia Stanley / 1 81.66
6. HHS Sandy Lane / Hailey Dyck / CAN / Hailey Dyck / 4 75.05
7. Casion de Vincy / Savannah Manac’h / Jenn Serek / 4 78.46
8. Criterio LS / Katie de Witt / CAN / Katie de Witt / 4 78.94
9. Indiana II / Sloane Betker / CAN / Samantha Vanderwoude / 4 80.83
10. Cara II / William Main / CAN / William Main / 8 76.87
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