Erynn Ballard is the Best in the $25,000 IDA Development Grand Prix at Wellington

By Jumper News on 2023-06-15

Wellington, Florida, USA – June 11, 2023 – The ESP June II Show concluded on Sunday at Equestrian Village, signaling the end of the equestrian competition until shows resume in August. Competition ended on Sunday, but only after Erynn Ballard (CAN) and Calypso De Blondel, owned by Ilan Ferder, claimed one final victory to conclude a very successful weekend. In the week’s highlight event, the combination once again rose to the occasion, securing a thrilling victory in the $25,000 IDA Development Grand Prix.

“It was a very fair course,” remarked Ballard. “When you see a 1.40m course at the regional standard, it can go either where everyone goes clear, or it’s too hard, but this was the perfect balance. You had a long course with a lot of questions, you had technical lines, a triple bar, short stride to a skinny, and then a normal stride to a wide oxer, that’s a test you see in a five-star grand prix, so it’s great that we get to practice it here. It allows you to teach your horses something and if they don’t do it well, it gives you something to go home and practice. The time allowed was a little bit tight but you had to work for it and that’s real sport.”

**Erynn Ballard** (CAN) & **Calypso de Blondel**

A total of twenty-two competitors jumped course designer Héctor Loyola‘s (PUR) first round. Of the six pairs that advanced to the tie-breaking round, four were double clear. Going second in the order, Ballard set a swift time to beat of 36.179 seconds that no one could catch.

“I knew there were fast riders behind me, so I rode as fast as I would a two-star grand prix because I knew I had to make them come after me. These shows really prepare you for anything and it’s an invaluable experience for any horse to be able to jump out here on the field. The grass is amazing, you can run fast, and even at these small shows, there were only six in the jump-off, but they were some of the fastest riders, so no matter what, you have to stay competitive.”

Taking home the second-place finish was Gwyneth Babington (USA) and Kevin Babington’s Mark Q in a time of 36.824 seconds. Sheer Levitin (USA) completed the podium aboard her Vitus K with a time of 39.229 seconds.