Peggy Thomas, Owner of Brentina & Wizard, Supporter of USA Dressage–1926-2023
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Sept. 19, 2023
Peggy Thomas, who with her husband, Parry, was owner of USA Olympic team mounts Brentina and Wizard, and supporter of American dressage, has died at the age of 97.
Peggy spent most of her life at River Grove Farm in Sun Valley, Idaho and Las Vegas where her husband was a successful banker and a significant contributor to the University of Nevada at Las Vegas where the Thomas and Mack Arena that hosted several World Cup dressage and jumping finals were staged.
The Thomases owned Brentina, ridden by Debbie McDonald on U.S. teams for bronze at the 2004 Olympics and at the 2008 Games as well as leading the U.S. team to an historic silver medal at the 2002 World Equestrian Games and team bronze at the WEG four years later.
Debbie and Brentina in 2003 became the first American partnership to win the dressage World Cup Final, a feat that has been matched only once since, by Steffen Peters on Ravel in 2009.
Adrienne Lyle, long coached by Debbie, rode Wizard for the United States at the 2012 Olympics and the 2014 WEG. Wizard was also owned by the Thomases.
Peggy and Parry in 2006 gave back to the sport with the Young Adult Brentina Cup program for riders aged 16 to 25.
Parry Thomas died at the age of 95 in 2016.
Peggy is survived by five children, 14 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.
