Part of the retraining completed at Melinda Bytella’s farm includes standing calmly to be saddled, brushed, and mounted. Submitted photo

Melinda Bytella’s love for animals began while she was growing up on her father’s dairy farm. Now with her own farm in Fulton County, she provides rehabilitation to former racehorses and finds them loving, new homes.

“I always wanted to help animals,” Bytella said.

Bytella grew up on Kramer Farm in Clearfield Township. She graduated from Butler Senior High School in 2002 before continuing her education at Westminster College.

It was there that she joined the equestrian team and spent many years learning about horses.