Alana Holt and SS Lady Madonna with their blue ribbons from the Silver Spurs Horse Show.

In any sport it is difficult to win seven times in a row. If you do win seven times in a row that is considered to be a good run.

One of the reasons it is difficult to do is because so many things could happen that would cause a loss. A ball is dropped, a shot is missed, or your team just is having a bad game.

The same is true in the sport of equestrian and showing horses. Your horse does not respond to your cue, you perform your pattern wrong, or you and your horse are just having a bad ride in the show arena. The odds are against you to win seven times in a row.

However that is exactly what Alana Holt and SS Lady Madonna did at the Silver Spurs Horse Show held over Labor Day weekend at the Erie County Fairgrounds in Hamburg. Holt and “Maddie” competed in seven classes and each time they rode out of the show arena with the first place blue ribbon.

Their competition began Friday afternoon by showing in the Arabian Hunter Pleasure Mares/Geldings class which is open to all riders. This class had a number of adult riders entered and required an excellent ride to win. Holt and Maddie came through and were awarded with their first blue ribbon of the show.

Later that afternoon the pair was in the show arena again, this time in the Arabian Hunter Pleasure Junior Rider class. They turned in another quality ride and the judge awarded them their second blue ribbon of the day.

Saturday’s competition started early in the morning for Holt and Maddie. Their morning began with the Arabian Hunter Pleasure Open class. This class also allowed riders of all ages and skill levels to compete against each other in the arena. Another strong group of riders and horses took part in the class but like Friday the result was the same as Maddie carried Alana to first place. Later that morning came the Arabian/Half Arabian Hunt Seat Equitation Junior Rider class. This class focused on the rider and how well they maintain the proper posterior and form while using the correct techniques to have their horse respond to commands. When the judge handed in his score card Holt had claimed her fourth blue ribbon of the show. The show day ended for the pair with them winning their third blue ribbon of the day in the Open Hunter Pleasure class competing against all breeds of horses at the show along with riders of all ages.

Sunday brought the final day of the show and the championship rounds for competitors. Holt and Maddie began their day with the Hunt Seat Equitation Amateur Rider Championship. This class again would be judged by evaluating the riders’ form and technique. Alana and Maddie came away with the championship blue ribbon to keep their unbeaten streak alive. Next up for the pair would be their final class of the show and the opportunity to go seven for seven in competition. They would be competing in the Arabian Hunter Pleasure Junior Rider Championship. Knowing what was on the line the duo came through with what Alana said was one of their best rides of the show. The judge agreed as he awarded them first place in the championship class to capture their seventh blue ribbon.

With the show over Alana had time to reflect on the past three days with her trainer Rachel Retaleato and owners of Jaxson’s Sky Equestrian Center Olivia and Joe Van Schoonhoven on what she and Maddie had just accomplished. All four agreed winning seven blue ribbons in a row was definitely a good run.