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Friday, March 29 2019 / Published in Weekly Feature

Melinda Van Dyck: Life on Stage and on Horseback

Melinda and Joon

By Hope Ellis-Ashburn

Portraits by Shawna Simmons

Actress Melinda Van Dyck is a lifelong equestrian with Hollywood roots. The daughter of thespian Joan Bennett and screenwriter and producer Gene Markey, she was born in the 1930s and raised in the bright lights of Hollywood, California. While her childhood was unusual for most, it wasn’t uncommon for her social group.

Growing up on South Mapleton Drive in nearby Homby Hills, Melinda was surrounded by neighbors who composed a who’s who list of old-world Hollywood including Art Linkletter, Liza Minelli, Ronald Reagan, Lauren Bacall, Humphrey Bogart and Bing Crosby. Her father, also a United States Navy rear admiral, counted John Wayne among his best friends.

Later in life, Melinda reconnected with Ronald Reagan. Since she and the future president had once been neighbors, she attended a rally during his candidacy. She was delighted to be given the opportunity to speak with him and to learn that he not only remembered her but fondly recalled her mother as well.

Melinda spent part of her life at Calumet Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, where she and Elizabeth Taylor spent their days trail riding around the farm.

Hollywood to Horses

In spite of being raised in the city, Melinda did gain some early experiences with horses. These encounters came from riding American Saddlebreds in the three-gaited and five-gaited classes, even competing in shows at the iconic Cow Palace in Daly City, California. Those early experiences set the stage for horses to come back into her life when she needed them most.

Some of Melinda’s favorite early childhood memories come from the lavish Hollywood parties she attended, held in her father’s honor during his return trips home from his military service. She lived with her mother after her parents divorced when she was a toddler. Later, as she grew older, her father wanted her to go to college. Her heart, however, pulled her toward a career in acting. She continued to stay with her mother, and together they toured in plays, and she took on film roles and twice performed on Broadway in addition to acting parts in commercials.

Although these experiences weren’t horse related, she does recall being thrown from a horse while jumping during the filming of a commercial. Melinda still receives fan mail after several major acting roles, including the original “Titanic.”

But the acting lifestyle was not without its hardships. “I was touring in a play with my mother and began to receive better reviews than she was,” Melinda said. “My mother’s career was her life and this created a rift between us. We were not close after that. It was a particularly difficult time in my life.”

Melinda has loved horses her whole life, but has a special bond with Joon

Memories of Calumet Farm

Melinda was a teenager when her father married his fourth wife, Lucille Parker Wright. Lucille was the widow of Warren Wright, Sr., owner of the world-famous Thoroughbred breeding and training facility Calumet Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, home of Triple Crown winners Whirlaway and Citation. Because Melinda was living full-time with her mother in California, she visited her father on a part-time basis in Kentucky during the spring and fall.

Some of Melinda’s best memories from those years come from Calumet. “Riding on the exercise track was a magical time,” she said. Trail rides there also provided enchanted memories. “Elizabeth Taylor was a young girl then. She had just finished filming ‘National Velvet’ and had been gifted Pie. Elizabeth and I shared a special, delightful bond. We would leave for a trail ride around Calumet in the morning and ride all day, breaking only for a packed lunch.”

Another tradition at Calumet involved sitting around the dining room table during the spring foaling season and making a game of naming the foals. One of those foals was named Our Mims — Melinda’s nickname. “Calumet went through some difficult financial times. Our Mims’ track winnings were responsible for bringing Calumet back into the black,” she said.

Melinda also remembers a time when a day at the races was glamorous. “I recall the days when the standard was to wear a hat, white gloves and stockings to attend the races in Keeneland,” she said. “It was a different time. There will never be another time like that, or another farm like Calumet.”

Melinda and her trainer Charles Hairfield at Seabrook Island Equestrian Center in South Carolina

A Familiar New Life

Over the years, life interfered with Melinda’s riding. She married for the first time at age 18. Now divorced, she has three children, one of whom passed away, and 10 grandchildren. Her middle child has Asperger’s syndrome, a diagnosis on the autism spectrum. In spite of the hardships in her life, she is ever optimistic. “Every step prepares you for the next thing,” she said.

Melinda, who is 85 years old, is an active rider. While her career, marriages and children may have kept her out of the saddle for 35 years, she now rides three to four days per week. In spite of her age, she still jumps crossrails at Seabrook Island Equestrian Center located on Seabrook Island, South Carolina. She describes the clients and friends at Seabrook as being more like her family, and she especially admires her trainer, Charles Hairfield. “Over the years, I’ve watched Charles grow as a trainer. He is my mentor and really takes care of me,” she said.

Her favorite horse is her current mount, Joon, a 20-year-old Selle Francais gelding. She first saw Joon in Belgium as a stallion. She later had him gelded and imported him. “I don’t think he ever forgave me for gelding him. I marveled at how well things were going once I got him home and we were progressing well. I had some friends down to watch me ride him and he threw me through a fence and broke all the rails. He is predictably unpredictable,” she joked.

Melinda relishes gardening and cooking and has goals to improve on both. “Though I don’t grow them anymore, I still enjoy canning garden vegetables,” she said. Her garden plants now include jasmine, hydrangeas, azaleas and gardenias. “Hydrangeas are my favorite,” she said. Because she grew up in a home centered around acting, she enjoys music. She also loves to read. Traveling and spending time with her dog round out her busy schedule.

A life well-lived has few regrets and Melinda has just one. “I never learned to dance,” she said. She hopes to be remembered as caring for people, animals and the planet. But for now, she says this is the best time of her life. “I can’t wait to get up in the morning!”

