One Big Thing: Remembering Sandra McDonald
USEA/Meagan DeLisle photo.
At the 2022 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention, Sandra McDonald received a standing ovation from all in attendance as she received the USEA Ironmaster Trophy. This award is presented to a nominated individual in the eventing community that exemplifies fortitude and courage, and Sandra certainly did so above all else as she fought breast cancer while riding throughout her chemotherapy treatments.
On January 17th, a statement from Sandra’s husband, Ian, was shared across the eventing community on Facebook:
With a very heavy heart I am sharing that Sandra passed away this morning after a long and brave fight with cancer.
Sandra was known by so many and we are both so grateful for so many caring friends. She was fiercely proud and independent. Her horses and & dogs brought her the greatest joy. Her mother was one of her greatest supporters, always standing beside her with unwavering love and encouragement.
I want to thank everyone who shared in Sandra’s life – her friends, riding coaches, and her family who loved, laughed and cheered with her through the ups and downs. You meant more to her than you know. Her spirit lives on in the horses she loved and the friendships she built. She will be missed beyond words.
At this point there are no plans for visitation/memorial service.
With love and gratitude,
Ian
After a weekend of showing in 2019, Sandra’s diagnosis of aggressive Stage 4 breast cancer triggered a rallying of the eventing community as she prepared for a treatment journey — one that would consist of radical surgeries, chemotherapy, and 43 consecutive radiation treatments over the following year. The Aiken local’s one goal approaching treatment was to be able to ride in the Pine Top Thanksgiving Horse Trials later that year, competing in horse trials as she regained strength on up to four horses.
After a riding accident in 2022 leading to a broken leg, Sandra was shocked to learn that her cancer had metastasized, spreading to her spine and skeletal system. Despite being told that she would never ride again, Sandra told her oncologist, “Doc, if you take my horses away from me, I am not gonna make it through this,” and was back in the saddle six weeks later.
Several members of the local eventing community nominated Sandra for the Ironmaster Trophy back in 2022, writing: “We are nominating Sandra because she isn’t known in our area for being ‘that rider who has cancer’ — we are nominating her because she is known for her amazing wicked sense of humor, her determination to ride, and her outstanding courage.”
Sandra committed herself to eventing throughout the remaining years of her journey thanks to her endless resilience, the support of her community, and her soulmate Ian, of whom she said, “H e is the love of my life, and I wouldn’t have made it without him. I embraced my diagnosis as openly as I could and we both met it head-on, fighting with everything we could possibly fight with. Ultimately, it is going to get me, but it’ll get me when I have done everything that I have wanted to do and we have done everything that we have wanted to do as a couple.”
From the Eventing Community:
The world seems a little smaller and less bright today. My friend, Sandra McDonald left this earth after a long battle with cancer this weekend. Honestly, she was so tough and brave, I guess I deluded myself that this outcome was just not possible, so I’m still in shock.
I think the thing I most admired about Sandra was her bravery. Whether it was riding one of her giant, athletic horses on a fresh day or staring down cancer, she never flinched. She never complained, she never let anything get in the way of her passion for riding. She faced every thing head on like a steam train. When I get nervous or anxious, I often think “try to be like Sandra”.
I’m going to so miss our long phone calls. I had hoped to finally spend time with her in Florida this winter. I guess a weird blessing is I saw her a lot when my brother was hospitalized because she was there too. I would bounce between them picking her up a Starbucks along the long walk between the ICU and the cancer floor. You would never guess how sick she was because she was always cheerful and concerned about MY problems instead of talking about hers. But that was Sandra. Always a supportive friend and always your best cheerleader. Always worried about everyone else more than herself.
Being an animal lover, many beloved pets and horses went before her. I hope she is reunited with all of them in a healthy body that doesn’t hold her back. Love you Sandra. Thanks for being my friend.
– Merance Adams
Saddened to learn today of Sandra McDonalds passing after her long battle with cancer. It’s been a long road, that you met with smiles and grit– but now you get to kick on and have some of the best rides ever. I will miss chatting with you around and about…. and of course, seeing you gallop through my lens. Aiken lost a good one, so very sorry Ian Mcdonald.
– Chris O’Hagen Quinn
I will never forget being in that room as Sandra McDonald won the Ironmaster Trophy. A room full of people touched by Sandra’s courages efforts as she battled that terrible disease and the tears that streamed down Sandra’s face. She fought every day with a smile on her face. She was always one of my biggest cheerleaders and I’ll miss her hugs and her high fives. But more than that I’ll miss the spirit she had, the kindness she gave, and the fight she gave every single day.
Sandra I hope you’re finally free from that terrible disease, watching down knowing the eventing world is a lot more dim because you left us. Rest easy, my friend. 💔
– Chris Talley
US Events This Weekend
Rocking Horse Winter I HT (FL): [Website] [Entries] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]
Ram Tap Combined Test (CA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Live Scores]
Full Gallop Farm January HT (SC): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times]
Other Links and Reading
Training Tip of the Day
Try this grid exercise from Grid Pro Quo on your next training day!
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Courtesy of Stephen S. Bradley on Facebook.
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Go Eventing
Tom McEwen and his four-legged team have been excelling in the indoor during these winter months, including a recent Grand Prix win!
