Christina Thomas From Kennewick, Washington Wins on a Borrowed Horse

Christina Thomas, a 14-year-old from Kennewick, Washington took the win in the 13-and-under division. Although 14, she qualified as a 13-year-old. Her winning score was 87.333 and she earned it on a horse borrowed from Lendon Gray. Gray is no stranger to the concept of borrowed horses. She rounds up a fair number of them each year for the Youth Dressage Festival. Borrowing horses is one way young competitors can afford to attend such competitions as the Youth Dressage Festival and Dressage Seat Equitation Medal finals. Just ask Thomas.

“I live in Washington State and couldn’t bring my own horse. That would cost lots of money,” she said.

Thomas has been riding since she was 10. She trains with Rae Lamming and back home she spends much time riding her horse Oberon. Thomas competed in the Dressage Seat Equitation Medal two years ago and finished tenth. She attributed the move from 10th to 1st by saying that in the past two years “I became a more effective rider and learned my right leads.”

Coming in second in the 13-and-under division was Isabelle Leibler, of Greenwich, Connecticut.