Andrea Fappani
From a dairy farm in Bergamo, Italy to the first $10 million in NRHA history. A lifetime student of the horse.
From Bergamo to the record books.
The winningest rider in the history of reining did not start anywhere near it. Three chapters, one through line: work.
An unlikely beginning.
Andrea Fappani's path to becoming one of the most accomplished horsemen in the sport of reining did not begin in the Western world. Raised in Italy, Andrea was always aware of the importance of animals in everyday life, but it was a trail ride during a family vacation that revealed something deeper: a natural connection with horses that often came more easily than connections with people.
Andrea's early training was in jumping, and he had no initial interest in Western riding. When he and his father, Sergio, were encouraged by a friend to attend their first reining lesson, they were skeptical. Dressing like cowboys felt theatrical, something reserved for the movies. But once Andrea experienced the athleticism, precision, and discipline of reining firsthand, he was instantly hooked.
At a time when reining was still uncommon in Italy, Andrea's relentless work ethic, paired with the belief and support of his parents, Sergio and Maddalissa Fappani, set him on a determined path forward. He trained first with Alberto Serena, followed by guidance from his father, and began earning checks at just ten years old. Early horses demanded maturity well beyond his age, shaping the patience, feel, and responsibility that would later define his horsemanship.
Understanding the importance of learning from others, Andrea sought out mentorship wherever possible. Influential horsemen such as Mike Davis, Scott Fisher, Jim Kiser, and later Tim McQuay and Doug Milholland, each contributed to his growing foundation and understanding of elite-level training.
By the age of fourteen, Andrea had already achieved major success, winning the Italian Non Pro Derby and the Italian Championship title. In 1991, he made his first trip to the United States, an experience that would ultimately change the direction of his life. Encouraged by idol Craig Johnson, and later introduced to Todd Bergen, Andrea began to envision a future beyond Italy.
Parents' blessing, new world.
"After winning the Italian Futurity in 1996, Andrea received his parents' blessing to move to the United States. Everything that followed started with that yes."
Settling in Scottsdale, Arizona, Andrea captured the Limited Non Pro Championship at the original NRHA Futurity in Oklahoma City in 1997 aboard Best By Tari. That same year, Andrea met Tish Wood, who would become his wife and lifelong partner.
Andrea then entered one of the most formative chapters of his career, working for reining icon Todd Bergen for four years. During this time, Andrea immersed himself in every aspect of elite horsemanship: training, preparation, competition, and daily discipline, refining the skills and mindset required at the highest level of the sport. Andrea remained under Todd Bergen's guidance through the end of 2001, a period that would prove pivotal to his future success.
While serving mandatory military duty in Italy, Andrea and Tish maintained a long-distance relationship. Upon returning to the United States, Andrea earned over $23,000 as a Non Pro before making his professional debut. In 2001, while still working under Todd Bergen, Andrea achieved a career-defining milestone: winning his first NRHA Futurity Open Championship, marking the true launch of a historic professional career. He and Tish were married shortly thereafter.
Territory no one had touched.
From there, Andrea's career accelerated into truly record-setting territory, earning multiple NRHA Futurity Open Championships and numerous NRBC Championships, along with dozens of Open and Reserve titles. Along the way, Andrea made history as the first rider in NRHA history to surpass $7 million, $8 million, and $9 million, ultimately breaking the unprecedented $10 million mark, a milestone never before achieved.
In 2009, Jim and Warren invited Andrea to manage the legendary Rancho Oso Rio, relocating operations in 2011. Andrea later represented Italy on the international stage, earning Individual Silver at the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France.
The face of the sport.
Spooky Whiz · '16 Futurity
Chic Dreamin · '17 NRBC
Platinum Vintage · '16
All Bettss Are Off · '20 Futurity
Three decades of dominance.
From a runoff in Oklahoma City to a $10 million milestone, every era of modern reining has been shaped by one rider. Here's how it happened.
