The Fappiano line and the event horse brain

[vineyridge]

I’m beginning to wonder if there is a correlation here. Fappiano seems to be a good line in general for event horses.

The reason I’m wondering about whether the eventing brain is a feature of this line is personal experience. I’ve raised two young ones of the same age with the same sire, but different dams. One, a filly, has had an eventing brain from the very getgo and she’s got Fappiano and a Fappiano son as damsire line. The other, with a completely different dam, doesn’t strike me as having the wits to develop the fifth leg.

Reason for this post is hhfarms’s desire for the eventing brain in the sire of her foal to be.

There are SO many Fappiano line horses in eventing that I was wondering if brain might be a feature of that line. If you’ve got Fappiano close in your event horses, please chime in about the brain.

[EquineLVR]

I did not event with this horse but here is his pedigree…

http://www.pedigreequery.com/saratoga+lake

Best brained horse I have ever been around and would try his heart out for you no matter what you asked.

Had another one that I had to euthanize last year but had Rubiano as a dam sire -

http://www.pedigreequery.com/matchrun

Same thing - great brain and would try anything you asked of him.

[GingerJumper]

My Fappiano great grandson was 2nd in the country in the USEA’s NEH last year and the judge said he was definitely an Advanced prospect. However, I’m not really an eventer, so he’s being a jumper now He’s awesome over fences, really likes his job. He’s quite sensible but always tries his heart out and is INSANELY scopey and athletic.

http://www.pedigreequery.com/unbridled+gold

[Reagan]

My mare has the greatest brain of any horse I have had the pleasure of owning. She is brave, easy going and thinks things through before acting. She is super sweet, loves people and has always taken care of me, even as a 2 yo. She is 5 this year and finally maturing, at 17+hh it has taken a while to get everything together. I’m hoping by fall we can do a few little events

http://www.pedigreequery.com/last+flight+out

[ThirdCharm]

My young stallion Seattle Jones is a Fappiano great grandson with a great brain. Five in May, running Novice and preparing to move up to Training, very focused, great work ethic and trainability, clever jumper.

Jennifer

[Cataluna]

I have coming 3 y/o filly with Fappiano on top, and can also attest to the stellar mind on these guys. Easy peasy, sensible, brave, sweet as sugar, and can she jump! Just love her.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v635/Randelle/Screenshot2011-08-02at93040AM.png

http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/senszuri+overload

[starrunner]

I worked with a Rubiano son for years who would have been a spectacular evener except he fractured a cannon on the track. Incredible mindset and would go anywhere you pointed him.

As it stood, he made a great trail horse and would cover hill and Dale at any speed desired.

But he was out of a Damascus mare and I think those are also supposed to be good sport horses as well?

[aquafarms]

What do you guys think of Fappiano Road.

http://www.pedigreequery.com/fappiano+road

[vineyridge]

Fascinating tail female line in Fappiano Road. He goes back to Jane Hunt way, way back. She is also a foundation mare for the Colonial Running Horse that is the basis of the Quarter Horse. Jane Hunt is also the tail female line for Dynaformer; in fact, On The Trail was one of the best Galbreath mares. She’s also the dam of Andover Way and Darby Creek Road.

I really like his pedigree, and he’s definitely uphill. He’s got a very nice engine.

[mactanscott]

Mine has all the athletic ability in the world, but unfortunately not the brain. Not sure how his other lines factor in though. And to be completely fair, he has not had the exposure my others have had. Perhaps with more consistent training things could be different, but he’s not naturally very brave.

