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1
Wednesday, October 06 2021 / Published in General

Dorrie Douglas: Bringing Out the Best in Every Horse

By Kimberly Gatto

Portraits by Kristie Nichols

Whether she is stylishly piloting a hunter around a derby course or racing against the clock in the jumper ring, Dorothy “Dorrie” Douglas has a knack for bringing out the best in any horse she rides. Dorrie—who rides for Mike McCormick and Tracy Fenney at their MTM Farm in Texas—is a well-respected young professional in the horse show world. As a key member of the MTM team, Dorrie is responsible for bringing along young horses and starting their careers on the A-show circuit. The secret behind Dorrie’s success involves a combination of raw talent, hard work and a genuine love of horses, coupled with a positive, upbeat attitude. 

As the daughter of a lifelong horsewoman, Dorrie was born into the horse world. Her mother, Karen Douglas, owns and operates Stonecroft Farm, a local hunter show barn in West Bridgewater, Massachusetts. Dorrie’s younger sister, Bridgit, is also an equestrian professional and is currently working for Kathy Haas at Rising Star Equestrian Center in Medway, Massachusetts.

Under the tutelage of her mom, Dorrie began showing at the tender age of 5, first competing in the short stirrup division before moving up to the pony hunters. Dorrie won many hunter and equitation classes at local shows as a young child aboard her first pony, a black-and-white pinto named Oreo Cookie. Later, the family would truck their horses to nearby Plympton, Massachusetts, to ride with trainer Fred Hunt at his Charisma Farm.

Like many Massachusetts-based teens, Dorrie competed in the Massachusetts (MHC) and New England (NEHC) Medals as well as in the Children’s and Junior Hunter divisions. She also dabbled in the jumper ring, often riding project horses from her mother’s farm. “I rode whatever was available to me—some hunters, some jumpers—often project horses,” Dorrie remembered. This required her to hone her skills on a variety of different horses, including green or quirky equines, rather than simply riding ready-made show mounts. The result was a strong, confident and highly adjustable rider. 

The Value of Education

In addition to her passion for horses, Dorrie always understood the importance of education. Following her graduation with honors from high school, she attended St. Lawrence University (SLU) in Canton, New York—a school that is well-known for the strength of its equestrian team in addition to top-notch academics. As a rider for the SLU team, Dorrie competed at IHSA Finals under the guidance of Mary Drueding and Cate Wagner. There she earned the reserve national championship in open equitation before graduating in 2009 with a degree in economics. “I really appreciated the structure of IEA,” Dorrie says. “Also, while on the team, I made a lot of wonderful friends with whom I shared a common interest in horses. I’m still in touch with many of those friends today.” 

One such friend, fellow rider and Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority sister Chelsie Bell, obtained a teaching job in Asia after graduating from SLU. Realizing the uniqueness of this opportunity, Dorrie opted to put horses on hold and accompany her friend overseas. For the next two years, Dorrie taught English at a private school in Seoul, South Korea, gaining valuable work—and life—experience in the process. “In our spare time, Chelsie and I traveled all over southeast Asia,” she says. “I would encourage people to go out and see the world. I feel this experience made me very well rounded as a person.” 

It also solidified her interest in riding professionally. “Attending college and working in Korea gave me some great experiences outside of horses,” she noted. “I always tell kids that horses are a lifelong opportunity and they should make sure that this is what they really want to do for a living. Either that or figure out how to make enough money in your career to be able to show on the weekends.”

A Return to Horses

By 2012, Dorrie was back in the States and ready to return to the horse world full time. Her work ethic and positive “can do” attitude put her in the right place at the right time. “When I came back to the U.S., I drove down to Ocala,” she remembered. “I had been away from the horse show world for a few years at that point. I found an ad on Yard and Groom for a position working for a barn that happened to be stabled next to MTM Farm. The original position from the ad had been filled by the time I got there, but the people there mentioned that I should talk to Mike and Tracy, which I did. It ended up being the opportunity of a lifetime.” 

Dorrie began working for MTM Farm as a proverbial jack of all trades. “I drove a trailer, filled water buckets, tacked up horses, braided—whatever was needed,” she said. As it turned out, she was the perfect fit for Mike and Tracy’s show stable. It worked out so well that Dorrie headed back to Texas with MTM Farm—rather than returning home to Massachusetts—after the winter show circuit. Along the way, Dorrie demonstrated her skill in the saddle when she was asked to hack a first-year green horse. 

That was nearly 10 years ago. The rest, as they say, is history. “I truly believe in good timing,” Dorrie says. “It was really just the right time for everything, and it all worked out perfectly.” 

