Traverse City, United States – August 09, 2026 – The Great Lakes Equestrian Festival (GLEF) presented by B&D Builders, wrapped up six weeks of competition Sunday at Flintfields Horse Park. Erynn Ballard (CAN) added one more victory to her remarkable summer in the $20,000 1.40-1.45m Jumper Classic.
Ballard takes her winning momentum to the World Championships before returning to Traverse City for two weeks of CSI 5* competition this fall
Erynn Ballard (CAN) couldn’t let the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival, presented by B&D Builders, end without one more win. Coming into the $20,000 1.40-1.45m Jumper Classic on a winning streak, she produced one more fast double-clear aboard Engerupgaards Cezanne to finish on a high and add another victory to her resume.
“He’s a fairly new ride for me,” Ballard said of her winning ride, a 15-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding (Balou du Rouet x Lucky Light). “I’d never jumped him until we got here five weeks ago. But it’s a super competitive horse.”
Ballard just barely edged out Paul O’Shea (IRL), who finished in second with Primo CBI Cornet, less than half a second off the pace. Only a tenth of a second off O’Shea’s time was Jake Endicott aboard Kariludine S, so the race for the top spot was tight.
Ballard was on a mission from day one in Traverse City to go faster, and while she feels she succeeded over the six weeks, she still sees room to improve.
“My future goal is to be stronger in the grand prix,” she explained of where she feels she fell short. “I was placed top 10 in every single grand prix that I did, but I never had a win. So for myself, it is those classes I need to improve on.”
Ballard now takes that momentum to Europe, where she will represent Canada at the FEI World Championships in Aachen.
“I never had a bad class,” she continued. “I think this week I won 10 classes. From the 7-year-olds to the three-star speed, and now this class. To be that strong is a testament to the crew that we have, to our program, to our horses, to our grooms, to our owners, and everybody that’s here cheering for us, it certainly doesn’t take just one. And I’m so lucky that I can win on so many different horses.”
The winning feeling is a great one to have as she takes her next venture over to Europe. She’ll pilot Fave d’Athuit, who had a strong circuit and is fresh and ready to go on one of the world’s biggest stages.
“That success going into Europe, it’s a good last class to have,” she remarked. “It’s a good vibe to keep rolling with. We roll with that through Europe, and then we come back here strong in September.”
Her season just keeps heating up from this point, so Ballard will be back and eager for more wins come September in Traverse City.
“The fall is certainly five-star heavy in North America, so we plan for that,” she remarked. “I think that we’ve had a great circuit. None of our horses have done too many classes. They’ve all jumped the right amount of classes. They’re all confident, and now we see what we have at the next level.”
Final Results – $20,000 Jumper Classic – 1.40/1.45m
1) Erynn Ballard (CAN) & Engerupgaards Cezanne – 0 / 0 – 42.117
2) Paul O’Shea (IRL) & Primo CBI Cornet – 0 / 0 – 42.473
3) Jake Endicott (USA) & Kariludine S – 0 / 0 – 42.572
Source: Press Release from Traverse City Horse Shows
Photos: © TCHS / Natalie Suto Photography
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Categories: CSN, English, Jumper News Canada
