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Pale Face Dunnit Crosses NRHA Two Million Dollar Milestone

For Immediate Release – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – November 2, 2020 – Two million is the lucky number for many National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) riders, owners, and horses as 2020 winds down. Pale Face Dunnit is unofficially the newest NRHA Two Million Dollar Sire.

Fondly referred to as “Gold Digger,” this 2007 palomino stallion is by NRHA Twelve Million Dollar Sire Gunner and out of Lena Dun It. Bred by NRHA Two Million Dollar Owner Rancho Oso Rio, LLC, this prolific stallion is now owned by Schmersal Reining Horses and Silver Spurs Equine of Scottsdale, Arizona.

“Gold Digger is a big part of our family and we couldn’t be more excited for this monumental achievement at such a young age,” said owner Ginger Schmersal. “I have loved that horse since the first time I saw him. For Craig to get to show him and win and then go on to win the Futurity on one of his babies [Face The Attitude] is just phenomenal. And now Addi is showing that mare as a non pro.”

Boasting over $70,000 in NRHA Lifetime Earnings (LTE), Pale Face Dunnit was an open Level (L) 4 finalist at major NRHA events across the country. He also finished in the top ten at the AQHA World Championship Show in Junior Reining and is a United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) National Open Reserve Champion.

After a star-studded reining career, first under the guidance of NRHA Million Dollar Rider Randy Paul and later NRHA Four Million Dollar Rider Craig Schmersal, Pale Face Dunnit retired to the breeding shed. He’s sired 628 foals to date and 170 of those are competing, but his top-earning offspring is Face The Attitude (out of Miss Lil Addy Tude).

The 2014 mare was the Open L4 champion at the 2017 NRHA Futurity with Craig Schmersal at the reins. And her hot streak has continued in the non pro arena with Craig and Ginger’s daughter, Addisyn Schmersal. During the 2020 National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC), Addisyn reined Face The Attitude to a $25,500 payday after winning the Non Pro L3 and taking reserve in L4. The NRBC proved pivotal for Pale Face Dunnit’s two-million-dollar status when his offspring earned more than $60,000 combined.

The trend continued for Pale Face Dunnit’s progeny at both the High Roller Reining Classic (HRRC) and the Arizona Reining Horse Association (AzRHA) Best of the West show.

“His foals won a lot in Arizona, well over $20,000,” Ginger Schmersal said. “I knew we were close to the two million after the NRBC and High Roller.”

First named an NRHA Million Dollar Sire in late 2018, Pale Face Dunnit reached his two-million-dollar milestone in just two short years. Pale Face Dunnit’s top-earning offspring include:

• Face The Attitude (out of Miss Lil Addy Tude) – $197,390 NRHA LTE
• Phantom Face (out of Gorgeous Like A Star) – $140,198 NRHA LTE
• Pale Face Whiz (out of Lady Naskiia Whiz) – $106,159 NRHA LTE
• Pale Black Gun (out of Blazing In Black) $99,010 NRHA LTE
• Gold Digging Dunnit (out of Dun It Reining) – $92,012 NRHA LTE

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Dates Announced for 2020 and 2021 National Reining Horse Association European Derbies

Following extensive discussion with its European Executive Board, the National Reining Horse Association announced plans for the future of the 2020 and 2021 NRHA European Derbies. The eleventh-hour cancelation of the 2020 Derby previously set for October 28–November 1 in Lyon, France had been made in consideration of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following that decision, the goal was to create a pathway to maintain the ability of derby age horses to compete in four derbies in their careers and to create a plan in the best interest of European members, riders, owners, breeders, nominators, and fans. Ultimately, it was decided to go forward with the events with the following modifications.

The 2020 NRHA European Derby will be held in Wels, Austria May 13–16, 2021. It will be open to NRHA nominated horses that are 6 to 9 years old in 2021.

The 2021 NRHA European Derby will be held in Lyon, France in conjunction with Longines Equita Lyon October 27–31,  2021. This event will be open to NRHA nominated horses that are 5 to 8 years old in 2021.

“I have always believed in the NRHA European Futurity and Derby and have been a keen supporter of both events since their inception,” said NRHA Hall of Fame Inductee and NRHA European Council president Roberto Cuoghi. “In 2009, my good friend [NRHA Hall of Fame Inductee] Eleuterio Arcese took it upon himself to provide financial support for the first three editions of the Euro Futurity. In 2011, as I was serving on the NRHA BoD, I did the same for the Euro Derby.”

Cuoghi continued, “The NRHA European Council and I are thrilled to acknowledge that great organizers such as renowned GL events of Equita Lyon, France, and Otto Ziehfreund of Western Horse Show Wels, Austria, are willing to host the prestigious 2020 and 2021 NRHA Euro Derby next year. We truly appreciate their support and enthusiasm.“

NRHA Commissioner Gary agreed, “Both Otto and Christine Rigolet with GL events have been understanding throughout this process. I appreciate the flexibility of both the event organizers and the riders and commend their willingness to be innovative on solutions.”

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NRHA Professional Matt Mills Reaches Million Dollar Milestone

For Immediate Release – October 22, 2020 – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – Amidst a fall show schedule packed to the brim, the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) is proud to announce NRHA Professional Matt Mills is unofficially the newest NRHA Million Dollar Rider. This accomplishment comes after top-tier finishes at the National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC) and the High Roller Reining Classic (HRRC).

