Zips Bossy Chip
An 11-year-old American Quarter Horse mare has earned the most points in American Quarter Horse Association history.
Zips Bossy Chip has earned 6,039.5 points in AQHA youth and open competition combined through May 2019. She continues to accrue points with her owner, 18-year-old Ellexxah Maxwell of West Mansfield, Ohio.
The record previously had been held by Harley D Zip, a 1995 bay gelding with 5,906.5 points in open, amateur, Select amateur and youth competition. Harley D Zip, owned by Highview Ranch Quarter Horses Inc. of Rapid City, South Dakota, is now retired from competition.
In September 2017, Zips Bossy Chip and Maxwell broke the 30-year record for youth points with 4,846. At that time, they were third on the all-time points list. Since then, they have earned the points needed to move to the top of the all-time points list, encompassing all divisions.
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 purchased the mare in 2011, and they earned their first AQHA points together shortly thereafter.
“I think I’ve talked about the records so much that I don’t have words to describe it anymore,” Maxwell said. “I remember the tiny horse she was when we tried her at Findlay. I thought I would only ride her a few times. She gave us phenomenal performances and I didn’t expect her to be what she ended up being. I remember thinking, ‘There’s something about this horse that is different.’ ”
Maxwell and Zips Bossy Chip were the Markel Insurance High-Point Youth team in 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.They were the reserve high-point youth team in 2012 and 2014, pushing them over $50,000 in scholarship money earned, made possible by the generosity of AQHA corporate partner Markel Insurance.
Zips Bossy Chip has earned youth points with Maxwell in halter, performance halter, trail, reining, western pleasure, showmanship, horsemanship, hunter under saddle and hunt seat equitation. In open competition, Zips Bossy Chip has earned points in halter, performance halter, reining and trail.
Maxwell is a graduate of 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 is eligible to compete in the youth division until the end of 2019.
Zips Bossy Chip will be featured in the September 2019 issue of The American Quarter Horse Journal. To subscribe, visit www.aqha.com/magazines.
