Dorothy McDonall

Female

Ontario

Canada

Profile Information:

A Bit About Me and my Horse(s): I live a full life with my horse, my writing and my art.

First riding lesson: on a Welsh pony named Welshman at a small riding school called Frithmanor Stables in North Finchley, London, England, by an old English military man named John. He was wearing one of those old brown barn coats and a tweed cap. I was nine years old.
First fall: off a large four-year-old liver chestnut mare named Kimberly who decided she didn't want to be lead horse in a change of direction across the diagonal at trot. She bucked like a bronco and dumped me big time at 'X." I'd only been riding a year. First four-foot jump: at a stable in north London (England) riding a former David Broome mount named "Fleur," during a stride counting exercise. I was 18, I think, and it was a thrill of a life time.
First exposure to dressage/classical riding: Photos in a horse book of the Spanish Riding School.
First horse: Thirty-five years after my first riding lesson and many, many schoolies later, I finally became a horse mom. March 17, 2005, Lloyd and I purchased a four-year-old German-bred Hanoverian named Shakespeare (lovingly referred to as "Bear.") I could not have asked for a better first horse. He was definitely worth the wait. I have dressage dreams; he has dreams of eating carrots all day!

Apart from all of that ... I am an EC certified level 1 coach (1997); Bronze level certified trainer in Chris Irwin's methods (2005); Past President of Toronto CADORA (2007-2010), and recipient of an Ontario Equestrian Federation 2008 "People Who Make A Difference" Award.

Past member of Toastmasters International (Towns of York and Northern Lights Advanced Club) and to date have achieved my Advanced Communicator Bronze (ACB) and Competent Leader (CL) designations.

Also, runner-up in an international travel writing contest sponsored by British heritage magazine ... REALM. (2010)

When I'm not horsing around I write, create veil paintings, spend time with my dogs and travel. In 2009 I embarked on the journey of Karate and recently achieved my Green belt.
Country: Canada
Website:: http://www.dorothymcdonall.wordpress.com
Do you have any pets?: One horse, two collie dogs and two kitty kats

Comment Wall:

Load Previous Comments

Circustrix12

I love your dog!

Feb 7, 2009
Dorothea Hill

Thanks for the welcome from Dorothea to Dorothy............
Yes Oil City is near Sarnia. Like you I also grew up in the UK, have been in Canada since 1975.......... love it - a proud Canadian by choice!!

Feb 7, 2009
Janine Cheung

Hi Dorothy - I remember you!

Thanks for the welcome to Barnmice, I look forward to sharing much information about Jin Shin Jyutsu as time goes by! ;)

Feb 8, 2009
Buddy Brewer

Hi Dorothy,
I am a silver certified Chris Irwin trainer in TN, USA. Just meeting some of Chris' "friends" on Barnmice. Chris will be in my area on March 28-29 for a clinic. I will try to report back to everyone about the event.

Mar 1, 2009
Anne Gage

Hi, Dorothy ... Chris will be at Riversong Ranch Mar 14-16. I was thinking of coming to the March 7th D&D, but I see it is sold out. That's what I get for procrastinating.

Cheers!

Mar 2, 2009
IrishRider

Thank you. It's one of my favorite photographers, Tim Flach. He takes amazing pictures of all animals but did a special project dedicated to the horse. Beautiful stuff.

Mar 4, 2009
Andrea Menzel

Thank you so much for the compliment. We were both a bit nervous as we had never ridden infront of a crowd together before and I wasn't completely sure what to expect. It was great fun and so fantastic to be in the ring with Christie!

Mar 8, 2009
Barbara F.

Back already? How was it??

Mar 15, 2009
C Tanner Jensen

Thanks for the kond words.Have a great day,Tanner

Mar 28, 2009
katelyn

you are very good at painting nice horse

Apr 8, 2009
CAVALLI HANNOVER ITALIA

hallo Dorothy ,nice to meet you on barnmice!! of course I'll join the h. lovers group .I live in Italy not far from Rome.we are Hanoverian Breeders. I hope to hear of you soon

Apr 9, 2009
Paul Hillier

No problem, glad I could help.

Apr 9, 2009
CAVALLI HANNOVER ITALIA

You can read of us in english visiting http://www.letrequerce.net

Apr 10, 2009
Canadian Starz

Thanks Dorthy for your lovely comment on our new 2009 Baby "Elton". (Eastern Pacific) Pending. Hoping to team this youngster up in the future, along with our other Canadian Pacific Colt, to a Fantastic Canadian Young Rider, for the upper levels of Competition, as we are ourselves creeping upwards for age.

