Melanie’s Blog
Day 1 of Rio
Day 1 began with the usual minor glitches and bumps in the road for us in the NBC studios. It’s the first official day for all sports here in Stamford, so kinks needed to be ironed out. Equestrian has a terrific and experienced team. Our producer Amy Zimmerman and...
My Home for the Olympics!
Thursday was my introduction to the NBC Sports studios here in Stamford, Connecticut where 60% of the Olympic sports are being called. The days preceding the start of competition are hectic for me, full of continuous research on all the horses and riders, and...
The Countdown to Rio begins
The Three Day Teams begin their quests for medals in Rio this Saturday, August 5 with the first day of Eventing Dressage. I spoke with each of the US riders from their Ocala training camp before they left for Rio. Here are some tidbits from our conversations. Phillip...
A Pep Talk from Bill Steinkraus
I called Bill Steinkraus tonight in hopes of visiting him while I am at the NBC studios in Stamford, Connecticut, over the next few weeks covering the Olympics. When I was assigned to do my first Olympic Games commentary from Seoul Korea in 1988, Billy and Jim Simpson...
Off to Rio!
Do you know that to get all the Three Day, Dressage and Show Jumping horses down to Rio it will take 9 plane loads? Horses will depart from England, Belgium and Miami, Florida. The US Three Day horses took off early Saturday morning, July 30, from Miami. The US...
CHIO Aachen 2016
Traveling to the Aachen horse show this year was a trip down memory lane. I last showed there 34 years ago in 1982 as a member of the US Team. Aachen is indeed one of the most special venues in the world with the huge main stadium seating 40,000. I am told that...
Barns and daffodils
Barns and daffodils - two of my favorite things. This is the "zoomed in" view from my desk window which makes it difficult to stay on task 🙂 Daffodils, harbingers of spring, abound all over Wildwood.
Born in the USA
Nothing quite like a Bruce Springsteen concert 3 rows from the stage. Fantastic 3 ½ hour performance from Bruce, Patti and the entire E street band. Fabulous musicians and incredible energy throughout. It appeared none of them ever took even a water break. Don’t know...
BBRRR in Germantown
Getting 8 doxns dressed to go for a walk takes more time on cold winter mornings! We go an average of 2 miles per day through the pastures - pretty far for little canine dwarves.
Visiting Pearl Harbor
Rainbows are everywhere and all day in Hawaii due to lots of intermittent showers preceded and followed by brilliant sunshine. Pearl Harbor was inspirational and moving . No purses, backpacks or any bags allowed inside visitor center. Cameras and credit cards only.
Having fun in Hawaii
I gave a 2 day clinic on Oahu in both the northern and southern parts of the island . The level of riding was very high and the students were eager to learn. Everyone was so friendly and nice.The funniest part was the makeshift microphone ! You gotta do what you...