Gem Twist
Encyclopedia
Gem Twist was a world champion American Thoroughbred
show jumping
horse registered under the name Icey Twist. Bred by equestrian Frank Chapot
, Gem Twist had an incredible career at the Grand Prix level. The gelding is the only horse to have won the "American Grand Prix Association Horse of the Year" title three times, and is regarded as one of the best show-jumpers in history.
(up to 1992), Leslie Howard
(1992-1995), and Laura Chapot (1995 onward).
Best continued to ride Gem Twist for several years with great success, including earning two silver medals at the 1988 Olympics
in Seoul
. In 1989, Gem Twist was named the American Grand Prix Association Horse of the Year for the second time.
In 1990, he was named the "World's Best Horse" at the World Equestrian Games
in Stockholm. Best injured his shoulder in 1992, however, and the ride was turned over to Leslie Burr Howard (then Leslie Burr Lenehan).
She finished Gem's career with a win at the World Cup USA East League Championship (which was held at the same venue at which he won his first Grand Prix with Best nine years earlier). Chapot formally retired Gem Twist at the National Horse Show at Madison Square Garden
on November 1, 1997.
During his career, Gem Twist accumulated more than $800,000 in prize money. In 2002, Gem Twist was inducted into the United States Show Jumping Hall of Fame
. He was euthanized November 18, 2006 at the age of twenty-seven.
On September 15, 2008, the French genetic bank, Cryozootech, announced the successful birth of a healthy clone of Gem Twist. As was Gem Twist, the foal was born bay, with a star, and sock on his right front, and is expected to dapple or grey-out in relative short order.
Gemini, at 10 months, was moved from the Chapot family's Chado Farm in Texas to Frank Chapot's Neshanic Station
farm in New Jersey. Gemini is showing his Gem Twist lineage, he's beginning to become a grey, as his coat shows flecks of white hair, and jumps fences over 3 feet high.
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
show jumping
Show jumping
Show jumping, also known as "stadium jumping," "open jumping," or "jumpers," is a member of a family of English riding equestrian events that also includes dressage, eventing, hunters, and equitation. Jumping classes commonly are seen at horse shows throughout the world, including the Olympics...
horse registered under the name Icey Twist. Bred by equestrian Frank Chapot
Frank Chapot
Francis Davis "Frank" Chapot is an American equestrian who competed at six Olympic Games from 1956 to 1976, where he won two silver medals in the Team Mixed Jumping....
, Gem Twist had an incredible career at the Grand Prix level. The gelding is the only horse to have won the "American Grand Prix Association Horse of the Year" title three times, and is regarded as one of the best show-jumpers in history.
Career
Gem Twist had an extensive show jumping career between 1985 and 1997 under three different international level riders: Greg BestGreg Best
Gregory Alan 'Greg' Best is an equestrian competitor and coach in the sport of show jumping who is best known for winning two silver medals for the United States in the 1988 Summer Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea riding the famous Gem Twist. In 1992, Best suffered a fall that shattered his...
(up to 1992), Leslie Howard
Leslie Howard (equestrian)
Leslie Burr-Howard is an equestrian from the United States and Olympic champion. She won a gold medal in show jumping with the American team at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, and a silver medal in 1996.-References:...
(1992-1995), and Laura Chapot (1995 onward).
With Greg Best
Gem Twist began winning early in his career with rider Greg Best, including the 1985 USET Talent Derby as a six-year-old. He went on to win his first two competitions at the Grand Prix level, the Grand Prix of Tampa and the Grand Prix of Florida, in 1987. He finished the year with his first American Grand Prix Association (AGA) Horse of the Year honor, as well as a team silver medal from the Pan American Games.Best continued to ride Gem Twist for several years with great success, including earning two silver medals at the 1988 Olympics
Equestrian at the 1988 Summer Olympics
The Equestrian Events at the 1988 Seoul Olympics included Dressage, Eventing, and Show Jumping. All three disciplines had both individual and team competitions.-Medals:-Medallists:-References:*...
in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
. In 1989, Gem Twist was named the American Grand Prix Association Horse of the Year for the second time.
In 1990, he was named the "World's Best Horse" at the World Equestrian Games
World Equestrian Games
The FEI World Equestrian Games are the major international championships for equestrianism, and administered by the Fédération Equestre Internationale . The games have been held every four years, halfway between sets of consecutive Summer Olympic Games, since 1990...
in Stockholm. Best injured his shoulder in 1992, however, and the ride was turned over to Leslie Burr Howard (then Leslie Burr Lenehan).
With Leslie Howard
Howard continued the gelding's career, winning both another AGA Horse of the Year title and the AGA Championship in 1993. The team qualified for the 1994 World Equestrian Games, but an infection occurring at the games disqualified Gem Twist from the championship round and put him out of competition for almost a year.With Laura Chapot
In 1995, after a lengthy recuperation period, Gem Twist came back into the show ring with Laura Chapot. Although Chapot was still a Young Rider (21 and under), her first year with Gem Twist was very successful. She won the World Cup class at the $100,000 Autumn Classic, earning her the Budweiser Rookie of the Year award, and she rode the horse to his third win at the Budweiser AGA Championships. Her second season continued to be successful, with wins at three World Cup qualifying classes, including Tampa's Volvo Grand Prix of Florida—whose starting field of more than eighty horses made it the largest grand prix jumper class of all time!She finished Gem's career with a win at the World Cup USA East League Championship (which was held at the same venue at which he won his first Grand Prix with Best nine years earlier). Chapot formally retired Gem Twist at the National Horse Show at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
on November 1, 1997.
During his career, Gem Twist accumulated more than $800,000 in prize money. In 2002, Gem Twist was inducted into the United States Show Jumping Hall of Fame
United States Show Jumping Hall of Fame
The Show Jumping Hall of Fame and Museum is an American organization located at facilities at Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida. It came into existence in 1989 as a means to pay homage to the people and horses who have made outstanding contributions to the sport of show jumping.-Hall of Fame...
. He was euthanized November 18, 2006 at the age of twenty-seven.
"Gemini" Clone of Gem Twist
In early 2006, Practical Horseman magazine first leaked a report that Gem Twist was to be the subject of a cloning experiment by a then-undisclosed international laboratory.On September 15, 2008, the French genetic bank, Cryozootech, announced the successful birth of a healthy clone of Gem Twist. As was Gem Twist, the foal was born bay, with a star, and sock on his right front, and is expected to dapple or grey-out in relative short order.
Gemini, at 10 months, was moved from the Chapot family's Chado Farm in Texas to Frank Chapot's Neshanic Station
Neshanic Station, New Jersey
Neshanic Station is a section of Branchburg Township, Somerset County, New JerseyNeshanic Station comes from Algonquian, meaning "double stream". Neshanic Station is situated at a latitude of 40.508N and a longitude of -74.73W. It is in the Eastern Standard Time Zone with an elevation of 92...
farm in New Jersey. Gemini is showing his Gem Twist lineage, he's beginning to become a grey, as his coat shows flecks of white hair, and jumps fences over 3 feet high.
Pedigree
External links
- "The Legend of Gem Twist" - Extensive history and photographs
- "Clone of Show Jumper Gem Twist Born" - Details on Gem's cloning and the birth of his clone