By Jen Bracken

Seventeen-year-old Holly has always been fascinated with horses. Her fascination eventually led to jumping lessons and then a much loved sport. When wish granters offered to make her fondest dream come true, Holly immediately thought of horses. She wanted to meet her idol, champion show jumper and Olympic silver medalist Beezie Madden.

Holly and her mother, Candace, attended the 2007 Rolex FEI World Cup Finals, a prestigious equestrian competition in Las Vegas. There Holly watched her long-time idol compete among the world’s best show jumping horses and riders.

When Holly and her mom arrived in Las Vegas, they got a taste of some of the city’s most famous hotels and restaurants. After checking into the Monte Carlo Resort, the two hit the Las Vegas Strip. Holly could not stop smiling during her dinner at the MGM Grand’s Rainforest Café.

The next day marked the beginning of the 2007 Rolex FEI World Cup Finals. The plan was for Beezie Madden to make it past the preliminary trials, compete in the finals on Sunday, and then Holly would be able to follow her idol throughout the competition. But Beezie fell off her horse after nine of the 12 jumps in the first event, disqualifying her for the rest of the finals.

The news wasn’t all bad, however. As a result of the competition, Holly and her mom enjoyed lunch with Beezie and her family on Friday. That afternoon, Beezie invited Holly to the stables, where she introduced Holly to her horse, Authentic. Holly could hardly contain her excitement. Beezie then took her around the stable area and introduced her to some of the other riders still competing.

After the rest of the finals, Holly left Las Vegas tired from the long weekend, but eager to go home and tell her friends and family about her unforgettable experience. She knew this would be a long-lasting memory!