Ocala, FL – Thirty-five promising horse-and-rider combinations took center stage at World Equestrian Center – Ocala early this morning to compete for the top prize in the $10,000 Buckeye Nutrition Futures Prix. In the feature event, Erynn Ballard (CAN) not only secured her second consecutive victory in the class, but also went home with five top ten placings, capturing first place aboard Fazenda Semilly (Bisquet Balou C VD Mispel x Querida Semilly) and second with Ginger Ask (Casall x Venezia), both owned by Ilan Ferder.
FEI Level III course designer Peter Grant of Canada built the winding tracks, that allowed 13 to qualify for the immediate jump-off with Ballard in the stirrups of five mounts.
Ballard shared her thoughts about the class, “You get a mixed bag in this class, some young horses moving up, some old horses stepping down. Mine were all eight and it was a great experience for all of them. Like I said last week, you can’t do better than this ring. Everyday there is a new jump, and everyday something has changed. We have had five-star level course designers at a three-star and national level. They are teaching our horses to be better.”
Ballard’s first two mounts were the fastest. Ballard was the pathfinder with her second-place horse Ginger Ask, after the pair yielded a quick and clean effort in 32.662 seconds. Ginger Ask’s lead didn’t hold too long, because Ballard entered the arena shortly after aboard the speedy Fazenda Semilly. Ballard and the eight-year-old Selle Francais mare passed the time by one tenth of a second in 32.527 seconds.
Ballard not only had a successful day today, but has been successful all week with her string. Having secured first, second, third and fourth in the 1.40m Jumper class on both Wednesday and Thursday.
“All of the horses are so fast, it’s just development. I think that every horse has a different plan. Being a dealing rider, it’s my job to showcase them and make the best rounds possible to be competitive. Some are going to go off to be grand prix horses or U25 or a very competitive junior/amateur jumpers. To get the results we had the past two weeks, just shows the quality of horses we have with us.”
Ballard expressed how she as a rider has progressed showing at World Equestrian Center – Ocala, “These past two weeks have made me so fast. I am trying to better myself and there’s something very cool about this – I am leaving this horse show riding at the top of my game, super-fast and ready to take on whatever happens next. This facility not only helps horses grow and improve, but riders too.”
Ballard’s barnmate Natalie Dean (USA) piloted her new partner Con Calma (Cascadello x Be Happy) owned by Marigold Sporthorses, LLC to third place. Third to last in the order, Dean and the 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding demonstrated a swift jump-off, leaving out strides with ease and taking a tidy turn back to the plank to post a time of 33.410 seconds.
$10,000 Buckeye Nutrition Futures Prix Results:
1 Fazenda Semilly, Erynn Ballard, Ilan Ferder: 0 | 0 | 32.527
2 Ginger Ask, Erynn Ballard, Ilan Ferder: 0 | 0 | 32.662
3 Con Calma, Natalie Dean, Marigold Sporthorses, LLC: 0 | 0 | 33.410
4 Sparky, Erynn Ballard, Ilan Ferder: 0 | 0 | 33.602
5 Brooklyn, Kevin Mealiff, Oakland Ventures LLC: 0 | 0 | 33.705
6 Schugga Tschei, Maya Denis, Maya Denis: 0 | 0 | 33.764
7 Jaja Van De Rikse, Ramiro Quintana, Patricia Becker: 0 | 0 | 35061
8 Emirat Bois Passe, Daniel Pedraza, Daniel Pedraza: 0 | 0 | 36.138
9 Panama FZ, Erynn Ballard, Ilan Ferder: 0 | 4 | 34.137
10 Furious De Louravi, Erynn Ballard, Ilan Ferder: 0 | 4 | 34.810
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
Videos available at ClipMyHorse.TV
For final results visit HorseShowing.com or Ryegate.Live