Two for Two! Erynn Ballard Doubles Down in the $32,000 Wild Horse Refuge CSI 2*

By Jumper News on 2026-02-14

Ocala, United States – February 13, 2026 – Competition continued on Friday, February 13, 2026, at World Equestrian Center – Ocala (WEC). In the $32,000 Wild Horse Refuge Grand Prix Qualifier CSI 2*, Erynn Ballard (CAN) blazed to her second win of the week, this time riding Paladin 116 owned by Ilan Ferder.

After winning the opening five-star class on Wednesday, Canadian Olympian Erynn Ballard (CAN) returned to the winner’s circle in the $32,000 Wild Horse Refuge Grand Prix Qualifier CSI 2* with Paladin 116.

**Erynn Ballard** (CAN) & **Paladin 116**

A large class of 49 entries saw 18 go clear to the jump-off, and 11 of those were double clear. It was a race to the finish, but Ballard won decisively in a time of 35.05 seconds.

Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Balou H, a 10-year-old Westphalian gelding by Baloutelli x F.A. N. Holland owned by Leadon Ridge LLC and Sweet Oak Farm, finished second in 36.58 seconds.

**Richard Vogel** (GER) & **Quizas van’t Hulsbos**

Coming in third was Richard Vogel (GER) and Quizas van’t Hulsbox, a 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood BWP gelding by Emerald van het Ruytershof x Apollo van het Lindenbox owned by Devos Stables. They were clear in 37.05 seconds.

Ballard, who rides for Ilan Ferder Stables, first rode Paladin a year ago before their amateur student Djuna Lauder took over. With Lauder now in college in Scotland, Ballard and Ferder are further developing the nine-year-old Westphalian gelding by Plot Blue x Comme Il Faut until Lauder finishes her school year.

“He’s a fast and careful jumper, and he’s got everything in his favor to win a class like this,” she described. “At the 1.45m level, he’s still learning, but he’s just quite good. We want to jump 1.50m and then give him back to Djuna. She trains with us here and with the Fuchs team in Switzerland, which is our partner in Europe. We’re a big team, and we’re worldwide. Martin was texting me about the class, and it’s nice to have his support.”

Ballard and Sweetnam will return to the ring in the two international classes on Saturday preceding the evening’s feature grand prix.

The $300,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Ocala CSI 5*-W – 1.60m presented by MARS Equestrian, is the feature class of the week and will start at 7 p.m. on Saturday evening, February 14. General admission tickets are still available for sale HERE.