60 SIDELINES JANUARY 2012
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
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Win-Win “Twinning”
By Lauren R. Giannini
Who, in their right minds, would turn down the oppor-
tunity to have another Gem Twist in their string of jump-
ers? Certainly not Frank Chapot. The Show Jumping Hall
of Famer and Olympic medalist partnered with the stallion
Good Twist to win 21 international classes in the 60s. Gem
Twist, by Good Twist out of Coldly Noble, carried on the
tradition of the Bonne Nuit line by jumping into the interna-
tional spotlight from 1985-1997.
Sold to Michael Golden, the young gray proved to be
a handful for his owner; but turned out to be just right for
Greg Best, Frank’s student and the duo romped to team
and individual silver at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, earning
two AGA Horse of the Year titles, ’87 & ‘89. In 1990, Gem
was named “World’s Best Horse” at WEG in Stockholm.
He competed successfully with Leslie Howard (AGA HOTY
’92) and with Laura Chapot, racking up an impressive trio
of American Grand Prix Association Horse Champion-
ships, one for each of his three riders. It’s all a matter of
equestrian record: you can read about it at the Chapot’s
Chado Farm website, named for their farm in New Jersey.
Thinking Ahead
Gem Twist had been gelded because he was a handful;
but as he got older, Frank, aware of reproductive technol-
ogy, thought ahead and banked his genetic material with Cryo-
zootech. After Gem Twist passed away in 2006, Frank proceeded
with his plan. Gem’s clone was born in late summer 2008 and
Gemini, sign of the twin, is literally a chip off the old block. Last
summer he spent time at a quarantine facility so that semen could
be collected for shipping to Europe. Once he was back at Chado,
Gemini returned to light work under saddle. A select small group
of test mares will foal later this year, and his frst offcial season
includes several mares booked to him by a prominent horseman.
“
It’s amazing how much Gemini looks like Gem at the same
age – his markings, etc, and it’s been a pleasure for my dad
to work with him,” says Laura Chapot. “Gemini has so many
characteristics that are the same as Gem Twist, and it’s really nice
to have that bloodline back – Bonne Nuit was so prominent when
my parents were jumping. The focus was on the carefulness of
the horse. I think the horses are going back to being quite careful.
I see eventing going that way also.”
As for the future of Gemini, here’s what Frank Chapot, who took
that Bonne Nuit line and turned it into a jumper dynasty, has to
say: “Why wouldn’t you want to breed to a stallion who’s bred to
be the best stallion in the world?”
Apples don’t fall far from the tree: even though not all foals are
destined for Olympic glory, there is merit to breeding the best to
the best. It has worked for centuries, and now there’s a new Twist
on the scene.
Gemini, 2008 foal, cloned from the great Gem Twist
Photo by Candace Dobson
Laura Chapot and Gemini after he was started under sad-
dle
Photo by Candace Dobson