Photos by Shawna Simmons, www.sasequinephotography.com

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Tagged under: hope ellis-ashburn, Melinda Van Dyck, shawna simmons

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It's #STUDSunday and today's featured stallion is. It's #STUDSunday and today's featured stallion is...

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Diarado-Diamant de Semilly- Chacco Blue
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An outstanding Pedigree- Chacco Blue and Diamant de Semilly
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You can find ALL of the stallions featured towards the back of the magazine in the equestrian gallery. Keep a look out EVERY Sunday for a new handsome STUD muffin🧁 and don't forget to subscribe to get your very own edition of Sidelines Magazine, the magazine for horse people, about horse people 🦄

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Annette Longenecker wasn’t just born into horses Annette Longenecker wasn’t just born into horses—in a way, she was born into her career. She grew up in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, where her parents ran a farm. Her mother taught, and her father had a jump business and then created one of the first horse show software programs: Ryegate Show Services, Inc.

Riding all her life, Annette spent many years as a groom and loved it, but knew it wasn’t what she wanted to do as a career. After she finished college, Annette’s father recruited her to help process entries at Ryegate. Since her father, Lloyd Longenecker, founded it in 1981, Ryegate has provided show management and office staff for some of the largest shows in the country. Now, Annette has taken over from her father and directed the company as it focuses on managing memberships and rankings for organizations such as the North American League, WIHS Championships and Equitation, Rolex/USEF Computer Ranking and National Medal Series (THIS NCM and Ariat NAM). Ryegate also provides scoring software for use with video walls, and production teams for hunter and jumper shows.

“Besides running Ryegate Show Services and its various organizations, I can be found in the show office, running a scoreboard or judging jumpers at most shows,” Annette said. “I love getting to wear a few different hats at the show.”

When she’s not busy at a show, Annette lives in Annville, Pennsylvania, with her “fur-baby,” Maggie Mae, and enjoys spending time with her many godchildren. Though she doesn’t currently own any horses, Annette rides when she can at Rolling Acres Farm with Patty Foster, Ashley Foster-Worthington and Mary Lisa Leffler.

Read this month unbridled with Annette Longenecker by clicking the link in our bio. Never miss a story by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine! 🦄
📸Photo by Sheryl Sutherby

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A column from Liz Halliday-Sharp herself The spor A column from Liz Halliday-Sharp herself 
The sport of eventing is a demanding and mentally challenging discipline that requires a combination of physical and mental fortitude from both the rider and horse. While having a coach can be incredibly beneficial, self-coaching can also play a crucial role in a rider’s success.

I think that given the opportunity, most riders would like to be coached every day. The reality of life in the horse world, however, is that the majority of us need to absorb as much from the lessons we have on a limited basis and then practice those skills at home to improve.

When I am riding, I try to have a plan for the horses each day and focus on what I’m looking to achieve. It’s important to be aware of the steady improvements rather than trying to solve everything all at once. This is especially important when teaching horses new movements or exercises that they might struggle with, and we need to give them time to learn and understand what we are asking for.

I have a couple of quotes that I use regularly when I’m teaching, and these are mottos that I hold myself to in my daily work as well.

The first is, “If you do what you have always done, you will get what you have always gotten.” This is a quote that was said to me many years ago when I was still motor racing and I keep it in the back of my mind each day. It’s easy to get stuck doing the same thing every day with your horse and bad habits are hard to break, from both riders and horses!

This leads me to my next quote, which is, “If what you are doing isn’t working, try something else.” It really is as simple as that! Many riders I see keep asking a horse to do something the same way over and over with an ongoing negative response and they wonder why things don’t get better. In these circumstances, I recommend that the rider change something, even if it’s wrong.

Read the full article by clicking the link in our bio! Don’t forget to keep your eye out for our April subscription!
📸Photo by Alex Banks Photography
The✨April issue✨ of Sidelines Magazine is here The✨April issue✨ of Sidelines Magazine is here and we are so excited to feature three-day eventer Liz Halliday on the cover! Big thanks to photographer Melissa Fuller for the beautiful photo of Liz and Cooley Nutcracker- Liz Halliday-Sharp - HS Eventing. Liz and her horses have taken the eventing world by storm - and find out how Liz is at the top of the sport as a female eventer! As the horse world gears up for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event 2023, it's the perfect time to enjoy our eventing issue!! We also feature eventer and woman entrepreneur Frankie Thieriot Stutes, who is not only an eventer, but also runs Athletux and FRANKIE CAMERON handbags and accessories. And don't miss our eventing story on Robert "Bobby" Costello, who will be leading the US Eventing team to the 2024 Paris Olympics- and US Equestrian has named Bobby the eventing technical advisor/chef d'equipe!! Liz, Frankie and Bobby all have GREAT stories - don't miss any of them and don't forget to get your tickets for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day event! We are also excited to introduce you to hunter-jumper rider Casey Lorusso Smith, who is not only a talented rider but also a psychotherapist and incorporates horses into her career. If you are up for adventure, then read the story on dressage rider Priscilla Baldwin who certainly doesn't let any grass grow under her feet! We also head to the west coast to catch up with hunter-jumper trainer Jim Hagman of Elvenstar Farm, we feature beautiful art by equestrian artist Tammy Tappan, and we get to know Miranda Jones and her family. Miranda is not only an attorney who spends a lot of time in the courthouse, but she's a rider and spends lots of time riding, and is joined by her daughters also! We are excited to feature Stephanie Lightner in our Unbridled column, and don't miss our columnists George Williams, Robert R.L. Jacobs and Margie Sugarman! It's a great issue - and you can read it online, but don't forget to go to the website and order a subscription and get every issue delivered to your mailbox!! Enjoy this issue and enjoy the ride: Link in bio!!
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