91原创鈥檚 Tiffany Foster had an unlucky round on Sunday, May 26, in the Major League Show Jumping Grand Prix at Thunderbird Show Park, but Canada still has a rider in the competition.

Riding Northern Light, a 13-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare owned by Foster and Artisan Farms, the previous MLSJ Grand Prix winner and two-time Olympian had a round with two faults that led her to retire from the competition.

But for Ontarian Erynn Ballard, it was a very lucky day as she won first place in the jump-off following the initial round of 25 riders.

It was Ballard鈥檚 first five-star Grand Prix victory of her career, besting the other seven horses with Nikka vd Bisschop 鈥� a horse she has ridden for less than two months and never jumped with before 鈥� with a time of 41.59 seconds.

鈥淎t 1.60 metres, it鈥檚 hard to go fast on any horse and be accurate and be careful and have your timing [right], but to do that on a horse you don鈥檛 know is a different level,鈥� Ballard said. 鈥淏ut I think that she鈥檚 the kind of horse that is right there with you.鈥�

Grant Seger riding Frieda finished second with 42.35 seconds, followed by Nayel Nassar riding Igor van de Wittemoere finishing third with a single rail (4/41.12).

鈥淭o win here and following Tiffany鈥檚 [Foster] win here last year, I think that鈥檚 pretty cool for the home crowd,鈥� Ballard commented.

Ballard is aiming to make her first Olympic team this summer, and she鈥檚 excited about the opportunities partnering with Nikka could bring her.

鈥淚鈥檓 confident with how she jumps combinations. I can challenge her in and know I have scope coming out,鈥� she continued. 鈥淎nd then the crowd wished [the rail] back in the cups for me [when we rubbed the last vertical],鈥� Ballard commented.

The mare previously jumped at the 2022 FEI World Jumping Championships (DEN) with Beth Underhill (CAN). Ballard was on that team as well with her longtime mount, Gakhir.

Coming next, tbird will host a world championship hunter rider event from May 29 to June 2.

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