Erynn Ballard (CAN) pulled off yet another win Friday of week six of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival, presented by B&D Builders, but this win felt different from others she’s had so far this summer.
Bringing forth Ashley de Talm (Adagio de Talma x Hermes d'Authieux) in the $31,100 CSI3* Speed, Ballard expected a typical speed track, with the winning time likely hovering around 60 seconds. But as she walked the course, she realized she was about to jump something different from what she was expecting.
“I said when we walked I thought a nice clear was going to get you a top five today,” Ballard remarked on Olaf Petersen’s single-round track, which ultimately produced only four clear rounds. “It’s a speed course we’re not used to jumping. I had the fastest time in 76 seconds. I considered it more like a derby; it was a test in stamina and in speed.”
With her other entry, New Star VD Berghoeve (Gitano vd Berkenbroeck x Contender), she had the fastest time of 75.98 seconds, but she had one rail down. Coming in with Ashley de Talm, an 11-year-old Holsteiner mare, she knew it would be a marathon and not a sprint, but she still wanted to walk away as a winner.
“I thought it was very tricky when we walked it with so many inside options,” she reflected after riding the course. “But I have to say I really enjoyed riding it, especially because we don’t see many courses like this. I think it was challenging and for Ashley it’s a major win.”
Ballard’s initial plan was to avoid inside turns, but as she got started she realized some of them presented themselves quite easily. Those inside turns allowed her to come home in a relatively fast time, though it was still above what these competitors typically see over speed tracks.
“Ashley really stayed with me the whole time,” she said of her horse’s performance. “She jumped the [Welcome Stake] yesterday – first round and jump-off – and to come back again today, that shows her stamina as a horse. She handled it beautifully; she was nicely fast. She’s a horse that’s learning to go fast.”
Just behind Ballard for second place was JJ Torano, fresh off his NAYC silver medal, aboard Dora du Valon (Kannan x Quidam de Revel). Ballard believed he deserved to win after he lost his stirrups at fence seven and jumped the remainder of the course fast, clear, and without stirrups. Skylar Wireman finished third with Cielo (Citoki x Quick Star).
Ballard set a goal this season to go faster, produce more wins, and become an even more serious competitor. As the current top Canadian international show jumper, and previously the top-ranked female in the world, already with Olympic Games and World Championship appearances, she’s checked quite a bit off her list, but she still finds areas in which she wants to improve.
“In Grand Prix results I’ve been fifth, fifth and third, so definitely not bad, but that’s the class I want to do better in,” she reflected on this summer specifically. “I like winning these classes and it’s important for the developing horses but for myself as a rider next year my goal is the actual Grand Prix classes. I’m proud of our horses and our program. Michigan is always good to us so we will always come back. We’re looking forward to three weeks in September.”
Ballard barely rests in Michigan or anywhere; her program brought 60 horses to Michigan, she rides 12 horses per day, and repeats that just about every day. To choose where to base for a program like this is a serious decision, and three months in Michigan always seems to fit the bill for her and her team.
“It’s a lifestyle, it’s a destination,” she said of Traverse City. “It becomes diverse with riders all over the world. You’ll see more international riders here in September. This circuit offers a better lifestyle while still being at the highest level. You’ve got great riders; between the four months they run you see the best riders in the world come here to develop their horses. They get stronger as the season goes on.”
At the end of the season, the Tournament of Champions is expected to feature 10 of the world’s top 30-ranked riders. Many of these riders, Ballard amongst them, will jump the FEI World Championships in Aachen, then return stateside for the fall season in Michigan.
“That’s where you’re going to see the best riders come here,” she explained of the fall series. “The summer tour is three-star, it’s really about development and fitness, but when we get back from the World Championships, our fall tour is three straight months of five-star. It’s about to get real.”
As Ballard reflects in her winning interviews, it’s apparent that she recognizes every day that she is living her dreams. She does not take any of it for granted. To be a top contender on the world’s biggest stages, to reach the status of leading Canadian show jumper in the world and previously leading female show jumper in the world, among other honors, have all been lifelong goals.
“If you gave me a checklist when I was 15 years old and said write down everything you want to do, aside from medaling at a championship I’ve accomplished all of them,” she shared. “It doesn’t get better than that.”
Ballard and the other FEI riders now focus on Saturday’s $116,500 Traverse City CSI3* Grand Prix. Fans and competitors can view full schedules, results, and live updates through the Traverse City Horse Shows Mobile App.
