Erynn Ballard (CAN) continued her winning ways Saturday in Traverse City, taking the $20,000 1.40m-1.45m Jumper Classic aboard Fave d’Athuit.
“I’m quite happy with him being the fastest today,” she said of her jump-off performance with Fave d’Athuit, owned by Ilan Ferder. “I was able to leave out a stride from one to two which I don’t normally do on him. Sometimes when the jumps aren’t the biggest you can practice things that are harder for you. I think it was a nice way to start our summer here. I’m feeling the confidence that I can go fast with him.”
Fave d’Athuit is back on U.S. soil after competing in Europe, with the World Championships in Aachen still ahead this summer for the 11-year-old Selle Francais gelding (Cornet Obolensky x Kannan). Ballard placed him strategically in this class knowing what he’s already done and what lies ahead.
Ballard had two entries in the class and ultimately claimed the top two spots. After qualifying both Fave d’Athuit and Ginger ASK for the short course, Ballard was surprised by which horse ultimately ended up on top.
“Typically the more chances you get the faster you’re able to go,” she said of having two shots at the jump-off. “I thought I went equally as fast on Ginger, and Fave ended up being the faster horse. I’m always practicing trying to go faster and turn tighter, whether it’s this height or 1.60m.”
Ballard is chipping away at securing the Leading Open Jumper Rider Award for a second year in a row, with a stellar debut at the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival, presented by B&D Builders.
“I always have a good go in Michigan; it’s been quite good to me the past few years,” she reflected. “I came here this summer serious to win and do better than last year. I have an incredible new string of horses that we’re slowly getting started with. I think it should be an exciting summer and this is a ring that brings me a lot of success.”
Ballard sees Traverse City as an ideal place to progress both her own riding and her string of horses through the summer months. She’ll stay for three weeks with her team and also make a return for the Tournament of Champions in the fall after the World Championships.
“You’ve got to stay current and stay riding against the best riders in the world,” she said of why she chooses to base in Traverse City while also traveling internationally when the opportunity presents itself. “It’s a cool statistic to be the highest-ranked rider here this week, but when everybody comes in September I don’t get to hold that status. I can work myself up to continue to be one of the top riders in the sport.”
Results here.
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