Gem Twist

Gem Twist, the fiery American thoroughbred named best horse in the world at the last World Show Jumping Championship in 1990, may have the opportunity to defend his title this summer. With Leslie Lenehan handling the ride, the powerfully built 15-year-old gray gelding soared over the most formidable course ever built by designer Steve Stephens for a decisive win in the fourth U.S. equestrian team selection trial for the 1994 World Show Jumping Championship. This victory moved Gem Twist up the ladder from seventh to second position on the short list of the top-10 riders drawn at the conclusion of yesterday's competition.

While tested veterans rose to the top as the third trial for the Olympic equestrian team drew to a close, one notable exception fell out of contention. Greg Best of Flemington, N.J., and his stellar mount, Gem Twist, were eliminated Saturday night at the Devon Horse Show after Gem Twist inexplicably refused to jump an obstacle three times. In the 1988 Olympics, the Best and Gem Twist duo won team and individual silver medals. In 1990, Gem Twist was named best horse in the World Championships.

Maybe a pair of rookies like Greg Best and his mount, Gem Twist, just haven't been around long enough to know they're not supposed to be able to beat international stars like U.S. equestrian team members Michael Matz and Katie Monahan in the Dixon Oval at the Devon Horse Show. Best, 21, who graduated from Penn with a degree in economics just a week ago, and Gem Twist, recovering from a mysterious leg injury, were making their debuts in what is regarded as the most prestigious intermediate jumper class in the country.

If ever there was a horse that epitomizes the American dream, it is the fiery, gray show jumper Gem Twist. From his ordinary beginnings on a New Jersey farm, where he was bred to be a jumper, he went on to New Jersey's local horse show circuit and then to being named best horse in the world at the 1990 World Championships. Gem Twist carried Greg Best, his first grand prix rider, to a team and individual silver medal in the 1988 Olympics. Last year, with show-jumping superstar Leslie Lenehan in the irons, Gem Twist was the victor in the American Grand Prix Association Championship.

Two young relatives of the mighty gray thoroughbred Gem Twist lived up to the family legacy yesterday, placing first and second in the International Jumper Futurity. The filly Good Measure won, with the colt Nicholas Amber finishing right behind. Laura Chapot, who piloted Gem Twist to victory last year, rode both youngsters. They were sired by Good News Joe, a son of the Chapot family's foundation sire Good Twist, who also produced Gem Twist. Chapot broke and trained the youngsters with the help of Olympic coach Frank Chapot, her father.

With her seasoned campaigner Gem Twist out of commission for the past several months, U.S. equestrian team rider Leslie Lenehan has had to rely on her up-and-coming mount for the National Horse Show and earlier fall competitions. Lenehan found, however, that using her No. 2 horse was not too bad. Aboard Charisma, a 15.1 Holsteiner mare, Lenehan led the U.S. equestrian team to victory in last night's Nation's Cup, giving the team its fourth consecutive annual win at the National.

Few horses in the world of show jumping have captivated the public like a fiery near-white American thoroughbred named Gem Twist. Throughout his career, Gem Twist dazzled show-jumping spectators with his brilliant jumping style and his determination to clear massive jumps. From the start of his Grand Prix career in 1987 until last year, when he won his final competition, all a show announcer had to do was utter his name and the crowd went wild. This evening, the announcer at the Devon Horse Show will be introducing this most famous of American show jumpers one final time.

United States Equestrian Team manager Frank Chapot has pegged Michael Matz as this country's best prospect for an individual gold medal in show jumping. For two reasons. Matz is one red-hot rider. Greg Best won't be in the saddle in Barcelona. Best, of Flemington, N.J., ran into trouble during the trials when his fabulous horse, Gem Twist, refused to jump an obstacle in the second Devon Horse Show selection trials. That was tough luck, because Best and Gem Twist were named by team members as the ones they would have most wanted on the squad.

Debbie Dolan of Oyster Bay, N.Y., surpassed 32 of the country's foremost riders in dashing Arrangeur to victory in the third phase of the Open Jumper Championship yesterday at the 95th Devon Horse Show. The two-part competition tested power and speed. The first leg was a power trip over seven high fences. If horse and rider cleared all the fences, they could start at once on a journey of speed over eight jump-off fences. Dolan and Arrangeur were the 31st to go, and they were under pressure to overcome the first-place position of Penn graduate Greg Best, riding Gem Twist, who had raced over the jump-off fences in 37.136 seconds.

After turning in a victorious - and penalty-free - performance last night, Michael Matz kept his hold on the top position in his quest to represent the U.S. equestrian team in the Summer Olympics. He was tied after two rides on different horses with Anne Kursinski on Top Seed for first place in last night's $25,000 Open Jumper Stake, which concluded the Devon Horse Show. Matz, an Olympic veteran from Collegeville, Pa., turned in the leading performance on Heisman, a 14-year-old Oldenburg stallion, as the selection process reached its halfway mark with three trials to go. Heisman was named the champion open jumper, while Matz was named leading open-jumper rider.

