Erynn Ballard
Photo Credit: Al Cook Photography
The $36,000 CSI 3* Keystone Classic Speed Stake, held on Oct. 18 at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg, PA, ended in a tie between Erynn Ballard of Tottenham, ON, and Sydney Shulman riding for Israel. Twenty-five entries contested the speed course designed by Canadian Olympic silver medalist Michel Vaillancourt, and Ballard and Judge hof ter Zeedycke, a 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood owned by Skymaster LLC, set the time to beat at 52.59 seconds. That time would prove to be unbeatable, but not uncatchable, as Shulman and Azilis du Mesnil crossed the finish in an identical 52.59 seconds to tie for the victory.
Canadian Tent Pegging Team
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Tent Pegging Canada
On Oct. 19, the Canadian Tent Pegging Team traveled to Bixby, OK, for the American Regional Friendly Tent Pegging Competition, organized by the American Regional Tent Pegging Federation, hosted by the United States Tent Pegging Federation, and sponsored by the International Tent Pegging Federation. Five Canadian combinations made it through a selection qualifier to earn a spot on Team Canada: Catherine Anne Morton and Buster; Aurangzeb Mubashar and Tiana; Muhammad Zawar Hamza and Penny; Rana Mumtaz Ahmad and Brisco; and team captain, Talal Ahmad Chaudhry on Rocky. Supported by Chef d’Équipe, Joe Mohamed, Team Canada earned the gold medal on a total score of 80 points.
Kara Chad
Across the ocean, Kara Chad of Millarville, AB, showcased her speed in the CSI 2* competition in Lier, BEL, on Oct. 20. She rode Viva (Now or Never M x Carbid), a 10-year-old Hanoverian mare owned by Torrey Pines Stable Inc., to a clear round in a lightning-fast 27.55 seconds for the win by nearly two seconds over Matthew Sampson of Great Britain and Centos Girl, who stopped the timers at 29.00 seconds.