The loss of a legend – Hotroddin Zippo
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By Susan Winslow
On June 25, 2019, the Quarter Horse world lost a legend with the passing of Hotroddin Zippo owned by Pine Meadow Quarter Horses. The loss of the beloved 15.1 hand, chestnut superstar has reverberated across the industry, as this talented and sweet-natured stallion created a lasting legacy in both the show pen and breeding shed.
Breeder Sonja Mickelsen of Toledo, Washington recalls the care and planning that went into the cross that would produce this special horse back in 1992. She recalls, “We owned his mother, The Sweet Hot Rodder, and we showed her from her two-year-old year to the Congress and the World Show a couple of times. She was by Hotrodders Jet Set, and she was one of the highest money earners at that time. She was built right, and she had a natural, flowing movement. We crossed her with Zips Chocolate Chip, because we knew the Zippo Pine Bar bloodline was excellent and would complement Sweety, and they really did. The gene pool in him was exceptional. The Hotrodders Jet Set and Zippo Pine Bar combination really was incredible. That’s where it really is, in the gene pool, with any horse.”
She continues with a laugh saying, “When Hotroddin Zippo was born, we took one look at his flashy white legs, and I thought that he’d better be a good mover with those white legs! That’s how he got the nickname, Hollywood. He had real presence and, luckily, he also turned out to have the beautiful movement of his mother, along with a good brain, and a very sweet temperament. We could put him in the trailer and take him anywhere. We kept him home and raised him, got him started, and he was just a wonderful moving horse. He was the kind you just had to sit on. We didn’t have to make him or his mother. Both of them were just flowing, natural movers.”
The Mickelsen family sent the young colt to Jody Galyean as a two-year-old where Galyean showed him to a Two-Year-Old Snaffle Bit Western Pleasure Championship. After that big win, Hollywood returned home to anchor the 
Mickelsen breeding program before they sent him on to Cleve Wells. Wells showed the talented young stallion during a stellar career that included a 1997 AQHA Maturity Western Pleasure Championship at the Congress where he was unanimous under all four judges; 1997 Congress Championship in Junior Western Pleasure; 1997 NSBA Western Pleasure Maturity win; multiple Championship wins at the 2019 Arizona Sun Circuit and a Superior Western Pleasure Horse title; along with a 1999 Congress Reserve Championship in Senior Western Pleasure. Hollywood also won numerous circuit championships and futurities.
Mickelsen breeding program before they sent him on to Cleve Wells. Wells showed the talented young stallion during a stellar career that included a 1997 AQHA Maturity Western Pleasure Championship at the Congress where he was unanimous under all four judges; 1997 Congress Championship in Junior Western Pleasure; 1997 NSBA Western Pleasure Maturity win; multiple Championship wins at the 2019 Arizona Sun Circuit and a Superior Western Pleasure Horse title; along with a 1999 Congress Reserve Championship in Senior Western Pleasure. Hollywood also won numerous circuit championships and futurities.