Craig Schmersal
Reiner and Trainer

At 36, Craig Schmersal is one of the youngest trainers on the NRHA's top ten list, the 3rd all-time leading rider, and an NRHA Million Dollar rider with career winnings of over $1,856,850. He finished 2008 as the NRHA's second highest money earner for the year.

Craig has won numerous AQHA and NRHA Open World Championships. In 2004, Craig won the NRHA Open Derby on Commander's Nic. One of his early accomplishments was earning a position on the United States Equestrian Team. In 2002, the team competed in Jerez, Spain where they took home the Gold Medal for the United States. In 2005, Craig returned Spain to win the Gold Medal in the FEI World Reining Masters Open Division on Tidal Wave Jack, against a field of riders from 17 countries.

Craig's goals include showing his futurity horses where he has successfully proven himself to be one of the most competitive trainers bringing multiple horses every year to the Open finals.

In addition to training and showing Craig has, in partnership with Shawn Flarida, created a set of training videos demonstrating their winning techniques for futurity prospects and finished shows horses. You can buy Good As Gold Reining videos from their on-line store.

Craig's program includes of every level of horse. He has a great staff of assistant trainers who allow him to ride a variety of horses and help Non-Pros go to the top.

Schmersal Reining Horses in located at Hickory Creek Ranch in Overbrook, Oklahoma, just south of Ardmore (half way between Dallas and Oklahoma City). The ranch is situated on more than 400 acres of rolling hills and forest, interspersed with creeks and meadows.

Their new state of the art barn is large enough to house all of the show horses under one roof. The ranch has a number of outdoor pastures - large and small - for turn outs, brood mares, yearlings and cattle. The facility has one large covered arena, and an even larger outdoor track with the best footing in the world. The property also includes miles of trails next to Hickory Creek, through meadows and pecan forests.

2008 Show Recap/2009 Schedule

Website: www.schmersalranch.com