Family is everything...
A Multi-Generational Legacy
The Schmersal Children
For Craig and Ginger, reining isn't just a profession; it is a lifestyle that they passed down to their four children: Chris, Nick, Brendyn, and Addisyn (Addi). Growing up on the ranch, all four kids were raised in the saddle, making the Schmersal program a true multi-generational family affair.
"The best part of my job is that we do it as a family," Ginger has noted. "All our kids are involved in some capacity."
While all the children grew up deeply connected to the lifestyle, their youngest daughter, Addisyn, has aggressively followed her parents' competitive footsteps into the elite spotlight:
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Non-Pro Success: Riding top horses out of the family program (including offspring of Pale Face Dunnit), Addi has racked up major wins on the NRHA circuit, including major titles at the Rocky Mountain Reining Horse Association (RMRHA) Summer Slide.
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Collegiate Equestrian Royalty: Her performance in the youth and non-pro circuits earned her a coveted full-ride athletic scholarship to Auburn University, home to one of the most prestigious and dominant Division I equine programs in the nation.
Through their shared bloodlines, titles, and television fame, Craig and Ginger have established more than just a successful training stable—they’ve built a lasting family legacy at the very center of American Western culture.
Craig Schmersal
Craig Schmersal is a legendary figure in the Western equine world, widely recognized as one of the most talented, consistent, and decorated reining horse trainers in history. Schmersal officially crossed the historic milestone to become an NRHA $5 Million Dollar Rider in September 2023 and is well on his way to the $6 million dollar mark. Known for his philosophy of training every horse as an individual to maximize its strengths, Schmersal’s career spans over three decades of elite competition, business leadership, and mainstream television fame.
Career Milestones & Major Victories
Born and raised in Ohio, Schmersal followed a lifelong passion for horses that eventually took him to the absolute pinnacle of Western performance sports. He is the only rider in history to secure the Level 4 Open Championship across all five of reining’s major events:
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The Run for a Million: In 2019, Schmersal became the inaugural Co-Champion of the richest event in reining history, riding the standout stallion No Smoking Required to a massive 229.5 score.
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NRHA Futurity: In 2017, he captured the elusive Level 4 Open Futurity Championship aboard Face The Attitude, a spectacular mare he bred and raised himself.
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NRHA Open Derby: Champion in 2004 aboard Commanders Nic.
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National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC): Open Derby Champion in 2010 on Boom Shernic.
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All American Quarter Horse Congress: Multiple Level 4 Open Champion.
International Success
Schmersal has proudly represented the United States on the global stage, competing as a multi-time Gold and Silver medalist for Team USA at the FEI World Equestrian Games (2002, 2006, and 2010) and winning the FEI World Reining Masters Open Division in Spain.
Hollywood and "The Last Cowboy"
In recent years, Schmersal’s elite skills caught the attention of Hollywood. He has spent years working as a horse trainer and coach for filmmaker Taylor Sheridan, the creator of the smash-hit TV series Yellowstone. Several of the high-caliber reining horses featured on Yellowstone were trained right at Schmersal's facility.
This partnership pushed Schmersal further into the media spotlight as a main cast member on the reality TV series "The Last Cowboy" (produced by Sheridan). The show chronicles the high-stakes lives of elite trainers as they prepare for the grueling Run for a Million competition, offering the public an inside look at Schmersal’s day-to-day grit, family life, and training regimes.
Business, Breeding, and Industry Impact
Alongside his wife, Ginger, Craig operates Schmersal Reining Horses based out of Overbrook, Oklahoma . Their business handles everything from starting young prospects to coaching dedicated Non-Pros and managing a world-class breeding operation. Schmersal has stood and promoted legendary reining stallions, including the late Pale Face Dunnit (an NRHA Multi-Million Dollar Sire) and No Smoking Required, the industry's highest single-event money earner.
Beyond training, Schmersal is deeply committed to the growth of the sport. He is an active member of the NRHA Judges Committee and frequently teaches at the NRHA Judges School to help standardize and elevate the education of riders and officials alike.
The Schmersal Philosophy
Despite pulling in over $5 million in career earnings, Schmersal openly maintains a humble approach to the craft, often noting that the welfare of the horse must always come before winning, and that a great horseman never stops learning from the animal.
Ginger Schmersal
Ginger Schmersal is a prominent figure, competitor, and executive leader in the sport of reining, whose influence extends from the arena dirt to national television screens. Alongside her husband, NRHA $5 Million Dollar Rider Craig Schmersal, she co-runs Schmersal Reining Horses out of Overbrook, Oklahoma . While Craig handles much of the primary open-division training, Ginger serves as the crucial operational engine for their world-class business, an active competitor, and a major personality in Western media.
Television Fame & Taylor Sheridan Partnerships
Ginger’s expertise and sharp personality have made her a familiar face to television audiences, largely due to the Schmersal family's close working relationship with filmmaker Taylor Sheridan.
"The Last Cowboy" (Paramount Network / CMT)
As a core cast member on the unscripted reality series "The Last Cowboy," Ginger plays a vital on-screen role. The show chronicles the high-stakes lives of elite trainers as they prepare for the grueling Run for a Million competition. Ginger is frequently featured providing the essential reality check to the operation—balancing the intense pressure of elite competition with ranch logistics, equine breeding management, and raising a multi-generational family of riders.
"Yellowstone" Cameos
Beyond reality television, Ginger has made cameo appearances on Sheridan's smash-hit drama series "Yellowstone". Given the show's heavy emphasis on authentic cowboy culture and elite performance horses, Sheridan frequently utilized real-world reining royalty for authenticity. Ginger appeared on the show during horse show sequences, notably credited as a Show Manager during the high-stakes equine competition scenes in Season 4.
Executive & Governance Roles
Back in the horse industry, Ginger is highly respected for her extensive administrative and advocacy work within the reining community, specifically championing the interests of everyday competitors:
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NRHA Board of Directors: Serving as the Southwest Director for the National Reining Horse Association, helping shape the rules, growth, and future direction of the sport.
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Non Pro Committee Chair: Leading the committee that represents "Non Pro" competitors—passionate, skilled reiners who compete at elite levels but do not train horses for a living or profit.
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Arizona Reining Horse Association (AzRHA): Serving as Vice President of the state affiliate, helping manage major regional events in the Southwest circuit.
Competitor & Non Pro Status
Ginger is a highly accomplished competitor in her own right, competing strictly within the Non Pro divisions. Her deep knowledge of bloodlines and equine behavior allows her to successfully show top-tier horses from the Schmersal program. Notably, she was a co-owner of Commanders Nic, the stellar stallion that her husband rode to win the 2004 NRHA Derby Open Division—a foundational victory that helped launch their operation into the sport's upper echelons. Ginger and her daughter both continue to ride and compete as non-professionals, making reining a true lifestyle.
Breeding and Management Operations
Behind the scenes of their Oklahoma ranch, Ginger oversees critical logistics for their elite breeding operations. She directly coordinates the paperwork, booking, and distribution for their premier stallions, including the multi-million dollar sire Pale Face Dunnit and until recently, the historic Run for a Million Co-Champion, No Smoking Required. Through her blend of corporate leadership in the NRHA, media presence, and passion as a competitor, Ginger remains a central pillar in the modern Western horse industry.