In 2011, GoHorseShow featured some of the most famous show horses our industry has ever seen and updated our readers on what they have been doing since their retirement. In the original article, we featured the legendary Zippo Ltd. At the time, we noted that the 1987 bay gelding had a penchant for pretty blondes as many of his former owners and trainers seemed to be beautiful, smart blondes including Andrea Farley Kail, Julia Dawn Taylor Cheek and Vicky Holt.
At 28 years old, LT’s preference for cute blondes hasn’t changed one bit. At the Tulsa Holiday Circuit over the Fourth of July weekend, AQHA’s second all-time point earner was seen packing six year-old blonde-haired cutie, Madison Pokluda, daughter of Kristin Pokluda, of Whitesboro, Texas around in the novice events. This soon-to-be first grader placed second one day in the western pleasure and got her name called in the horsemanship as well. Madison was excited that she successfully completed a flying lead change in her pattern.
“I like him because he is good and does what I say,” Madison told us. “He is a lot of fun and I won some points too. I’m really lucky to be able to ride him because I know he is super famous.”
Super famous he is. LT has earned over $85,000 in AQHA Incentive Fund money and is still owned by Julia Dawn Taylor Cheek of Dallas, Texas. He has been retired at the Pokluda’s farm for several years.
LT is the second all-time AQHA point earner with over 5,770 AQHA points, second only to Harley D Zip, who has nearly 6,000. LT, who is by Zippo Pine Bar out of Ima Blister Bug, is also a three time AQHA World and eight time Reserve World Champion and multiple Congress winner. He was best known for being a western riding machine with nearly 2,000 points in that event, but also earned World Champion titles in Showmanship (2003) and Trail (1999).
Madison’s mother says that LT received lots of attention from admirers at the show. “Everyone was coming up and petting him. We brought him to the show because it was nearby and air-conditioned. My daughter rides him at home and his owner Julia Dawn was gracious enough to let Madison show him. LT seemed to enjoy his time back at the horse show and hopped right into the trailer. He helps Madison and is really teaching her how to ride. I doubt she will ever have the opportunity to ride a horse like LT ever again,” Kristin says. “It is just old hat to him. He just puts his head down and does his job. It is all he has ever known.”
“He was such a professional
and still has that front leg which is crazy for a 28 year-old horse!” said show photographer, Jennifer Horton of Bar H Photography, who had a front row view of the adorable team. “There would be some horses who might take advantage of their small riders in that big arena, but he did his job for her. Look at his ears! He sure seemed to enjoy himself. And you can see how much she loves him.”
Kristin says that LT is completely sound and healthy and doesn’t look even close to 28 years old. “I guess he is just built right,” she says.
Kristin knows that LT has earned his keep. She adds that he gets fed special feed and also clover hay that is shipped from Wisconsin because that’s his favorite. “He is picky and he basically tells us what he wants to do–he gets turned out whenever he wants and spends time with his best friend, Velvet who is a 17 hand appendix broodmare that he loves. He is really like a human and we are honored to have him in our lives.”
Due to his advanced age, Kristin is not sure if LT will go to more shows, but she says they will play it by ear and let LT tell them what he wants to do. He has definitely earned that right and as luck would have it, another little blonde girl was able to learn from a legend.
