Growing up in Southwestern Ohio, Melissa started riding at the age of 5 when her mom, who homeschooled Melissa, was looking for a phys ed activity for her kindergartner. Mom started giving Melissa lessons on a little paint pony at a boarding and riding facility owned by long-time friends of the family. There at Old Stone Riding Center, Melissa continued her riding activities, eventually leasing a palomino pony, Goldie. With Goldie, Melissa got her first taste of eventing at the age of 9, competing in Old Stone’s mini-trial on Goldie and winning both individual and team gold!

Melissa continued having fun and learning on horses of her own: first Chloe, a petite, un-raced thoroughbred mare with an awesome pedigree (daughter of Cryptoclearance out of a stakes-winning mare!) and then, Maddie, who Melissa took to her first pony club rally at the Kentucky Horse Park in 2001.

Melissa also enjoyed working with her dogs during this time: participating in junior showmanship, obedience, agility, field work, and conformation with the family's Flat-coated Retrievers. She even assisted teaching agility and obedience classes, starting her on her way towards her love of teaching. But, horse stuff soon kept her too busy; the dog activities began to take a back seat to the horse activities and finally the dog stuff "surrendered!"

More horses soon followed. In the summer of 2002, Scotch joined the family, followed by Zero in the fall of 2004, and Deacon and Finn in 2007.

Melissa and Scotch have had a tremendous partnership, competing up through the CCI* and Intermediate levels of the sport. And, Zero, in his all-to-short time with us, gave Melissa a wonderful learning experience, as she started him from an ex-racehorse greenie and took him up to preliminary in two years.

Scotch and Melissa have twice competed in the North American Young Riders Championships, earning team bronze for Area VIII in 2005 and team silver and an individual 8th in 2006.

Melissa has also been successful in helping other horse owners sell horses. She has introduced several sale horses to the sport of eventing and then found them new homes. This has been a great opportunity for Melissa, as well as assisting the owners.

Melissa is a "B" rated Pony Club member and plans to try for her H-A in 2008. She "graduated" from homeschool in 2006 and is currently taking classes at Miami University, working her class schedule into a busy riding, training, instructing, and competition schedule.