UT Martin Equestrian Tabs Melissa Foster As Assistant Coach
7/15/2026 10:00:00 AM | Equestrian
MARTIN, Tenn. – Melissa Foster, who won a national championship as a rider at the University of Georgia, has joined the University of Tennessee at Martin equestrian program as an Jumping Seat assistant coach.
A Toronto, Ontario native, Foster was part of a dominant Bulldog run as a student-athlete from 2021-25 under head coach Meghan Boenig. She helped Georgia compile 33 victories over that four-year stretch, including the program's eighth national title during her senior campaign in 2024-25.
Foster cracked the fences starting lineup during each of her four years as a Bulldog, collecting nine victories with two draws. That included a start in all 16 meets during her national championship senior season, collecting her first career MOP on Nov. 1, 2024 against No. 8 South Carolina. Her career-best score of 91 points in that meet was the third-best tally by any Georgia rider in 2024-25.
Outside of the arena, Foster was an APHA NCEA All-Academic first team honoree as a senior and also was a two-time APHA NCEA Academic Honor Roll recipient. She also landed on the Southeastern Conference Honor Roll in all four seasons as a collegiate student-athlete.
Foster was a standout junior rider, producing many first-place and championship showings through the Ocala and Winter Equestrian Festival Circuits. She took part in the 3* USET Talent Search during the Ocala Masters, winning the class three times (2017, 2018, 2019). She placed second at the Southeast Maclay Regionals in 2018 while taking first-place accolades at the Saratoga Classic Horse Show, Presidents Cup in 2019, Saratoga Classic II and National Hunter Derby in 2018. She additionally claimed championships at the Lake Placid I Love New York Horse Show in the 3'6 Large Junior Hunter 15/U in 2018 and was the reserve champion in the Low Junior Jumpers. She has had numerous placings at the Devon Horse show in both the equitation and the hunters while qualifying for the Maclay, USEF, WIHS and USET Finals in each year from 2016-19.
"While Coach Millie's accomplishments in the arena speak for themselves, what impressed me most is her character," Skyhawk head coach Kim Leiter-Janes said. "Her enthusiasm for coaching, curiosity, love of learning and genuine passion for helping student-athletes grow made it clear that she would be a great fit for our program and our culture."
Fluent in five different languages, Foster graduated from Georgia with a degree in health and physical education in 2025. She minored in exercise and sports science as well as biomedical physiology.
A Toronto, Ontario native, Foster was part of a dominant Bulldog run as a student-athlete from 2021-25 under head coach Meghan Boenig. She helped Georgia compile 33 victories over that four-year stretch, including the program's eighth national title during her senior campaign in 2024-25.
Foster cracked the fences starting lineup during each of her four years as a Bulldog, collecting nine victories with two draws. That included a start in all 16 meets during her national championship senior season, collecting her first career MOP on Nov. 1, 2024 against No. 8 South Carolina. Her career-best score of 91 points in that meet was the third-best tally by any Georgia rider in 2024-25.
Outside of the arena, Foster was an APHA NCEA All-Academic first team honoree as a senior and also was a two-time APHA NCEA Academic Honor Roll recipient. She also landed on the Southeastern Conference Honor Roll in all four seasons as a collegiate student-athlete.
Foster was a standout junior rider, producing many first-place and championship showings through the Ocala and Winter Equestrian Festival Circuits. She took part in the 3* USET Talent Search during the Ocala Masters, winning the class three times (2017, 2018, 2019). She placed second at the Southeast Maclay Regionals in 2018 while taking first-place accolades at the Saratoga Classic Horse Show, Presidents Cup in 2019, Saratoga Classic II and National Hunter Derby in 2018. She additionally claimed championships at the Lake Placid I Love New York Horse Show in the 3'6 Large Junior Hunter 15/U in 2018 and was the reserve champion in the Low Junior Jumpers. She has had numerous placings at the Devon Horse show in both the equitation and the hunters while qualifying for the Maclay, USEF, WIHS and USET Finals in each year from 2016-19.
"While Coach Millie's accomplishments in the arena speak for themselves, what impressed me most is her character," Skyhawk head coach Kim Leiter-Janes said. "Her enthusiasm for coaching, curiosity, love of learning and genuine passion for helping student-athletes grow made it clear that she would be a great fit for our program and our culture."
Fluent in five different languages, Foster graduated from Georgia with a degree in health and physical education in 2025. She minored in exercise and sports science as well as biomedical physiology.
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