Gem Twist
| Breed | Thoroughbred |
|---|---|
| Sire | Good Twist |
| Dam | Coldly Noble |
| Maternal grandsire | Noble Jay |
| Sex | Gelding |
| Foaled | 1979 |
| Country |
 United States
|
| Colour | Gray |
| Breeder | Frank Chapot |
| Owner | Michael Golden |
| Trainer | Frank Chapot |
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Olympics | ||
 |
1988 Seoul | Individual jumping |
|
1988 Seoul | Team jumping |
| Pan American Games | ||
|
1987 Indianapolis | Team Jumping |
Gem Twist (1979 - November 18, 2006) 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. Two genetic clones of Gem Twist were subsequently foaled after Gem's 2006 death: the first named Gemini, and later a second named Murka's Gem.
Gem Twist had an extensive show jumping career between 1985 and 1997 under three different international level riders: Greg Best (up to 1992), Leslie Howard (1992-1995), and Laura Chapot (1995 onward).
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 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).
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.
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