Category: History

When NRHA Professional Craig Schmersal pulled into Las Vegas for The Run For A Million (TRFAM), he was sitting at around $5,000 away from crossing his next NRHA milestone. When the dust settled, Schmersal had slid his way to more than three times that amount—earning the title of NRHA Five Million Dollar Rider.

In 1988, Schmersal won his first check and added $61.38 to his lifetime earnings. Since then, the NRHA Professional has built a successful reining business in Scottsdale, AZ, with his wife, Ginger, and children Chris, Nick, Brendyn, and Addisyn. Having won many of the sport’s major events, his riding experience has helped pave the way to this new milestone and maintain his status as the association’s third all-time leading rider.

No stranger to pressure, Schmersal piloted two horses to checks during TRFAM’s Open Shoot Out and surpassed the $5 million mark before the show’s final event even began. It was icing on the cake when he earned another $5,000 during the Million Dollar Competition aboard No Smoking Required (Gunner x Icing Required)—a mount the NRHA Professional has ridden to great success on his journey to this milestone.

No Smoking Required is a 2013 stallion owned by Schmersal/Thorsport Inc. and bred by Carluccio Orsi. Together, ‘Ice’ and Schmersal have earned more than $458,000 since becoming an NRHA Four Million Dollar Rider in 2018. Most notably, the pair scored an impressive 229.5 to win the inaugural 2019 TRFAM Invitational, although the $307,500 in earnings did not count toward Schmersal’s road to $5 million, making this milestone an even larger achievement.

A seasoned trainer, coach, and horse owner, Schmersal’s passion for reining and NRHA is apparent to all he meets as he continues to impact non pros, youth, and the industry as a whole.

Schmersal’s top earning performances on his way to $5 million include:

• 2021 TRFAM Million Dollar Competition 4th Place aboard No Smoking Required, owned by Schmersal/Thorsport Inc. and bred by Carluccio Orsi, earning $65,000
• 2019 NRHA L4 Open Derby 4th Place aboard No Smoking Required, owned by Schmersal/Thorsport Inc. and bred by Carluccio Orsi, earning $40,545
• 2019 NRHA L4 Open Futurity 8th Place aboard Starjac Vintage, owned by Teton Ridge and bred by Petra Zeitler, earning $29,791
• 2019 NRHA L4 Open Futurity 11th Place aboard Pale Whiz, owned by Thorsport Inc. and bred by Hickory Creek Ranch LLC, earning $20,316

When NRHA Professional Casey Hinton stepped into the arena during the Million Dollar Competition at this year’s The Run For A Million (TRFAM), more was up for grabs than the half-a-million-dollar first prize. Hinton was sitting less than $15,000 away from becoming an NRHA Million Dollar Rider. In the end, he and his own Magnums Custom Dream marked an impressive 225.5 and tied for eighth place—earning $20,000 and officially making Hinton NRHA’s newest million dollar rider.

“I don’t think you ever start out with targets, but I think it is really special one that I reached because my era didn’t have the kind of money you have nowadays,” said Hinton. “I get to do something I really love, and to have it work out for you in this way is really special. Having this happen at The Run For A Million, it was so special and exciting, and the crowd felt like it does on Saturday night at the [NRHA] Futurity finals. It is the most exciting thing we do. I had a very big support group and family there that doesn’t often get to see what we do, so it made it very special.”

Hinton is no stranger to the NRHA history books. In 2021, he marked his name among the extraordinary list of NRHA Million Dollar Owners. This accolade was the natural next step for the NRHA Professional, who can often be seen riding his own horses in the show pen—a testament to the strong breeding and training program Hinton has created with his wife, Kathy. Together, the duo established Cedar Ridge Stallion Station, which they saw to great success before handing the reins over to Josh and Kelsey Crawley in 2021.

Growing up in Ohio, Hinton began showing horses through the local 4-H program. His riding career further bloomed at Findlay College where he worked with NRHA Hall of Fame Inductee Dale Wilkinson. Later, he worked with horsemen Doug Lilly and Al Dunning. Eventually, Hinton ventured out on his own and now owns Casey Hinton Reining Horses in Whitesboro, TX.

“I have to thank my wife, Kathy. It is a team thing,” he said. “It was me riding, but it has always been a team thing with us. I have passed the million dollar owner milestone, and there’s only a few of us that have crossed as both riders and owners. My next goal is to reach it as a breeder and to make it the trifecta. I plan to keep enjoying this as long as I am able to compete and keep doing it!”

There have been many horses over the years helping push Hinton to a million in earnings. If you look at the list, you’ll find several horses sired by NRHA Nine Million Dollar Sire Magnum Chic Dream, owned by Viola Scott. In 2004, Hinton rode Magnum Chic Dream in the 2004 American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) World Championship Show and took home the Senior Reining title.

