Local Sports

Quite a show

Fredonia’s Holt competes in US Youth Nationals for horse riding

Fredonia's Alana Holt and her horse SS Lady Madonna (Maddie) competed in the United States Youth Nationals in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The pair competed in the Purebred Arabian Hunter Pleasure Division for junior riders 15-18 years of age.

The Youth Nationals are the Arabian Horse Association's national championship for participants 18 years old and under held each year in July.

To be eligible for this championship competitors must qualify through regional competitions across the United States which are held throughout the year. Those who qualify are invited to compete against other youth riders for national honors at the highest level of competition in the country.

Over the course of 10 days Alana and Maddie competed in preliminary "cut classes" to reduce the large field of competitors down to 16 finalists for the championship. These 16 riders and horses then compete in the national championship finals. Of those finalists, the judges select and recognize the top 10 in the country.

Maddie and Alana had strong rides in the cut classes and worked their way to being one of the 16 finalists in the championship class.

In the championship finals they saved their best for last and turned in an exceptional ride. When the judges' cards were tallied Alana and Maddie were recognized as top 10 and placed fifth overall in the United States.

Alana and Maddie currently train out of Ghost Pines Farm in New Kensington, Pennsylvania under the guidance of Nicole Marie Reed.