Melinda

THCP is a network of like-minded people who are keen about Tarpan horses in North America. We have no structured hierarchy among us,  but Emily and I handle the essential paperwork and accounts needed to support a successful 501(c)3. The titles in our bios reflect that responsibility.

I am Melinda, the Principal Officer of THCP. As a child, I enjoyed showing three- and five-gaited American Saddlebred horses in junior exhibitor competitions. I rediscovered horses decades later as a volunteer at Hope’s Legacy Equine Rescue. In 2017, I brought five 4-year-old Tarpan horses who had never been handled to Hope’s Legacy and later to Walnut Grove. I have had the extraordinary experience of living with and learning from these captivating horses. Seeking to share this life-changing experience with others, I was certified in equine-assisted learning by E3A (www.e3assoc.org) in 2022. THCP partners with the Arc of Augusta in service to the communities of Staunton and Waynesboro. When they engage with Tarpan horses here at Walnut Grove, Arc participants teach us to "See the Able not the Label." I  serve on the board of the Arc of Augusta. I am a retired professor and researcher of agricultural economics.