A born equestrian, Melissa Kelson, founder of MK Equine Services, sat atop her first pony at the age of seven, exercised her first thoroughbred at twelve and broke in her first horse just six years later. She has been a professional trainer ever since, accumulating more than 20 years in the horse industry.
Kelson, a native of the UK, officially began her career during summer breaks from college at the Glyn Sylen Farm in Carmarthenshire, where she took daily care of broodmares, youngstock and older competition horses. Following graduation in 1998 from DeMontfort University in Lincolnshire with a BS in Equine Science, Kelson took a position as a stud assistant with Broadstone Stud in Oxfordshire, then Colne Stud in Essex, specializing in the oversight of breeding, birthing and training of national level show ponies specifically raised for European competition in dressage, showjumping and eventing. Enrolling in the University of Wales in October 1999, Kelson finished with MS degree in Equine Science just two years later and began managing the Marros Riding Center in Carmarthenshire (www.marros-farm.co.uk ). At Marros, she supervised the daily care of more than 50 horses, trained young horses for use by the public and instructed beginner through advanced riders in preparation for competition.
The highlight of Kelson’s career, however, came in December 2003 when she arrived in the United States to work as Groom for Olympic Equestrian and Gold-Medalist McClain Ward. During her tenure with Ward, Kelson served as the traveling groom attending top level international shows on the Samsung Superleague tour as well as the Olympic and World Cup qualifying circuits. She took daily care of all of Ward’s competition horses, including his renowned Belgian Warmblood, Sapphire, assessed and administered their routine veterinary procedures, and maintained all equipment and paperwork while overseeing their international transportation. After three years working in barns all over the world, Kelson left Ward to settle down in New York. She currently works as the barn manager for Thornbrook Farms in Mt. Kisco, caring for retired, breeding and competition horses.
Kelson is a certified Equine Sports Massage Therapist and a member of the International Association of Animal Massage Therapists. She spends her free time exercising horses in Upstate New York and running marathons across the country.
To contact Melissa please email melissa@mkequineservices.com