Maffitt Lake Farms

As a young adult she bred and raised Thoroughbreds and Thoroughbred/Warmblood crosses. Bringing her first foal, Micah, to second level dressage zone awards and then onto Amateur Owner Hunter Championships, he late became a top East Coast Equitation horse.

Melinda was a founding member of the Moingona Fox Hunt in 1979 and participated as a whipper-in for the first several seasons. First earning her colors as a member of the North Hills Hunt and then as a member of Moingona. Melinda also served as a member of the Hunt board of directors and is currently and active patron member.

Melinda was also a founder of the Iowa Dressage and Combined Training Association and served on its board for several years. She is a past Board Member and past President of the Iowa Nebraska Hunter Jumper Association and currently a member of the zone 6 NHJC committee as well as on the National USE Education Committee.

Melinda moved from pony club to dressage to eventing to fox hunting, and as a student of nationally known trainer George Schneider finally combined her expertise into the competitive world of hunters and jumpers.

While Melinda was raising horses and contributing to the horse community she was also busy raising two active daughters. Megan, her first-born daughter, rode in the Raccoon Valley Pony Club, Moingona Hunt and the INHJA circuit. Her competitive horse show divisions included Large Pony, Green Pony, Children’s Hunter, Junior Hunter, and finally Adult Amateur Hunter.

Her youngest daughter, Libby is also very involved in equestrian activities. She started out in the Small Pony division and is currently showing in Amateur/Owner Hunter and Amateur/Owner Jumper and has shown in just about every division in between. Libby was also very active with pony club as a child and earned her colors as a junior whipper-in for the Moingona hunt.

As a riding instructor, Melinda has coached several students to the Maclay Finals, USET finals, Harrisburg and numerous championships both regional and nationally.

Currently, Melinda is teaching all levels of riders from competitive show riders to fox hunters and lower level dressage enthusiasts, while at the same time buying and selling young hunters and jumpers. She also owns two horses who are competing at the Grand Prix level. She Continues to run a successful training program that for over 30 years has been located on her beautiful Maffitt Lake Farms, just Southwest of Des Moines, Iowa.