Tellico Village resident Fred Kyle has been a volunteer at the Shangri-La Therapeutic Academy of Riding since 2009, which recently earned him the Governor’s Volunteer Star award.
Kyle volunteers every Wednesday-Friday, working with the Heroes and Horses program and other therapeutic riding classes.
“He’s really been involved with our Heroes program,” Lynn Petr, executive director and program coordinator at STAR, said. “He’s been such an encourager for these younger guys. He was a commander in Vietnam. He has the empathy and has the get up and go. He can do that. We don’t. He can take that authority that he carries with him from his previous military experience and apply it to the young men in the Heroes program in a very impactful way.”
Since turning 75 this past summer, he’s now the oldest horse leader.
“I’m sort of grandpa there, so what I hear goes in one ear and stays in,” Kyle said. “I absolutely love it.”
After visiting STAR more than eight years ago with the Kiwanis Club of Tellico Village, Kyle picked up information before deciding to volunteer.
“I’m used to being in the (military) service and working with people,” Kyle said. “I work with all age groups between 4-75.
“What brought me there is seeing what goes on,” he added. “The camaraderie of everybody. You will have volunteers. A lot of them are women. You will have a lot of seniors in high school or homeschoolers who are finishing their service hours.”
STAR nominated Kyle for his volunteer efforts, Petr said.
“He’s a great guy and just jumped in and has been an integral part of the program,” she said. “The sad part is he worked in classes a lot. His knees got bad, and he’s not able to do as much with classes. He still comes, and he still helps.”
Kyle also helps with special events and cleaning, Petr said, and is willing to do anything.
He plans to volunteer for as long as he’s able, Kyle said, which includes serving on two committees and helping prepare for the upcoming auction at the end of April.
Kyle recalls many fond memories during his eight years of volunteering and said it makes him feel good to be involved.
“He will be assigned to classes and working with specific students in classes,” Petr said. “Sometimes he can’t go into the arena as much. Usually it’s for walks only, but he has been free to help and been an encourager.”
Although he’s only ridden a horse twice in his life, he credits the horse for making a difference in each of the riders’ life at STAR.
“It’s incredible the responsibility that is on the volunteers and the paid people,” Kyle said. “It’s all for the rider. The horse makes all the difference. The horse will tell you how it feels. All horses think is they’re prey and we’re the predator. You always have to remember that and give them their space.”
Kyle is happy to share his volunteer work with others and hopes that encourages others to do the same.
“Most of my volunteer work is at STAR,” Kyle said. “I work with the 5K run. I will spend most of the weekend there at the auction. ... I also do the (Lenoir City Arts and Crafts Festival) the first two hours. I try to talk to people about volunteering. I’m relatively successful.”
