DOROTHY Guilford, who died unexpectedly on January 25th in her 90th year, was a force of nature much mourned at the time of her passing by her family and close friends while now her absence is being keenly felt in the wider equestrian world.

Here we are mainly talking about the Irish Pony Society and Irish Pony Club circuits but Dorothy’s interests extended to racing, eventing, hunting and showing in general (she judged on both sides of the Irish Sea). Her contribution to equestrianism was recognised when she was presented with a National Hall of Fame award in 2016 and a Dublin Horse Show award two years later.

Dorothy Maud Macnamara was born in Dublin in 1935, living firstly in Killiney and then in Stillorgan. She attended Diocesan School For Girls and was an energetic member of The Girls’ Brigade. When she left school, Dorothy took up a position as a working pupil at Iris Kellett’s stables on Mespil Road in Dublin where her passion for horses developed.

At that time, the Kellett yard not only produced international show jumpers but also offered a top-class livery service and provided all the facilities of a leading riding school. It was here that Dorothy was prepared for her BHSAI examination which she passed with flying colours. She also schooled Iris’s young horses, jumping at the RDS many times.

Dorothy married Ronald Guilford in 1955 and their honeymoon was spent attending meetings at most of the British racecourses which ignited her interest in racing. The couple had three children Elizabeth, Simon and Susan.

Dorothy was District Commissioner of the Bray Branch of the Irish Pony Club for 35 years, mentoring teams in mounted games, eventing, show jumping, dressage, musical rides and vaulting. She also chaperoned IPC members on hunting exchanges to Britain and the United States. For Dorothy, organising Pony Club camp and rallies was as important as picking teams because these were for the grassroot members of the IPC. She was also very involved with Riding for the Disabled, being an instructor with the South County Dublin Group for many years.

Support

Dorothy was a big supporter of her daughters Elizabeth and Susan in both showing and eventing (Simon preferred to be out of the saddle and was a keen racegoer), and, subsequently, a top fan of Elizabeth’s daughters Sophie, Rosemary and Hannah (Wentges) in their many equestrian pursuits.

She never missed an opportunity to travel all over the country with them while, heading further afield, there were many trips to the British Show Pony Society championships in firstly Peterborough and then Grantham.

She went on other trips to Britain to support Susan’s children Holly (a member of the British schools’ ski team) and Patrick MacDonald (alpine extreme skier).

There are a lot of stories surrounding those trips but, suffice it to say, there was never a dull moment. She was chef d’equipe for three European working hunter championships and formed a formidable partnership with her good friend and neighbour Johnny Kyle as trainer.

In 2019, Dorothy travelled over to England to support Rosemary in The Golden Button race while in 2023 she attended the European working hunter championships in Scotland. Right up to last year, she would hop in her car and travel to as many shows as she could. She will be hugely missed.

Dorothy Guilford is survived by her children Elizabeth, Simon and Susan, her sisters Hazel and Gillian and extended family.