Complete Show Record →Launches Professional Career
Italian Futurity Champion
First NRHA Futurity Title
First NRHA Open Futurity Champion
NQH Little Jac · '03NRHA Futurity Reserve Champion
Youngest Rider to $1 Million
Lil Joe Cash · '11NRHA Open Futurity Champion
Spooky Whiz · '16NRHA Open Futurity Champion
All Bettss Are Off · '20NRHA Open Futurity Champion
NRHA All-Time Leading Rider
The Run For A Million Reserve
Inferno Thirty Five · '23100X Reining Classic Invitational Champion
First $10 Million Dollar Rider
A Second NRHA Derby Title
A lifetime student of the horse.
Beyond titles and earnings, Andrea is widely respected as the ultimate student of the horse. In his spare time, he is continually learning, studying not just reining but all disciplines, believing that understanding how form follows function in a high-powered athlete, and how the mind supports that function, provides insight that carries across every performance arena.
That curiosity led Andrea to step outside his comfort zone in 2023, when he competed in his first NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity in Fort Worth, Texas. Andrea advanced to both the Open and Intermediate Open Finals aboard DT Lil Big Time, and also captured the Limited Open Championship, earning the coveted gold buckle on Lectrifyn Metallic for owner Tim Anderson. Dedicating the time required to learn cattle work and compete at the highest level demanded the same discipline and humility that has defined Andrea's entire career.
In 2025, Andrea focused exclusively on reining. But in January 2026, he set his sights on an entirely new challenge: competing in the legendary Parker 400. Entering the race's Amateur Ironman Division, Andrea completed his first off-road endurance race, riding for four hours and forty-three minutes, and finished second place on the podium.
Whether in the show pen, the cow pen, or the desert, the result is the same: preparation, focus, discipline, and respect for the process. Andrea's ability to set goals, and follow through, speaks volumes about the mindset behind his success.
Legacy.
Andrea's success is rooted in unwavering commitment, often dedicating 15+ hours a day, six days a week to his craft. He credits his parents, Sergio and Maddalissa Fappani, for providing the foundation, values, and opportunity to pursue his dreams, and honors Tish as the backbone of both his family and operation.
Today, the Fappani legacy continues through the next generation. Luca has already surpassed $1 million in NRHA earnings, establishing himself as a force in his own right, while Jeremy is forging his own path in motocross. Together, Andrea and Tish are proud to offer their sons the same gift they were given, opportunity, knowing that how it's used defines the journey.
Andrea's philosophy on teaching horses.
Knowing what kind of horse you're on is one of the most important parts of training. By that, I mean understanding the kind of mind a horse has from the very beginning so you can help them reach their highest potential. A lazier horse may need to be pushed harder to realize what they're capable of, while a sensitive horse requires more care and feel. From years of experience, I can usually read a horse's mind within the first few rides, but no two horses are ever the same. I try to keep an open mind every time I get on a new one.
There's nothing more rewarding to me than feeling a horse truly understand what I'm asking and give me everything they have.
Teaching horses is what I've done for most of my life, and I genuinely enjoy every day I get to train. I take pride in working with horses that are very different from one another, especially when I can help a horse perform better than anyone thought possible. I do push my horses, but I also have a great deal of respect for them and carefully manage the amount and intensity of work they're asked to do.
I love a horse that comes out every day wanting to please you, but I get just as much satisfaction from training one that's more challenging. One of the most important things to remember in training is that every horse is an individual, and each one must start from "zero." As trainers, we ride many horses each day, and it's easy to forget that the horse doesn't know what we've already done with others. It's our responsibility to show them, not assume.
We get comfortable running the same program horse after horse, but to do a truly good job, you have to begin at the beginning with every new horse. One of the hardest things to accomplish is getting a horse truly broke at every speed of every maneuver without burning them out.
"A good reiner is a horse that knows what's expected of him 100% of the time, never refuses, and, most importantly, is still happy to do his job."
See what the journey built.
Every title, every milestone, and the hundred horses that carried the checks home. The complete Fappani record book.