In Loving Memory of Thanks For Zip En Me, 4/14/2006 – 6/9/2025
Alexis and Winston, photo by Kirstie Marie Photography.
By Alexis Miller
If you know me, you know this horse.
Winston was a constant in my life for 19 of my 26 years. My go to whether it was the show pen, the branding pen, or a joy ride. As we laid him to rest today, my mom said, “He was just good for his whole life.” No truer words spoken. He truly stood the test of time and taught me way more than I ever could’ve taught him.
His mother was an orphan that we bottle fed, and then a few years later my dad had to pull this leggy red colt. We watched him take his first breath, and today we watched him take his last.
I’m fairly certain I’ll never have another horse as influential on my life as this one – he truly helped shape who I am. For years we were told he wasn’t good enough, then he proved all those people wrong by tenfold. Until Thursday of last week, he was phenomenal. Strong, sound, healthy- prepping for NSBA world show. Still loved his job. Thank you Joe Stricklin and the CSU vets for doing your best for him the last few days. Leslie Lange, Ryan Painter, Lance Bryson, Jeff Burley and any other industry professional that believed in him – thank you will never be enough.
Thanks For Zip En Me
4/14/2006-6/9/2025
#2 Leading APHA World Title holder
28x APHA World Champion
36x APHA Reserve World Champion
9x NSBA world champion
17x APHA World Show All-Around champion
I guess God wanted a great one in heaven. See you on the other side, my friend.
-Alexis Miller
“Winston,” a 2006 sorrel overo gelding by Thanks For Com En and out of Zippin In Charisma, was bred and is owned by Lexi’s mother, Sharon Miller of Eaton, Colorado.
Watch an EC video of a victory lap from Alexis and Winston after winning the 14-18 Hunter Hack at the 2016 APHA World Championship Show:
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1Hcy8rkf2g/
