Featured Athlete: Jennifer Sharp
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Featured Athlete: Jersey Thompson
Jersey Thompson - TK210 Photography
Written by: Ruth Nicolaus
< Back to ArticlesIt was a trail ride that inspired Jersey Thompson to run barrels.
The Westminster, Colo., cowgirl, who is twelve years old, was under the tutelage of her trainer, Marie Stephenson, a barrel racer, when Marie suggested the girl try barrels.
So she did, and at the age of five, began her career. She is the first in her family to rodeo.
Now, seven years later, she’s a member of the Mile Hi Barrel Horse Association, True West Productions, Dinero Dash Barrel Racing, BetterBarrelRaces, the Northwest Barrel Racing Association and the KK Run for Vegas. She has qualified for the Jr. American as well.
A member of the 5 Star Equine team, their products enhance her competition and keep her horses safe.
Jersey loves the saddle pads. “I really like how they absorb the sweat,” she said. “It lets the sweat dry in all the right places. And if you take care of them, they’ll last a really long time.” The pads don’t shift on the horses, and “they keep my horses from getting sore.”
She loves the colors, too, and “how you can customize them, and the cool prints and patterns.” She owns a black saddle pad with a turquoise scroll on the leather, a black pad with pink and black crocodile leather, and a third pad that is purple with turquoise leather.
Jersey also loves the 5 Star Equine boots. One reason she uses them is they do a good job of keeping out rocks. They also give her horses joint and leg support while they’re running. And, like the saddle pads, “you can customize the colors.” Her horses’ boots match their saddle pad colors.
The cowgirl has two horses, a paint and a palomino. The paint, named Priscilla, is ten years old. She’s been riding Priscilla for the last five years. The palomino, Magic, is seven. Priscilla is the boss horse, she said. “She’s pretty bossy and sassy but she does her job well.” Magic also likes her job, but she’s quieter and more gentle.
A sixth grade student at Moore Middle School in Westminster, Jersey is doing school remotely. She loves the subject of history and studying World War II, and science, due to a teacher she admires, who makes it enjoyable.
She also loves to draw, using any kind of medium. Her favorite subjects are people and horses, and her artwork is displayed across the Thompson home and in her mom’s office. Her mom has been bugging her for more artwork, to decorate her work space.
Skateboarding is another of her leisure activities.
The best trip Jersey has taken was to San Diego, Calif., three years ago. The family went to the beach, to the San Diego Zoo, Sea World, and whale watching, where they spotted a dolphin and sea turtles.
The best meal her mom makes, in her opinion, is Texas hash, and the cowgirl is crazy for ice cream: brownie batter, mint chocolate chip, cookies and cream, and cookie dough types.
The family has two pet dogs, Teddy and Harley, who are Rottweilers, four cats, and a bunny.
Jersey has qualified for the Legends Shootout (the finals for the Mile Hi), and has competed at the 2020 Junior World Finals and the Jr. American. She won second in the 1D Dream Catcher slot race finals for the 2020 Mile Hi season.
When she grows up, she would like to be a professional barrel racer.
She is the daughter of Marc and Angela Thompson.
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