Tapt Twice, the 1999 mare by Dual Pep and out of Tap O Lena (BY Doc O’ Lena) passed on April 15 at her lifelong home, Rapp Ranch. The 24-year-old mare owned by Gale Force Quarter Horses had a short show career yet made her impact on cutting from the broodmare pasture and received the best of care up until her last breath.
Where it all started
Tapeppyoka Peppy started this bloodline for the Rapps when she was gifted to Phil Rapp by his father. Tapt Twice was the first filly born on Rapp Ranch in Weatherford, Texas, as well as the first offspring born to the mare Tap O Lena (Doc O Lena x Tapeppyoka Peppy x Mr San Peppy). Both mares were bred and raised by Phil and his wife, Mary Ann. Tap O Lena is the EquiStat number 12 all-time leading mare in cutting earnings at $502,145.
The sorrel mare was the spitting image of Dual Pep even as a filly, but her demeanor was that of Tap O Lena, a little standoffish, watchy and smart.
Only shown for three years, Tapt Twice earned $285,226 according to EquiStat and was on track to land herself on the list of all-time high earning mares. At the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Futurity in 2002, she tied for fifth in the Open. In 2003, she took home many first and second places from weekend cuttings and added $84,058 to her lifetime earnings as Reserve Champion of the Breeders Invitational 4-Year-Old Open with Phil aboard.
However, barn accidents were the mare’s kryptonite—two such accidents sidelined her show career and sent her to the breeding shed early.
“A stallion that we had in the same barn got out and that Sunday afternoon, I think it was Labor Day weekend, got out and teased the mare [Tapt Twice] and she kicked over the stall and did some damage to her ankle,” Phil Rapp said. “She went and had a great show career, but it was cut short by that injury.”
Even after the first injury, Mary Ann rode her to a Reserve Champion title in the 5/6 Non-Pro at the NCHA Super Stakes. At her final show, Tapt Twice and Mary Ann took home another Championship from the Pacific Coast Cutting Horse Association Derby in 2004.
“She came back and got cast in a stall and really hurt her stifle and we never were able to ride that mare after that,” Phil said.
Broodmare Career
Tapt Twice’s career in the breeding shed was nothing short of impactful. In 2013 she became the 15th mare to produce cutting earners of more than $1 million. At the time of her death the mare’s offspring had earnings over $1.7 million in EquiStat. Of her 31 performers, one has had an outstanding impact herself.
Dont Look Twice (High Brow Cat x Tapt Twice x Dual Pep) earned $850,627 in the show pen and is the highest all-time cutting earner, according to EquiStat. As of April 20, Dont Look Twice’s foals had compiled earnings in EquiStat of just shy of $1 million.
Offspring of Tapt Twice average earnings of $56,282. Another of her offspring that surpassed that mark is Tapt Dancin Cat (High Brow Cat x Tapt Twice x Dual Pep). The son of Tapt Twice earned $74,773 himself and now standing at SDP Buffalo Ranch.
The American Quarter Horse Association lists 51 foals registered as Tapt Twice offspring through 2022, two of which are double registered with the American Paint Horse Association. Her last filly has recently turned two and is starting training this year.
“She’s showing a lot of promise so far,” Phil said of the prospect by NCHA Futurity Open Champion Stevie Rey Von (Metallic Cat x Miss Ella Rey x Dual Rey).
As the final owners of Tapt Twice, Bobby and Lori Gale of Gale Force Quarter Horses stated that it was a privilege to be associated with her.
The Gales are proud to have been entrusted with Tapt Twice and her daughter Dont Look Twice after their purchase from Waco Bend Ranch in 2021.
“It’s really unique that that many significant mares would remain in the same family for so long [starting with Tapeppyoka Peppy]. Really the most important part of the story is what the Rapps have stood for and what those horses have done for them,” Bobby Gale said.
