AMANDA MELTON-FINGER grew up in Northern Virginia where she began riding at the age of two. Her first pony "Little Bit" a Shetland pony, who passed away a few years ago,  taught her a lot about riding....especially about the importance of falling off and getting right back on.  Amanda was very serious at an early age about learning to ride. Her parents thought it was important that she learned to also ride a bicycle too, so they bought her one. Amanda did not want to ride her bike, so to make her parents happy, she would be seen from time to time pushing her bike while leading her pony.

Amanda began her formal riding career at Friendship Stables which was owned by Davera Ackenbom. There she began showing hunter ponies and horses for Davera, both locally and at "A" rated shows. After high school, Amanda attended Viginia Intermont College in Bristol, Virginia.  During college she rode with Eddie Federwisch, Amy Sherrick, and Beth Repass and showed ISHA Hunters and Jumpers. Amanda graduated from Virginia Intermont in 1996 with a Bachelor Degree in Equine Studies.

Upon graduation, Amanda moved to East Tennessee  where she worked with several of the local professionals in the area as an assistant trainer.  In 2002, Amanda joined Westwind Equine Training Center as head trainer. Since joining Westwind Amanda and her students have had much success showing locally and at "A" rated shows.  In the past three years several of her students have qualified and placed in the East Coast Junior Hunter National Finals and also had the second ranked Children's Pony in Zone 4 in 2008.

In pursuit of continuing education, Amanda has attended UHJHA Trainers Symposiums in 2007 and 2008.  These programs aim to promote certain standards  and ideals for equine professionals and provide them with comprehensive education and practical training sessions, and promote trainer credibility.