In Loving Memory of Multiple World and Congress Champion, Cee Money
By: Brittany Bevis
Our hearts our heavy today as we regretfully relay the news that multiple World and Congress Champion, Cee Money, has passed away due to complications resulting from a deteriorated navicular bursa.
“We just couldn’t figure out what was wrong,” Dan says. “We finally got an MRI and the radiologist said it was the worst deterioration they’d ever seen. I’ve known about this for about a week or so, but it just hit me so much harder than I thought. Yesterday was a devastating day. I’m glad he’s out of pain.”
Our readers will undoubtedly remember many interviews with Dan Yeager and his beloved 7-year-old AQHA gelding over the years. Most recently, we chatted with Dan when he was named the returning Congress Champion in Select Showmanship at the 2015 All American Quarter Horse Congress and went on to be named the Select All-Around High Point Champion.
During this difficult time, Dan and the rest of the Highpoint Performance Horses crew find solace in remembering the good times and many fond memories of “Money.”
“When I got him, he was a little quirky,” Dan says. “It took me a while to figure out his personality, but he was the sweetest horse. On the days that I would come visit the barn, I’d yell his name out and he’d whinny back at me. We definitely had a partnership, I think.”
“He was the most talented horse I’ve ever had, and I’ve had some nice horses. I don’t know how you ever replace that. I’ve learned a lot from him over the years.”
One of Money’s attributes that stands out was his ability to succeed in so many different events. “He was third at the Select World in Western Pleasure and then fifth in Junior Western Pleasure with Charlie Cole,” Dan says. “Then, he became such an excellent all-around horse. He was so great at Trail.”
Other special wins include a NSBA World Championship with Brad Ost in Western Pleasure and Money’s first Congress Championship with Dan after a long string of Reserve titles. “We were Reserve a lot… like five times!” Dan says. “Then, we finally won in 2014. Probably my fondest memory is winning Showmanship two years ago at the Congress. Then, we came back last year and won again, as well as Horsemanship. Then, a few days later, he was fourth in Select Western Pleasure. He truly was an all-around horse, which is so hard to come by. He definitely wanted to be good. He was a show horse.”
In the past, Dan had ridden his former horse, Sterling Version, to win a Congress Championship in the novice division. But it was Money who helped teach Dan new skills and enabled him to form a lasting partnership. “I hadn’t really made it back until I had Money,” he says. “He definitely brought me back to the winner’s circle.”
“In a short time period, we won a lot of accolades, certainly more than I’d ever imagined. Winning the Select All-Around title at the Congress hadn’t even entered my mind. It wasn’t even a goal, so to win that was just special, and it was our last big show. We did go to Las Vegas [Silver Dollar Circuit] this year and he got sore after Showmanship, but we won under all six judges. I have really fond memories. I never took it for granted. He was a special horse.”
Cee Money has been buried at his home at Highpoint Performance Horses in Pilot Point, Texas. “He will have a headstone for his grave,” Dan says. “I decided that was a good place for him. He was a happy horse, and that’s what’s the most important to me.”
A look back with Dan and Money:
Dan Yeager/Cee Money Win Congress Select Showmanship
Congress Evening Horsemanship and WP Champions Include Gil Galyean, Harley Huff, and Dan Yeager
Dan Yeager and Cee Money Win QH Congress Amateur Select Showmanship
Wednesday Winners at 2015 NSBA World Show Include Crawford, Yeager, Graham, Roberts, and Searles
Congratulations 2015 All American Quarter Horse Congress Hi-Point Champions!
