Dark Keioki: 1989-2012

"Keioki"

1989-2012

 

     Earlier this month, the Kuc family and Hidden Creek Equestrian Center had to say goodbye to our oldest horse, a beloved Holsteiner mare named Keioki. Healthy and active throughout her entire life, the vet's best guess is that osteoporosis, not uncommon in elderly mares, caused an otherwise unprovoked fracture in one of Keioki's legs. Thanks to observant friends and great care, Keioki was able to pass entirely peacefully and pain-free.

 

     The Kuc family purchased Keioki in 2005 right before opening Hidden Creek Equestrian Center. Jill planned to begin a lesson program in dressage and jumping, and was looking for a horse for more advanced riders. She also wanted a horse that Ed could pursue jumping and eventing on, learning from the horse's experience but also a more challenging nature than his Quarter Horse, Chance.

 

     Jill and Ed purchased Keioki, then 16 years old, from Beth Ann Adams. Keioki had been trained through second and third level dressage and had a natural knack for jumping. Her feisty, know-it-all attitude made her a challenge, but also a very rewarding horse to ride. Jessie rode Keioki until she entered the lesson program under some of Jill's advanced students. Although she behaved for a variety of riders, she never acted a day over four years old. While that made some riders uncomfortable, she and Ed bonded quickly. Less than a year later, she became primarily Ed's.

 

     Keioki taught Ed how to jump, polish up his dressage, and even contributed quite a few thrills and spills. In 2006, Ed and Jessie decided to try eventing for the first time. With few, homemade jumps at Hidden Creek at the time, Ed and Jessie created makeshift cross-country fences (the most infamous being a line of lawn chairs). Eventually they decided to move from the "DIY" phase, and enlisted the help of Jill and Jessie's trainer, Heather Mason. Heather and the Olijslager family took the Kuc's cross-country schooling at Bucks County Horse Park for the first time in the Spring of 2006, and by summer Ed and Jessie both entered their first horse trials on Thunder and Keioki, who had become fast friends despite Keioki's bossiness towards most horses.

 

     Ed and Keioki placed Third in the ESDCTA Year End Awards for Starter Eventing that year, behind only family and friends (Jessie on Thunder, and Jorgen Olijslager). Ed moved Keioki up to Beginner Novice by the end of the season, and despite some exciting outings, they always had fun. They tried their hand in dressage as well, qualifying for and competing at the ESDCTA Dressage Championships the following year.

 

    While the pair was successful in dressage, they were best known for clearing out a warm-up ring in almost every show. Keioki refused to act her age, and commonly liked to show off her speed and some talented airs above ground while warming up for a dressage test!

 

   Keioki was retired a few years later simply out of courtesy to a wonderful horse. She was healthy and strong, but as she entered her twenties without ceasing her creative antics under saddle, she was retired to avoid the potential of injury. Keioki lived out the last few years of her life plump, happy, and excitable as always. She enjoyed daily turn-out with her long-time best friends, Starlight, Babe, and Kira, typically bossing them around from day to day. They never minded her dominance; Keioki was simply the lead mare at the barn since day one! Keioki received treats and attention every day, was always the most excited horse in the barn to get her grain, and was groomed and cared for regularly by the employees and working students at Hidden Creek. She was happy and comfortable through the day of her passing, never once slowing down, backing down, or acting 23 years old!

 

     In honor of this fabulous horse, we've decided to re-name our barn year end sportsmanship award the "Dark Keioki Award for Sportsmanship." Previous recipients (Allison Roecker, Riley Schreiber, Camryn Martello, Judith Feller, Holly Ahner, Ashley Coleman, Kylie John Klein, Grace Schierwagen, Jessica Giuliano, and Steph Kurtz) as well as future recipients will find their names, by the end of the year, on a special plaque in the barn with Keioki's name on it.

 

     While our hearts break at Keioki's passing, we are honored to have had the priviledge of owning and loving her for over seven years, and watching her unique bond with the other horses and with her primary rider, Ed. Keioki was certainly full of personality and truly one of a kind, and she will be missed at Hidden Creek.