Julia Taylor Cheek aboard Zippo LTD.

Zippo LTD, one of the American Quarter Horse Association’s most decorated show horses of all time, has died at the age of 30.

Julia Taylor Cheek, of Dallas, Texas purchased Zippo LTD in 2000, earned many of his youth and amateur points and World and Congress titles and owned him until his death.

“It’s with great sadness that we announce the passing of one of the all-time AQHA greats, Zippo LTD,” she announced on her Facebook page. “But, how blessed we were to have 30 years with this once-in-a-lifetime champion! LT’s career spanned over 20 years in the show pen, and he touched so many lives.”

Bred by Ann  Myers, Ashland, Ohio, and shown by such talented horsemen over the course of his long career as Bob and Andrea Kail, Troy Compton, Tommy Sheets, Jason Martin, Bruce Vickery, Charlie Cole, Brian Isbell and Vicky Holt, to name a few, the bay gelding by Zippo Pine Bar and out of Ima Blister Bug is the second highest AQHA point earner in history with 5,779.5.

Madison Pokulda with Zippo LTD in 2015.

A multiple Congress winner Zippo LTD was a three-time AQHA World and eight-time Reserve World Champion and was inducted into the National Snaffle Bit Association’s Hall of Fame in 2008. He was best known for his dominance in Western Riding but also won World Championship titles in Showmanship in 2003 and in Trail in 1999.

In all, Zippo LTD recorded $85,766 in AQHA Incentive Fund earnings; $3,028 in NSBA earnings and $36,346.68 in AQHA World Show earnings.

After a long and successful show career Zippo LTD was originally retired at Pete Kyle’s Ranch in Whitesboro, Texas. A short time later Kristin Pokluda, who was Vicky Holt’s assistant, built her own place in Whitesboro and LT went to live at her farm. As recently as in 2015, Pokluda’s young daughter, Madison, was showing LTD in novice youth events.

“Thank you to Highpoint Performance Horses for the exceptional care and training that you provided LT throughout his career,” Cheek said. “LT, like so many of your champions, not only won at the highest levels, but stayed healthy and happy while doing so. Jason Martin and Charlie Cole have been there every step of the way in this process, and I’m honored that LT will be laid to rest at High Point.”