The Donnelly Legacy Foundation
Honoring Our Heritage
In the Spirit of the Legacy
In the spirit of the Legacy built by John and Mary Donnelly, Alborak Stable continues to honor their vision. John and Mary built equestrian facilities for all to enjoy horses, ranching, and the sport of eventing. Both John and Mary spent much of their free time supporting the enjoyment of the horse at their home in West Jumping Pound.
Upon Mary's retirement from teaching Junior High Science, they built an equestrian facility and riding school which Mary managed and operated. This facility became a cornerstone of the community, welcoming riders of all ages and abilities.
John Donnelly
John was a highly respected engineer in the field of in-situ heavy oil recovery. His career took him around the world designing and improving heavy oil recovery projects.
His passion for everything mountains and horse filled his spare time. He volunteered for numerous boards which supported education and grassroots of equestrian sport. His own passion for horses included the sport of eventing.
John's commitment to education and grassroots development in equestrian sport reflected his belief that everyone should have access to the transformative power of horses and the outdoors.
Mary Donnelly
In addition to ensuring everything on the farm was running smoothly, Mary spent countless hours taking people out on 'hacks' around the countryside.
She was known for moving swiftly to cover more ground in a shorter time period. She took great pleasure in sharing the amazing trails with all who were interested. She gave many an increased confidence riding their horses across varied terrain at a variety of speeds.
Mary's dedication to education extended beyond the classroom. Through her work at the riding school and her passion for sharing the trails, she created opportunities for countless individuals to discover the joy of horsemanship.
A Shared Passion for Eventing
Both John and Mary were avid participants in the sport of eventing and encouraged all to join them. Supporting lifelong participation in equestrian sport, they led by doing and also by ensuring there were awards for athletes of all ages.
They noted plenty of awards for juniors, young riders, and high performance athletes, however, they noticed nothing for adult riders. This led to their sponsorship of awards for riders over the age of 50. They believed horses and horse sport was for everyone!
Continuing the Legacy
In the spirit of John and Mary, the Donnelly Legacy Foundation will continue to support the facilities built by John and Mary along with the encouragement of all to join and enjoy the horse and equestrian sport.
The Donnelly Legacy Foundation is committed to creating a Safe Sport Community where all will be welcome who share the love of the horse and the outdoors. This community is founded on education and acceptance of everyone who chooses to join.
We acknowledge that there is no perfect society and are committed to an ever evolving society always looking for ways to do things better. We will look to our participants for direction and guidance to ensure all feel welcome and included. We acknowledge that education is the answer, not withdrawing or exclusion.
Support the Legacy
Please consider donating to The Donnelly Legacy Foundation. All funds will go directly to supporting John and Mary's Legacy. This will include education programs for all ages to gain experience and exposure to the horse.