Craig
Schmersal

From 4-H in Ohio to the Top of Professional Reining

Craig Schmersal was born on July 22, 1972, and was raised in Columbus Grove, Ohio. His father, Chuck Schmersal, encouraged his early interest in horses and western riding. Schmersal later credited the summers he spent riding with multiple NRHA Futurity Champion Mike Flarida as a major influence on his development as a horseman and reining competitor.

Schmersal became involved in horse showing at a young age through 4-H competition in Ohio. He established himself professionally during the 1990s and became one of the sport's leading riders.

1994 NRHA World Championships and the Early Years

Among his early major accomplishments were the 1994 NRHA Open World Championship and Limited Open World Championship aboard Cee Blair Sailor. Over his career he earned four NRHA Open World Championships and two AQHA Open World titles, and he trained the three-time World Champion Side Smoke. Schmersal became known for developing and showing futurity and derby horses at the highest level of competition.

He is the only rider to win the Level 4 Open championship at all five of reining's major events — The Run For A Million, the NRHA Futurity, the NRHA Derby, the National Reining Breeders Classic, and the All American Quarter Horse Congress. Horses associated with his program included Cee Blair Sailor, Tidal Wave Jack, Commanders Nic, Mister Montana Nic, Face The Attitude, Pale Face Dunnit, and No Smoking Required.

World Equestrian Games — Team Gold in 2002 and 2010, Individual Silver in Kentucky

International competition became an important part of Schmersal's career. In 2002, he represented Team USA at the World Equestrian Games in Jerez, Spain, riding Tidal Wave Jack and helping the United States win the team gold medal when reining made its debut at the FEI World Equestrian Games. At the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Kentucky, he again earned team gold and took the individual silver medal aboard Mister Montana Nic, finishing behind Tom McCutcheon.

In 2005, after surpassing one million dollars in lifetime earnings, Schmersal became an NRHA Million Dollar Rider. His earnings continued to climb over the following years, eventually passing five million dollars and placing him among the top all-time earners in NRHA history.

2017 NRHA Open Futurity Champion — Face The Attitude

One of the defining moments of Schmersal's career came in 2017 when he won his first NRHA Open Futurity Championship riding Face The Attitude. Although he had already won nearly every other major title in the sport, the NRHA Futurity championship had previously eluded him despite decades of finals appearances. Following the victory, Schmersal stated publicly that winning the futurity after twenty-seven years of trying was especially meaningful.

In 2019, Schmersal and No Smoking Required tied with Cade McCutcheon and Custom Made Gun — both scoring 229.5 — to share the co-championship at The Run For A Million in Las Vegas, each rider earning $307,000. The event and the riders were featured in the reality series "The Last Cowboy" on the Paramount Network.

• 1994 NRHA Open World Championship — Cee Blair Sailor
• 1994 NRHA Limited Open World Championship — Cee Blair Sailor
• 2002 FEI World Equestrian Games Team Gold — Jerez, Spain (reining debut), on Tidal Wave Jack
• 2005 NRHA Million Dollar Rider
• 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games Team Gold and Individual Silver — Mister Montana Nic
• 2017 NRHA Open Futurity Champion — Face The Attitude (after 27 years)
• 2019 Run For A Million Co-Champion — No Smoking Required
• $5M+ NRHA lifetime earnings
• Only rider to win the Level 4 Open championship at all five major reining events (Run For A Million, NRHA Futurity, NRHA Derby, NRBC, AAQHA Congress)

NRHA Judge, Judges Schools, and Schmersal Reining Horses

Beyond competition, Schmersal became active as an NRHA judge, educator, and clinician. He served on judging committees and taught NRHA Judges Schools to help educate judges and riders on scoring and horsemanship standards. He also developed instructional training videos focused on futurity horse development, finished horses, and tack and training techniques.

Schmersal operates Schmersal Reining Horses alongside his wife Ginger Schmersal. Their program has included horse training, breeding, coaching, stallion promotion, and futurity horse development, remaining closely associated with elite reining competition.