Savvy trainers understand that natural ability is what really makes a successful Western Pleasure contender. Certainly, getting the right start under saddle and exposure to all the sights and sounds they will encounter in the show atmosphere help provide youngsters with a solid foundation. But no amount of training can replace the gifts they are born with.

That’s why a bay colt by Machine Made, out of their own mare, Talkin Hot, caught the attention of Jason and Jamie English when he arrived early in May at their place in Madison, Georgia.

Talkin Hot is Jason and Jamie’s best and favorite broodmare. They say she’s very talented herself and has the added bonus of being pretty and kind. They both have enjoyed the Machine Made youngsters they have had the opportunity to ride and so they thought of him when deciding on a cross for Talkin Hot back in 2017.

“As soon as we turned this colt out for the first time, we knew we had something special,” Jason said. “He loped around like a trained horse and he had tons of rhythm.”

The new arrival was given the name Made In Madison, nominated to all the programs and turned out to run, play and grow with the other five foals Jason and Jamie raised.

Made In Madison (Johnny) was purchased as a yearling by Melanie Parker, Vidalia Georgia, one of Jason and Jamie’s customers.

“We really wanted Johnny to go to someone in our barn so we could ride him,” Jason explained. “Jamie and I started riding in the fall of his 2-year-old year and he’s been absolutely great. We never need to work on the way he moves. Johnny is a great jogger and he lopes the same in both directions. We only ever have to work on body position.”

With progress coming along so well, Jason, Jamie and Melanie decided early this year that the 3-Year-Old & Over Maiden Western Pleasure class at the Madness AQHA Show Circuit would be the perfect place for Made In Madison to make his show debut. That has now been delayed until July.

“It’s a prestigious show and doing well there could set him up for a great year,” Jason explained.

But that’s never an easy task. In addition to having a horse with extreme talent, it takes a lot of dedication by the trainers and plenty of understanding from the owner.

“Working with Melanie to prepare Made In Madison has been a dream,” Jamie said. “She lets us do anything we ask and she has trusted us to make the right decisions. She has been very patient and we could not ask for anything more of a customer.”

With the show just a few weeks away, Jason is feeling optimistic.

“It’s a tough class to win but we believe he has what it takes to win,” Jason said. “I think the way he moves sets him apart from other horses. He’s very soft, with a big hock and flat front leg and he goes the same in both directions. I’ll just need to get him to show well by putting him in the best positions I can.”

After the Madness, Jason just hopes Johnny has a good 3-year-old year and that people like him enough to possibly want to breed to him in the future.

“We’d love to be able to stand Made In Madison and eventually show his babies,” Jason said.

Melanie says she did not necessarily buy Made In Madison with breeding him in mind, but if that is where he takes her so be it.

“We will evaluate his potential as a stud when we see how he performs this year,” she said. “It’s going to be a fast, exciting, nerve wracking year for me and who knows where we will wind up?  We will see how he develops and performs and where that performance takes us.”

Meanwhile, she is focusing on showing KM Cant Touch This, a bay mare by RL Best Of Sudden and out of Nothin But Jazz (by Invitation Only), in Novice Amateur Western Pleasure classes this year. Before the Covid-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of shows across the country, Melanie was planning to compete at the Shamrock Shuffle ProAm/Georgia On My Mind, The Madness, the Tom Powers Triple Challenge, The Big A Circuit, the NSBA World Show and the Quarter Horse Congress. She, like many others, have had to adopt a “wait and see” approach to the rest of the year. No matter what happens, she is looking forward to getting back to the shows as soon as possible.

“I want to have good rides and get better every show.  Or at least not make the same mistakes,” she said. “Our barn has such a good time together and we support and cheer each other on.  I want to have a positive experience and enjoy the time I spend on horseback, at Jason and Jamie’s barn and on the road.”

Melanie was born in Dublin, Georgia and attended Florida State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and a Master of Science degree in Rehabilitation Counseling.

“For the past 10 years or so I have worked for my best friend as a case management auditor,” she explained. “Prior to that, I worked 20 years or so in the case management field as a case manager, and then in management.”

Melanie and her husband of 29 years, David, own a movie theater in Vidalia, Georgia, and are exploring other business opportunities. They have two daughters, Morgan, a child psychologist and Meredith, who works in emergency disaster services.

In her early years, Melanie showed Western Pleasure and competed during college in small D3 Intercollegiate hunter/jumper classes, she put competition aside when her children came along.

“Jump forward 30-plus years and I’m back into it,” she laughed. “I’ve been learning a lot in the past two years or so showing my niece’s semi-retired mare, Cowgirls Do It Best, and now KM Cant Touch This, who I am leasing from Tammy Frielich.  I’ve placed in the top 10 and the Top 5 in Novice Amateur Western Pleasure at several shows but I’m still chasing that elusive first place.”

Jamie English says Melanie works hard and always makes sure her horses have everything they need.

“She sent her first horse to us about three years ago,” Jamie said. “She loves to practice and listens to our instructions very well. Our biggest goal for Melanie this year would be to place in the top five at the Quarter Horse Congress.”

In addition to Made In Madison and KM Cant Touch This, Melanie has a broodmare, The Chosen One, due to foal a Gone Viral baby this month, and a yearling filly out of that same mare but sired by Its A Southern Thing, out in Jason and Jamie’s pasture.

She hopes to have the opportunity to show Made In Madison at some point.

“In the meantime, Jason and Jamie have had enormous patience and kindness in working with me and increasing my skills while I rode around on borrowed and leased mares,” she said. “They are like family and I have the most respect for both of them.  I’ve come a long way and still have a long way to go and they are hanging in there with me!”