“He’s a fairly new ride for me,” Ballard said of her winning ride, a 15-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding (Balou du Rouet x Lucky Light). “I’d never jumped with him until we got here five weeks ago. But it’s a super competitive horse. I’m really enjoying the ride on him. The goal is to jump him in some two-stars.”
The Great Lakes Equestrian Festival, presented by B&D Builders, wrapped up six weeks of competition Sunday at Flintfields Horse Park. Erynn Ballard added one more victory to her remarkable summer in the $20,000 1.40-1.45m Jumper Classic, while Team Ghere closed out the $10,000 World Wide Technology Non Pro Team Jumper Challenge with a fault-free team performance and jump-off win.
Erynn Ballard and Engerupgaards Cezanne race to victory in the $20,000 1.40-1.45m Jumper Classic, adding one more win to Ballard’s successful Great Lakes Equestrian Festival. Photo: Natalie Suto Photography
Erynn Ballard Snags One More Win in 1.40-1.45m Jumper Classic as GLEF Comes to a Close
Ballard takes her winning momentum to the World Championships before returning to Traverse City for two weeks of CSI5* competition this fall.
Erynn Ballard couldn’t let the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival, presented by B&D Builders, end without one more win. Coming into the $20,000 1.40-1.45m Jumper Classic on a winning streak, she produced one more fast double-clear aboard Engerupgaards Cezanne to finish on a high and add another victory to her resume.
“He’s a fairly new ride for me,” Ballard said of her winning ride, a 15-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding (Balou du Rouet x Lucky Light). “I’d never jumped with him until we got here five weeks ago. But it’s a super competitive horse. I’m really enjoying the ride on him. The goal is to jump him in some two-stars.”
Ballard just barely edged out Paul O’Shea, who finished in second with Primo CBI Cornet, less than half a second off the pace. Only a tenth of a second off O’Shea’s time was Jake Endicott aboard Kariludine S, so the race for the top spot was tight.
Ballard was on a mission from day one in Traverse City to go faster, and while she feels she succeeded over the six weeks, she still sees room to improve.
Erynn Ballard and Engerupgaards Cezanne celebrate their victory in the $20,000 1.40-1.45m Jumper Classic during the final day of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival. Photo: Natalie Suto Photography
“My future goal is to be stronger in the grand prix,” she explained of where she feels she fell short. “I was placed top 10 in every single grand prix that I did, but I never had a win. So for myself, it is those classes I need to improve on.”
Ballard now takes that momentum to Europe, where she will represent Canada at the FEI World Championships in Aachen.
“I never had a bad class,” she continued. “I think this week I won 10 classes. From the 7-year-olds to the three-star speed, and now this class.
To be that strong is a testament to the crew that we have, to our program, to our horses, to our grooms, to our owners, and everybody that’s here cheering for us, it certainly doesn’t take just one. And I’m so lucky that I can win on so many different horses.”
The winning feeling is a great one to have as she takes her next venture over to Europe. She’ll pilot Fave d’Athuit, who had a strong circuit and is fresh and ready to go on one of the world’s biggest stages.
“That success going into Europe, it’s a good last class to have,” she remarked. “It’s a good vibe to keep rolling with. We roll with that through Europe, and then we come back here strong in September.”
Her season just keeps heating up from this point, so Ballard will be back and eager for more wins come September in Traverse City.
“The fall is certainly five-star heavy in North America, so we plan for that,” she remarked. “I think that we’ve had a great circuit. None of our horses have done too many classes. They’ve all jumped the right amount of classes. They’re all confident, and now we see what we have at the next level.”
Team Ghere Captures $10,000 World Wide Technology Non Pro Team Jumper Challenge Final
Team Ghere—Katie Neily, Teddie Goffstein, Evan Werner, and Monty Holmsten—celebrate their victory in the $10,000 World Wide Technology Non Pro Team Jumper Challenge Final after finishing the two team rounds without a fault. Photo: Natalie Suto Photography
Team Ghere stays fault-free before Teddie Goffstein seals the victory in a head-to-head jump-off
In the final installment of the $10,000 World Wide Technology Non Pro Team Jumper Challenge, Team Ghere not only took the grand prize but also had a blast as they powered through with all clear rounds and big smiles.
Riders Evan Werner, Katie Neily, Monty Holmsten, and Teddie Goffstein finished the two team rounds without a fault—an impressive feat, especially on the final day of competition at the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival.
”It’s so much fun getting to ride on a team,” Werner shared about her experience, not actually having to jump her final round because her teammates performed flawlessly. “In this sport, we don’t get to do that a lot, so classes like this that the horse show offers are really exciting, and it’s nice to be able to do this with a bunch of people.”
Teddie Goffstein and Zara HBZ Z clinch the win for Team Ghere in the jump-off of the $10,000 World Wide Technology Non Pro Team Jumper Challenge Final. Photo: Natalie Suto Photography
Goffstein had the pressure-filled role of going head-to-head in a jump-off to break the tie for the win. Facing Team Rinehart, which had also finished the team rounds without a fault, Goffstein returned second aboard Zara HBZ Z knowing exactly what she needed to do. Luke Rinehart, the opposing team’s jump-off rider, had one rail down in a fast time, allowing Goffstein to prioritize a clear round and clinch the victory.
“After Luke had a rail I just kind of let her do her thing, and I tried not to turn too tight,” she reflected on her strategy over the short course.
All four Team Ghere riders are preparing to return to their respective schools, with several planning to return to Traverse City for more competition in September before turning their attention to fall indoor championships
All three teams celebrate on the podium following the final $10,000 World Wide Technology Non Pro Team Jumper Challenge of the 2026 season at the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival. Photo: Natalie Suto Photography
“This is the most fun class they do here, for sure,” Goffstein went on. “Getting to ride on a team, they don’t really do anything else like this unless it’s a Nations Cup or Young Riders. It’s fun for us to do this in a more fun, less competitive format, just having fun. Especially on the last day.”
Competition returns to Traverse City on September 2 with the Silver Oak Jumper Tournament, kicking off three weeks of hunter, jumper, and equitation competition during the Tournament of Champions.
Looking Ahead: The Tournament of Champions Awaits
The Tournament of Champions offers two consecutive weeks of five-star competition, highlighted by Major League Show Jumping and the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Traverse City for the American Gold Cup presented by Frank & Eileen.
With approximately 10 of the world’s top 30 riders expected to compete, juniors and amateurs already onsite at Flintfields Horse Park will have a front-row seat to world-class sport, joined by spectators from across the region for one of North America’s premier fall destinations.
Competitors can still reserve stalls and submit entries, while spectators can purchase tickets and plan their visit at TraverseCityHorseShows.com.
Source: Traverse City Horse Shows