Melanie MacLean’s father did the fatherly thing for his little girl when she was seven. He bought her first pony ride.
Several years later he did another fatherly thing when he invited his 22-year-old daughter to join him at a dinner he was hosting for an out-of-town client.
In both cases, she fell in love. In both cases, she’s still in love.
MacLean is this year’s Horse Show Chairman for the Portuguese Bend National Horse Show set for Friday, Sept. 9 through Sunday, Sept. 11 at Ernie Howlett Park, 25851 Hawthorne Blvd., Rolling Hills Estates.
Her horse show duties are the culmination of 10 years of service as a member of the Peninsula Committee Children’s Hospital. “What makes the group so amazing is that people don’t even think about leaving,” she said in tribute to its members’ dedication.
As for that out-of-town client, she married him 19 years ago at Riviera United Methodist Church, and they are the parents of three children: Cameron, 16; Harrison, 14, and Emily, 12.
MacLean said her interest in horses, which was shared by her two sisters, bloomed when the family moved to the Peninsula from Inglewood when she was very young. It was nourished by frequent trips to Hollywood Park Racetrack, because “Mother was a Goose Girl. She always loved horses, but she never rode,” MacLean explained.
“Our first home was in Rancho Palos Verdes, and my father bought two horses that had to be stabled in Rolling Hills Estates, but once we moved to Dapplegray Lane—where horses are allowed—we kept them in the back yard, and my sisters and I took care of them. I love horses and I wouldn’t mind cleaning stables again,” she said, looking at her hands. “I still have calluses.” (At present their one horse is stabled elsewhere, although, as 16-year residents of Rolling Hills Estates, the MacLeans are entitled to keep them on their property.)
Continuing her warm recollections of her early equestrian years in Rolling Hills Estates, MacLean said she started training at the Portuguese Bend Riding Club when she was 12. “Several of us took lessons there, and our mothers carpooled each week to make that possible,” she said.
When the family later moved to Rolling Hills, she said she was able to spend more and more time in training and riding the city’s many trails with her friends. “I still have wonderful memories of those trail rides, and I’d love to do them again,” she said. “It’s my favorite memory of that time.”
As for her teenage equestrian career, MacLean said, “I rode for 10 years. The last two years was showing in competition. I haven’t shown since I was a teenager, and I stopped showing when I was 17. In my final year, I was Junior Jumper champion, and from 1974-1979, I showed in the Portuguese Bend [Horse] Show, and won three perpetual trophies in 1978 and 1979. I’ve ridden more than 30 horses during those years.”
This, of course is the same show that she chairs this year, after 10 years as a committed committee member. “This committee is such a family,” she exclaimed. “People stay on much longer than the basic commitment of seven years,” she added, citing founding member Betty Davidson, whose children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren are active members, plus Marion Scharffenberger, another example, whose family members continue the tradition.
“They are truly an inspiration to me and my family,” MacLean said.
Fifty-four years of such dedication have produced impressive results, MacLean reported. During that time, the Peninsula Committee Children’s Hospital has given more than $11 million to the hospital. This year’s proceeds will enrich the Endowment for Clinical Imaging Research and Technology at the hospital, MacLean explained, adding that area-wide support committees such as the PCCH give their proceeds to specific projects determined by the hospital.
MacLean’s personal experience with Children’s Hospital took on an unexpected and serious turn after she had been a member of the local committee for two years. “Our eldest son, Cameron, was diagnosed with a traumatic aneurysm in his arm. Our local pediatrician sent him immediately to Children’s Hospital for surgery. It was an amazing experience to be on the inside with him as a patient,” she said.
And, although Cameron is not interested in horses, 12-year-old sister Emily is already riding in her Mother’s footsteps, competing in many of the shows that brought trophies to her Mother. The boys have never shown an interest in horses, MacLean said. “They’re into baseball and boats.”
As for boats, Cameron and Harrison often spend weekends with Dad Jeff on their 50-foot Bertram sport fisher while Mother and daughter are at horse shows. “Jeff supports my interest in horses and in the committee,” she said. “He’s just more interested in boats.”
MacLean, who has a degree in public administration from USC, worked for Arca Financial Mortgage, Marriott Hotels and California Metals Recycling (her father’s firm) a few years after graduation and after marriage, “but once the children began arriving, I became a stay-at-home Mom,” she explained.
It was during those early years at home that she started to volunteer. “Sandpipers was the first,” she said. “That experience taught me a lot about volunteering.” Other beneficiaries of her efforts during the past 14 years have been the Rancho Vista PTA; six Eagle Scout projects; Peninsula Education Foundation trustee; Palos Verdes Little League Merchandise Chair; Trojan League South Bay; Los Hermanos Red 2013 Mom; National Charity League Peninsula Chapter, and of course the Peninsula Committee Children’s Hospital.
In her current role as Horse Show chair, MacLean said she started work on the event in January, and now, since June, has been spending more than 10 hours a week final preparations for the popular event, which is expected to attract 125 riders of all ages, she said.
The A-rated show features “accomplished equestrians,” and both arenas are fully scheduled all three days, including the PCHA Horsemanship Medal Finals. The $10,000 Seahorse Jumper Classic is expected to challenge some of the West Coast’s finest Junior and Amateur riders, MacLean said. Even a new Pony Division has been added this year, she added.
More than 3,000 are expected to attend the three-day family-oriented show, planners predict. And Emily MacLean will be riding her pony, Justastar. Talk about tradition. PEN
Tickets are $5 for adults and $2 ages 4-12. For more information, call 310-318-8258 or visit www.pcch.net.
