Zips Bossy Chip has smashed through American Quarter Horse Hall of Famer Van Decka’s 30-year record for the all-time leading youth horse by points. The record was set 30 years ago.

In 1987, at the All American Quarter Horse Congress, Van Decka earned his last point, ending his Hall of Fame show career with 4,270 youth points. In September, Zips Bossy Chip topped that record with 17-year-old owner Ellexxah Maxwell of West Mansfield, Ohio. Zips Bossy Chip has amassed 4,280 youth points.

“I bought her in 2011, and the first year was a bit of a struggle,” Maxwell said. “I was a green rider, and she was a green horse. It was difficult. I think, since then, we’ve learned the events together and it was a lot easier for us.”

Zips Bossy Chip is a 2008 bay mare by UK Mito Boss. She was bred by the University of Findlay in Findlay, Ohio, and is out of the Jessies Fancy Chip mare Suzies Fancy Chip.

Maxwell and “Annie” were the year-end high-point youth team in 2013, 2015 and 2016. They were the reserve high-point youth team in 2012 and 2014.

Along the way, they have earned Superiors in showmanship, horsemanship, hunter under saddle, hunt seat equitation, all-around and trail. In 2015, they were the reserve world champions in showmanship.

“After I was reserve at the (Built Ford Tough AQHYA World Championship Show), my mom and I talked about other than winning the world, what I hadn’t done yet,” Maxwell said. “I thought there might be a goal I could set long-term. My lucky number is 5, so I told my mom I wanted to earn 5,000 youth points. I never dreamed that would be a record.”

On their way to the record, Maxwell and Annie earned points in halter, performance halter mares, showmanship, reining, trail, horsemanship, western pleasure, hunter under saddle and hunt seat equitation.

“The hard work and dedication it took to break this record is remarkable,” said AQHA Chief Show Officer Pete Kyle. “It speaks to teamwork and commitment. We want to congratulate Ellexxah and Zips Bossy Chip on this achievement and look forward to even further accomplishments from this team.”

Maxwell can compete in youth classes until the end of 2019, making her 5,000-point goal achievable. After Maxwell’s youth career is complete, she’d like to compete with Annie for at least one amateur showmanship title.

“I’m pretty sure I’ve told that horse secrets I haven’t told my parents,” Maxwell said. “Never in a million years did I think I would break a record. I knew Annie was special, but I didn’t know she was that special.”

Maxwell is a student at Ohio Connections Academy, an online public school. She competes in the Interscholastic Equestrian Association with the Autumn Rose team and on the Ohio Quarter Horse Association NYATT team. She has been Annie’s only youth rider. Maxwell’s parents are AQHA Professional Horsemen Brent and Melissa Maxwell of Mil-Max Training in West Mansfield.