Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games
In September 2010 Lexington's Kentucky Horse Park hosted the
largest equestrian event ever staged in the Western Hemisphere.
Craig Schmersal
Schmersal, the third-highest career money-winner in the National Reining Horse Association, and Mr Dual Rey (owned by Holly Casey), are already stars on the international scene and seem destined to shine in 2010.
In October 2009, the duo claimed top honors in the NRHA open class of the All-American Quarter Horse Congress, Columbus, Ohio. At that same event, the pair also won the U.S. Equestrian Federation (USEF)/Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) open reining championship, one of the qualifiers for the WEG selection trial.
Schmersal, an NRHA Professional and NRHA Million Dollar Rider from Overbrook, Oklahoma, says that he “plans to show the best three eligible horses I have in the selection trial,” one of which, barring unforeseen circumstances will most likely be Mr Dual Rey.
“He’s the one I took to Italy last year,” said Schmersal, “He’s been a steady competitor in the FEI events for the last few years.” Indeed, Mr Dual Rey and Schmersal earned their trip to Italy by winning the USEF/CRI open competition, giving them a spot on the U.S. squad. At the 2008 FEI World Reining Championships in Manerbio, Italy, the pair scored 225 to tie for the individual bronze medal with Gennaro Lendi of the Gold Medal-winning Italian team.
Schmersal, the third-highest career money-winner in the National Reining Horse Association, and Mr Dual Rey (owned by Holly Casey), are already stars on the international scene and seem destined to shine in 2010.
In October 2009, the duo claimed top honors in the NRHA open class of the All-American Quarter Horse Congress, Columbus, Ohio. At that same event, the pair also won the U.S. Equestrian Federation (USEF)/Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) open reining championship, one of the qualifiers for the WEG selection trial.
Schmersal, an NRHA Professional and NRHA Million Dollar Rider from Overbrook, Oklahoma, says that he “plans to show the best three eligible horses I have in the selection trial,” one of which, barring unforeseen circumstances will most likely be Mr Dual Rey.
“He’s the one I took to Italy last year,” said Schmersal, “He’s been a steady competitor in the FEI events for the last few years.” Indeed, Mr Dual Rey and Schmersal earned their trip to Italy by winning the USEF/CRI open competition, giving them a spot on the U.S. squad. At the 2008 FEI World Reining Championships in Manerbio, Italy, the pair scored 225 to tie for the individual bronze medal with Gennaro Lendi of the Gold Medal-winning Italian team.
UPDATE
Schmersal qualified for the WEG team on a horse he trained himself--Boom Shernic, a six-year-old dark sorrel (chestnut) stallion who he has stayed with throughout its outstanding career. Boom Shernic has more than $273,300 in NRHA earnings, ranking him among the top-10 all-time earners. This season (2010), they combined to win the National Reining Breeders Classic Open division and the reserve championship at the NRHA Derby in the Level-Four Open division. At the Adequan USEF Open Reining Championship in July, they claimed bronze with a composite score of 444 to earn a spot on the team. Early in his career, Boom Shernic was also a finalist at the ’07 NRHA Futurity.
Schmersal’s accomplishments include numerous NRHA and AQHA Open-division championships. In 2004, he won the NRHA Derby Open division on Commander’s Nic. But he continues to tout his position on the 2002 World Equestrian Games gold-medal winning team as a highlight of his career. He’s hungry to be back in the games.
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WORLD EQUESTRIAN GAMES