Apr 11, 2009
Amanda Burden

Hi there. Yes, wonderful portrait! Debbie gave me some great tips to help my art work. Also ...let me know when next dressage or associated clinics are. Do you keep Shakespeare at the Royal Academy??

May 31, 2009
Nora Thomson

Thanks for the poitive thoughts, I'm excited and nervous at the same time as this is a bigger bike ride than I have ever undertaken before. I'm sure my karate sprit will help me through and yes we will go out for a drink after karate to celebrate - maybe after your grading to make it a double celebration!!

Jun 12, 2009
Sonia

Hi Dorothy!

I'm sorry I couldn't make it to Christilot's clinic, I so wanted to go! How was it?

Sonia

Jun 15, 2009
Jane Heart

Hi Dorothy! What a coincidence we meet here...so glad those worked out...take a peek at the site www.janeheart.com some new things will be up soon...are you on my regular email mailing list? Missed you at World Cup this year....Jane

Jun 20, 2009
Barbara Sky Horse

Hello Dorothy, and Thanks So Much for taking the time to greet me.
I'm a bit shocked and embarressed that I have "comments" directed to me ... I swear I didn't know!! .. *laughing* ... I'm just in my fledgling stumbling stage here in Barn Mice .. but be patient, I'll find my feet and then Watch Out!!!
Thanks again!! .. ~ Barby

Jun 24, 2009
Carol Whitaker

Hey Dorthy, thank you for your welcome... I would be happy to give you fitness advice, I have a fitness blog you can check out, its www.liveskinnynow.com. I'm looking forward to getting to know you! Have an awesome weekend! =) Carol

Jun 28, 2009
Jennifer Lamm

Hi!! Your pictures remind me of some of mine... a bay, a gray, collies... :) I have a bay, a gray and shelties.. :)

Jun 29, 2009
Jennifer Lamm

My daughter is 28 and made me an empty nester 10 years ago and since then I've gotten my animals to keep me busy..... and I love them... :) I have 4 cats, 2 birds and a bunny too....

Jun 29, 2009
Barney Cummings

We'll have to stop meeting like that. People will talk

Jul 5, 2009
Kevan

Thanks for the nice comments on my work Dorothy. Glad you like what you see!

Jul 9, 2009
bettyann lemist

thank you for welcoming me to Barnmic! its a wonderful community of caring people!
i am still on wobbly legs trying to figure out how to manuever around the barn...but i promise i will get better!
thank you for the comments on my work....hopefully i will get to see everyone elses soon!

Jul 11, 2009
Anne Marie Turnbull

Dorothy like you always been horsy however it was the photos of your rough collies that caught my eye, because I have always kept collies, my present collie came from the rescue home I have had her for four years I enjoy this site ti read others comments but I have noticed that not many members from good old England

Jul 17, 2009
Anne Marie Turnbull

Dorothy we live at Corley Moor which is in the West Midlands area between Coventry and B'Ham. I have lived here all my life a little bit of oasis between the towns, both daugthers and their family live close, seeing them every day and very much involved with taking Chloe show jumping (chief cook and bottle washer but would not miss it for the world) meet loads of like minded people.

Jul 18, 2009
Amanda Burden

Thanks Dorothy!!! You have a great weekend as well. Catch up later.

Jul 31, 2009
Christine Johnston

Am checking out some of our suppliers. Will keep an eye out for seat sales too. Will try and get something for next week.

Cheers

Sep 16, 2009
Barnmice Admin

Buenos Aires?! What fun! What sends you there, Dorothy?

Oct 3, 2009
Kim McElroy

Hi Dorothy, Thanks for connecting. How does this site work? How did you know I was here? I'm still getting used to all these types of sites : ) !! Yes the work is continuing to go well, releasing a new dvd on Secrets of Drawing Horses due out soon... : ) Also might come to Toronto in the Spring - Deborah is trying to put together another holistic horse expo.
Kim

Nov 22, 2009
JulieG

I'm glad you enjoyed the photos of United Colours! They were taken by Wendy Webb Photography :-)

Dec 9, 2009
Robyn Naish

Hey!
thx, the grey was my second fav, my first fav was taken away about a year ago. :( :( :( :( :( I'll be sure to join Toronto CADORA and TC youth

Jan 8, 2010
deb

thanks for welcome.horses are my passion and i'm hoping to compete again this year at palgrave but in first level . had fun last year doing training level.

Mar 13, 2010
Kelly Reid

Thanks!!

Mar 17, 2010
Benjamin Keevil

Thanks Dorothy, I already learned from the CADORA Barnmice group that the Phoenix Tipperary Event Vest is one of the safest and most comfortable protection vests and I have only been a member for 5 minutes!

