Our Sincerest Condolences Following the Passing of Industry Legend, Zippo LTD
Everyone at The Equine Chronicle is deeply saddened to relay the news that Zippo LTD, the 1987, bay, AQHA gelding by Zippo Pine Bar and out of Ima Blister Bug has passed. Sadly, we have confirmed with the Taylor/Cheek family that their beloved “LT” passed away yesterday at the age of 30.
Bred by Ann Myers and having been connected with well-known trainers such as Tommy Sheets, Charlie Cole, Jason Martin, Brian Isbell, Troy Compton, and Vicky Holt, LT accumulated multiple Congress Champion titles, three AQHA World Champion titles, eight Reserve World Champion titles, and countless other accolades, many of which were achieved with his longtime owner, Julia Dawn (Taylor) Cheek, by his side, and prior to that, Andrea Kail.
In addition, LT was inducted into the National Snaffle Bit Association Hall of Fame in 2008, just seven years after his mother received the same honor in 2001 as well as his father in 1992. Records list LT as the second all-time AQHA point earner with 5,770+ points, just behind another legend in the industry, Harley D Zip. His AQHA Incentive Fund earnings are listed at a whopping $85,766, $3,028 in NSBA earnings, and $36,346 in World Show earnings.
We fondly remember when Julia and LT graced the cover of the Congress edition of The Equine Chronicle back in 2004.
Scroll below to read the 2004 EC Cover Story featuring Julia and LT.
“Challenge yourself daily” seems to be the motto of the Taylor family of Highland Park, Texas with daughter, Julia Dawn, using the mantra in her daily life both in and out of horses. This bright, energetic, attractive young lady has experienced what would be a lifetime of achievements for some people.
At 20 years old, Julia Dawn Taylor has been a multiple AQHYA World and Reserve World Champion. She graduated seventh out of 450 with Advanced Placement distinction in her high school class; she was a National Merit Scholar, received the Outstanding Senior English Award, a Hi-Lites Scholarship, and the Texas Governor’s Award for Academic Excellence. She also received an academic scholarship to Vanderbilt University. Julia entered Vanderbilt with two years of college credit completed and intends to graduate early. She is double-majoring in economics and psychology and continues her straight A average in every course taken, is on the Dean’s List every semester, was elected Kappa Alpha Theta Rush Chair, and a Student Cabinet Leader, and was selected as a research assistant for Vandy’s neuroscience laboratory. Her volunteer activities include modeling for the Children’s Medical Center style show and raising money for the Genisis Women’s Sheleter. This is only a partial list of Julia’s accomplishments and, when you meet her, you’ll see that she is wise beyond her years. As I said, this is not your average 20-year-old.
Julia’s beginning in horses traces back to a YMCA Indian Princess father-daughter campout in kindergarden. It was at this outing that she got her first experience with a horse and she was hooked. Three years later, Julia was showing in open hunter-jumper events, which eventually led her to the AQHA circuit. It was a great privilege for Julia to train with Vicky Holt and her assistant trainer, Kristin Herrick. Julia and her parents would like to thank Vicky for her exceptional guidance, her talent as a trainer and rider, and all the years of hard work and dedication to Zippo LTD and Julia. Many thanks also to Kristin for her tireless assistance and unfailing sense of humor.
It was with this partnership with Vicky that would introduce her to Zippo LTD, or “LT,” to those who know and love him. When the Taylors were offered the chance to buy Zippo LTD, they were hesitant at first. LT was 14 years old and Julia only had a few years left in youth. They worried about his health and how he would hold up. Two World Championships, in Showmanship and Western Riding, and two Youth Reserve World Championships in three years seemed to quell the concerns about LT’s health or abilities. Julia and LT also won the Youth 14-18 Trail at the 2003 Congress.
In 2003, Zippo LTD passed Van Decka as the all-time leading open performance point earner in AQHA history with over 1,600 open points and 5,187 lifetime points including 1,155 points with Julia. He’s a multiple World and Congress Champion and is easily one of the most famous Quarter Horses of all time.
Julia’s never-give-up attitude, coupled with her outstanding ability, and the talented and willing LT have kept them on top as they have moved into the amateur ranks. Since January 2004, Julia and LT have been circuit champions in Horsemanship and Western Riding at the Florida Gulf Coast and the Reichert Celebration, where she was the all-around amateur, circuit champions in Western Riding at the Redbud, and Reserve All-Around Amateur at the Redbud. Julia and LT have also garnered amateur superiors in Showmanship, Western Riding, and Horsemanship along with performance championships in their first seven months of amateur competition.
Julia added Duke’s Your Daddy to her string in 2003 and the pair won every NSBA 2-Year-Old Non Pro and Gold Non Pro class they entered. These titles included the Just For Pleasure 2-Year-Old Non Pro division and NSBA Breeders Cup 2-Year-Old Non Pro Gold division Hunter Under Saddle. Julia ended 2003 with Duke as the NSBA High Point 2-Year-Old Non Pro in Hunter Under Saddle.
Duke was no slouch in the show pen either, as he won the previously mentioned events in open with Vicky Holt. Julia, LT, and Drake are still attending as many AQHA shows as her busy collegiate and social schedule allows. She is excited about LT and Duke competing in eight events at the 2004 AQHA World Show.
LT was featured this spring in the “Legendary Horse” column of the American Quarter Horse Journal, and, as she told Jim Bret Campbell, “I’ve owned him since I was 15. He’s the best horse I will ever own or ride, and I’ve been blessed to own him.” I would say, that if you asked LT, he would feel blessed to have someone to watch over him like Julia Dawn Taylor.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Julia, her family, and everyone who was connected to the life of this exceptionally talented animal. A proper memorial befitting his life and legacy will be forthcoming once the family is able to process this loss.
Rest In Peace
Zippo LTD
(1987-2017)
