Tiny Riders, Big Dreams: The Story Behind Ride From the Start

April 14, 2025

With a passion for horses and a heart for teaching, Shelley is making it possible for young riders across the country to take their first steps into the equestrian world—one pony ride at a time. 

For many children, the dream of riding a horse begins early. However, options are often limited for parents searching for age-appropriate riding programs. That’s where Ride From the Start LLC and its PAL Around Pony School come in—a unique program designed specifically for children ages 2.5 to 5. Founded by Shelley in 2012, this innovative approach introduces young riders to horses in a fun, engaging, and developmentally appropriate way. 

Shelley’s love for horses began in middle school when she volunteered at a Girl Scout camp in Texas. There, she spent weekends feeding, grooming, and caring for horses in exchange for riding lessons. By age 15, she was already teaching lessons at a hunter/jumper facility—a passion that carried her through college and into her professional career. 

While studying to become a school counselor, Shelley saw an opportunity to blend her knowledge of child development with her equestrian expertise. Parents of young children were eager to start lessons, but traditional horseback riding programs weren’t suited for such young students. Many children would quickly lose interest or struggle with the physical demands of riding. To bridge this gap, Shelley developed the PAL Around Pony School—a curriculum that integrates stories, songs, games, and hands-on horse experiences to create an enriching and enjoyable introduction to horseback riding. 

What sets PAL Around Pony School apart from other riding programs is its focus on meeting children where they are developmentally. Unlike standard riding lessons that emphasize technique and performance, PAL Around Pony School’s primary goal is to foster joy and confidence around horses. The program consists of four one-hour “parent and child” classes, each packed with engaging activities such as storytelling, songs, hands-on learning about horse care, crafts, interactive exercises, and a short riding lesson. 

Over the past 13 years, the program has evolved based on student and parent feedback, operating at seven different locations across West Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland. Hundreds of children have participated, many continuing into traditional riding lessons. Now, Shelley is expanding nationwide, licensing her curriculum to other instructors and helping them bring PAL Around Pony School to their own communities. 

Shelley’s business took a big leap forward thanks to Jumpstart Jefferson, a program designed to help local entrepreneurs turn their ideas into reality. As the first winner of the Jumpstart Jefferson Business Pitch Competition, Shelley used her winnings to cover essential startup costs, including legal fees to develop licensing agreements. “The competition experience was daunting and nerve-wracking, but I learned so much over the course of six weeks, creating a business plan I was truly proud of,” she shares. “I enjoyed learning about marketing techniques, and those techniques are very helpful now as I take my marketing nationwide.” 

For Shelley, the most rewarding part of Ride From the Start LLC isn’t just teaching kids to ride—it’s seeing the lasting impact her program has on families. Some of her students have gone from learning at a young age through PAL Around Pony School to successfully competing. “It is wonderful to watch a young student develop that love of horses that will last a lifetime, while at the same time learning compassion, empathy, responsibility, respect, and the value of hard work and dedication to the well-being of an animal,” she says. “I believe we are making the world a better place, in our own little way, by helping small children develop these important qualities.” 

Locally, PAL Around Pony School is currently offered at Six Daisies & A Rose Farm in Harpers Ferry, WV, and Breezy Meadows Farm in Winchester, VA. Registration is now open for sessions through the summer at www.ponyschool.net. Beyond West Virginia, PAL Around Pony School is expanding to Massachusetts, New York, Oklahoma, and Texas, with more locations on the way. Shelley hopes to continue growing the program while adding staff to support its nationwide expansion. 

Whether your child is a budding equestrian or just curious about horses, PAL Around Pony School offers an unforgettable introduction to horseback riding.