Melissa Tritinger (she/her) brings decades of experience in the financial industry and the nonprofit sector, with expertise in grant-making, fundraising, operations, and developing strategic initiatives and programs that support animal welfare and conservation. She is one of the founders of the Onaqui Catalogue Foundation and has contributed her experience to several other wild horse organizations, dedicating her career to the preservation, rescue, and protection of America’s wild horses and burros.
Melissa is also the owner and photographer behind RJStein Photography, using her lens to tell compelling stories about the natural world and raise awareness of critical issues affecting wildlife. A passionate advocate for animal protection, she highlights the beauty and challenges of wild horses through her photography.
In 2021, Melissa’s family adopted two bonded Onaqui Mountain mustangs, Stargazer and Nora, who had been rounded up during the Onaqui HMA gather. Their journey from wild lives to domestic partners underscores both the challenges wild horses face and the impact of thoughtful rescue. Today, Stargazer enjoys retirement as a natural showman and painter, while Nora and Melissa continue their journey in dressage and jumping, proving the talent and versatility of mustangs in the equestrian world. Together, they embody resilience, spirit, and the transformative power of advocacy, care, and conservation.
