Journey of a champion

Melissa Galloway is the World Dressage champion and has her eye on the next Olympics. The tenacious horsewoman talks to Paula Hulburt about faith, family and the future.

Sarah Brown

Abundle of dachshund snoozes on the pillow next to her, curled up in a cosy comma. As Melissa talks, Maple’s ears twitch, her small tail wags lazily. Melissa sits on her bed, left leg carefully supported and stretched out in front of her. Virtually bed bound after a recent accident left her with a badly broken leg, the usually energetic horsewoman cannot walk without crutches. Her tibia was plated and pinned and she needs the support of full-length braces. But Maple isn’t complaining as she laps up having a bedfellow on hand for pats on demand. “She is the cutest little companion while I can’t really go out,” Melissa says. A 10-day wait for surgery left Melissa in a lot of pain and on regular pain relief, the medication on her bedside table a testament to the distress she was in. But in trademark fashion, now she’s feeling better, Melissa is keen to get back in the saddle. The enforced rest is frustrating, she admits. “I think it had to happen,” she jokes. “I probably needed to slow down a bit.”

With the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris firmly in her sights, the 29-year-old is finding it hard being away from her beloved horses. Melissa managed a short trip to her stables at nearby Tua Marina and, as always, seeing the horses made her feel better, she says. The horse dearest to her heart, regular mount Windermere J'Obei W was especially happy to see her. “Well, I like to think he was,” she laughs. Talking about her horses brings a grin to her face. It was the first time she had seen them since the accident which badly damaged her left leg. “I was brushing one of my young horses and out of the blue he must have heard a noise and got a fright, thinking it was me. He broke a large chunk of my tibia off, it was very painful,” admits Melissa, whose stoical countenance belies the amount of pain she has suffered.

On her own when the accident happened, Melissa started to go into shock and, worried that she was being dramatic, tried calling her family for help first and not the emergency services. Her sister-in-law came to the rescue and she was taken to Wairau Hospital, ultimately spending one night and two days under the care of an orthopaedic surgeon. How the injury would affect her flourishing career was very much on her mind, she says, even while she waited for help to arrive. “I definitely thought about that, but I quickly changed my opinion to if it were going to happen, now was probably a good time,” she muses. Three months ago, the equestrian star returned home from the Netherlands where she had spent a year working and training. Being hurt at home was a silver lining, Melissa explains. “This is the first time I’ve had something serious happen. I had a concussion before but nothing like this. Initially, in my head, I was going to get straight back on [riding] but now I see I’m going to have to take it day by day. I’ll definitely be going to the gym… at the moment I’m quite lopsided,” she laughs, “I won’t let it affect Paris.”

Melissa scored a new personal best at her senior championship debut at the World Dressage Championship. She surged to the top in 2020, clinching the coveted National Grand Prix Champion's title and Horse of the Year title on J'Obei. Melissa has set a high precedent for herself, but the friendly brunette is humble about her achievements, crediting her family and faith for keeping her grounded. Shuffling position slightly as she tries to ease her aching leg, Melissa explains the bed has been temporarily moved to the lounge to allow her to rest her leg. Above, in pride of place, hangs a photo of Melissa and husband Lachlan on their wedding day in 2014. The pair met through the Elim Church youth group and will celebrate their eighth anniversary this month (December). “We started dating when I was 15 years old and I knew he was special. We prayed for guidance as to whether we were right together and got a clear answer,” Melissa smiles. So, when Lachlan got down on a bended knee and presented an overjoyed Melissa with a threediamond engagement ring, she didn’t hesitate. “We went up the Wither Hills to watch the fireworks and he proposed while they were going off. It was perfect.” Next to her, Maple snuffles in her sleep, seemingly agreeing. Melissa’s happiness is clear, her marriage and family the bedrock of her many achievements. But the couple’s strong relationship made it even harder for them to be apart while Melissa spent a year overseas. “The toughest thing was being apart from him. I was so sure I was going to do it and then I got there and was like ‘wow, I’ve given up my entire life’, I was thrown into a different world but knew I had to just get through it. “I was lonely at times and Christmas was especially hard. A lot of staff had left to go home and I was there almost on my own. I did think about coming home,” Melissa recalls.

Libby Law

Melissa with her husband Lachy Galloway, mum Anne Parkes and dad Rodney Parkes at the World Equestrian Festival CHIO Aachen, Germany.

It is her philosophic attitude that has put Melissa ahead of the competition, but, she explains, it hasn’t always been easy. From the 11-year-old schoolgirl who told her teacher she wanted to be an Olympic dressage rider, to the woman she is today, the journey has sometimes been fraught. With happiness and success comes loneliness and sometimes heartbreak, she says. As a talented dancer and horse rider, Melissa had to choose what profession she wanted to strive for. Leaving Marlborough Girls’ College at 16 years old, the decision to follow her heart is one she has never regretted, she explains. “I’ve always been one of those people who once they’ve decided something, never gave up. I always knew that whatever I did it wouldn’t be a normal job, so to speak. “I loved dancing and was a little performer at home. I knew I had to decide between dancing and horses and then I thought of dressage, it’s like dancing on a horse,” she laughs. Her family, who she relies on for support while competing, are never far from her thoughts. It is clear their love and unfailing encouragement have played a big role in both Melissa’s personal and professional achievements. Parents Anne and Rodney Parkes have forged a legacy of faith, love and sportsmanship for their three children, Michael Parkes, Melissa and Sarah Parkes-Seufert. The siblings share a close bond. “My sister’s also my best friend,” Melissa explains. “She’s a vet technician and often comes with me as my groom. There are all these competitors with proper grooms and staff and then I’m there with my family,” she laughs. “It helps enormously.” Of course, there are times when Melissa is alone and it is then she says that her strong faith helps. Every big decision, in times of trouble and times of joy, her faith is always with her. “My faith in God helps me with everything.” So, what does New Zealand’s Grand Prix dressage rider want next in life?

“We definitely want children at some point in the future but first I have the Paris Olympics. “There are lots of successful riders who are mothers, you don’t have to choose one or the other, you can have both,” Melissa says. “I’m lucky enough that one day I might have both, after all there is more than one Olympic Games coming up in the next few years.” Melissa has been celebrating after moving up the Federation Equestre Internationale world dressage athlete rankings from number 104 to 70, and number 1 in New Zealand. The talented horsewoman also capped off her successful year with another prestigious award after being named 2022 Marlborough Sportsperson of the Year.