Melissa Hale

Hello there! My name’s Mel and I’ll be one of the Equestrian directors at Augusta this summer!

I hail from jolly ol’ England, more precisely a little village called Orrell in the North-West. I spent most my childhood with my dad either exploring the outdoors or curled up inside watching cheesy old spy movies and spaghetti westerns (maybe a few too many if others’ accounts are to be believed). We moved around a little bit when I was younger – actually living in a pub when I was about 4; this is where my love of horses began. We had just moved in to the old-timey pub in the countryside where across the road was a quaint little stable.

I was very fortunate to be encouraged to take up extra activities outside of school and this included a rather extensive riding education. I became very involved in my riding school and as I got older I spent more and more of my free time there. I was a ‘helper’ or rather a volunteer who would help younger riders by leading them around the arena up to 6 hours a day, and then mucking out stalls, cleaning the yard and maintaining the horses. I even took on paid work to be able to save up and buy my own horse when I was 15. I bought him from that riding school I’d attended for the 10 years prior; his name was William. I always thought it was funny we were the same age and he was my horse of a life time. I learned so much with him and he was my best friend. Sadly when I went off to University I had to let him go. It broke my heart. I guess I had some luck because he ended up going to a lovely farm which do riding lessons for disabled children and use their other livestock as therapy animals. He was very happy there and he made a huge difference in so many children’s lives!

I’ll be turning 22 just before the main season kicks in!

This is my first year at Camp Augusta; however, I have worked at another summer camp previously. I was a counsellor in a girl scouts camp in sunny Conroe, Texas, where I was often found in the barn teaching English, or learning Western styles of riding.

I will have just finished my undergraduate degree in Zoology when I arrive at Augusta (I fly out a day after my final exam!). I chose to study zoology when my grand plans of becoming a veterinarian didn’t pan out. However, it’s true what they say: “when one door closes another opens.” Thanks to my change of career path I have met so many wonderful and inspiring people and they’ve given me a plethora of new goals.

I plan to study Parasitology at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) in the coming September and I’m unbelievably excited to have gotten in. It was the first school of tropical medicine in the world and they have some of the most advanced and innovative research happening right now. I hope to find a place on one of these illustrious research teams or, if I’m lucky, spear-head my own one day. I want to help the people who are suffering from diseases (caused at least in part by parasites) which theoretically could be cured in our life time and increase their quality of life infinitely.

I was very much that person who signed up for everything in school. I was on the football team, the rounders team, the netball team, school paper… I tended to bite off more than I could chew in the hobby department; however, as I’ve grown I’ve stuck to the things which give me the most joy and fulfilment, as such I’d say my most relevant hobbies are:

Horse riding – I’ve been an avid equestrian since I was 4/5 years old. I like to think I’ve had a good rounded experience of riding pursuits, from English disciplines such as dressage and show-jumping to more Western styles and even some Vaulting experience. I’ll admit my dressage is weak at best and I’m much more at home racing over some cross-country obstacles or maybe an intricate show jumping course. Then again I also love just going out into the woods and letting my horse lead me where he/she wants to, I’ve found some pretty incredible hidden gems that way.

Jujitsu – When I was 14 I was unfortunate enough to get into a bad situation in school which led to me being in the hospital for a few days. I was attacked by 3 girls after trying to defend my best friend in high school. After that it was suggested by my father I learn self-defence. The next day I was enrolled in Orrell Jujitsu weekly classes. I quickly fell in love with the martial art and pursued it up to a 1st Dan Black Belt which I received just after my 18th birthday. I then became a sensei at the club and saw many younger students with similar starting points as myself. I taught them that self-defence is more than just about “fighting”; it’s about confidence and discipline. They call me sensei Mello!

Climbing – When I started university I also joined the LJMU Climbing Club. This club had some of the most adventurous and wild at heart people I’ve ever met and they were fearless.

Archery – I’ve always loved the idea of archery and had access to an archery range every day for 3 months last time I was at a summer camp, I’ve been itching to get back to it. It’s a shame I’m only a ¼ Scottish or I could go for a ‘Merida’ vibe…

Reading – If I’m not outside being active you’ll most likely find me with my nose stuck in a book. I’ve loved reading since I was very young and I find nothing quite beats the feel of a book cover between my palms and being swept away to different worlds by the contents of the pages.

I love camp. Here in England we don’t have anything quite like it and since I first spent a summer in a camp setting I fell in love with it. The hustle and bustle of it all is enchanting, the chance to be immersed in nature and spend months with like-minded people is a dream-job come true for me.

One of my greatest aspirations is to travel the world and be enveloped in as many cultures as I possibly can. I’ve always loved traveling and I think in part that is due to my dad who instilled in me a love for discovery and exploration/adventure.

I’m an aspiring but often struggling part-speaker of 2 additional languages (Spanish and German). I’ve been very fortunate in my riding experiences in so many countries also; I’ve been able to ride all over the world, from America, to Europe, to Cuba and beyond. I am incredibly lucky and grateful for those experiences. I’ve met hot-headed ex-race horses who just needed someone who was patient with them and I’ve met the soundest cobs who wouldn’t bat an eyelid if an explosion went off a foot in front of them. That said I’d never judge any animal based on it’s breed, as it’s rarely true to stereotype.

I worked in a zoo for 6 months during my university degree, I was a research assistant at Blackpool Zoo.

I loved working in a zoo and getting behind the scenes. Some of my favourite moments were helping out on the reptile team and getting up close and personal with a bunch of exotic animals, feeding, cleaning and caring for them. One day we had about 50 sulcata tortoises brought in because they’d been illegally brought into the country and Blackpool zoo was the closest to the airport where they were found. Their shells were no bigger than eggs and they were the cutest things I’d ever seen.

 

I think I’ve rambled on long enough for now; and I think you’ve probably gotten a better sense of who I am. 🙂

I can’t wait for this summer – the biggest adventure yet – Augusta 2017 here I come! 

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