Volunteer Spotlight: Terrie Allon
Terrie met MVHR program horse trainer, Kendra Scott, to train a different animal - her Border Collie - to herd sheep and cattle. She also met our former programs coordinator, Kensie Scott (Kendra’s daughter) in a lucky twist of fate. When Kendra and Kensie learned about Terrie’s extensive experience with horses, they invited her to come work at our Horse Heroes Summer Day Camp program. Terrie accepted the offer, but opted to donate her time as a volunteer, rather than accepting a pay check.
“I decided to volunteer because I wanted to be able to give back to a community that has given so much to me: The Horses and those that serve these horses!”, she said. Not our typical “volunteer experience” but goes to show there are many ways to help and all sorts of volunteer “jobs” needed to keep MVHR going.
Terrie is originally from Northern California, but has lived in Montana, Idaho and Colorado. Her parents bought a cattle ranch in Montana, which was her first exposure to horses. She got her first pony when she was just 2 years old. When she was 20 years old, she moved to Aspen to ski and work on a cattle ranch. To support herself, Terrie taught skiing, worked at two different ranches helping with the cattle, and took guests on trail rides at Snowmass Riding Stables. She’s been a resident of Eagle County since 1980 and also taught skiing for seven years on Vail Mountain.
As a kid, Terrie showed Western in small shows, and also did barrel racing, equitation, and trail classes. She says she rode bareback for pleasure “which got me very much in touch with the animal.” Thanks to her daughter’s interest in horses, she later learned to ride English and do dressage. With this experience, she was able to teach our campers all aspects of horsemanship and “why it is important to be good shepherds to the horses and how best to take great care of them, understanding that even though this was not a ‘riding’ camp per se, the horses are useful and have much to teach us and we have much to give to them and learn from them.”
When asked about the most rewarding part of volunteering at MVHR, Terrie said, “teaching the children how to be in communion with the animals and to understand they have feelings and emotions, too. To see the children light up when they made a connection with the horse and could learn to ask for cooperation from the horse, instead of demanding something.” That was precisely the goal of the “Liberty” program Kensie created this year. When our campers learn about stewardship and the amazing connections humans can have with these incredible beings, everyone wins and welfare for the horses will improve, too.
Terrie’s favorite horse at the ranch? Roman, for his attitude and good looks. “Roman stands out as one of the most remarkable horses I have ever met because he was used as a stud horse, was not super trained or handled and is getting on in years, yet he now has a big bag of tricks he has learned, thanks to Kendra’s skill and patience, that is not only entertaining but helps keep him flexible.” She said he is a great example to us “older folks” that it’s never too late to learn something new.
Terrie says she feels “very humbled and honored to have been a part of this program.” We say we feel so blessed she not only shared her teachings and horse wisdom with the future generation of horse advocates, but also did it all for free. What a gift to MVHR and our campers, and a lesson to all of us.