Devon, PA - This past weekend, Alexandra Thornton and her chestnut gelding Tobasco joined the winner's circle at the Devon Horse Show after they triumphed for the Small Junior 15 and Under Hunter Championship. Thirteen-year-old Thornton resides in Bedminster, NJ, at her farm Dunwalke. She trains with renowned judge and trainer Susie Humes, who has trained numerous champions and officiated at some of the most prestigious competitions.

Thornton moved up to the junior hunters in August of last year and has amassed division tricolors at such shows as the Capital Challenge Horse Show, Trader's Point Hunt Charity Horse Show, The Hampton Classic, the 123rd National Horse Show and Family Festival, and the Kentucky Spring Horse Show. This year, the pair won the overall circuit championship award at the Winter Equestrian Festival after earning eight junior hunter championships.

Humes commented, "I was absolutely thrilled for Alexandra and Tobasco. The first time at Devon can be a very intimidating experience, but they rose to the occasion. He is such a great little horse - small but mighty, and they are truly best friends. They believe in each other and understand each other perfectly."

The young rider also competes with her large junior hunter High Noon, her jumpers Saint Exupery and Naomi, and her new equitation horse Samson. "We are absolutely thrilled because Alexandra got a nice ribbon in the Maclay," Humes added. "She's just starting in the big equitation classes, so they are hard for her. The horse was great, and she really relaxed the second day and rode well. Our goal was to get a ribbon in one of the equitation classes, and we are very pleased."

Thornton and the horses at Dunwalke will compete next at the Skidmore College Saratoga Classic Horse Show and the Lake Placid Horse Shows in New York.

Photo Credit: Alexandra Thornton and Tobasco, champions of the Small Junior 15 and Under Hunters at the Devon Horse Show. Photo (C) 2007 Jennifer Wood.