Thermal, Calif. – Erynn Ballard and Chatadel PS kicked off 2025 with a win in the stallion’s CSI2* debut, and now, the pair is closing out the year in the same fashion. On Thursday, December 11, Ballard piloted the 8-year-old Oldenburg to victory in the $32,000 Alora Sporthorses CSI2* Speed at Desert International Horse Park.
“I think it’s pretty cool that his first FEI show as an 8-year-old, he won, and he’s finishing his last show here in the desert with another win!” said Ballard. “It’s hard when your 8-year-old wins in January. It’s like, ‘What do you do with them for the rest of the year?’ You basically just wait until they turn 9! He has had a pretty cool year though. He went to Aachen; he jumped the youngster tour there. We pick and choose where we use him. I think he’s ready to be 9 and ready to move up into the 1.50m, but we brought him here for [Desert Holiday] because California is obviously good to us. It’s been good to him, and it’s a nice way to finish the year.”
Erynn Ballard and Chatadel PS. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo
Ballard and Chatadel PS, owned by Ilan Ferder and Jose Salgado Negrete, were one of 52 entries to take on Thursday’s CSI2* course, designed by Olaf Petersen Jr.
When they entered ring as the 38th pair to jump, the lead had been held for more than 30 trips by Michael Duffy and Chili Pepper H M Z, but Ballard and Chatadel made besting them look easy as they crossed the finish in a winning 65.22 seconds. The USA’s Kaitlin Campbell and Cosm Hesed, owned by Mirasol Equestrian, ultimately slid into second place on a time of 65.98 seconds, and Duffy’s time of 66.83 seconds held up for third place for the Irish rider.
“Michael won for the first half of the class, and he got beat in the end. In general, it’s great competition here,” said Ballard (CAN) in speaking of the simultaneous CSI2* and CSI5* competition offered at Desert Holiday 2. “It’s a hard enough CSI2* division when you’ve got a pretty stacked CSI5* roster, so it’s a great opportunity for young horses. It gives our 8-year-olds the opportunity. It gives them an FEI record, and it definitely makes them ready.”
Erynn Ballard and Chatadel PS. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo
Ballard continued, “If you say next year Chatadel could be my best team horse for Major League [Show Jumping] with all of his experience, I would say that you’re probably right. So, to have the opportunity to jump the CSI2* and CSI5* together is great for us as riders. It’s amazing for our developing horses, and it makes the younger riders better and stronger because it makes them rise to the occasion to compete with us.”
When speaking of what makes Chatadel so special, Ballard describes him as “the perfect stallion.”
“I like following bloodlines; I’m interested in breeding,” said Ballard. “I don’t know what makes a good breeding stallion, but to me, he’s a horse that I would want to ride 100 of. There should be 100 of him; everybody should have one! To me, every single day that you ride him is a pleasure. He has an amazing mentality for a stallion. He’s super kind, well behaved. His manners are perfect. He’s got everything you want in a sport horse. He’s fast. He’s careful. He’s good off the left. He’s good off the right. You basically just don’t mess him up, and he’s there for you to win every time.”
Erynn Ballard and Chatadel PS. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo
To view full results of the $32,000 Alora Sporthorses CSI2* Speed, click here.
Competition at Desert Holiday 2 continues through Sunday, December 14, with highlights including Friday’s $200,000 MLSJ CSI5* Team Competition, presented by Clip My Horse, and Saturday night’s $340,000 Go Rentals CSI5* Grand Prix beginning at 6 p.m. For a full schedule of events, click here.