By Sofia (Fifi) Melluzzi
Like many ten-year-old horse girls, riding ponies and horses is pretty much my entire life! But what makes me unique is I was born with a heart condition, and last year I finally had surgery to fix it.
I remember lying in bed after surgery, starving—and asking for a giant bowl of pasta (of course I asked for pasta… my Nonno’s from Rome!). They said to eat just a little, but I pretty much never really do what I’m told. My mom says the world needs more rule breakers anyway. I just knew I had to eat, get strong, and get back to the barn.
After my surgery, something changed. I didn’t even realize how much my heart condition was slowing me down until it was fixed. My heart worked properly for the first time. I suddenly had this energy I didn’t even know I was missing. Before, I had to stop riding after just a few minutes, always asking for breaks. I even used to leave the ring halfway through a course. Trainers would get frustrated, and my mom always had to explain that I was sick.
2024 was a scary year. In addition to my surgery, I lost one of my trainers unexpectedly. Keri Hayes believed in me, taught me to breathe when I was nervous, and reminded me to be brave even when I didn’t feel it. I felt so sad, but I tried not to show it in front of anyone. Every time we drove past the barn, my eyes would fill up with tears. We really wanted to visit — especially since my other special trainer, Lily Hinckley, was still there. She’s the one who took me to my very first shows at WEF with Flash. But it just felt too hard.
My mom kept saying I could go back and train at Lily’s farm, but I just felt too sad every time. It reminded me too much of Keri.
Then, just a week later, my older brother had a terrible accident while crossing the street and got a serious brain injury. Everything changed. Our house became all about visits to the ICU, physical therapy, and trying to stay strong. My mom was so sad. But through it all, I kept going out to the barn. My mom and dad tried to keep me busy—especially at night, when all the scary thoughts would come into my head and I couldn’t sleep.
I promised myself I would find a way to keep going, no matter what.
My ponies, Flash and Cindy, helped me feel calm. Brushing them, giving them treats, riding, setting up little courses… they reminded me that I can get through anything. That horses really do make everything better.
After a few hard months, my mom found a new trainer for me and we started working on getting my confidence back. Even though she isn’t part of my journey anymore, I’m very grateful to Hailey Hak who helped me believe in myself again.
Sometimes at shows I feel like some kids—even their parents—treat me like I shouldn’t be there. Like I don’t belong. But when I go in the ring and fly over the jumps, they stop and watch. That’s when I know: this is where I’m meant to be. I’m a real equestrian. And I’m proud of that.
Even with everything going on, being in the ring helped me stay focused—and some of my biggest achievements this year happened because I kept showing up, no matter how hard things got. I won a Pony Jumper class at WEF. It was one of the best days ever! Then I went on to win Champion in the Pony Jumpers at ESP. It was the first time I really started to believe in myself and think, “Maybe I can do this.”
One of the best parts of this year is that we finally got our own farm—a dream my mom and dad have worked really, really hard for. I’m so grateful to them. Every morning I wake up early to help with feed, ride the ponies, clean tack, and muck stalls. This is what being an equestrian really is. It’s not just pretty show outfits (even though those are fun!). It’s the early mornings, the hard work, the smell of hay, the dirty boots, the late nights after lessons, the sweaty saddle pads, and the ponies that become your best friends.
Now, I’m getting ready for the biggest show of my life so far: the USEF Pony Jumper Championship in Kentucky, August 2025, with my trainer Ronan McGuigan. Although in a big “whoops” moment, the day I got the news that I’d qualified for the class, I was playing hobby horse and fell and broke my distal radius! Yep, I broke my wrist the same day I got the biggest news of my riding life. Not even on a real horse! But guess what? When I asked the doctor if I could still train and go to the show, he said yes! He also said, “Equestrians are crazy”—which is true, and honestly kind of funny!
Maybe we are crazy, but I’ve worked so hard for this. I’ve faced a lot of storms—my heart surgery, losing my trainer, my brother’s accident, and now a broken wrist, but I’ve galloped through every single one.
I feel ready. I feel strong. And I feel so excited.
Sofia Melluzzi is a junior show jumping rider from Wellington, FL, who has been competing since she was just four years old. Her Instagram account, @fifihorseworld, managed by her mom, showcases competition highlights, training moments, tips for fellow equestrians and relatable behind‑the‑scenes glimpses into her equestrian journey. Sofia is proudly supported by Le Mieux, Charles Owen, Helite, Prestige Saddles, Tech Stirrups, Aztec Diamond, Essex Classics, and KeyFlow Feeds.