With a mighty leap over a 6-foot-6 barrier, German equestrian team rider Markus Merschformann piloted Ballerina to victory in last night's $10,000 Cosequin Puissance Stake at the National Horse Show. No one was more surprised than Merschformann. "I was just doing this as practice for the Nation's Cup tomorrow," he said. "This is fantastic. She's never jumped this high before. " U.S. equestrian team riders McLain Ward and Margie Goldstein-Engle tied for second along with Swiss equestrian team rider Paul Estermann.

Two young relatives of the mighty gray thoroughbred Gem Twist lived up to the family legacy yesterday, placing first and second in the International Jumper Futurity. The filly Good Measure won, with the colt Nicholas Amber finishing right behind. Laura Chapot, who piloted Gem Twist to victory last year, rode both youngsters. They were sired by Good News Joe, a son of the Chapot family's foundation sire Good Twist, who also produced Gem Twist. Chapot broke and trained the youngsters with the help of Olympic coach Frank Chapot, her father.

Few horses in the world of show jumping have captivated the public like a fiery near-white American thoroughbred named Gem Twist. Throughout his career, Gem Twist dazzled show-jumping spectators with his brilliant jumping style and his determination to clear massive jumps. From the start of his Grand Prix career in 1987 until last year, when he won his final competition, all a show announcer had to do was utter his name and the crowd went wild. This evening, the announcer at the Devon Horse Show will be introducing this most famous of American show jumpers one final time.

Neither rain nor mud could keep Beezie Patton from victory in last night's $25,000 Open Jumper Stake, the final competition of the Devon Derby. Patton, a U.S. Equestrian team veteran, captured the win after a three- rider jump-off. That victory netted Patton the Leading Open Jumper Rider award. The competition was held after thunderstorms caused a half-hour delay and a torrential downpour left the arena slick with mud and puddles. Patton was last to go and shaved a half-second off the previous rider's time by turning inside the second jump on course on Robin Hood.

If ever there was a horse that epitomizes the American dream, it is the fiery, gray show jumper Gem Twist. From his ordinary beginnings on a New Jersey farm, where he was bred to be a jumper, he went on to New Jersey's local horse show circuit and then to being named best horse in the world at the 1990 World Championships. Gem Twist carried Greg Best, his first grand prix rider, to a team and individual silver medal in the 1988 Olympics. Last year, with show-jumping superstar Leslie Lenehan in the irons, Gem Twist was the victor in the American Grand Prix Association Championship.

With her seasoned campaigner Gem Twist out of commission for the past several months, U.S. equestrian team rider Leslie Lenehan has had to rely on her up-and-coming mount for the National Horse Show and earlier fall competitions. Lenehan found, however, that using her No. 2 horse was not too bad. Aboard Charisma, a 15.1 Holsteiner mare, Lenehan led the U.S. equestrian team to victory in last night's Nation's Cup, giving the team its fourth consecutive annual win at the National.

At the age of 15, is the fiery American thoroughbred Gem Twist still the best show-jumping horse in the world? With the conclusion yesterday of the U.S. Equestrian Team's selection trials for the 1994 World Show Jumping Championship, Gem Twist and rider Leslie Lenehan may be poised to answer that question. Gem Twist was named best horse in the world four years ago at the last World Show Jumping Championship. Yesterday, Lenehan firmly maintained her grip on the first two places on the team aboard Gem Twist and Charisma, a 15.1-hand Oldenburg mare.

Gem Twist, the fiery American thoroughbred named best horse in the world at the last World Show Jumping Championship in 1990, may have the opportunity to defend his title this summer. With Leslie Lenehan handling the ride, the powerfully built 15-year-old gray gelding soared over the most formidable course ever built by designer Steve Stephens for a decisive win in the fourth U.S. equestrian team selection trial for the 1994 World Show Jumping Championship. This victory moved Gem Twist up the ladder from seventh to second position on the short list of the top-10 riders drawn at the conclusion of yesterday's competition.

Patricia Stovel of Loganville, Ga., is leading a field of 36 horse-and- rider combinations at the U.S. equestrian team selection trials. Competitors are vying to represent the United States next month in Holland at the 1994 World Show Jumping Championship in the World Equestrian Games. Today will be the final day of the trials. Yesterday Stovel rode her 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding Mont Cenis to a clear round in 87.992 seconds. Wednesday, she was fourth after garnering a quarter of a time penalty on the course.

British equestrian team rider Nick Skelton gave his team a jump on the international competition by winning the $10,000 International Jumper Stake at the National Horse Show last night at the Meadowlands. Skelton, riding Everest Limited Edition, won the competition with a fault- free performance in the first round, followed by a perfect tour of the jump-off course that left all the fences standing in a time of 36.72 seconds. Skelton and teammate John Popely, who finished second, gave the British team a strong start.