A Perfect Partnership

As a pro rider for Mike and Tracy, Dorrie’s responsibilities shifted from fetching water and mucking stalls to providing the farm’s young imports with valuable show-ring experience. This included competing at the top national shows, where her talent and strong work ethic landed Dorrie in the upper echelon of the hunter world. Her style and flair in the hunter ring has resulted in a string of successes with many of MTM Farm’s young show horses. Dorrie placed fourth in the $500,000 Diamond Mills Hunter Prix in 2016 at HITS on the Hudson aboard the bay Dutch Warmblood S&L Just A Cobbler. The pair made their Devon debut the following season, earning good ribbons in the 3’6” Green Hunters. In 2018, she rode Abigail Davenport’s MTM Exceptional to a blue-ribbon finish in the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby at the Lamplight Equestrian Center, while also winning the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby with S&L Lion King, owned by S&L Farms. Since that time, Dorrie has piloted many other horses to victory in various hunter classes and derbies on the A circuit. This past winter, she guided the 7-year-old gelding MTM Dashing to a win in the $15,000 WEC Derby 3′, topping a field of nearly 30 elite horse-rider combinations.

In addition to being a successful hunter rider, Dorrie achieved a lifelong goal when she made her foray into the Grand Prix jumper ring. In 2015, she began competing the Belgian Warmblood S&L Elite, winning several Grand Prix, including the $50,000 Barrington Saddlery Grand Prix in 2015 and the $50,000 Equioxx Grand Prix at HITS Ocala in 2016. “Looking back, the experience that horse gave me was invaluable,” Dorrie shared. “He taught me how to ride a Grand Prix.” The winning duo often topped fields of 40 or more, including many riders that Dorrie had idolized as a child. “I had no idea how difficult it was to ride at that level, and am so grateful to Tracy and Mike, and of course, to S&L Elite, for that experience” she added.

While navigating the tight turns of the jumper ring involves a different plan than riding an elegant hunter course, Dorrie finds satisfaction in both. “The hunters keep you disciplined,” she said. “You have to find the jumps, get your lead changes, get the correct striding, and make it look nice. Riding in the hunters complements my jumper riding because if you are accurate in your riding, you will keep the jumps up. Similarly, riding in the jumpers helps you learn to make tighter turns, which will help in the handy hunter classes.” 

All About the Horses

A true horsewoman through and through, Dorrie says her proudest moments are not when she’s winning, but rather when she brings a young horse along and later sees it doing well with a new owner. “For me, giving the horses a good foundation and then seeing them excel with their new riders, often Juniors or Adult Amateurs—that is what it’s all about. And when people call saying they want an MTM horse, that’s a real compliment for us. It’s very rewarding to see the horses doing well with their new owners, and realizing that my work with them was successful.”

It also helps that MTM Farm is like a second home for Dorrie. “Tracy and Mike are like family, which is so important since we spend so much time together. They’re amazing trainers and teachers, and are always willing to give someone an opportunity. Mike is a true horse trainer and really loves teaching people how to ride. He focuses on each rider’s technique as well as the individual horse’s jumping style. There are always other professionals who want his help. I am forever grateful to be able to learn from someone like him on a daily basis!”

With her talent, hard work, and winning attitude, Dorrie sets an example of true horsemanship for riders of all ages. This was quite evident recently when a Junior equitation rider, Maddie Ahern, was asked in an interview for the name of the horse-rider combination she “looks up to the most.” Maddie’s reply to that question summed it up perfectly. She answered, “Dorrie Douglas on any horse she rides.” 

Photos by Kristie Nichols, moonfyrephotography.com

Riding clothes and yellow dress provided by Luxe EQ. 

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Tagged under: Equestrian Association (IEA) Team, hunter-jumper, IEA, Interscholastic Equestrian Association

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Lisa Goldman-Smolen and Ivaro N strike gold in Gre Lisa Goldman-Smolen and Ivaro N strike gold in Great American $300,000 Grand Prix at HITS Ocala!! 🏆🥇

Crowds filled the stands at the HITS Ocala Grand Prix Ring on Sunday afternoon to watch the world’s top athletes compete in the Great American $300,000 Grand Prix. The day concluded with a thrilling five-horse jump-off featuring athletes 
representing four countries. In the end, it was Lisa Goldman-Smolen (USA) and Ivaro N who produced the only double clear effort of the day, claiming one of the biggest wins of her career. Scott Keach (AUS) and Noble De La Chapelle earned the second-place prize with the fastest 4-fault jump-off, while Aaron Vale (USA) and Obi Wan placed third as the day’s pathfinders.

“I'm still on cloud nine, I still can't believe it – I’ve used up all my luck for the year,” smiled Goldman-Smolen after her win. “I've been knocking on the door a long time in these bigger classes. I am so proud of my horse – he gave every ounce of effort.”

