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Dorothy McDonall
- Female
- Aurora, Ontario
- Canada
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- Blog Posts (13)
- Discussions (174)
- Events (1)
- Horse Communities (31)
- Photos (28)
- Photo Albums
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Dorothy McDonall's Groups
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Trainer on Retainer by R…
31 members
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Spiritual Seekers United
13 members
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Mare Stare Viewers
166 members
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Horse Light
13 members
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Dressage Canada
36 members
Dorothy McDonall's Discussions
Dorothy McDonall's Page
Latest Activity
Inspiring!
Nice!
Congratulations, Barbara. He looks lovely! I hope you enjoy many wonderful years together. :-)
im struggling to get a video up loaded on utube or fb. the file is too large for barnmice. any suggestions??
A group for people who love the Hanoverian horse. Share your stories; tell us about your Hano and why you love him or her
Since I am a computer idiot, if you want to see D'Artagnan, there are a couple of photos of him in my photo album, here on Barnmice. I will put some more in at some point.
Profile Information
- About Me:
- I live a full life with my horse, my writing, my singing 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, however I look back now and wonder what on earth I was thinking.
First exposure to dressage/classical riding: Photos in a horse book of the Spanish Riding School. Have always loved that "look." And when I realized I could combine dressage with my love of music, decided many years ago that I wanted to put together my own Kur. I'm still dreaming of that.
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); President of Toronto CADORA, and recipient of an Ontario Equestrian Federation 2008 People Who Make A Difference Award.
Member of Toastmasters International (Towns of York in Aurora and Northern Lights Advanced Club, also in Aurora) and to date have achieved my Advanced Communicator Bronze (ACB) and Competent Leader (CL) designations.
When I'm not horsing around I perform in the Toronto area in a vocal trio called the ChoirGirlz; write my novel and paint my veil paintings. In 2009 I started the journey of Karate and recently achieved my Orange belt. Am teaching myself how to play the Ukelele. :-)
- Country
- Canada
- Website:
- http://www.choirgirlz.com
- Do you have any pets?
- One horse, two collie dogs and two kitty kats
- Topics of Interest
- Dressage, Training, General RidingAdvice, Horse Care
Dorothy McDonall's Photos
Dorothy McDonall's Blog
I did it again ...
... I tried to share with non-horsey people the elation and overwhelming sense of "being" I felt after an "Aha!" moment with my horse.
Picture this ... it's my once-a-quarter dressage lesson with Canadian Olympian Belinda Trussell at her beautiful Oakcrest Farms. The second of a long series of thunderstorms looms on the horizon as I enter the magnificent arena to start warming up for our 45-minute lesson. As the lesson begins, a rumble of thunder introduces the stormy symphony that's to follow… Continue
Picture this ... it's my once-a-quarter dressage lesson with Canadian Olympian Belinda Trussell at her beautiful Oakcrest Farms. The second of a long series of thunderstorms looms on the horizon as I enter the magnificent arena to start warming up for our 45-minute lesson. As the lesson begins, a rumble of thunder introduces the stormy symphony that's to follow… Continue
Posted on May 11, 2009 at 6:00pm — 6 Comments
Shakespeare in love ...
Lest anyone think that Valentine's Day is going to pass us by without a jaunty love missive from one Shakespeare the Equine, let me not disappoint you but offer, herewith, his ode to one fair filly who lives down the aisle ... Happy Valentine's Day!!!
Fair Damsel
To Fergie
Is it thine amorous eye
That seizes mine awareness,
Or the wistful yearning of thy
Tender whispers in mine attentive ear?
I know not save the craving
In mine heart for thee.
Of a certainty thou dost often
Appe… Continue
Fair Damsel
To Fergie
Is it thine amorous eye
That seizes mine awareness,
Or the wistful yearning of thy
Tender whispers in mine attentive ear?
I know not save the craving
In mine heart for thee.
