Most would agree that the North American equitation classes are doing their job as a stepping stone for riders hoping to compete at the grand prix level. Year after year, medal finals winners make the transition to the leaderboard of the worldโ€™s biggest jumping classes, in part due to the foundation laid in their quest for an equitation finals victory. Although the end result is the same โ€“ to produce effective and disciplined students in the sport โ€“ there remains a divide in the depth of talent when comparing the Canadian equitation classes with those in the United States.

A leg-up to the world stage

Erynn Ballard has been a force in the jumper ring since she graduated from the junior ranks with almost every conceivable accolade under her belt, including a win in the 1998 ASPCA Maclay Finals. She believes that the horsemanship, dedication, work ethic, attention to detail, and emphasis on mastery of the basics that goes hand-in-hand with equitation success eases the transition to success at the grand prix level.

โ€œAs a trainer, when I have the opportunity to work with a student who has grand prix goals, I always push the equitation on them,โ€ she explains. โ€œI believe it plays a key role in a riderโ€™s ability to move up the ranks of the sport. It develops your timing, ability to follow a track, stride control, and of course position, strength, and balance. Not only are we saying that to be a top rider you need to have a perfect position, but you also need to be able to manage your horse from start to finish every time you ride. I believe if you have the dedication to equitation, your chances of achieving all these goals become a reality.โ€

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