Erynn Ballard, pictured here riding Robin van Roosendael, is a favourite to win the Caledon Cup at the Canadian Show Jumping Tournament held September 23-27 at the Caledon Equestrian Park in Palgrave, ON. Photo by Cealy Tetley, www.tetleyphoto.com

September 4, 2009 – Palgrave, Ontario – For Erynn Ballard, showing at the Canadian Show Jumping Tournament (CSJT) in Palgrave, ON, is like competing on her home turf. Her family’s stable, Looking Back Farm, is located in Hockley Valley, only a “seven minute drive home.” Ballard, a professional rider that has represented the Canadian Equestrian Team, rides and teaches at Looking Back Farm, along with her parents, Sandi and David Ballard.

Although she is only 29 years old, Erynn has amassed an impressive resume of wins in North America, including last year’s John Deere Canada Cup, as well as riding on winning Nations’ Cup teams for Canada at the 2006 Spruce Meadows “Masters” Tournament and at the 2007 Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL. She was also named the 2006 ‘Equestrian of the Year’ by Equine Canada, the sport’s national federation.

At this year’s CSJT at the Caledon Equestrian Park, which will be held from September 23-27, Erynn will compete in The Caledon Cup, which consists of the $32,000 Caledon Cup Jumper Challenge on Friday, September 25, at 3 p.m. and the $100,000 Caledon Cup Final & World Cup Qualifier on Sunday, September 27, at 2 p.m.

In The Caledon Cup, Erynn plans to ride Sorbette, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare that is enjoying her first year of international-level competition. She will also compete with Simply Ahorn, an eight-year old Canadian-bred horse that won the Seven & Eight Year Old Young Jumper Championships in Florida this winter, as well as two $25,000 Grand Prix events in Bromont, QC, and Ottawa, ON.

Erynn said that her win in last year’s John Deere Canada Cup was her first victory in a cumulative competition, where more than one class counts towards the win. This experience will hopefully give her an edge in the 2009 Caledon Cup.

“It was very exciting, and for sure one of my biggest wins,” said Erynn. “It was about more than winning just one class; you had to be consistent. It’s always a bonus to win something like that, because we don’t have competitions like that very often.”

Erynn receives strong support from her father, David, who is an international course designer, as well as her mother, Sandi, who is a well-known trainer and coach.

“I’m pretty sure that I’m similar to any parent in that no matter what your children do, if they excel at it and come out on top on occasion, it’s a big thing,” said David. “Winning the two Nations Cups’ in Calgary and Wellington and placing in the $1 million Spruce Meadows class were big, too. Those major events stand out, and certainly last year’s win in the Canada Cup was one of them.”

Both Sandi, the trainer for Looking Back Farm, and David, who is an FEI ‘Official’ rated course designer, will be joining Erynn at this year’s CSJT. David was the course designer for the 1999 Pan American Games show jumping competition in Winnipeg, MB, as well as an assistant course designer at the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games. This year, he will be the course designer in the second jumper ring at the CSJT.

“The grand prix ring and the other jumper rings are great to design in,” said David. “The grand prix ring may have more prestige, but it’s also important to have good, quality course design in the second jumper ring because it’s for developing horses and riders.”

While the Ballard family is not always together at every show, they do enjoy the perks of working with each other.

“It’s the only thing I know,” laughed Erynn. “There aren’t too many other families that are involved as we are. It’s a little unique to be that closely involved with your family in this business, but I can’t complain either way.”

David, whose father, Bob Ballard, will be inducted into the Jump Canada Hall of Fame this November, added, “I’m following in my father’s footsteps, and Erynn is following in my footsteps. It is three generations now, and it is fun to do this as a family.”

The Ballard’s are looking forward to returning to the Caledon Equestrian Park and being part of this year’s CSJT.

Erynn pointed out, “I think the show has always had a good following, but this is a new year. It’s like our outdoor finale, so everyone likes to go. You like to end the outdoor tour with a bang.”

Of the facility, she said, “We take it for granted because we go so much; it’s so close to home. If you’re away and go back, you realize how nice it is for a horse show. It’s a great facility mostly because it’s made for horse shows and it is not a temporary facility for one event. There are always enough practice rings, the stabling is good, and the food is great. The show ring is excellent, and they really make it a big deal to make sure they have enough spectators. It’s a charity show, so you’re doing it for different reasons versus an every-week type of competition. I’m looking forward to having a good event. It’s nice to have such high profile show in our area, and we’ll want to have a great week.”

Sandi concurred, “The Caledon Equestrian Park has always been a great facility. The services are good, and you always know the footing is looked after. We’re very lucky to have a facility of that caliber in our area that we can show at. The show is promoted well, and we tend to get more of a draw. I hope that continues. It’s great and a lot of fun.”

“It’s a show that I think is important to anyone in the equestrian community in eastern Canada,” David remarked. “The prize money has always been very good. It is a specialty horse show; there aren’t a lot of unrated divisions, and there’s more fanfare and dinners that go with it. With the Children’s Wish Foundation involved, it’s very important.”

David added that with the local community involvement, it makes the show even more special for the competitors. “Any time there is a good crowd, it really makes a difference. The athletes respond when there are more people in attendance. There’s more individual support for individual riders. The CSJT does draw a good crowd, and it’s important in this industry.”

The Ballard family members are just a few of the many top equestrians that will be at the Canadian Show Jumping Tournament. Fans will cheer on Erynn and other well-known show jumping competitors, and enjoy what one of the best horse shows in Canada has to offer.

For more information on the Canadian Show Jumping Tournament, please visit www.equiman.com.

Follow the Canadian Show Jumping Tournament on Twitter at http://twitter.com/CdnSJT.