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Breeding Manager & Sales - Melinda Lohaus
Melinda has more than 15 years of experience in the equine industry including early horse farm employment, large animal veterinarian support, and post college horse farm management assistance while completing graduate studies at Texas A&M University in Equine Reproduction.
Melinda began working with horses at the age of 15 in her hometown of Derwood, Maryland where she supported a local horse farm in routine day-to-day management activities. During this time, she also assisted a local veterinarian in large animal care. After moving to Texas in 1994, she attended Richland College, where she received her Associate of Science degree. She was offered a scholarship to Texas A&M University-Commerce in 2001, and began studies leading to graduation in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science Degree with High Honors in Animal Science. During her undergraduate studies she completed an Undergraduate Honors Thesis researching horse hay preference to three varieties of bermudagrass hay. In addition, it was during her tenure at A&M-Commerce that she realized her true passion in life, Equine Reproduction.
In 2002 Melinda joined the Lyday Farms’ team and quickly fell in love with the disposition and beauty of Straight Egyptian Arabians. She has continued to provide support to Lyday Farms’ horse management operations while completing graduate studies at Texas A&M leading to a Master of Science Degree with emphasis in Equine Reproduction. (Graduation: Fall of 2006). In June 2006 she completed her graduate research involving techniques for improving stallion semen quality characteristics for cooled shipment purposes. The premise of this study was to determine if fatty acid addition to the diet of stallions with or without the addition of sodium pyruvate (an antioxidant) to the collected semen would improve semen quality during 24, 48 and 72 hours of cooled storage in an Equitainer©. Melinda plans to pursue her interest in horse farm management and equine reproduction with emphasis on improving stallion fertility and industry breeding practices. |