One of Hinton’s successful Magnum Chic Dream-sired mounts is Magnums Custom Dream (by Gunna Be Custom), who he rode to the 2022 Level 3 Open NRHA Derby Championship, 6^th in the Level 4 that same year, and who ended up giving him the final push across the million at this year’s TRFAM. He earned his highest paycheck to date on his own gelding (now owned by his wife, Kathy). Hinton rode Lil Magnum Jessie (Magnum Chic Dream x Lil Ruf Jessie) to the Level 4 Open Reserve Championship at the 2009 NRHA Futurity and added $117,478 to both his rider and owner earnings.

Hinton’s other top performances and paychecks on his road to the million include:

• 2022 Level 3 NRHA Derby Champion aboard Magnums Custom Dream earning $33,250
• 2017 Level 4 NRHA Derby 8^th Place aboard Mega Mag earning $30,546
• 2007 Level 4 Open National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC) 11^th Place aboard Smarty Starlight earning $21,500
• 2017 Level 3 Open NRHA Futurity aboard Mega Mag earning $20,849
• 2021 Level 4 Open NRBC 13^th Place aboard Lil Magnum Jesse earning $20,000

Few in NRHA history have earned the right to call themselves both an NRHA Million Dollar Rider and Owner. Hinton’s addition to this prestigious list is a testament to his talent and passion for reining. His legacy is one that many admire and is certain to be built upon in the years to come.

With incredible performances at this year’s 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel and The Run For A Million (TRFAM), Jason Vanlandingham added his name to the prestigious list of NRHA Three Million Dollar Riders a mere three years after passing the $2 million mark.

Vanlandingham garnered his first earnings at the 2000 NRHA Derby with a $41 paycheck. From there, he worked his way up to become one of NRHA’s top professionals and has ridden many exemplary reining horses to notoriety along the way, including Vaughn Zimmerman’s Not Ruf At All. Together, the duo won the NRHA Futurity, the NRHA Derby, and the National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC).

Heading into TRFAM’s Million Dollar Competition, Vanlandingham was less than $10,000 away from $3 million in earnings, so a good performance was all he would need to reach his next NRHA milestone. A merely good performance, however, was not in the cards for the NRHA Professional. Instead, as the penultimate rider in the competition, he piloted Robert Santagata’s Best Shine (Shine Chic Shine x Best Stop) to an incredible 231 score and half a million dollars in earnings.

In addition to his earnings at this year’s TRFAM, Vanlandingham’s top performances since crossing his last NRHA milestone include:

• 2021 Level 4 Open NRBC Champion aboard A Vintage Smoke earning $62,500
• 2021 Level 4 Open Invitational Champion aboard Excessive Rufness earning $100,000
• 2021 TRFAM Million Dollar Competition 3rd Place aboard A Vintage Smoke earning $80,000
• 2022 TRFAM Million Dollar Competition 6th Place aboard Best Shine earning $50,000
• 2023 Level 4 Open NRHA Derby Reserve Champion aboard Gunnabebigtime earning $49,710

Vanlandingham has skyrocketed across the $3 million mark and is nearly halfway to his next milestone. After reaching $1 million in 15 years, $2 million in five years, and $3 million in three years, there is little doubt his name will again grace the NRHA history books with his continued dedication to the sport.

Another record-breaking 6666 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Derby presented by Markel pushed two owners past the two million dollar milestone.

Corinna Schumacher

2023 has been an incredible year for freshly minted NRHA Million Dollar Rider Gina-Maria Schumacher, whose latest wins included not only the Level 4 Non Pro Championship at this year’s 6666 NRHA Derby presented by Markel but also two additional spots within the top five. This, combined with her performance in the preliminary round and stakes competition, pushed her family across another NRHA milestone. Only two years after crossing the million-dollar mark, Gina’s mother, Corinna Schumacher, owner of XCS Ranch and CS Ranch, etched her name in history once again as an NRHA Two Million Dollar Owner.

Corinna has not only had success as an NRHA owner but as a Non Pro as well. She competed in trail and pleasure classes and earned NRHA European Affiliate titles and an NRHA Intermediate Non Pro World Championship. Corinna would also ride horses for a few years before passing them on to her daughter when she was first starting in reining, which proved a great success.

CS Ranch in Givrins, Switzerland, was the original home of the Schumachers’ success. Then Corinna recognized the growth their business could have with a headquarters in the United States, and the family purchased 460 acres in Gordonville, Texas, and built a state-of-the-art facility. Named XCS Ranch and completed in 2012, it is home to NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider Duane Latimer as the resident trainer.

Much of Corinna’s success as an owner has come from the success of her daughter on the backs of many of CS Ranch and XCS Ranch’s horses, including CS Sailing Gun, who Gina piloted to the Level 4 Non Pro Championship at the 2023 6666 Ranch NRHA Derby presented by Markel. By Gunners Enterprise and out of La Bigia Sailor, CS Sailing Gun was the perfect horse to push Corrina to the $2 million mark due to the gelding’s deep connection to the Schumachers. Gina rode the gelding’s sire in Europe, and Corinna competed aboard the dam.