[groomsbridge]

Ive been reading this forum for some time but never posted yet but this topic is very interesting to me.
I have a TB stallion with Fappiano as the Dam sire and he has the most amazing temperament and brain.
His offspring even from very very sharp mares are very kind and trainable so the Fappiano bloodline gets a big thumbs up from me.
The only thing i find with my own stallion High Tension is that his stock are very slow to mature.
This is a link to him in case anyone wants to see him although not really of huge interest to breeders as we are in England.
He was bred in America and was one of the top 10 lots through Keeneland fetching 645 thousand dollars as a yearling.
He is a glorified pet to us though.
http://www.groomsbridgestud.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=61:high-tension&catid=40:stallions&Itemid=60

[vineyridge]

The Fappiano line tends to be slow maturing. It seems to be a feature that is part of the reason it has the reputation it does for breaking down on the track. They are also very precocious and very talented runners, so they get heavy use as two and three year olds. And they also tend to be very big very young. Slow to mature comes in through his dam lines.

Slow maturing, big, and talented youngsters are often asked to do too much too soon.

[EquineLVR]

[QUOTE=groomsbridge;6183494]
Ive been reading this forum for some time but never posted yet but this topic is very interesting to me.
I have a TB stallion with Fappiano as the Dam sire and he has the most amazing temperament and brain.
His offspring even from very very sharp mares are very kind and trainable so the Fappiano bloodline gets a big thumbs up from me.
The only thing i find with my own stallion High Tension is that his stock are very slow to mature.
This is a link to him in case anyone wants to see him although not really of huge interest to breeders as we are in England.
He was bred in America and was one of the top 10 lots through Keeneland fetching 645 thousand dollars as a yearling.
He is a glorified pet to us though.
http://www.groomsbridgestud.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=61:high-tension&catid=40:stallions&Itemid=60[/QUOTE]

WOW he is absolutely beautiful!! Lovely boy…

[groomsbridge]

Thanks for the ![](nfo everyone.
This horse is another that was raced too early and did a suspensory at 2.
The people he came from said he should never have been raced that early.
He did go on to win though and was still in training when we bought him at 6.
He was still very unfurnished even then.
This is a funny picture of him ,sadly its not very clear as i took it on my phone but this is my husband and High Tension enjoying having his tummy tickled.
[IMG]http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h146/sallyf1/charlieandco003.jpg)

[EquineLVR]

[QUOTE=![](roomsbridge;6185210]
Thanks for the info everyone.
This horse is another that was raced too early and did a suspensory at 2.
The people he came from said he should never have been raced that early.
He did go on to win though and was still in training when we bought him at 6.
He was still very unfurnished even then.
This is a funny picture of him ,sadly its not very clear as i took it on my phone but this is my husband and High Tension enjoying having his tummy tickled.
[IMG]http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h146/sallyf1/charlieandco003.jpg)[/QUOTE]

Oh My Gosh - he actually looks like he is smiling!! What a wonderful pic!

[Vesper_Sparrow]

Groomsbridge, that photo made my morning! Adorable.

[groomsbridge]

You can see why he is a pet as well as a stallion now

[Vesper_Sparrow]

The aspiration to be a pet also shows up in my Fappiano line gelding (4th generation, through Unbridled’s Song and Buddha). It probably has overridden any ability to be an eventer, LOL.

He’s totally non-spooky, great gaits, very athletic, great jumper but on the lazy side and does have a temper. Although he’s a sweetheart on the ground and totally takes care of me under saddle, he gets bored easily and loves to think up non-threatening ways to challenge his rider.

[LvdSprtHorse]

Have a 3rd gen fappiano on the dam side. I adore him but to be honest, he’s a complete jerk. Very tempermental on the ground and under saddle. Not particularly spooky but he’s far from a dream ride. Not particularly fancy either. I adore him because he’s such a pig, and he tolerates me just fine.

[Kwill]

Not to hijack the thread but I am in love with Groomsbridge May I!

Just the type I like. I don’t know if you could stand a 15.2hh TB stallion here in the states – glad he’s siring some horses there.

Back to Fappiano. It seems they are trainable and athletic, but maybe a bit opinionated?

Now interestingly, my mare is a granddaugher of Great Above through her dam’s side, who shares many common ancestors with Fappiano, and also has Mr. P on the top side – she’s also very tempermental (she lets her opinion be known), but athletic and highly trainable.