Of a certainty thou dost often
Appe… Continue
Posted on February 14, 2009 at 10:00am — 1 Comment
Season's Greetings
It's a snowy Boxing Day in Aurora, Ontario. Having no respect for time and a head full of cold symptoms, I managed to pull myself out of bed around 10:30 a.m. and have been able to simply enjoy the experience of being -- such a rare occurence lately with all the hustle and bustle of the past few months. My spirits were warmed as I ate my granola and fruit breakfast and read the report in today's Globe and Mail (front page too!) of the successful efforts of a group of people in McBride, British C… Continue
Posted on December 26, 2008 at 1:21pm — 1 Comment
Talk to the hoof
Yesterday was "Talk to the Hoof" day. No matter what I did, how hard I asked, begged, cajoled or pleaded with my leg, I was greeted with "talk to the hoof." Bear was simply not interested in listening to my opinion or in going forward the way I wanted him to.
Was it the heat? We worked in the arena because the sand ring was too soggy, and even with the doors thrown wide open, there wasn't a lot of air circulation. We both were coated in sweat when we were done. (This lady doesn't 'glow' after a… Continue
Was it the heat? We worked in the arena because the sand ring was too soggy, and even with the doors thrown wide open, there wasn't a lot of air circulation. We both were coated in sweat when we were done. (This lady doesn't 'glow' after a… Continue
Posted on August 1, 2008 at 5:30pm —
Thought for the day -- IX: That darn left lead ...
No quotes today, folks, just a moment to expound upon the frustration of the elusive left lead pick up.
It's elusive because I'm not nailing the cues Mr. Bear needs to make it happen. He asks me "Is this what you want?" as he throws his head up and moves into a faster trot; "Or is this what you want?" as he slows down to do the little prance thing that he thinks I'm requesting? "No buddy, that's not it!" I respond as patiently as I'm able. I half halt to rebalance and attempt again to
… ContinuePosted on February 29, 2008 at 3:47pm — 2 Comments
Comment Wall (94 comments)
- At 9:31am on June 16, 2010,
Frank de Greef said… - 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.
- At 6:29am on June 16, 2010,
Frank de Greef said…
- 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.
- At 10:16am on June 15, 2010,
Frank de Greef said…
- 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.
- At 12:25am on April 30, 2010,
Lisa Cossetto said… - Thanks! It was great to meet you too and see pictures of your lovely horse. Take care.
- At 9:41pm on April 27, 2010,
Steve said… - 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
- At 10:31pm on April 24, 2010,
Steve said…
- 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.
- At 7:53am on April 19, 2010,
Alison Plumbtree said… - Thanks for the nice welcome! Driving is a lot of fun...you should give it a try if you get the chance!
- At 6:22pm on April 18, 2010,
Holly Anne Thompson said… - kool!!!!!!!!!
- At 4:48pm on April 16, 2010,
Holly Anne Thompson said…
- i do !!!!!!!!!!!!!
could you tell a little about yourself!!!!
- At 8:58am on April 14, 2010,
Ann Tuppert said… - Thanks! I'm sure I'll have a grand time!
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Latest Activity
Thanks Karen....have a great day!!
The late medieval nobility turned dressage into a sport by giving public demonstrations of "horse ballets" to wow the commoners during public celebrations. They would do airs above the ground as well as movements on the ground. The late medieval kni…
Special thanks to Wendy Christoff for submitting this to DC's Communications Committee.
There are horses that do not think the little fences are worth worrying about.
Are you lungeing him over the jumps just in a cavesson, or are you using side reins too? Do you lunge over jumps with a saddle on? Do not use side reins (I am not saying…
Where did I state that medival dressage was humane and correct?
I have stipulated that the SRS under Podhajsky presented dressage more correctly.
I know who Kottas is and he is not a horseman!
Podhajsky was a horseman and even General Patton was a h…
Hi Guys,One of the biggest mistakes riders make when we're trying to overcome horseback riding fears is that we direct our efforts toward the conscious mind. You know--willpower, iron-jawed determination. The problem with that strategy is that you c…
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