Tributes have been flooding in for popular Perthshire rider and trainer Mary McFarlane who died on Sunday after a long battle with cancer.
An accomplished rider in both eventing and dressage, Mary, who was born in 1956, had a talent and enthusiasm for both disciplines. Competing from an early age, she had a successful career despite bouts of ill health that plagued her adult life.
Mary, from Blairgowrie, eclipsed all with her professionalism, taking many quite ordinary horses on to do extraordinary things. A fall at an event in 2002 led to her decision to concentrate on dressage.
So began a long commitment to the training of young riders. This was best illustrated by her lending Ibby McPherson her horse McCallan.
This resulted in the opportunity of a lifetime for Ibby and McCallan to twice represent Britain internationally in the junior event team.
Mary went on to train with Barbara Slane-Fleming and for a time with Richard Davidson and developed a successful and respected system of teaching.
In her dressage career her ability to get the best out of any horse meant she remained at the top of Scottish Dressage despite recurring health problems, and she continued to compete at top level until 2012.
She took up the role of British Dressage BYRDS representative for Scotland and watched, trained and supported Scotland’s young riders.
She was instrumental in helping Scottish dressage riders achieve the high standards we see today.
She was also instrumental in the training of her husband Jock’s driving horses, helping him to three national titles and to be part of the British team in Portugal in 2012.
In 2011 she was presented with the British Horse Society trainer of the year award.
She will be remembered for her generosity of spirit and the respect she commanded in the equestrian world.