One of the best known figures in Scottish equestrian circles has died at the age of 76.
Dorothy Dawson was a successful breeder of Welsh section As, section Bs, and show hunter ponies in her own right, but for the last 20 years had also been a prolific freelance reporter for a number of publications, including The Courier, for which she first wrote in the early 1990s.
With her husband Stuart, a retired banker, she spent the summer months criss-crossing the country, reporting on horse shows and breed events. Her enthusiasm was such that not only the horses and ponies were described in great detail but also the stories of the owners and riders.
Dorothy’s copy was never late and a Saturday show report would invariably be typed and despatched before she and Stuart set off from their home at Currie for Sunday morning service at St Anne’s, Corstorphine, where they both served as church elders.
Born and brought up in Edinburgh, Dorothy attended Mary Erskine School, before studying to become a teacher at Moray House. Her working life was spent as a primary teacher at schools in Edinburgh but horses remained a lifelong passion.
In her earlier years as a breeder she showed her first pony, the Welsh Witch, with some success. Later, along with her son David, she built up their own Davdor stud.
Dorothy bought her first Welsh section A pony Waxwing Arrow shortly after the Kinross Show, in 1987, which was followed not long after by the section B pony Quatro Alisha, which she also purchased from Waxwing. The Davdor stud’s most marked success came from the home-bred show hunter pony Davdor Alan, winner of a clutch of awards including from the Royal International Horse Show, and also from Davdor Alastair.
David was diagnosed with a brain tumour in childhood, which was treated but sadly returned in adult life. David died in 1996.
David Blair, of the Waxwing Stud, at Saline, said:”Dorothy’s dedication as a journalist was unbelievable. She would always be at a show from first thing in the morning and stay the whole day.
“She was real character, she loved to travel and was always very affectionately know throughout the Scottish equestrian show circuit as Dotty.”
Mrs Dawson is survived by her husband Stuart. They had been due to celebrate their golden wedding in July.