This Scottsdale, Arizona, native was introduced to horses by a Shetland pony named Dizzy in a small round pen at the Lakewood Equestrian Center in Long Beach, California.

“My mom had horses as a kid and, for whatever reason, she took me for a riding lesson when I was 8 years old,” Mills said. “I showed in almost every discipline except for reining until I was about 18.”

Growing up, the hour-long trip via city bus was never a deterrent for Mills when it came to attending riding lessons. He headed to the barn every day after school and usually finished his homework on the bus ride.

The day after high school graduation, Mills was Arizona bound for what was supposed to be only a summer internship with NRHA Million Dollar Rider Dell Hendricks. That summer of 1997 internship stretched out for five years and essentially launched Mills’ career as a reining horse trainer.

“Easy Otie Whiz (Topsail Whiz x Miss Poco Easy) really improved the trajectory of my career,” Mills said of the late 1999 stallion who stood at Out West Stallion Station. “I made a lot of open level 4 finals on him and also attained my all-time highest score under five judges.”

Together, Mills and Easy helped win a gold medal for Team USA at the 2006 World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Aachen, Germany. Easy is just one of many horses who helped carry Mills to his latest monumental accomplishment.

“I’m going out in the arena as an individual, but this is a team sport,” Mills said. “I can’t stress enough how important the horses, owners, my family, and everyone on my team is to me. My team is really the key to my success.”

Although Mills is savoring reaching a goal he set for himself when he was just 21 years old, his competitive spirit compels him to begin focusing on his next million.

“I always stress the importance of setting goals,” Mills said. “But I also want to enjoy the journey along the way.”

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2020 NRHA Futurity and Adequan® NAAC Judges Selected

For Immediate Release – October 18, 2020 – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – As the temperatures drop, the excitement for the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity and the Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships (NAAC) begins to build. NRHA is pleased to announce the officials for the 2020 event:

2020 Adequan® NAAC Judges
Doug Allen, United Kingdom
Rick Weaver, Pennsylvania
Cathy Luse, Texas
Marlin Holroyd, Michigan

2020 NRHA Futurity Judges
Filippo Masi, Italy
Van Luse, Texas
Terry Thompson, Texas
Eugenio Latorre, Spain
Margaret Fuchs, Ohio
Tom McBeath, Mississippi
Pat Wickenheiser, California
Ollie Griffith, Ohio
Bob Kail, Arizona
Shannon Fowler, Indiana
Brett Walters, Indiana
Harvey Stevens, Florida

2020 NRHA Futurity Stewards
Matt Lantz, Michigan
Lyle Jackson, Alberta, Canada
Walt Larson, Arizona
Shawn McClurg, Montana

Selection Process

The selection process for judges and stewards at each major NRHA event occurs several months before the first horse ever enters the pen. Both judges and stewards are selected at the same time using the same process. Here’s a synopsis of how your judges and stewards are selected:

  • Every eligible judge across the global is contacted for their availability of the event.
  • All available judges are compiled into a list and sent to each member of the judges committee.
  • The Judges Committee members make selections from the list to fill the allotted slots for the event.
  • These names are compiled into a short list and discussed on a conference call with all members of the Judges Committee. Nominations are allowed to be made on this conference call.
  • The committee members, except for the chair, then rank their choices and each ranking equates to a certain number of points. The points are compiled and submitted to the committee chair.
  • The committee chair reviews and makes recommendations based on the outcome of the vote and the needs of NRHA.
    1. Example: If five judges selected and all have judged an NRHA major event recently, the recommendation could be to move up a “newer” judge to replace the 5th judge on the list. If an inadequate number of international judges are selected, the recommendation could be to bring in the next highest-ranking international judge, etc.
  • The ranked list with the Judges Committee Chair recommendations is submitted to the NRHA Board of Directors for final selection.
  • Both judges and stewards

For a more detailed overview of the selection process, refer to NRHA’s statement of policy by clicking here.

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2020 NRHA European Derby Postponed

For Immediate Release – October 17, 2020 – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – After many negotiations with event management, the French government, and our European Executive Board, the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) made the decision to postpone the 2020 NRHA European Derby until 2021.

Due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in France, the French government made the difficult decision to cancel Equita, Lyon in an effort to keep the population safe. As it is now fall, and the story of this pandemic is not yet over, the European Executive Board and NRHA staff feel that moving the 2020 NRHA European Derby to 2021 is in the best interest of European members, riders, owners, breeders, nominators, and fans.

“This decision did not come lightly, as we know so many of you were ready to compete and have been waiting for this moment for many years,” said Samantha Oldfield, NRHA Director of Competition and Education and the European Liaison. “We know how invested you all are. We share your passion and are devastated that we cannot provide a European Derby in 2020.”

The European Executive Board, along with NRHA staff, are working tirelessly on a plan for next year. In 2021, the horses that were eligible for the 2020 European Derby will have the opportunity to run for the purse money their nominators invested in them for this pandemic year. The goal is to prevent those horses from losing the opportunity to compete in four NRHA derbies.

Updates on the progress of next year’s event will be available by the end of November.

“We want to thank our hosts GL Events and the entire team at Equita, Lyon for all of their efforts in trying to put on a 2020 NRHA European Derby,” Oldfield said. “Their hard work and dedication means a lot to NRHA and our members, and we are thankful for their time and energy.”