Ottawa, Ontario— A dream came true for Hawley Bennett of Langley, BC when she completed the CCI 4* Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, held May 3-6 in Badminton, Gloucestershire, England.

Bennett, riding her long-time partner and 2004 Olympic mount she co-owns with her mother, Gerry, the 17-year-old thoroughbred gelding, Livingstone, affectionately called ‘Hank’, finished in 30th place against some of the world’s best eventing competitors.  A total of 77 horse/rider combinations representing 14 countries contested Badminton, however over 20 horses were withdrawn before the cross-country over concerns for the unusually hard footing, due to non-typical spring weather conditions.

A dressage score of 58.8 had the pair standing in 62nd heading into  cross-country, but after putting in a solid performance over the 45 jumping efforts, designed by FEI ‘I’ level Eventing course designer Hugh Thomas, adding just 26.4 penalties to their score, they jumped up the standings to sit in the 33rd position.

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