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How
Does It Feel To Be a World Champion? |
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“A great horse...that’s what it takes.” It was a very simple answer to a possibly complicated question. When asked what the most important key to his success in 2000 at the AQHA World Championship Show, that was Western Pleasure trainer Jamie Pait’s answer. Jamie won his first World Championship riding Ziprageous in the 2 Year Old Western Pleasure. Success in the arena was not unknown to Jamie as he had previously placed 3rd and 5th in major futurity events at the All American Quarter Horse Congress. Being in the Top Five at the Congress is an accomplishment in itself. However, he knew he needed more to make it to the winners circle. Jamie began looking for that outstanding individual who could put him there and in the Summer of 2000, he found Ziprageous at Cleve Wells Quarter Horses. Jamie knew that the horse would have to be extremely strong in his hock and in his shoulders. Those were the two most important traits he was looking for. “To take a horse to the Congress or the World, you’re going to be asking more of that horse at those two shows than anywhere else and you have to have a strong, strong, horse.” Ziprageous fit the bill. When asked about any changes in his training program, Jamie felt that he focused a great deal on the mental preparation of his horse because he knew the horse had the talent. Jamie attributes his knowledge for training horses to the years he spent working with Western Pleasure trainer Alex Ross. “I learned so much from Alex, almost everything I know today is what he taught me.” It was a big step for Jamie to go out on his own, but there was something telling him to try it. Obviously it was a good decision. Jamie has proven that he has the ability to make it happen in the show pen. What now? Jamie feels he has reached a level of competition that takes a lot of work and focus to continue to compete at. He wouldn’t have it any other way. Jamie Pait Quarter Horses is located in Bladenboro, North Carolina where Jamie operates his horse training business. You can reach Jamie at 910-648-2083. |
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