On Mar 20, I went to the www.CanAmEquine.ca show in London, Ontario --- saw Cindy Ishoy ride, Susan Harris and the Visible Horse, and Lauren Bode www.AnimalTalk.ca communicate with three of the horses from the Canadian Cowgirls. Looking forward to attending some CADORA events this summer. Benjamin

Mar 25, 2010
Audrey O'Handley

Hi Dorothy,

I read your profile and am already dying to meet you and Shakespeare :) Sounds like you have a love of life that is contagious!!

Audrey

Mar 25, 2010
Audrey O'Handley

I agree! Horses give back to us in so many ways. As you said, they teach us to rise to the challenge and move forward. I couldn't live without them in my daily life for that very reason. I also involved my daughter from day one in order to establish wonderful life lessons, not just for "riding" :)

Mar 25, 2010
Tania Sendel

Thank you!

Mar 30, 2010
Donnie

Hi Bear,
I hope you'll join my new Barnmice group "The Horse Club". No humans allowed!
Donnie Fogler

Mar 31, 2010
Donnie

Hi Bear, those humans make it so difficult! You need to sign up with your own new email address or your human can join as your proxy and you can take it from there!

Mar 31, 2010
Cary Andrew Penny

Thanks for commenting on my pics Dorothy. If I ever put a calender together I'll let you know. Cheers, Cary

Apr 6, 2010
Holly Anne Thompson

i do !!!!!!!!!!!!!
could you tell a little about yourself!!!!

Apr 16, 2010
Holly Anne Thompson

kool!!!!!!!!!

Apr 18, 2010
Alison Plumbtree

Thanks for the nice welcome! Driving is a lot of fun...you should give it a try if you get the chance!

Apr 19, 2010
Steve

Hi Dorothy: my name is Stephen Sharf. I am Barbara Foglers cousin and we were just out for dinner together and Barb had mentioned your collies. I have a sheltie who is 11 and I have just ordered a collie that will be delivered later this summer from a litter at Cornerstone collies (Irene Snow) Do you know of them and how do you like your collies? Let me know.

Apr 24, 2010
Steve

Thanks for the reponse Dorothy.
Yes I know Ennismoor as I had contacted them during my research for buying my dog. Nice photos of Sass and Abbey. Elegent looking girls. I know about the herding instinct of some of the herding dogs as I have an 11 year old sheltie named Otto ( I used to jog with him) who used to herd me and my kids at the cottage when they were all younger. Otto grew out of the herding stuff as I used to correct him. I'm still debating on which colour to choose as Irene, the breeder, is breeding two more litters later this spring which will most likely result in Merles and Mahogony sables. I like them all so I will most likely go for the best tempered puppy. I'm looking forward to it though I hope I'll be all right with such a big dog as I have always had smaller breeds but I love this breed. I knew of Cornerstone from years back when I was considering a collie but was reminded about them again the second time, last year, by seeing a beautiful Collie I saw down at that big Toronto dog fest thing they have downtown every year where the streets are closed off ...I forget the name of the event...anyways this lady had a most beautiful Blue collie named Neut and she told me that Irene Snow was the breeder so I contacted her again, but this time I gave her a deposit. I expect to get 2nd choice after Irene sometime later this summer! I see that you have bred Sass. Do you plan more Dorothy?
Thanks for your response Dorothy.
Talk to you later.
Steve

Apr 27, 2010
Frank de Greef

Hi Dorothy,

Yes, it was quite a task, translating Chris Irwin's "Dark Horse."

Who is BTW - who visited the city of 's-Hertogenbosch in Holland?

Frank.

Jun 15, 2010
Frank de Greef

Thanks! In Dutch BTW is a very common, well-known abbreviation, it stands for "Belasting Toegevoegde Waarde," which roughly means Augmented Value Tax.
Is it usual to end an email with Cheerz!? I got emails from Chris Irwin that also ended with Cheerz, but I thought it meant he was drinking (alcohol) and wished I did the same…

Den Bosch is, indeed, a great (little) city!

Frank.

Jun 16, 2010
Frank de Greef

There is one publisher - Rozhanitsa in Kampen - very interested in publishing the translation, but I don’t know what their plans are yet. They have very recently published the new book by Klaus Ferdinand Hempfling, and they are working on the translation of Kathy Pike's new book Hope from the heart of horses, so maybe they want to wait a couple of months. I expect to hear from them this week. Tell your girlfriend in Den Bosch to check out the website of Rozhanitsa regularly: http://www.rozhanitsa.nl/page/voorpagina.

Frank.

Jun 16, 2010