Melissa comes to the Chronicle from the newspaper business. She has worked as a reporter and editor at newspapers in Colorado and Delaware, spending a brief stint at Practical Horseman magazine and freelancing for the Chronicle and other equine publications along the way. Most recently, she has worked as a freelancer writer and editor, and group exercise instructor.

A retired eventer, Melissa still has her off-the-track Thoroughbred, “Hal,” who she has owned for 24 years and counting. They competed through the advanced level before Hal transitioned to his current career as a carrier of small children and resident wise, old man.

Melissa enjoys long hacks on the buckle, mountains (all sorts) and dessert. Her dislikes include jumping right-handed corners, seafood (all sorts) and the word “lessoning.”
She holds degrees in journalism and anthropology from the University of Colorado at Boulder. After moving between Colorado, Pennsylvania and London, she now lives with her husband and two daughters—only one of whom is pony-mad— in Houston.