(JK’s Citation, Sup. Champ., P.P. X Hill’s Go Siri Dee)

   HH Cie’s Ladeego was born on my parent’s farm in Salem, Oregon on March 19, 1983. I started working with him when I was 14 and he was a weanling. I did all the training myself (this was the requirement "back in the day" for 4-H). We did a lot of showing throughout the years. We were almost always in the top 5 at open shows, because he looks like a little horse. We were almost always in the blues at county and state fairs. We won medallions in showmanship at Marion County Fair for three years straight. We qualified for and showed in the 4-H State Fair for 6 years straight. We showed in every Oregon POA show we could attend. We won the NW Regional POA show traveling trophy, got reserve two years, and won a bridle for reserve high point open show horse and rider combination.  We brought home many, many other trophies, ribbons, and high points in the NW. In 1990 we won 2 world championships. My sister, Lauri, rode him in the same world show and won a world championship in trail and placed high in some very big classes after only riding him 3 times before! My niece, Savannah Sargent, rode him for 4 years in lead line and won most of her classes and many high points, too.
   He then became Kelly Nenninger's mount for several years. They took home tons of awards and also won the NW Regional traveling trophy twice. They also won a saddle for high point open show horse and rider combination in the Oregon POA Club. In 4-H, they won the prestigious Sheik Memorial traveling trophy in Trail.
   In the mid-1990's, my mom, Sharon Hill, started riding Ladee. She took him all over the NW and they won several awards and high points.
   He was then leased, and eventually bought, by the Kochis family. Their two children, Damion and Amanda each rode Ladee in 3 world shows where they won numerous World Championships and many high points and awards in the POA and Pony Clubs. While they owned him, Ladee got an eye infection and had to have his eye removed. But that never affected him!
   He was leased by Maty in 2000. Ladee taught Maty how to ride and care for a pony. Maty wrote a song about Ladee called “Sweet Little Pony of Mine” which launched her career into the country music world. She now owns her own online radio station! www.Nixakidscountry.com
   With his last lease, he even passed his 2nd level dressage and was on his way to 3rd level. I’m sorry to say, I don’t know her name. I’m sure he impacted her life just as much as he has everyone else’s that rides him!
   When the chance came to get Ladee back, we were ecstatic! I always thought that he’d come back someday to be a mount for my children.
   This summer Ladee has been Aaron’s lead line pony and they did AWESOME!!! Aaron and Ladee went in many classes and won two showmanship classes (Aaron’s first blue ribbons!) and they also won Reserve High Point Lead Liner at a POA show in August! Ladee, who at this point is blind in his other eye and can only walk and not trot without being in pain, was always so patient with Aaron! Aaron would lead him and ride him all around and I never had to worry if Ladee was going to freak out. He has been what Aaron needed to be confident on a horse. Now Aaron wants to ride all of our horses!
   We are sure that Ladee has more than enough points to get his Supreme Championship, but will find out for sure later on this year.
   Ladee is now officially retired. It is becoming too difficult for him to travel long distances and stand in the stalls at shows. He is enjoying the country life now with his new friends on our farm. He has a pen mate that he is teaching “manners” to, so he’s still got a job! He will stay with us and live out the rest of his long life!
 

Here are some pictures of Ladee “then”.

Here are some pictures of Ladee “now”.

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