Ben Hobday returns to competition after cancer battle
Ben Hobday has completed his first horse trials since his recent battle with cancer.
The popular four-star eventer competed at Lincolnshire Horse Trials on 18 March.
He rode youngsters Ekamorka, Shadow Cointreau Z and Shadow Soldier in the BE100.
“First event back,” Ben wrote on his Facebook page. “[It] felt great! All my babies had their first run and were very grown up.”
27-year-old Ben was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma at the end of June last year and underwent treatment at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle.
Badminton final scores
He announced he was in remission from cancer on 18 November.
That day he told H&H he was feeling “very relieved”.
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“I can get back to normal life and enjoy life,” he said.
He added the support he has had from everyone, including the hospital staff, his fiancee Emma Carmichael and her family, his family and the staff on the yard has been “amazing”.
Badminton Horse Trials
Ben has been put on the wait list for Badminton Horse Trials in May.
Fans keen to see the star take part in the iconic four-star have set up a Facebook page entitled Ben Hobday to go to Badminton.
“He is a real crowd pleaser and the sport needs him to bring it back into the media spotlight,” said Sharon Smallridge.
However, Katy Ferrari pointed out that Badminton is run on qualification points, not “who they choose to let in”.
“No amount of campaigning will change this unfortunately,” she said. “Nice to show your support though.”
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Rachael joined Horse & Hound in 2014, initially as a digital sub editor then became part of the news team as a writer in 2015. The philosophy graduate studied journalism at the Press Association before working as a local reporter at the Brentwood Gazette. Rachael is now a mum of two and still loves all things equestrian, including hacking, dressage and jumping with her cob Bert. Rachael left the H&H staff to go freelance in June 2019, but still contributes to our magazine and website, as well as our sister magazine Country Life, among others.