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AT THE START BOX, with Hawley Bennett-Awad
Professional Riders Organization
February 3, 2010

Canadian Olympic Team Member and PRO Member, Hawley Bennett, topped off a great 2009 season winning the Bromont Three-Day Event CCI*** with Gin & Juice co-owned by Linda Paine by getting married to Gamal Awad.  Hawley is based at Kingsway Farm in Temecula, CA

BIO

What horse changed your career?
That is an easy answer for me … Livingstone!!! “Hank” has been a part of every dream with me.  I was a very lucky girl when we purchased him 16 years ago.  I had only ridden up to the training level before him.  I did my first NAYRC,CCI *, **, Foxhall, Fair Hill, Rolex, Badminton, Pan Am Games, World Cup Final, and Olympics on him.  I am so grateful to have such a wonderful animal in my life.  I attribute every sponsorship and new ride to him.  When they say “horse of a lifetime,” Livingstone is mine.

Can you tell us about your pre-competition routine and/or rituals?
I always fall asleep going over my dressage test in my head the night before. For some reason, after the third time in my head I fall asleep.  I always walk the cross county course three times.  Any more than that and I start to change my mind!! The only “superstition” that I have, is that I have to have “fun design” socks on. I will never wear plain white socks.

What's the best advice you have for riders hoping to compete at the professional ranks?
Dream big, work hard, and with a little luck you never know what can happen!!  I am a girl from a small city, with not a lot of money and had one horse to get me to the upper levels for ten years.  I had to make a lot of sacrifices (moving away from my family and friends), working three jobs, I stayed in a tent at shows to save money, and missed going on trips and parties to get to where I am now.  I wanted this from a young age and stuck to my goals. I wrote in my second grade yearbook that I wanted to go to the 2000 Olympics (I missed that, but made Athens!!!) All those sacrifices were worth it!!

If you could ride any animal other than a horse, what would it be?
A dolphin or whale.  I have always wanted to be a trainer at Sea World!!! Good thing I live near San Diego, I am obsessed with Sea World!!

What is your educational background?
I grew up in Aldergrove, British Columbia and went to County Line Elementary, Aldergrove Senior Secondary, and then Kwantlen College for Criminology.  I always wanted to go to a big US College, but I focused on my riding.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be?
To be able to disappear or fly … tough choice.

Last book read?
I am actually not a big reader, unlike me family members!!  I have gotten into the Janet Evanovich (Stephanie Plum Series)

If you weren't a professional event rider, what would you be?
After watching Top Gun when I was little, I really wanted to be a fighter pilot!!  A close second would be a dolphin/whale trainer at Sea World … Good thing I live in San Diego with Sea World and Mir Mar close by!

What famous person (living or deceased) would you most like to have a conversation with?
Right now, that would be the singer Pink.  I love the fact that she is who she is.  Even though she is famous, she has not succumbed to being a celebrity.  I love her music and think that she would be a blast to hang out with!

Which phase do you like most and why?
Cross Country!!! That is why we event!!!!  I actually like all three phases … I enjoy the challenge of them all.  Riding multiple horses makes you like different phases on them all!!

How did your family respond to your decision to ride horses professionally?
My mom has been behind me from the start.  She taught me ‘til I was 17 years old.  She is defiantly my biggest fan!!! She is very proud of my decision!  My brother has been supportive and learnt to “love” horses!!  He plays hockey and would often wonder what I was doing every weekend with my horse Hank when I was at home growing up.  I was offered a lot of money for Hank when he was 8 yrs old.  My brother couldn’t understand why I didn’t sell him. He said that money was my future, I could by a house, be set up.  I had to explain to my brother… If he had a pair of hockey skates that could get him into the NHL Stanley Cup Final (any boys hockey dream), would he sell them???  He said no.  I told him, Hank is my pair of skates.  Hank got me to my “Stanley Cup Final.”

Which horseman/horsewoman has been the most influential in your own development or career?
Wow, there have been so many. I was so lucky to have grown up on a farm and been around horses.  I learned to love animals and take care of them from my mom.  I was lucky enough to be a part of Pony Club where we had such great horse people around… Pamela Arthur, Vic Thomas, Dianne Spencer, Leeza Williamson, Brinna Ellis, Jackie Oldham and Gerda Glaser to name a few.  After Pony Club, I was lucky enough to go the East Coast and be a working student for Bruce and Buck Davidson. That was an unbelievable opportunity.  Although it was tough, I will never forget what I learned at Chesterland.

Why PRO?
Buck Davidson introduced me to PRO this Spring.  I think PRO is a great idea and opportunity for our sport to become stronger as a whole. This will hopefully increase the exposure of Eventing in a positive way, receive the funding we need, and be the “voice” of the riders as a group.  I think that the PRO Tour is a great way to increase the level of community, corporate and media awareness of and participation in Three-Day Eventing. I think the next few years, is going to be very exciting for the members of PRO!!!