Dorothy McDonall
  • Female
  • Aurora, Ontario
  • Canada
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Hmmm ... when are you ever too old?!!! I'm 40 (plus another number ... ;-) )
yesterday
I have to say Black Beauty. It's something I watched over and over again when I was little and now I'm filled with great memories every time I see it. I still cry every time I watch it. I haven't seen a lot of the older ones (I'm too young for the...
yesterday
TC Youth is a development program geared to helping youth achieve their dressage dreams. The program has been established to provide educational opportunities geared to the specific needs of the youth. And to have lots of FUN!!
on Friday
Dorothy McDonall and TC Youth are now friends
on Friday
The Classical Riding Club since 1969. Promoting grassroots education, horse-friendly training and management techniques and the sport of dressage in the Toronto area and beyond.
on Friday
I have so many favorites it's hard to choose. But one not mentioned here is 'Champion', about a jump race rider that got cancer. I also absolutely love 'Hot to Trot' with Bob Goldthwait, about a two-dollar better who learns to converse with horses.
on Thursday
on Thursday
Age is just a number ... ;-)
on Wednesday

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 Hanovarian 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. Have recently started the journey of Karate. 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, General RidingAdvice

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Dorothy McDonall's Blog

Dorothy McDonall

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

Posted on May 11, 2009 at 6:00pm — 6 Comments

Dorothy McDonall

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

Posted on February 14, 2009 at 10:00am — 1 Comment

Dorothy McDonall

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

Dorothy McDonall

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

Posted on August 1, 2008 at 5:30pm —

Dorothy McDonall

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

Continue

Posted on February 29, 2008 at 3:47pm — 2 Comments

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At 3:09pm on November 22, 2009, Kim McElroy said…
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
At 7:36pm on October 14, 2009, Marie-Lynn Hammond said…
Hi Dorothy! Sorry you won't make it, but the OCFF is worth doing for sure. Hope you had a good trip. Have yet to read your work due to complications re my concert (I thought the organizers would have sorted out all the details, but they're all volunteers, so.....I'm busier than expected!)

Let's touch base next wk. Break a leg in Ottawa!
At 11:56am on October 3, 2009, Barnmice Admin said…
Buenos Aires?! What fun! What sends you there, Dorothy?
At 7:21pm on September 16, 2009, Christine Johnston said…
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
At 8:59pm on July 31, 2009, Amanda Burden said…
Thanks Dorothy!!! You have a great weekend as well. Catch up later.
At 5:17am on July 18, 2009, Anne Marie Turnbull said…
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.
At 2:41pm on July 17, 2009, Anne Marie Turnbull said…
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
At 4:43pm on July 16, 2009, Marie-Lynn Hammond said…
I sure did! the Canadian Horse community knew about it long before it came out (certain breeders had been contacted as part of Canada Post's research,plus the community had been lobbying for a long time to get a stamp) so we were all at the post office the day it was released. :-) I bought several booklets, of course. Interestingly, the Cdn horse on the stamp is for sale and ironically he's in the US right now. I've been eyeing him since he went up for sale, but there's no way I can own again. I just dream. :-)


mlh
At 3:37pm on July 11, 2009, bettyann lemist said…
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!
At 12:52am on July 9, 2009, Kevan said…
Thanks for the nice comments on my work Dorothy. Glad you like what you see!
 
 

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