Lady Malin Melin: Overcoming Adversity to Excel in the Equestrian World

Lady Malin Melin, a renowned horse breeder and trainer, has become an inspiration in the equestrian community, proving that challenges can be transformed into strengths. Born legally blind (name given when the visual acuity index is 0.1%) , Lady Malin’s unique condition has never hindered her; instead, she has used it to her advantage in all aspects of her life.

«I’ve used it to my advantage in everything I’ve done in life,» she reflects, showcasing a mindset that has driven her to success both in business and in the world of horses.

From a young age, Malin felt a deep connection with animals, which led her to the equine world where she now manages a stable of over 10 horses. Among her many accomplishments, one stands out: her first breeding horse, Whiz Star Dunit, who won the prestigious German Breeders Futurity. «I’m incredibly proud of him,» she says of the achievement, which marked a milestone in her breeding career.

Lady Malin’s philosophy as a trainer is rooted in the belief that giving foals a solid foundation is key to ensuring their success as adults. She emphasizes patience, consistency, and safety, with a strong focus on horse welfare. “When the foals get a strong start, it gives them better opportunities later in life,” she explains, underscoring the importance of proper early training.

Her dedication to both the horses and their well-being is evident in everything she does. Beyond her breeding and training programs, Lady Malin runs multiple businesses, including a specialized horse company, where she continues to grow her legacy in the equine industry.

Lady Malin Melin’s journey is a testament to resilience, passion, and the power of turning challenges into triumphs. Her unwavering dedication to horses and her remarkable achievements make her a respected figure in the world of equine breeding and training.

1. How did you first become interested in working with horses, given that you were born legally blind?

My interest in horses started from a young age, partly influenced by shows like Little House on the Prairie and McKayen. Like most girls, I dreamt of having a horse. At six years old I got my first horse, a Gotland Russ (Swedish breed of pony). I threw a cowboy saddle on her and started riding, although I had never attended a riding school or been with horses before.

When I was eight, my pony had a foal, and I took on the responsibility of raising it. Over time, I outgrew ponies, and my focus shifted to bigger horses. I got my third horse Ponomara Star, a D-Pony (meaning a horse measuring 140-148cm wither height). With her I started show jumping despite having no formal training. I always relied on my instincts and the partnership I had with my horse. Competing in show jumping went surprisingly well. I couldn’t measure the distances to the jumps but in some strange way Star could on their own and together we got over every obstacle.

Then I had a long break from horses when I moved away from home to attend high school. But in 2013, after having started several successful businesses and finally having the time and money to follow my heart again, I returned to horses. This time I was sure the western style of riding and horses is I wanted, but most of all the western style of keeping horses as a whole. But I could not find any suitable western horses in Sweden, so I ended up getting one from Texas, my sweet Trash. Coming back to Sweden with him I realized he needed somewhere to live. So I bought a farm outside of Stockholm so we could live together. And somehow for some strange reason one horse became two, which became four, which became my horse family. Then I also started breeding foals. Many people told me to not bother the foals at all because «they bite from one end and kick from the other». The told me to just let them be with their mothers and to let the herd train them, but I disagree. My way of raising and training foals is different for many reasons, but the main one being this: If something happens, I need to be able to assist them without using force or traumatizing them.

2. Can you describe your approach to training horses, and how it differs from traditional methods?

My approach is largely based on feeling and energy, focusing on when to apply or release pressure. I’ve developed my own solutions because I’ve learned that applying too much pressure doesn’t work for me or my horses. But I want to emphasize how important it is not to train every foal the same way. Every foal is their own individual with their own personality, strengths and limitations. I always take this in to account and adapt my training to best fit the individual foal.

I strive to become one with the horse. I begin working with the foals before they are even born through building a strong relationship with the mare. My training requires the foal seeing me as a natural part of their environment. I achieve that though already having the mare be as comfortable and relaxed with me as possible. I always ensure the foals feel comfortable and relaxed, working at a pace that respects their comfort level.

3.How do you adapt your training techniques to connect with horses on a sensory level, without relying on sight?

Being blind, I rely heavily on my other senses. Although I am legally blind, I’m not completely blind. I can perceive things close to me clearly, objects get blurry really fast as they get farther away. As an example, to read something on my phone I hold it 5 cm from my eyes, and that’s with the largest iPhone model and bigger text. I use my hands to feel the horses more deeply, and this tactile connection allows me to understand them in a way that others might rely on sight for. This approach is also essential in horse care – being able to feel the horse’s condition and detect things others might visually notice.

4. At what age do you begin working with horses, and why do you think starting early is important?

I start working with foals the day they are born. Every interaction teaches the foal something, whether good or bad, that’s why training starts from day one whether or not you want to. Early training also addresses safety concerns – not just for the foal, but for everyone involved such as me, the farrier, and the vet. And safety is about more than just wearing a helmet. It is also about everything from how you handle the horses in the pasture to how you remove their halters. There is so much that can be done to prevent accidents and minimize risk, but at the end of the day – these are big animals, and there’s always some risk involved.

5. How do you ensure that the horses you work with feel safe and trust you, despite not being able to visually read their body language?

When the horses are close, I don’t have any problems sensing how they feel. If they are further away, I can rely on someone to describe their body language if I can’t sense it directly. However, while I can’t see their ears from a distance, I can pick up on a lot of other cues, such as their movement, posture, and the sounds they make. Their vocalizations of course but also their breathing, and even the sound of their hooves while walking can tell me a lot about how they are moving and what they are feeling.

6. How do you use touch and other senses to communicate with the horses during training sessions?

I often say that the mare and the herd teaches them the horse language, and I teach them the human language. I use my touch, body language, voice and energy to communicate, and this develops a connection that helps the horse understand my intentions and work together with me as team.

7. Could you explain how your method helps horses develop their confidence and emotional stability?

I always ensure I work at a pace where the foal feels comfortable and at ease. My goal is never to break the horse, but rather to build trust and confidence, helping them understand that together, we can overcome challenges. This method encourages the horse to trust themselves and me as a team, fostering emotional stability. 

8. What challenges have you faced throughout your career, and how have you overcome them?

As an example, I am highly affected by weather conditions – light and wind can impair my senses. Therefore, I always take precautions and provide the best conditions for the foals by carefully choosing when or where I train.

I would never want to physically force a horse to do anything, and even if I did I couldn’t because I weigh less than just their head alone. That’s partly why I begin training them at an early stage and at a very calm and relaxed pace, allowing me and the foal to become a team before they are big enough to very seriously hurt me or their selves if things went wrong. An example, when Fiona was born there was one time I needed to catch her. Then she suddenly responded to a loud sound from another person and had a reaction. Had she been bigger it could had ended with me going to the hospital or Fiona hurting herself.

But the best solution is to not have the possibility of distractions at all. It wasn’t the right time to work on desensitizing her so something like that should not be a risk. And I get distracted as well when someone else is nearby. I make sure that when I begin training, it’s just me and the foal. We need to be in our bubble to get the best result from training.

9. How do you assess a horse’s progress when you can’t rely on sight to evaluate their behavior and performance?

While I can use tools like a camera to get a better look or get feedback from others, I primarily assess their behavior, overall well-being, and performance by how they react, their mood, and how they carry themselves.

10. What advice would you give to other trainers or individuals working with horses who may face physical limitations, such as blindness?

The advice I would give is the same as I give to anyone working with horses: Understand your own abilities and limitations, as well as the horse’s. Work with those factors and adapt.

I have turned what others might see as a disadvantage into an advantage. My lack of vision has led me to find my strengths, and to use them in everything from business to foal training.

More Info: https://www.facebook.com/mm.malinmelin/