Katie's Story

Katie is a chestnut Rocky Mountain/Draft Horse cross who ended up in the kill pen in Sunnyside, Washington in 2014.  There’s no history of Katie’s life before the auction and luckily a friend of Blackdawg Farm and Sanctuary (BDFS) rescued her that day and Katie joined her horse herd happily for several years.   

As our friend got older, she needed to reduce the number of horses she had and brought Katie to live at BDFS. 

Katie's outgoing, sweet and chill nature makes her a favorite of volunteers and visitors.  She is the first to greet everyone and Katie bonds easily with people.  Her most favorite human by far is Tom Lapham (Kelly’s husband and co-founder of BDFS). She follows him around like a giant puppy dog

Katie has her own unique and endearing flair for the dramatic. One example of Katie’s special flare is when she is in the arena being exercised.  She grunts and groans so loudly the uninitiated would think she is in hard labor.   In fact, she is just fine.  Turn her out to pasture and she runs and gallops with joy and abandon - quietly.  

If indoor exercise isn’t her cup of tea, Katie’s MOST favorite thing is attention and belly rubs, and she isn’t shy about letting you know it. At the slightest sign of a rub, Katie drops to her knees, eyes rolled back in her head, lips flapping, and a neck stretch that would make a giraffe proud.   

Katie is a wonderful part of BDFS and we love all of her Katie antics.  

Photo credit to Barbra Kates www.barbrakates.com