About Us

Stepping Stone has a rich history and plays a significant cultural and competitive role in our riders and animals alike.

The tail of Stepping Stone. Originally formed in 2007 by Cari Gleeson Stepping Stone quickly grew to be the top choice for aspiring riders wanting to compete in hunter jumpers. In 2020, Cari decided to retire, at which point her assistant, Emily Alinen, purchased Stepping Stone from Cari. Emily took the reins to promote excellence and horsemanship through example and by educating the riders in her program.

In 2022, Emily decided to take a bigger step and rebranded to Stepping Stone Equine LLC, truly making it her own. After 17 years of calling Chagrin Valley Farm home it was clear that Stepping Stone was growing and the next step was needed. Spring of 2024 that became a reality when Stepping Stone acquired its new home in Newbury, Ohio. This move allowed Stepping Stone to expand and provided the opportunity to explore and expand its program. Since then, Stepping Stone has continued to raise the standard for not only their clients, but themselves, with the construction of their new facility, set to open in July of 2026 in Diamond, OH. We look forward to serving this area for many years to come.

Our Team

Emily Alinen

Head Trainer / Owner

Emily started her career at the age of 13 and fell in love with showing horses. While competing with hunters and jumping horses, she worked as a groom, braider, and stall cleaner, all while learning the trade. While continuing her show experience and teaching, Emily studied and graduated from Hiram College with a bachelor's degree in Accounting, and continued serving as an assistant trainer in 2009. In 2012, Emily decided to pursue and become a professional trainer. The rest is in the story of Stepping Stone, including Emily's enjoyment of going for walks with her three dogs, braiding and coloring, and the moments spent laughing and having fun with family and friends. She enjoys a simple life, truly dedicated to the well-being of seeing others achieve their goals.

Chris Pompos

Keeper of Never-Ending Paperwork

Chris has been involved with several aspects of the agricultural field and has several accomplishments. It starts at his grandfather's farm at the age of eight, where he helped with milking cows, hay, and crop production. With his grandfather's passing and under his uncle's wing, Chris became involved in meat and show hog production. Chris achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, with several acknowledgments of accomplishments from past presidents, the FBI, CIA, military branches, governors, and senators. Chris followed his love of horses, working as a groom and showing his own horses. His heart lies in seeing others enjoy a facility and achieve their own personal goals in horses and business. Chris enjoys seeing a plan come together and achieve their own personal goals in horses and business. Although, there's something to be said about a long, relaxing hike in the woods or working in the flower gardens, which brings an indescribable peace of mind and relaxation.

Kacie Gall

Lead Groom

Kacie started her career with SSE in 2018 as a part-time groom. Kacie has worked for other farms and gained experience in several aspects, including ring crew, ring maintenance, and horse management. This led her to work two seasons on the WEF circuit before returning to SSE full-time. She accomplished all of this while attending Kent State University and graduated with a bachelor's degree in Business. Kacie enjoys competing in the jumpers with her horse, and her hobbies include collecting vintage records and attending concerts.

My 12-year-old daughter has been riding with Emily and Stepping Stone since she was 7 years old. Emily has seen her through cross-rails on her tiny pony to her current large pony. Emily is endlessly patient, thorough, and has deep expertise in all things riding and horses. She always finds the right balance between challenging my daughter to push herself, while also taking the time to build her skills as a rider. But more than this, Emily is a mentor and role model to my daughter – someone she looks up to and aspires to be like.

We love riding with Stepping Stone, Emily, and Chris. The barn is a welcoming place and the full team is friendly, talented, and supportive. We wouldn’t ride anywhere else – or with anyone else.

Susan E Donlan

I worked as a groom for Stepping Stone Equine and would meet them at WEC Ohio. Chris and Emily were flexible with my chaotic college schedule, easy to communicate and work with, and made working fun! Although I wasn't a permanent part of the team, everyone welcomed me with open arms and made me feel like part of the family.

Sydney Lin

As a parent, I feel incredibly fortunate that my daughter has trained with Emily Alinen for the past four years. Emily is always kind, positive, and truly confidence-building with her riders while maintaining the highest level of professionalism and talent. She has a special ability to develop both the horse and rider, and works with her students to develop personalized game plans to meet their specific goals, and always puts the care and wellbeing of the horses first.

Emily is highly respected in the industry, and it’s no surprise that other trainers trust her to train and compete their horses. We are so grateful for the impact she has had on our daughter, and I would highly recommend Emily to anyone looking for an exceptional trainer.
We love riding with Stepping Stone, Emily, and Chris. The barn is a welcoming place and the full team is friendly, talented, and supportive. We wouldn’t ride anywhere else – or with anyone else.