Game On: Erynn Ballard Clinches First Five-Star Feature of 2026 at World Equestrian Center – Ocala

11 FEB 26 Ocala, FL

February 11, 2026 – Ocala, FL – Five-star competition during the Winter Spectacular Show Series kicked off on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at World Equestrian Center – Ocala (WEC). The week culminates with the $300,000 1.60m CSI5*-W Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Ocala presented by MARS Equestrian on Saturday evening, February 14. Canadian Olympian Erynn Ballard topped the $32,000 1.45m Speed CSI5*-W with Her Game Ball BG owned by Mary Frances Looke.

Hunter Holloway (USA) and Pepita Con Spita led for most of the class but settled for second place. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography.

Ballard and “Game Ball” rode out of the 32nd spot in the order of 38 entries over a course designed by Bernardo Costa Cobral (POR). They finished clear in 62.69 seconds for the win. They were chasing a leading time of 63.63 seconds held by Hunter Holloway (USA) and Pepita Con Spita, a 15-year-old Westphalian mare (CSP Con Spirit x Come On) owned by Hays Investment Group. The pair would finish in second place. Third place went to last year’s winners, Nina Mallevaey (FRA) and My Clementine, an 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare by O.B.O.S. Quality x Kashmir van Schuttershof owned by Rein Family LLC and Tara Dow-Rein. The duo posted a time of 65.58 seconds.

Third-place finishers Nina Mallevaey (FRA) and My Clementine almost won two years in a row. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography.

Ballard and Game Ball have been competing together since July of 2025 and have now recorded their sixth FEI victory. Ballard took over the ride from student Mary Frances Looke, and she is grateful that she continues to have the mare as part of her string.

“She’s an incredible partner,” said Ballard of the 14-year-old KWPN mare by Carambole x Burggraaf NV. “It’s pretty special to have an ownership group stand behind me like that and give me an opportunity to have a horse like Game Ball.”

Erynn Ballard and Her Game Ball BG won their sixth international class together in the $32,000 1.45m Speed CSI5*-W. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography.

Ballard has been riding for Ilan Ferder Stables for nine years. With most horses coming through their program for sale, turnover is high, and Ballard doesn’t always get the chance to have a long-term partnership.

“It’s proving to be a strong year so far,” remarked the Canadian Olympian. “My core group of horses have stuck around, and you can see in the results that the consistency is really paying off.”

Ballard also believes that piloting so many high-quality horses has improved her ability to go faster at the highest levels. “It’s an exceptional partnership that I have with Ilan,” she said. “Last year, I rode 66 different horses at least one time in the ring. That’s insane. Some people don’t ride 66 horses in a lifetime. This year, I’m already close to 30 horses, so that just shows you the number of horses that we have and the opportunity that I have had.

“For a while, I thought I was only good for 1.40m because I could win all the 1.40m classes, but I think I’m getting faster,” she continued. “Now, I’m more competitive at the highest level. It’s a strange sport. You do get better with age; you get stronger, more secure, more confident. Our horses in nine years have gotten better too. If you look at what we were jumping in these classes nine years ago to what we’re jumping now, it’s a completely different league of horses, and that also makes jumping bigger a little bit easier.”

Ballard thanks Her Game Ball BG for a job well done. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography.

Ballard and Ferder made the decision to go for speed in Wednesday’s class in order to give Game Ball confidence heading into Thursday’s grand prix qualifier, which will be their first 1.55m class together.

FULL CLASS RESULTS

SHOW SCHEDULE AND RESULTS

Competition at WEC – Ocala this week continues on Thursday, February 12, with the $117,000 1.55m CSI5*-W Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Qualifier presented by Ethel M Chocolates at 1pm ET, and on Friday, February 13, at 1pm in the $62,500 1.50m Winning Round CSI5*-W. The $300,000 1.60m CSI5*-W Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Ocala presented by MARS Equestrian will start at 7 p.m. on Saturday, February 14. General admission tickets for Saturday are still available for purchase HERE. More information on the week’s events can be found HERE.

Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
Videos available at ClipMyHorse.TV

Make sure to visit the WEC Blog and follow us on social media @worldequestriancenter for full coverage on all feature classes! 

This event is made possible through the support of our generous sponsors and marketing partners, the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, and Ocala/Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau.