ASTWOOD LIVERY STABLES

Melanie was 'born in the saddle' on her parents stud and grew up around thoroughbred stallions and youngstock. Melanie's parents have bred hundreds of foals and broken and produced countless sport horses. Melanie enjoyed great success with ponies during her Pony Club years; with her homebred 14.2hh winning or placing second in every Pony Club Horse Trails entered and representing PC dressage and eventing teams.

On leaving school Melanie gained the BHSAI under Islay Auty and Becky Johnston and then set up her own Event yard on her parents stud. Further success was enjoyed with home produced youngsters and 'problem' horses; placing at Novice and Intermediate Horse Trails at each outing. Culminating in the Intermediate Championships where she scored the best dressage score of the day, beating many proffessionals including Mark Todd and Ginny Leng.

When Melanie moved on to pure Dressage she spent a season as head girl to a Belgian Olympic Team member, and was also lucky enough to spend a summer at the Eilbergs where she was honoured to be allowed to watch many of Ferdi's lessons and gained a real understanding of the correct way to work a horse! On home produced youngsters Melanie qualified for the regionals at every level up to Medium. Circumstance forced Melanie to stop competing but she continued training with David Pincus and schooled her own horse up to PSG at home.

Melanie has a huge passion for young horses and horses that have 'lost their way' believing that optimum performance in the dressage arena begins in the stable; with individual care and understanding for each and every horse.