Friday's Horses -- Kate's Story Pt. IV -- Conclusion

Last edited Fri Jan 16, 2026, 04:57 AM - Edit history (2)

Kate and my wife Laurie rode in many competitions, their pictures taken by professional photographers.





They loved to go on trail rides.
As part of a group,

photographed by friends,


or just putzing around the farm.


One summer Allan's mom visited and stayed for a week.
She and Kate became fast friends.

Kate used to love running with her half-sister Maddie.

She might peer at the sky while eating dinner.

Kate liked to "help" with mucking.

And didn't mind too much helping to celebrate Christmas.

Kate Did Not Like Restrictive Grazing — she was a
"Grazing-Muzzle Melancholy Baby".

Laurie liked to braid Kate's mane when riders visited the farm.

They invested many mostly happy hours training, communicating.





Kate was a spirited Paint mare.

She was fun to be around.


Kate lived nineteen years. One evening three years ago, Laurie found her rolling in her stall.
Suspecting an attack of colic, Laurie started walking her in the arena. She called the local
vet and arranged to transport Kate to the clinic. But the vet on duty could do nothing for Kate.
Laurie then drove her in the horse trailer 3 1/2 hours during a snowstorm to Washington State
University's Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Then and there it was determined that surgery for
colic was not an option and Kate was put to sleep.

She was one of a kind. Her spirit lives on.