The first competition of the CSI5*-W division, which denotes the highest level of show jumping sport also offering a FEI World Cup™ qualifying grand prix, saw riders competing over a one-round “power and speed” track set by course designer Olaf Petersen, Jr. of Germany.  Riders navigated eight fences and, if they left all of them in place, immediately advanced to the speed portion of the course.

Living up to his name, Let’s Fly navigated the course with unmatched footspeed while carrying Ballard to a winning time of 26.85 seconds.

“What a horse to be able to go in and win in his first pass at The Royal,” smiled Ballard as she described the nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Fly x Phin Phin) owned by Roaring Fork Farms.

Let’s Fly was developed by Ballard and Ilan Ferder and is destined to be the mount of owner Djuna Lauder, who has five-star aspirations of her own but is currently focused on her studies at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.

From a competitive field featuring eight nations, Ireland’s Conor Swail was less than a second off the winning pace riding Casturano (Castelan 3 x Canturo , a 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Conall Murray.  The pair stopped the speed phase timers at 27.49 seconds to finish runner-up.  Daniel Bluman of Israel rounded out the podium aboard Rebelline de Kwakenbeek (Aganix du seigneur x Quidam De Revel), his eight-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare, in 27.95 seconds.

For Ballard, 45, Toronto’s Royal Horse Show is her home show.  She first competed at The Royal on a small pony in 1988.

“It took me nine years to get my first Royal win, but I’ve had some pretty cool Royal moments,” said Ballard, who added another memory to her list this week following a five-year absence from The Royal.  “This was a nice homecoming; it fit in nicely in our schedule this year and the World Cup Final is on our radar, so it was a nice one to come home for.”

The $280,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Toronto, presented by Ecclestone Horse Transport, on Saturday evening will award valuable qualifying points for the 2026 FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final taking place next April in Fort Worth, Texas.

“I have the right horses right now,” said Ballard of her World Cup bid.  “They are an exceptional group to have at the high level, but the biggest draw this year is that the final is North American based.  Anytime that there is a championship where you think that you can be competitive, it should be on your radar.”

The opening-day win was extra special for Ballard and her entire family.  The Royal Horse Show marks the last competition appearance for Looking Back Farm, owned and operated by Erynn’s parents, Sandi and Dave Ballard, as they are retiring after a storied career of developing horses and riders from their home base in Tottenham, ON.  Erynn’s late grandfather, Jump Canada Hall of Famer Bob Ballard, was also a regular competitor at the Royal Horse Show, and frequently represented Canada in nations’ cup team competition.

“It’s great to win for them and to also add more Royal memories,” Erynn reminisced.  “We’ve had great ones, all the way from small ponies to now five stars!”

The Carl J. Dow Memorial Award was presented during opening night of international show jumping competition.  A longtime lover of horses, Dow was a member of the Eglington Pony Club and began competing at the Royal Horse Show in the 1960s.  He was a dedicated member of the Royal Ring Committee for more than thirty years.  Dow’s daughter, Tara Dow-Rein, followed in his footsteps, both as a competitor as well as serving on the Royal Ring Committee and working in production for 15 years.  This year, Carl’s granddaughter, Cassidy Rein, made her Royal debut competing in the Canadian Show Jumping Championships.

This year’s recipient of the Carl J. Dow Memorial Award was the McKee family.  The McKee family’s history at The Royal dates back to its origins.  John Arnold McKee was a founding member and his son, John William McKee, sat on the Royal Horse Show Administrative Committee for over 35 years—beginning in 1933—and served as Chair in 1938.  Angus McKee is a past Director of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair and is a current member of The Royal’s Board of Governors.  Angus’ son, Andrew, was an active and dedicated volunteer at The Royal from 2008 to 2021, severing as President and Chair in 2016 and 2017.  Angus’ daughter, Mary, is a current member of The Royal’s Board of Directors and serves as Chair of the Finance Committee.