Been asking for 2 yrs now! (fb)

With a heavy heart we inform you all that we lost KK yesterday, afternoon, 4/1/25. She went in her own way, on her time and safe in her stall. By all appearances there was no struggle what so ever. We believe her heart failed. She looked very peaceful and regal even in death. Kiwanis was a beautiful big mare covered in vanilla cream with toffee sprinkles. Our Polka Dot Princess. Mae West of our herd. The down-low diva. Taking second to none, commanding respect from her herd while letting Cedar take the position of lead Mare. She arrived here at the Landing in Feb of 2016, at age 22. A big buxom, full figured girl weighing in at 1150 lbs. Extremely overweight. A beautiful leopard print Appy. A mare who once upon a time was the best of the best. A cattle horse, whose owner took ill and left her to graze with out a job for 10 yrs. The first night was very traumatic for her. She was almost choked to death while being loaded on the trailer by non horse people.( A story for a different day). Once here and off loaded, she became scared and shy. I was not sure I could ever peel back the layers to reach her. She would not let us catch her. So I just let her decompress and hang out with the others, learning the schedule and routine. I would go out and sit next to her hay feeder or water trough each day. Days turned into weeks, and weeks to months. She hung out, ever with a watchful eye of my grooming or interaction with the others. Watching everything. Eventually she came to the barnyard of the old barn.....still not letting anyone touch her....she started peeking in at the door day after day. Eventually after about 10 months of her watching and building trust.....she finally stepped into the barn and a into a stall. A few days later I was able to get a halter on her....and started grooming. Thus began the trust and love from KK to us. Such a loving mare. One that I never gave up on. With any who arrive here, nutrition is the first thing I address. Hers was completely opposite of others. Taking weight off of her without starving it off took a couple of years. By 2018...she looked amazing. Even so KK rarely ever did anything fast. Even loose weight. Always the last to go out in the morning. Mainly because she dare not step out in public unkempt. As she walked she nodded to her imaginary fans on the right and the left. Turning to wish me a good day and Thank you. (at least thats how I took it). She loved her boys, who was stalled on either side of her, and spending daytime hours out in pasture with them. She stood waiting patiently for them to come in first at night. The nine years of her continued retirement here at The Landing, I pray was some of her best. She was officially diagnosed with metabolic disorder just year before last and put on a low dose of Prascend , to be re-tested this spring. She was smart and funny. Everytime someone came to the farm that she didnt know, or our farrier or a vet, KK would "run"and hide behind her outside stall door, and peek around looking to see if the visit of either was for her. I will forever miss that deep whinny that only KK would give, thus the nick name "Mae West. From the first day and the trailer fiasco, until her last breath, she was never loaded into a trailer again. She even avoided grazing in the vicinity of one. She sure didn't want to get on the trailer the night she arrived....and true to KK fashion she damn sure wasn't "walking" onto another. She brought so much joy and love here. Her little short gaited cantor....the KK prancing run. Her handlebar mustache..... the best upper "lip finger" back scratcher and shoulder massager you could ever have. Not funny KK.....not a funny April fools day joke! You took part of me with you... I wasn't ready....but you were Sure gonna miss you pretty girl..... I honor you sweet KK.....prance high girl....you've earned your rest. (fb)