For a long time, getting into the saddle was the most normal thing in the world for Melanie Wienand. Take the reins in your left hand, your right hand on the saddle, then place your left foot in the stirrup, push off the ground with your right foot and swing your leg over the horse’s back to the other side. Finally, straighten your body in the saddle and start riding.
The 43-year-old used to ride up to 16 horses every day, training them for tournaments or preparing them for auctions where the animals were to be sold for as much money as possible. In October 2011, Melanie Wienand rode Lemony’s Nicket at an auction in Verden, where the stallion changed hands for 900,000 euros. Just a few weeks later, she fell off another horse at one such auction and was in a coma for four weeks. At this point, ever getting back into the saddle was a long way off for the professional rider.
