The $25,000 ProElite National Grand Prix took place on Thursday, December 17, the final day of the ESP Holiday III Show at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). Thirty-eight entries took on the first course of 13 fences, designed by Mauricio Garcia Ballesteros (PUR), in the International Arena. In the end, Erynn Ballard (CAN) and Ilan Ferder’s Classic Penny proved to be the fastest in the 16-horse jump-off. Thursday’s classes concluded the ESP Holiday III Show, but competition will begin Friday, December 18, for the first day of the ESP New Year’s Show, which will finish on Sunday, December 20.
“[Classic Penny] was amazing. These classes in between the big ones are so nice to make a young one up,” commented Ballard. “It was a nice opportunity for her to be in a big ring in a big class, and it’s a super nice win for her resume. I thought the course was really fair. There were plenty clear, but you had a huge group of horses in it, and some really big names. Our horse is only eight and moving up, so for her it was a step up and she handled it beautifully. She’s very fast.”
Sixteen riders representing five different nations successfully conquered the first round and took their turn at the trimmed, seven-fence jump-off. The fourth entry, Darragh Kenny (IRL) and Oakland Ventures LLC’s Go Easy De Muze, were the first clear round, closely followed by Kent Farrington (USA) and Orafina, owned by Kent Farrington LLC. An additional 14 riders qualified for the jump-off, including Paul O’Shea (IRL), Grace Debney (USA), Jessica Mendoza (GBR), Wilhelm Genn (USA), Nicholas Dello Joio (USA), Jonathan McCrea (USA), Rebecca Conway (USA), Christian Coyle (IRL), Santiago Lambre (MEX), Riley Newsome (USA), Hilary McNerney (USA), and Ramiro Quintana (ARG).