Melissa, who is 23 years old, has been a part of the crew for twelve years now. She started with us when she was eleven years old, in love with our big horses and petrified of them all at the same time. Her previous horse experiences had been with her family's Standardbred race horses, and never before had she witnessed a horse of such large stature when she took the shortest mare on the farm for a cart ride her first day here. Since that day she has blossomed into a real horsewoman, taking the lead for the last five years in the way of showing, working horses, and training the rest of the show crew. Aside from the time she spends with us, she graduated form Cornell University in 2004 with a BS in Animal Science, and is currently in her third year of veterinary school at Tufts University in Massachusetts. She also served as a member of the Board of Directors of the American Shire Horse Association from 2003-2007, and served as chair of the association's youth committee from 2002-2009.

Showmanship... Here Melissa exhibits Ox Kill Quick Silver at the 2006 Altamont Fair. Since her start with us Melissa has won many Junior and Senior Showmanship classes at the Ohio State Fair, KILE, and NY State Fair, as well as county fairs, and we have come to rely on her each year to teach our show crew the finer points of showmanship.

Exhibitions... Here Melissa shows Isaac off in the 2007 Pfizer Fantasia at Equine Affaire in Springfield, MA. She has attended Equine Affaire with us each year and helps out in breed demonstrations, as well as at the ASHA breed booth talking to people about Shires.

Driving... Here Melissa drive Sophie at the 2007 NYS Fair in a Registered Mare Cart Class. Aside from teaching our interns about showmanship, she also helps them develop their driving skills so that they are able to participate in youth cart and team classes with the mares. Although she'll happily drive anything, her favorite hitch to drive is the tandem.