If there’s anything to know about Erynn Ballard (CAN) it’s that she’s always pushing herself to be better. With a new horse in her string by the name of Genius de Rance, she fully believes she’s equipped to unlock the next level of winning.
On Thursday of week two of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival, presented by B&D Builders, Ballard entered her first FEI class of the Traverse City Horse Shows season and took home the win in the $31,100 MacAllister Machinery CSI3* Welcome Stake.
“Genius [de Rance] is a genius,” Ballard said of the 10-year-old Selle Francais gelding (Quitus D’Armanville x Quick Star), owned by Ilan Ferder. “I think someone knew very early on to give him that name. This is my third FEI show with him and it’s my third win. [I expect] huge things for this horse.”
Ballard dropped quite a big name in comparing Genius to past horses she’s seen in the sport.
“I used Hickstead as an example because that’s a horse that changed the sport and changed Eric [Lamaze’s] career,” Ballard shared. “I jumped the first jump with Genius and said I think he’s like Hickstead; this horse can change my life.”
On top of being an incredible horse, Genius de Rance is Ballard’s dream horse.
“It’s a perfect match,” she said of the partnership. “So many of these horses I ride for a dealer, we don’t pick them out with the idea that they’re going to be for me. They have to be for sale, they have to suit a lot of people, so in the end they can be sold. If I had to pick one horse out for myself, I would pick Genius every time. I feel pretty lucky and grateful that he’s mine.”
Thursday’s first round, built by Mauricio Garcia, produced eight clear efforts. Ballard had seen a few go so she knew what she was up against, but she went in and took the speed to an entirely new level.
“Ilan says you have to practice winning,” she explained of her approach to the jump-off. “How can I be fast at 1.60m if I can’t be fast at 1.45m? At the highest level in the jump-offs that’s where I’m the weakest right now, so I need to get better. I had in my mind to have the fastest time in this class even if I have one down. Luckily for me I had the fastest time and I didn’t knock any down.”
Coming into the class, Ballard knew the competition was fierce, but mentally she’s taught herself to imagine it even more competitive.
“You have fast riders here,” the Canadian World Championship rider went on. “But I have to keep in the back of my mind, what if Kent [Farrington] is here, what if McClain [Ward] is here, what if Laura [Kraut] is here? Where is my time going to stand? If I take today’s jump-off I think my track from start to finish was exactly where I needed to be to win a class.”
Her final time was over two seconds faster than second place finishers Lillie Keenan (USA) and Corexstra Z. Savannah Jenkins (USA) placed third aboard Hector du Ter.
Coming off a string of top results in Traverse City in 2025, Ballard is back to defend her title as the Leading Open Jumper Rider and to continue to rise in the ranks.
“It feels pretty good,” she reflected on starting with a win. “I feel a lot of pressure on myself. I went on a pretty strong run last year of being top three in so many ranking classes in a row. But last year I was third a lot, so starting with a win hopefully that means I’m on the road to another great summer.”
Genius de Rance is still a young horse in Ballard’s book, particularly because of his limited international mileage. While she believes major events like the World Championships, Aachen, and beyond are incredible to be part of, the Canadian gets the most satisfaction from producing results like this one out of up-and-coming horses.
“That’s my favourite part,” she said of being able to partner with such a variety of young talent and be part of the horses’ successes. “I love my team, I love my horses, and the relationships we make, that’s special for me. I love the big shows – I can’t wait for the championships this year – but I love being here just as much.”
Friday at GLEF II brings the $31,100 Elk Rapids Marina CSI3* Two Phase, along with the $10,000 World Wide Technology Non-Pro Team 1.10m Jumper Challenge later in the day. In the hunter rings, derby action takes center stage with the $10,000 3’ USHJA National Hunter Derby, the $10,000 3’ USHJA Jr/Am National Hunter Derby Presented by Crooked Willow Farms, the $2,500 2’6” USHJA National Jr/Am Hunter Derby Presented by Fairway Farm, and the 2’-2’3” TCHS Jr/Am Hunter Derby.
Full results here.
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