Posted March 16, 2006

Alexandra Thornton and Tobasco Sweep Children’s Hunters at Winter Equestrian Festival

Wellington, FL – March 13, 2006 – As the seventh week of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) concluded, Alexandra Thornton and her new mount Tobasco excelled in the Children’s Working Hunters 14 & Under and won every class in their division. The thirteen year old Thornton of Bedminster, New Jersey, trains with Susie Humes and commutes to WEF on weekends to show.

Tobasco, owned by Dunwalke LLC, was purchased for Thornton at the beginning of circuit as a birthday gift. Since their partnership began, Tobasco has earned a division championship every week at the Winter Equestrian Festival. One of Tobasco’s championships was with Jennifer Waxman in the Small Junior Hunters 15 & Under division when Thornton was snowed in at her New Jersey home. The other six championships were captured by Thornton in the Children’s Hunter divisions.

“I am so proud of Alexandra,” exclaimed trainer Susie Humes. “She had such a great Winter Equestrian Festival this year, and I could not be more pleased with how her riding is coming along. She has learned a lot and worked really hard, and her riding has improved in so many ways. Her style and thought process in the ring have really come along.”

In addition to her hunter ring success, Thornton rode Agincourt for the win in the Show Circuit National Children’s Medal. Agincourt, also owned by Dunwalke, was a new ride for Thornton as well. She began riding Agincourt, Tobasco, and Saint-Exubery the first week of WEF and has earned multiple ribbons on the three horses. She also piloted For the Music, a horse Dunwalke purchased last fall, to top placings in the Children’s Hunter division. Thornton and her large pony, Cherrybrook’s Blue Suede Shoes, picked up a first, two thirds, and a fourth in the Large Pony Hunter division this week.

Thornton will complete her Winter Equestrian Festival season during the week of March 22 to April 2, 2006, once WEF relocates from the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club to the show facility in Tampa, Florida.

PHOTO CREDIT: Alexandra Thornton on Tobasco. PHOTO BY: Randi Muster