Rate My Professor Alyson Ainsworth

Dr. Alyson Ainsworth serves as Equine Veterinarian, Riding Faculty, and Biology Faculty at Sweet Briar College, assuming these roles on September 1, 2024, at the Harriet Howell Rogers Riding Center. She provides comprehensive veterinary care for the horses in the Howell Lykes Colton ’38 Stables, teaches riding, contributes to biology instruction, and mentors students interested in veterinary careers. Her expertise enhances the college's Equine Management Certificate programs, offering practical experience in equine health and management within Agricultural and Veterinary Science. Prior to Sweet Briar, Dr. Ainsworth owned Afton Mountain Equine, her private practice founded in 2021 in Charlottesville, Virginia. The practice delivers routine wellness care, equine chiropractic services, and veterinary acupuncture to horses in Albemarle and surrounding counties.

Alyson Ainsworth earned a Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Languages from the University of Virginia, where she joined the polo club and competed on the varsity team. She received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech in 2012, with a focus on equine medicine. Immediately following graduation, she completed an equine internship at the Atlantic Veterinary College in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada, in 2013. Dr. Ainsworth then worked six years as an associate veterinarian at Valley Equine Associates in Charles Town, West Virginia, treating Thoroughbred racehorses, broodmares, performance horses, and riding horses. She held additional associate veterinarian positions at Yergey, Stewart & Vallance in Laurel, Maryland, and Banfield Pet Hospital in various Virginia locations. Born and raised in Charlottesville, she began horse lessons and local showing at age 10. Dr. Ainsworth is president of Aftercare Charles Town, a nonprofit rehoming retired racehorses, trail rides her adopted former Virginia Polo ponies Rivera and Woodrow, and volunteers chiropractic care for polo ponies.