Meet Shana Devins of Mountain Valley Horse Rescue

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shana Devins.

Shana took her first horseback riding lesson in second grade. She began leasing her first horse in seventh grade and showing at small local shows. As her interest grew, her parents purchased her first horse when she was a freshman in high school, a green broke five-year-old American Holsteiner. They grew and learned together, showing dressage extensively throughout the Midwest until Shana lost her to colic during senior year of college. The devastation of losing her became the catalyst for her move to Colorado.

Shana was lucky enough to meet a wonderful horse mentor in the Colorado mountains, who helped her re-find horses and get to know them in a more Western setting – trail riding, pack trips, and even horse-drawn sleigh rides. Thanks to her mentor, Shana soon found herself part owner of Indian Summer Outfitters at Bearcat Stables, offering daily trail rides, Vail to Aspen horseback rides, hunt camps, and horse-drawn wagon, carriage, and sleigh rides. Dozens of horses and hundreds of miles on trails helped heal her heart and find a way forward.

After marrying fellow horse and mountain lover Mike Devins in 2005, and welcoming their first child Grady in 2006, Shana sold her half of Indian Summer Outfitters and spent the next four years helping friends develop horseback riding and other recreation on their ranch in Garfield County. In 2010, now with Grady and two-year-old Leila, she scaled back, keeping just a small herd of ten horses and basing a small outfitting business out of her home while focusing on being Mom.

It was during this time that Shana started fostering horses for MVHR and offering rides as MVHR fundraisers. In 2011, she joined MVHR officially and has been thrilled to be a part of the organization’s growth. Horses have meant so much to Shana throughout her life, and it is meaningful everyday to help them in return. With little Zoe now rounding out her family, any time Shana doesn’t spend with horses is spent supporting the kids or working around the ranch!

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
There are always struggles along the way but the horses help smooth those bumps in the road, with there ever noble ability to overcome their own hardships. They remind us everyday to find grace as best possible, even in the most difficult of challenges.

We’d love to hear more about your organization.
Mountain Valley Horse Rescue (MVHR) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization committed to rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming abused, neglected, abandoned, and unwanted equines. (click here for MVHR’s full Mission and Values Statement). As one of the only horse rescue organizations on the Western Slope, we cover a lot of territories. Though we are making a small dent in the need, we make an everlasting difference for those equines we can save. And with help, we know we can save many more.

We are most proud of treating everyone – horse and human – as individuals when they come to us. Taking time to find the strengths in each individual, to help them be a part of the community.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
There are so many – volunteers, donors, anonymous supporters, foster homes, horses – who have worked and inspired and cheered us on at every step of the way. Without his amazing community of support, none of this would be possible.

Contact Info:

• Address: 33933 Colorado River Road
  McCoy, CO 80463
• Website: www.mvhr.net
• Phone: 970-653-0185
• Email: info@mvhr.net
• Instagram: horse_rescue_mvhr
• Facebook: @MVHR2011
• Other: www.mountainvalleyhorserescue.org

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