Sunday’s Great American $300,000 Grand Prix marked the conclusion of the 2023 HITS Ocala circuit. HITS CCO Joe Norick concluded, “We are so excited about the new HITS, with 2023 as the launch. New footing, many new arenas here, and a lot of our facilities across America are getting a lot of love and new footing. Our partnerships with Worldly Martin and others across America including our footing leader Bart Poles overseeing our operations – it really makes a big difference for us. Today is about Ocala and these three riders sitting next to me who supported us this entire winter. We want to be a proud destination for our exhibitors and our friends. We know we have to provide them a beautiful showplace to work from that's horseman friendly, and that's our go goal. 

Congratulations to all of the riders, horses, owners, and groom who participated in this prestigious class!!! 🎉
📸 @esi_photography 
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It's #STUDSunday and today's featured stallion is. It's #STUDSunday and today's featured stallion is...

 ✨PF'S DIAMO BLUE✨
Diarado-Diamant de Semilly- Chacco Blue
17.0hh, Oldenburg International Hunter Derby/ Jumper Stallion
An outstanding Pedigree- Chacco Blue and Diamant de Semilly
WBFSH/ Rolex top ranking Jumping Sires 2017 thru 2022
Standing at Ryan Pedigo Sport Horses, in California

For more information, you can contact 
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You can find ALL of the stallions featured towards the back of the magazine in the equestrian gallery. Keep a look out EVERY Sunday for a new handsome STUD muffin🧁 and don't forget to subscribe to get your very own edition of Sidelines Magazine, the magazine for horse people, about horse people 🦄

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Annette Longenecker wasn’t just born into horses Annette Longenecker wasn’t just born into horses—in a way, she was born into her career. She grew up in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, where her parents ran a farm. Her mother taught, and her father had a jump business and then created one of the first horse show software programs: Ryegate Show Services, Inc.

Riding all her life, Annette spent many years as a groom and loved it, but knew it wasn’t what she wanted to do as a career. After she finished college, Annette’s father recruited her to help process entries at Ryegate. Since her father, Lloyd Longenecker, founded it in 1981, Ryegate has provided show management and office staff for some of the largest shows in the country. Now, Annette has taken over from her father and directed the company as it focuses on managing memberships and rankings for organizations such as the North American League, WIHS Championships and Equitation, Rolex/USEF Computer Ranking and National Medal Series (THIS NCM and Ariat NAM). Ryegate also provides scoring software for use with video walls, and production teams for hunter and jumper shows.

“Besides running Ryegate Show Services and its various organizations, I can be found in the show office, running a scoreboard or judging jumpers at most shows,” Annette said. “I love getting to wear a few different hats at the show.”

When she’s not busy at a show, Annette lives in Annville, Pennsylvania, with her “fur-baby,” Maggie Mae, and enjoys spending time with her many godchildren. Though she doesn’t currently own any horses, Annette rides when she can at Rolling Acres Farm with Patty Foster, Ashley Foster-Worthington and Mary Lisa Leffler.

Read this month unbridled with Annette Longenecker by clicking the link in our bio. Never miss a story by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine! 🦄
📸Photo by Sheryl Sutherby

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A column from Liz Halliday-Sharp herself The spor A column from Liz Halliday-Sharp herself 
The sport of eventing is a demanding and mentally challenging discipline that requires a combination of physical and mental fortitude from both the rider and horse. While having a coach can be incredibly beneficial, self-coaching can also play a crucial role in a rider’s success.

I think that given the opportunity, most riders would like to be coached every day. The reality of life in the horse world, however, is that the majority of us need to absorb as much from the lessons we have on a limited basis and then practice those skills at home to improve.

When I am riding, I try to have a plan for the horses each day and focus on what I’m looking to achieve. It’s important to be aware of the steady improvements rather than trying to solve everything all at once. This is especially important when teaching horses new movements or exercises that they might struggle with, and we need to give them time to learn and understand what we are asking for.

I have a couple of quotes that I use regularly when I’m teaching, and these are mottos that I hold myself to in my daily work as well.

The first is, “If you do what you have always done, you will get what you have always gotten.” This is a quote that was said to me many years ago when I was still motor racing and I keep it in the back of my mind each day. It’s easy to get stuck doing the same thing every day with your horse and bad habits are hard to break, from both riders and horses!

This leads me to my next quote, which is, “If what you are doing isn’t working, try something else.” It really is as simple as that! Many riders I see keep asking a horse to do something the same way over and over with an ongoing negative response and they wonder why things don’t get better. In these circumstances, I recommend that the rider change something, even if it’s wrong.

Read the full article by clicking the link in our bio! Don’t forget to keep your eye out for our April subscription!
📸Photo by Alex Banks Photography
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