She was the guardian at the gate, the one who presided at so many VIP areas, always gracious but firm if someone without a wristband tried to cajole their way to a table. It won’t be the same without Kiki Umla, who has left us.
How Kiki kept her sense of humor and equilibrium I’ll never know, but she handled a tough job with aplomb.
She was a real pro, and the presentation to her of the Welles Trophy for service to the horse show industry at the 2012 National Horse Show was so well-deserved.
From Lake Placid to Wellington and so many shows in between, Kiki will be sorely missed.