A Lifelong Passion for Pony Club: Meet Ali Kinson

With horses being a large part of her life since the age of five, Ali Kinson has long been a part of the equestrian community in the Monadnock region. As the head instructor of the Ashuelot River Pony Club, she works closely with youth riders to encourage a love of horses while promoting safe horsemanship skills on and off the horses. She is also a familiar face and frequent customer at our flagship store in Swanzey, NH.

Like many of us, Ali was drawn to horses from the very beginning, however, it took a little convincing before her parents were ready to support her new endeavor. She began riding lessons at the age of five, and by the time she was 11 years old, her parents understood that this was more than just a phase in her life. They chose to purchase her first “pony,” a young Appaloosa mare named Willow. The rest, as they say, is history.

In 1993, Ali joined the Ashuelot River Pony Club at Brown Farm in Swanzey, NH. Founded by Cynthia Richards and Joan Kingsbury, she appreciated the well-rounded teachings of the United States Pony Club. Quickly her horsemanship and riding skills began to flourish. Ali’s mother, Linda – who was her number one supporter at every turn, trucking her horse, mucking stalls, and cleaning equipment – also shared her love for horses, but being a city girl, had no experience. So at the youthful age of 40 something, Linda started to learn to ride horses. She is still an avid equestrian and frequently enjoys trail rides with both of her daughters and granddaughter!

Ali has been shopping at The Cheshire Horse since the very beginning, back when we were a small tack shop. “I’ve always felt like I was part of the family,” Ali notes. “When I was in high school, I was shopping for a pair of tall boots. I didn’t have a large budget, but I wanted a quality boot. When I got to the store, Marianne [owner and founder of The Cheshire Horse] remarked that she had just the pair of boots for me: a custom order pair of Ariat boots that were not quite right for the customer who placed the order. They fit like a glove!” Ali wore those boots through her Pony Club years and was recently able to pass them down to her niece.

After Ali “aged out” of Pony Club, she took over the reins for Ashuelot River Pony Club and ran the club for a while. “I got so much out of Pony Club personally that I wanted to give back and help other children experience everything I was able to,” she explains. She has since handed off the daily running of the club, but still acts as the head instructor.

As the head instructor, Ali puts together the monthly schedule of mounted and unmounted lessons. She also provides the majority of the instruction. Occasionally, the club brings in guest instructors to provide their young equestrians with various viewpoints of equestrian education. Ali coordinates with the guest instructors and assists them in building lesson plans that will fall within the members’ skill sets. 

“We are trying hard to change with the times and adapt to the new generations,” Ali explains. “Pony Club used to be predominantly for children who owned their own horses, but we try to accommodate as many as we can. Cynthia generously allows us to use three of her Connemara ponies and her Paint horse in the program which allows us to offer the gifts of horses and Pony Club to many children.” Approximately half of the members of the Ashuelot River Pony Club have their own horses, making them unique even in the Pony Club community. “We truly wouldn’t be able to do it without Cynthia’s horses and her support,” says Ali.

While Pony Club often focuses on moving up the levels, Ali takes a bit of a different approach. “I want my kids to know how to care for their horse and how to be safe,” she explains. “Advancing through the levels is important, but it doesn’t need to be the main focus.” There are a number of different ways that children can excel in her program, with unmounted teachings, flatwork lessons, and jumping lessons for the more advanced riders. “Horses can be such a positively impactful portion of the kids’ lives,” she says. “I want kids to experience them in any and every manner that they are comfortable.”

Ali currently owns three horses, including her faithful first horse Willow, who is now 29 years old. She also owns a 20-year-old Canadian Horse gelding Gus and recently purchased a six-month-old Hannoverian/Connemara cross named Calon. They all love our extensive horse treat selection (don’t tell Ali, but it sounds like they may be a bit spoiled!).

Like many equestrians, Ali is also an animal lover. She has two dogs and a cat in addition to her horses. Occasionally, she will bring Josie (a 13-year-old black Labrador mix) and Chloe (a four-year-old chocolate Labrador) into the store to pick out their own toys and treats. “They just love it!” she giggles, “Greenies are their favorites!” Her nine-year-old cat Eloise rules the roost at home, “Her favorite cat food is Chicken Soup Indoor Dry Cat Food,” remarks Ali.

She also has integrated her pets into her professional life. Ali works at the Franklin Elementary School in Keene, NH, where she acts as a behavioral interventionist. Her younger dog, Chloe is a certified therapy dog that goes to work with Ali twice a week; she helps to interact with the children and guide them in their learning processes.

Horses and animals have been a central theme to Ali’s life since the very beginning. Her passion for Pony Club gave her a focused path and a powerful introduction to the equine industry. “The thing that I love about Pony Club is that we are still a non-profit organization who are focused on the kids,” Ali concludes. “The core values revolve around teamwork, horsemanship, and leadership. I think that the kids all really benefit from the options and education that Pony Club provides. I know I did.”

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