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Tobasco and Alexandra Thornton Spice Up Winter Equestrian Festival with Circuit Championship

April 4, 2006

Chris Marold, Tobasco, and Alexandra Thornton during the WEF Parade of Champions Photo Credit:Jennifer Wood
Chris Marold, Tobasco, and Alexandra Thornton during the WEF Parade of Champions
Photo Credit:Jennifer Wood

Wellington, FL --- After winning a Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) division championship every week at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club in Wellington, Florida, Alexandra Thornton of Bedminster, New Jersey joined the Parade of Champions this past weekend at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The 13 year old, who trains with renowned USEF Equitation and Hunter Judge Susie Humes, earned the WEF circuit championship for the Children’s Hunter 14 & Under division with her chestnut gelding Tobasco.

Tobasco had a division tricolor pinned on his bridle every week of the Winter Equestrian Festival, with the exception of the first weekend in Tampa, Florida. “We let the horses have the first week of the Tampa shows off,” explained Humes. “We thought they needed a break after working so hard during the season.” One of Tobasco’s championships was with Jennifer Waxman in the Small Junior 15 & Under Hunter division when Thornton was snowed in at her New Jersey farm, Dunwalke.

“We were so excited about the circuit championship,” reported Humes. “Since we took those two weeks off during the season, it came down to the last class. Alexandra and Tobasco had a wonderful trip-smooth as can be. I can always count on Alexandra to rise to the occasion. Her first year at WEF and with these horses was truly a success, and she is looking forward to moving up the Junior Hunters soon.”

In addition to her impressive sweep with Tobasco, Thornton rode for the win this past weekend in the Show Circuit Magazine National Child Medal with Agincourt, owned by Dunwalke. The pair also finished with second, third, and fourth places in the Children’s Hunter 14 & Under division. “Agincourt is like a little elastic band,” smiled Humes. “He is a beautiful jumper with a wonderful disposition. He’s only seven years old and has won two Show Circuit Medals. He also won in the Children's Hunters, and Alexandra had her first ride around a jumper course on him too.”

Throughout the Winter Equestrian Festival, Thornton took home multiple ribbons with her other Dunwalke rides: Saint-Exubery, her new jumper that will compete in the Children’s Jumpers this summer, For The Music, her other Children’s Hunter, and Cherrybrook’s Blue Suede Shoes, her wonderful large pony. Dunwalke’s barn manager, Chris Marold, is an intricate part of Thornton’s success in the show ring. “Without Chris, none of this could have happened,” exclaimed Humes. “She puts so much effort into making sure the horses are happy. From working around Alexandra’s schedule and paying strict attention to the horses’ soundness and how they feel, she really is what makes all of this happen. We couldn’t do it without her!”

Thornton is busy preparing for her summer schedule with Humes and is also taking lessons from U.S. Chef d’Equipe George Morris when he is available. Her next big competitions in 2006 are the Kentucky Spring I Show and the Kentucky Spring II Classic, held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky from May 10-21.

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