Starting 1986, Ballard was the Jump Canada Officials Course Design Committee Chair. He reviewed and approved all the national applications for course designers, and gave clinics to new and seasoned course designers. In 1992, he also became a member of the Jump Canada High Performance Committee, which selects team members to represent Canada in international competition.
Ballard’s career as a course designer began in the schooling show rings for Jimmy Day at Sam Son Farm in the days before there were licensed officials in Canada. Ballard first earned his Equine Canada course designer status in the early 1980s and became a Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) course designer in 1985.
Ballard was the course designer for the 1999 Pan American Games, an assistant course designer at the 1996 and 2000 Olympics Games, and the Technical Delegate for the 2001 World Cup Show Jumping Final in Goteborg, SWE.
In 2001, Ballard was awarded the prestigious status of ‘Official’ International Course Designer by the FEI. The highest level achievable, there are only 23 ‘O’ jumper course designers in the world, putting Ballard in exclusive company.
“I am very honoured,” said Ballard. “Sometimes in this business, it is hard to get recognition. This award is fantastic.”
In 2008, Ballard stepped down as the Chair of the Jump Canada Officials Course Design Committee, and as a member of the Jump Canada High Performance Committee. He continues to train students and course design all over North America and, along with his wife, Sandi, enjoys watching his daughter, Canadian Equestrian Team member, Erynn Ballard, compete.
“David Ballard is one of Canada’s foremost course designers and Jump Canada has been fortunate to have him as course design advisor for our Rules and Officials Committees for many years,” said Jump Canada Chair Elizabeth Bordeaux. “Now, Dave’s busy schedule precludes his continuing in this role. The Jump Canada ‘Official of the Year’ award is a small token of our appreciation for so freely giving of his time and expertise to both of these important areas.”
In its inaugural year, the 2004 Official of the Year Award was presented to Tom Michiel of Calgary, AB, who is past chair of the Jump Canada Officials Committee and also represented Canada as an FEI Jumper Judge. In 2005, Jump Canada paid tribute to world-renowned FEI ‘O’ Jumper judge, Francois Ferland of St-Jean-Chrysostome, QC. Sought-after FEI course designer Michel Vaillancourt of Aiken, SC, was the recipient in 2006. Long-time FEI and Senior Equine Canada judge, Marjorie Dennis, of Caledon, ON, won the award in 2007.