Melissa Schalles

Hello, I am Melissa Schalles, and I am very excited to serve the Arabian Horse Association of Arizona as the Executive Director; to promote, expose, and encourage as many people as possible to become involved in our beloved Arabian breed. My family and I are new to the Scottsdale area, but not to the Arabian breed. I was introduced into the Arabian breed at the age of 7 when I was gifted a beautiful Arabian Gelding, WN Pegasus, by Mr. Las Vegas, Wayne Newton. I have been a Scottsdale, Regional, and National Scorer as well as an International Halter Scorer for the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show and the Breeder's Cup. You may also know me as I have also worked as a Barn Manager, Show Secretary, and in the Show Office at Youth Nationals, Sport Horse Nationals, and US Nationals. I have shown Arabians and Half-Arabians since I was 7 in a variety of disciplines, and most recently the Carriage Driving Division; earning my first ever National Top Ten Awards, in Carriage-Turnout and Carriage-Working. I am a proud wife to my husband, retired Army Sergeant First Class, David Schalles, and a very honored mother to our daughter, Gabriella.