On October 15, 2017, Selena O’Hanlon and Foxwood High became the first Canadian eventing pair to win the Fair Hill International CCI ***. Believing the prizes from the victory included $15,000 USD in prize money and a free flight, courtesy of Dutta Corp., to a destination of her choice to compete internationally, O’Hanlon and John Rumble, “Woody’s” owner, began preparations to send the duo to the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials CCI**** in England. Six weeks later, however, O’Hanlon learned that there would be no flight and that her prize money would be significantly less than expected.

A release issued by U.S. Equestrian Dec. 14, 2017 stated that, “It is our understanding that the event announcer did make a mistake when also announcing [O’Hanlon] as the recipient of the free flight from The Dutta Corp… “[T]he flight [is awarded] to the U.S. combination that wins the USEF CCI*** Eventing National Championship.”

As a Canadian athlete, O’Hanlon was not entitled to the prize as she had previously thought. O’Hanlon and Foxwood High’s owner, former Canadian Olympian John Rumble, had to reorganize their efforts in order to accommodate an international flight as they had made plans to take Foxwood High to the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials CCI**** in England, fulfilling a dream that Rumble had had for many years. It was one that neither he nor O’Hanlon was willing to give up.

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