About MP Sporthorses

Melanie Harper (previously Melanie Parent) attended the Ethel Walker School in Simsbury, CT.  The school's rigorous equestrian program helped grow Melanie's talents.  She competed on their Interscholastic Equestrian Team, receiving third at Regionals qualifying for Nationals and second at Nationals.  During this time, she had her pony, Limerick, that she competed all over New England in Hunters, Jumpers, 

and Equitation very successfully. 

After graduating from Walker's,  she continued her education and riding at the University of Vermont.  She joined the UVM Intercollegiate Dressage Team where she qualified for Regionals twice and attended Nationals once, placing fourth in the Lower Training Level Division. Over the years, she gained a lot of knowledge and brought the Dressage Team many victories. Melanie graduated from UVM with her BS in Animal Science. 

After college, Melanie started working as a Breeding Program Specialist for Genex in Watertown, NY.  She dove in head first learning about cows, the importance of genetics, breeding, and the dairy industry.  This sparked the idea of breeding her own horse, Waikiki, in 2013. She decided to pair her mare with a stallion, Navarone, and created the first foal born at MP Sporthorses, Jameson MP. Since then MP Sporthorses has continued to grow into a successful breeding and training facility in North Carolina.

Melanie has competed numerous horses over the last 20 years, to name a few Mochaccino, Sunshine Hill, Limerick, JMK Zippaskippee, and Playa Baya. They have all taught her to be a successful rider and what it takes to be a great partner. She has had many successes at different levels, however she has decided her true passion lies in breeding and training. MP Sporthorses has been an am​azing journey! She hopes to provide you all with many more amazing horses in the future.

In addition to breeding and training, Melanie coaches a successful equestrian show team, that competes in dressage, eventing, and show jumping. Melanie takes pride in helping equestrians grow their talents and achieve their goals. She has also found joy in assisting many of the team riders in

 finding their current mounts.

What makes MP Sporthorses different from the other equine breeders in North America?  

Most breeders often focus on producing top quality offspring with an impressive sport record, and great qualities similar to our horses. However, the difference is, other breeders want to sell their offspring as foals or before they are started under saddle. MP Sporthorses believes that it is important to provide a solid education starting from day one, right when the foal hits the ground. We continue this work until they have at least six months under saddle and are ready to move onto their competition home where they will continue to excel with their new teammate.