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MAY 2026 Vol. 56 Issue No. 7 • ISSN: 1209-3955 Overall Leading Lady Rider Award Erynn Ballard Wins


Presented by Martha W. Jolicoeur and Douglas Elliman


Wellington, Florida


– Canadian Olympian Erynn Ballard earned the Overall Leading Lady Rider Award, presented by Martha W. Jolicoeur together with Douglas Elliman, after amassing the most points over the course of the 2026 Win-


ter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington, FL.


The Leading Lady


Rider Award was pre- sented each week of WEF to the female ath- lete who earned the most points based on perform- ances in that week’s WEF Challenge Cup and featured grand prix event. Despite not winning a weekly award, Ballard kept adding points to her total week after week with consistent perform- ances. At the end of the season, Ballard sat atop the standings with a total of 557 points to claim the Overall Leading Lady title.


Nina Mallevaey of Continued on Page 3.


Photo by New Image Media


Had To be Fabulous - QROOI Horse of the Year - See Pg 23


Ontario Equine Expo - Page 13 Photo of Amberley Snyder by Seafind Photography


Canadian Olympian Erynn Ballard, pictured aboard Her Game Ball BG, earned the Overall Leading Lady Rider Award, presented by Martha W. Jolicoeur to-


gether with Douglas Elliman, following consistent performances throughout the 2026 Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL. Photo by Sportfot


Turning Barrels for a Bigger Purpose: Supporting Farmer Mental Health


Date: May 30, 2026 Loca- tion: Charlie Hill Equine 6090 Fourth Line, Orton, Ontario L0N 1N0 Events: Open 4D Barrels, Youth (18 & Under) Bar- rels, Open Poles, Dash for Cash Time: Expos: 10am Start Time. Race: 11:30am Start Time Host: Sienna Sovereign (Pictured at Right)


The Ontario barrel


racing community will be coming together for more than just competition this spring. On May 30, 2026, riders and supporters will gather at Charlie Hill


Equine for the Farmers Dash Fundraiser Barrel Race, an event dedicated to supporting farmer men- tal health through the Farmer Wellness Initiative and Agriculture Wellness Ontario. The event is being or-


ganized by Sienna Sover- eign, who hopes to use the power of the equine com- munity to support another vital part of agriculture: farmers. Sovereign previously


co-hosted the Brain Power Barrel Race two years ago and has been motivated ever since to organize an-


Continued on Page 3. INSIDE


Remembering........................................................4 Obituary: Ken Peterson.........................................4 Susan Dahl ............................................................6 Equine Nutrition ...................................................8 LAER Training .................................................9 From the Trainer’s Eye ...................................10 OXC News......................................................12 Rescued Hearts ...............................................13 Ontario Equine Expo ......................................14 Shannon Burwash Memorial Awards..............15 ORCHA News ................................................16 ORHA News ...................................................18 Erin Horse Heritage Movie Night .....................20 Extreme Cowboy ............................................21 Flexibility for Riders.......................................21 OQHA News ..................................................22 QROOI News..................................................23 Trillium Hunter/Jumper News ........................25 Anne Gage Column ............................................26 Pony Club News .................................................26 Lynn Palm.......................................................27 Dressage Championships................................27 Horse Listening...............................................28 Lindsay Grice Column....................................29 FoxRun Results...............................................29 Building an Essential Grooming Kit ....................30 Gerald Wismer Memorial Open Barn.............31 Marketplace Directories ............................32-36 Rider Events....................................................37 Real Estate ......................................................38 4CYTE™ Partners with Equestian Canada ....38


Material for the June 2026 Issue must be in our office by May 13, 2026. Copy arriving after that date will be used in the July 2026 Issue. Send to P.O. Box 378, Fonthill, ON L0S 1E0 or call us at (905) 387-1900 • Price $3.95 email: barry@therider.com • www.therider.com


Second Class postage paid in Toronto, Ontario. Mailed under Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement #40051707. Serial Number 1209-3955 Address correction requested.


Now carrying Adam and


4 Star Trailers


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