Street Legal's short ride comes to a sudden halt

His portrait is on the front cover of a section in the Times-Gazette's Souvenir Celebration edition that comes out Friday -- but he won't be competing this year.

Or ever again.

I'm Street Legal, the winning pony owned by 18-year-old Laura Lester, died Tuesday night of pneumonia, a complication from an unidentified illness. The Souvenir section was printed before the horse's death.

"His kidneys weren't working right, but then they started testing okay," said Laura Wednesday afternoon. "But then he got pneumonia."

Laura received the flashy little black horse with the white blaze and two white socks for Christmas last year and they didn't waste any time making friends.

"He was my baby," she said. "I know some people might not understand, but he was part of the family."

Laura said she saw him at least once a week.

"He's always loving on me. He knew me when I came to the barn," she said.

She got to visit him when he was at the Stewart County vet clinic, but when he was moved to the Rood and Riddle clinic in Lexington, Ky., five hours away, she wasn't able to.

The pair won nine ribbons at shows this summer before Street Legal fell ill, including three first place wins -- one at the Spring Fun Show. Laura won her first Celebration win on her other ride, Absolutely Armed, in 2005 and originally planned to leave that horse home this year. But with Street Legal's illness, she decided to bring it along anyway. She'll be showing Absolutely Armed in the Owner-Amateur Riders on Walking Mares or Geldings, Five Years & Over, (Canter) class on Tuesday night.

As far as getting a replacement for Street Legal?

"I'm sure we will, but not yet," said Laura. "I'm just not ready."