With the hot streak Gina has been on this year, Corinna has a great opportunity to add to her owner earnings during the 2023 The Run For A Million. Gina qualified for the million-dollar competition earlier this year in Arizona on XCS Ranch LLC’s Gunnastepya, where she earned top honors.

Tom McCutcheon

Only a year after crossing the two million dollar mark as a rider, Tom McCutcheon joined the elite list of NRHA Two Million Dollar Owners.

The McCutcheon family is synonymous with reining, so it’s only fitting this accolade comes after amazing performances by Tom’s wife, Mandy, in the 2023 6666 Ranch NRHA Derby presented by Markel. Mandy and three of her mounts, owned in conjunction with Tom, qualified for the L4 Derby. After placing sixth on Starlights Voodoo (Shiners Voodoo Dr x Whizen Starlight) and a tie for tenth between the McCutcheon’s own SPF 50 (Shiners Voodoo Dr x Whiz N Low) and JLosa (Arlosa Whiz x Spook N Jessie), Mandy added more than $14,700 to Tom’s owner earnings and pushed him over two million dollars.

Tom’s first paycheck as an owner and rider in the NRHA Futurity was in 1990 on Sr Glitter, a mare by Colonel Freckles, NRHA Hall of Fame Inductee Gunner’s grandsire. Since his first recorded NRHA earnings in 1984, he has earned two individual and team gold medals at the World Equestrian Games, multiple major event futurity and derby championships, and was named the USET Equestrian of the Year, to name a few. He also has been a National Reining Breeders Classic Champion, of which he was a co-founder.

Located in Aubrey, Texas, Tom McCutcheon Reining Horses features more than a premier breeding operation. The business also boasts a training program and rehabilitation business in addition to the McCutcheons’ equine media company, WorldWide Slide. All aspects of the business are truly a family endeavor, with Tom and Mandy at the head, and their son, NRHA Million Dollar Rider, Cade playing his role on the team. The McCutcheon’s daughter, Carlee, is also an accomplished athlete across reining and hunter jumper disciplines.

Adding to his long catalog of entrepreneurial endeavors, he also started the wildly popular Tom McCutcheon’s The SHOW, a round table style YouTube series where he features casual interviews with industry giants. Viewers can learn more about training, industry knowledge, and more about the lives of people past the show pen.

Recently, Tom has continued to add to his rider and owner lifetime earnings on two mounts—Gunners Nite Train and Gold Star Gunner, full siblings by Gunners Special Nite out of Belle Starr Dun It.

Later this month, Tom could skyrocket his way closer to another milestone. He will compete at The Run For A Million $100,000 Shoot Out on NRHA Futurity Champion Super Marioo (Gunnatrashya x HA Chic A Tune), owned by Tom and Mandy. He is looking to build on the success he had with this mount at the 2023 NRBC to qualify him for the 2024 Million Dollar Competition. Regardless of the outcome, however, one thing is certain—the McCutcheons will work together to continue achieving success and reaching new milestones in the equestrian industry.

Jordan Larson brought two horses back to the level 4 finals at the 6666 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Derby presented by Markel to finish the week as an NRHA Three Million Dollar Rider.

Larson, who reached million-dollar status at age 30, finished ninth in Level 4 Open on I Shine At Nite (Gunners Special Nite x Shiney Enterprise), owned by Nicole McDevitt, to earn $11,507. Larson also finished 21st in the Level 4 on KR Trashya Lena (Gunnatrashya x Smart Shiney Lena), owned by Nicole and Kathy Driscoll, which earned $4,283. Both paychecks helped Larson reach the next goal of his successful NRHA career.

“I’m very thankful to have crossed the three million dollar mark at the derby this year!” said Jordan Larson. “The last few years had been a little rough. Things just weren’t going my way in the show pen. I’ve learned a lot through this and am very thankful for all the people who have supported us and the great horses I have had the opportunity to show.”

Jordan grew up in Cottonwood, California, where his father shod horses and his mother exhibited halter horses. At only three years old, he was riding and dreaming of being a horse trainer.

Since then, he has continued to build on this dream, leading him to many major event finals, competing on World Equestrian Games teams, and NRHA Futurity and Derby Championships.

“My wife is my biggest supporter, and I could not have done it without her!” said Larson. “I’m so thankful God has blessed me with the opportunity to do what I love for a living and share it with my family.”

Larson is one of 17 competitors vying for a top spot in The Run for a Million (TRFAM). He qualified last year through the $100,000 Open Shoot Out at TRFAM, earning sixth on I Shine At Nite. If you can’t make it to Las Vegas to cheer on competitors in person, you can access a live feed online for the first time in the event’s history. Be sure to only use the link on trfam.com, as this is the only official live stream.