April 12, 2010–This fall horse enthusiasts from around the globe will be gathering in Lexington, Kentucky, for the 2010 Alltech® World Equestrian Games, which run September 25-October 10 at the newly overhauled Kentucky Horse Park. Held every four years, the WEG encompasses the world championships for eight equestrian events, including Reining. 2010 promises to be especially exciting, as several of the reining industry’s brightest stars are coming out of retirement to compete at this prestigious event.
Perhaps one of the most successful luminaries to step back in the show pen is Custom Legend. Owned by Steve Simon, the nine-year-old stallion amassed $226,375 in NRHA earnings with NRHA Million Dollar Rider Andrea Fappani at the helm. The handsome chestnut won the 2007 NRBC Open Derby via a historic run-off in which he marked a 236.5- unofficially the highest recorded score in NRHA history (viewable at www.customcrome.com). That win was especially impressive, with Fappani riding with one arm in a sling thanks to shoulder surgery three weeks earlier. Fast-forward to 2010, and the trainer is still one of the stallion’s biggest fans.
“I told Steve that there wasn’t much more to prove after his NRBC win,” Fappani recalls when asked about the decision to bring Custom Legend out of retirement. “But now with this opportunity to show him at the WEG, Steve and I thought it made sense to bring him back and give him a chance. We retired him at the top of his career. He was still fresh and very sound.”
Andrea said Custom Legend showed up at his California facility the middle of March, in much the same condition. “He feels like I just quit riding him a week ago,” noted the trainer. “He’s very athletic, but mentally, he’s pretty cool because he knows it’s back to work. He’s all business even after breeding mares for three years.”
With a pedigree that’s second to none, it’s perhaps no surprise the stallion is up to the challenge. His sire, Custom Crome, was inducted into the NRHA Hall of Fame and has become one of NRHA’s few Two Million Sires after winning the 1993 NRHA Open Futurity. Custom Legend is the #2 money-earning offspring of Custom Crome.
Tracing back to Doc Bar, King, and Cutter Bill, Custom Legend’s dam, Dry Doc Bobbie, was the 1992 NRHA Limited Non Pro World Champion. Twleve-year-old Michele Langohr showed the talented mare 42 times, winning 24 championship trophies and 12 reserve championships in their quest for the title. The mare has since proven to be a phenomenal producer, with 10 of 12 show-age offspring earning $351,000 to make her eigth on NRHA’s all time leading dam list. Custom Legend is her highest money earner, with additional titles including the 2005 and 2006 NRBC Open Derby Reserve Championships, and the 2006 Cactus Classic Open Derby Championship. A few of Legend’s full siblings include Saturdaynight Custom, earner of $82,284; Custom Bobbie Doll, LTE: $12,882; Custom Margarita, LTE: $8,244; Custom Slidetracks, LTE: $6,691 and Custom Mercedes, LTE: $5,167.
With talents to match his pedigree, Custom Legend is once again under saddle and Fappani said he is preparing him for the WEG qualifier at the NRHA Derby in July. It is a clean-slate format including two go rounds, with the four highest placing horse and rider teams in the composite earning a ticket to Kentucky.
Fappani, an Italian native that represented his home country in a previous WEG, was looking forward to the challenge and the chance to represent his new adopted country.
“Basically, my family and my business are here in the United States, so I changed my citizenship about five years ago,” he explained. “It’s going to be a tough competition to make the team for the United States, but I believe in the horse. He’s always given me everything he has. It would be an honor to ride him while representing this country at such an important event.”
From National Reining Horse Association.
