Meet Our Team

Raised in the hunter/jumper world on a hands-on family farm, Kelsey received a comprehensive and varied education in horses under Francesca Mazella, Judy Richter, Nancy Cole, Molly Flaherty, Kate Stoeffels, Bill Cooney and Lisa Sherman. She has ridden professionally in various capacities for twenty years.

With life-long experience, a compassionate approach to both horses and humans, and a passion for horse rescue, she founded Pony Up Rescue Collective in 2022. The collective-style horse rescue received 501(c)(3) charitable status in August 2024. Pony Up RC is currently home to a small herd of rescued ponies & horses undergoing collective rehabilitation and training.

When not in the barn, Kelsey is Assistant Business Manager of her family's commercial horse farm as well as remote Executive Assistant for Dovetail Commercial Real Estate.

Her credentials include:

• 'B-level' Pony Club member.

• B.A. & B.F.A. degrees from Brown and New School Universities, respectively.

• Hunter/Jumper/Equitation showing through 1.10m.

• Eventing/Dressage through Training/2nd level.

• Hunter pacing/cross country riding throughout.

• Professional catch riding, horse training, correction, schooling, desensitization, and rehab work on all ages and levels of horses and ponies.

• Variously: Riding instructor, show groom, stable hand, equine business manager, wrangler.

The Board

President Pro-tem Allen Coulter, American television & film director

Board Member Rich Zabel, VP of Media Supply Chain at Diversified

Board Member Alison Buckley, E.d.D., SUNY Ulster President

Board Member Kathryn Kercher, Kercher Consulting

Board Member Kelsey Merrow, Founder, Pony Up Rescue Collective

The Advisory Board

Mary Stuart Masterson, producer, actor, director.

Dr. Michelle Ferraro, VMD, Millbrook Equine Veterinary Practice, Partner.

David Ping, David Ping Group, non-profit management consultant.

Linda Wu, E.d.D., Westlandon Consulting, IT consultant.

Elizabeth Wainstock, public health advocate.

Suzanne Little, P.hD., Clinical Psychologist and Psychoanalyst

Staff

Aslan Vullo, Assistant Barn Manager

Dannika Hungate, Grant Writer