Fappani Performance Horses

Andrea Fappani: NRHA $10 Million Rider | NRHA Hall of Fame Inductee | Trainer | Educator | Designer of the Fappani Saddle

Bob’s Custom Saddles Partner Since 2003

Andrea Fappani is one of the most influential horsemen in the history of the National Reining Horse Association and the first and only NRHA rider to surpass $10 million in lifetime earnings. In recognition of his lasting impact on the sport—both inside and outside the show pen—Andrea is a proud NRHA Hall of Fame inductee, honored for competitive excellence, horsemanship, and leadership within the Western performance horse industry.

Based in Scottsdale, Arizona, Andrea’s career spans more than three decades and is defined by precision, consistency, education, and longevity—values that have also shaped his more than 20-year working partnership with Bob’s Custom Saddles.

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Bob's Custom Saddles Partnership

Andrea’s relationship with Bob’s Custom Saddles began in 2003, the same year he founded Fappani Performance Horses. Since that time, Bob’s has been his saddle choice, supporting every phase of his program—from starting young horses to maintaining elite aged-event competitors at the highest level of the sport.

That partnership evolved beyond use into true collaboration with the creation of the "Fappani" Saddle. Designed from decades of real-world experience, the saddle reflects Andrea’s uncompromising standards for balance, close contact, rider position, and freedom of movement for the horse. Today, the Fappani Saddle stands as the #1 highest-selling saddle model Bob’s Custom Saddles produces, trusted by professionals and non-pros alike across Western performance disciplines.

Career Foundation

Originally from Bergamo, Italy, Andrea grew up on a dairy farm and began his reining career as a standout Non-Pro. He moved to the United States in the late 1990s to pursue his professional career and spent formative years working under Todd Bergen, a $6 Million Rider across NRHA, NRCHA, and NCHA, where he refined the fundamentals that would define his own program.

In 2001, Andrea made history as the first international rider to win the NRHA Open Futurity, setting the stage for a career that would redefine excellence in reining.

Andrea Fappani’s Unparalleled Achievements

•  NRHA $10 Million Rider
• #1 NRHA All-Time Leading Rider
• NRHA Hall of Fame Inductee
• 4X NRHA Open Futurity Champion
• All Bettss Are Off (2021)
• Spooky Whiz (2016)
• Lil Joe Cash (2011)
• RR Star (2001)
• 4X NRBC Open Champion
• Chic Dreamin
• SG Frozen Enterprize
• Cromed Out Mercedes
• Custom Legend
• NRHA Open Derby Champion:  Tinker With Guns
• All Time Highest Score: 236.5: Custom Legend (NRBC)
• NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity: Limited Open Champion: Lectrifin Metallic

Top 10 NRHA Money Earning Show Horses

Andrea Fappani’s top ten NRHA money-earning horses reflect the depth, range, and consistency of his career across bloodlines, styles, and competitive eras:
  1. All Bettss Are Off,  $506,090
  2.  Mic Dropp, $352,220
  3.  Trash Talkin Spook, $305,738
  4.  Lil Joe Cash, $282,665
  5.  Inferno Thirty Five, $277,028
  6.  Tinker With Guns, $275,114
  7.  Hosss, $257,962
  8.  Platinum Vintage, $236,657
  9.  Custom Legend, $221,603
  10. Winding Inferno, $217,287Andrea’s record is not just a list of wins, but a series of industry-first milestones:

Education, Media & Industry Leadership

Beyond competition, Andrea is one of the Western performance horse industry’s most influential educators and communicators. His top-ranking podcast, Along for the Ride™, reaches a global audience with conversations centered on horsemanship, performance, longevity, and the business of the horse industry.

Building on that platform, Andrea has co-produced multiple Along for the Ride™ – Excellence in Performance Symposiums held at the South Point Hotel Casino in Las Vegas. These events draw an international audience of riders, trainers, veterinarians, and industry professionals focused on advancing performance through education.

Bob’s Custom Saddles has been a proud sponsor and exhibitor at these symposiums, with a hands-on presence that includes saddles available to try and purchase—further reinforcing the shared commitment between Andrea and Bob’s to education, accessibility, and equipment proven under real-world performance conditions.

A Partnership Built on Longevity

From the earliest days of his career to Hall of Fame recognition, Andrea Fappani’s success has been rooted in fundamentals, durability, and continual improvement. His exclusive partnership with Bob’s Custom Saddles—spanning more than two decades—reflects those same values. Together, they represent a standard of fit, function, education, and longevity that continues to benefit riders, horses, and the Western performance horse industry as a whole.

Family & Legacy

Andrea Fappani’s program is deeply rooted in family, and that foundation has played a significant role in the longevity and consistency of his career. His wife, Tish Fappani, is an accomplished horsewoman and competitor in her own right and an integral part of the daily operation at Fappani Performance Horses. Known for her discipline, work ethic, and competitive drive, Tish has earned NRHA Million Dollar Rider and Breeders status and continues to be a cornerstone of the program.

Andrea and Tish’s sons represent two elite performance paths shaped by the same values of discipline, focus, and continual improvement. Luca Fappani has established himself as a top professional in the reining industry, achieving NRHA Million Dollar Rider status at a young age and carrying forward the family’s horsemanship legacy in the show pen.

Their younger son Jeremy Fappani has distinguished himself in a different arena as a top-level motocross racer, competing at a high level in one of the most demanding and physically intense sports in the world. His success reflects the same competitive mindset, work ethic, and commitment to excellence that define the Fappani family across disciplines.

Together, the Fappani family represents a multi-generational performance legacy—where success is built through daily work, accountability, and respect for the process. That family-centered philosophy also carries through Andrea’s long-standing partnerships, including his more than 20-year relationship with Bob’s Custom Saddles, grounded in trust, durability, and shared standards of excellence.

Ready to Train with the Industry Leader? Contact Andrea Fappani Today!

Phone: (480) 766-6274

Email: tish@fappaniperformance.com