Jet Thompson – Soaring to New Heights

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34 – May/June, 2018

By Susan Winslow

Jet Thompson is into his third decade as a leading trainer and competitor, and he’s still going strong. His modest, soft-spoken demeanor belies the fact that he is a powerhouse in the industry. In addition to winning a Congress Championship in Junior Trail in 2013 with Invite Me Some More, Jet has produced multiple World and Congress Champions in a variety of disciplines for his clients. He describes his Congress win with typical modesty, emphasizing the quality of the horse. “I’ve been fortunate to have some big wins, but my Congress win in 2013 was very exciting because ‘Willie’ is such a great horse. He was one of the best to work with. The nice thing, to me, is that he’s still out there competing and winning. As a trainer, that means a lot to me. I’m not really one to toot my own horn, but when it comes to my wife, Sheryl Kissinger, and my clients and the horses, I’m very proud of their accomplishments. Don’t get me wrong, I love to win; but, for me, the greatest satisfaction is in training a horse and working with a client to help them accomplish their goals.”

At his training stable in Kearney, Nebraska, Jet works diligently to prepare both horse and rider mentally and physically to achieve success. He says, “It’s all about honesty with me. What you see is pretty much what you get. I’m very up-front and honest with my riders, because I want this to be a positive experience for them, with achievable goals, and I think they appreciate that approach. They also know that I’m
dedicated to the care and training of the horses, too. Ultimately, this can be an expensive sport, so I want my riders to achieve success and have fun in the process. The ultimate satisfaction is when my clients succeed. I’m part of a team with them, and when they achieve success, it’s very rewarding.”

Having grown up in Pottsboro, Texas, a small, rural town seventy-five miles north of Dallas, Jet got his start in team sports, playing football, baseball, and running track. He also loved horses. When he was six years old, he showed the first glimmer of the entrepreneurial spirit that helped him become a top trainer. He recalls, “When I was little, I wanted a pony more than anything; but, at that time, my family was definitely not a horse family. My dad used to give me his loose pocket change; but, instead of spending it, I saved every penny. When I was six years old, I saved up enough to buy my first pony, and I never looked back.”

Click here to read the complete article
34 – May/June, 2018