International event rider appointed to lead equestrian sports programme at Millfield School in Street

Millfield School in Street has appointed international event rider Mel Wilder as equestrian sports programme manager, beginning this month.

Mel will work with Millfield's newly-titled chief coach Danny Anholt, who has been the director of equestrian sports at Millfield since 2000, to help evolve and develop a new approach for equestrian and education at Millfield School.

Accomplished international event rider Mel has reached international success for more than 30 years, including competing at the Badminton Horse Trials.

Mel has also produced several horses to compete at the highest level with notable success at Blenheim and Bramham Horse Trials.

Danny is a Fellow of the British Horse Society and a British Eventing-accredited coach, as well as a Centre 10 Elite Coach, and originally competed in eventing.

Mel brings a wealth of experience in business management having held senior management roles in the Ministry of Defence and British multinational defence technology company, QinetiQ, notably to develop policy and guidance on human performance in military systems.

With a degree in Psychological Sciences and a Masters in Research Methods in Psychology, Mel has explored human performance in high stress environments, as well as the effects of physical fitness and mental performance, nutrition and sleep during her career.

At Millfield, the equestrian programme's aim is to support young riders in their training and education by providing a programme that will challenge and develop everybody regardless of ability and aspiration.

The school's facilities include stabling for 53 horses, an indoor and outdoor arena, two sets of BSJA standard show jumps and portable X-C jumps, cross-country schooling fences, an off road canter track and access to gallops, a polo field, an all-weather horse walker and round pen, and resident yard staff.

Mel said: "This is an exciting opportunity to be joining Millfield, to raise the profile of equestrianism, develop our young riders horsemanship skills and to ensure we are committed to the welfare of the horses in our care.

"I can't wait to get started with the team at one of the premier equestrian facilities in the UK and continue to provide a fantastic learning environment for young people."