Mustang Magic NRHA Professionals of the Year Honored


The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) strives to rec- ognize excellence amongst its members. The NRHA Professionals of the Year awards are just one avenue for showcasing the accomplish- ments of reining trainers in the industry.


Horseman of the Year - Craig Schmersal


A staple in the industry since compet- ing as a youth member, Craig Schmersal hasn’t missed the NRHA Futurity finals since 1997. His most recent major win came when he was crowned the 2019 Run for a Million co-champion. The NRHA Four Million Dollar rider not only spe- cializes in training, showing, and selling futurity and derby horses, but also breeds prospects that regularly become champi-


Bobby Kerr wins $25,000 in Mustang Magic competition


Bobby Kerr of Hico, Texas, won the Mustang Heritage Founda-


tion’s first-ever Mustang Magic Celebrity Freestyle competition in con- junction with the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo on Friday evening at Will Rogers Coliseum and took home $25,000 in cash and prizes in front of more than 5,000 spectators. Dan James, a Midway, Kentucky, resident, finished second with 265 points and Madison Shambaugh of Telluride, Colorado, placed third with 264 points – as judged by a panel of experts – to Kerr’s winning total of 275. “Everything I’ve done with the MHF has been life changing,”


Kerr said. “It’s crazy the amount of talent that was here. It came down to me and Dan James, and we’re big buddies. We said it doesn’t mat- ter. We were just honored to be involved with everything that was going on. I just can’t believe it. It’s awesome.” Put on by the MHF, which creates, promotes, supports and manag- es manage programs that provide information to the public about wild horses and burros and the challenges they face on overpopulated public lands governed by the Bureau of Land Management, the Mustang Mag- ic Celebrity Freestyle was a one-night showcase featuring eight of the best mustang trainers and performers in the country – trainers who have competed in other MHF events in the past. The five other competitors featured were: Wylene Davis of Nenzel, Nebraska Ginger Duke of Springtown, Texas Nate Eicher of Brock, Texas Katie Ketterhagen of Granger, Texas Marsha Sapp of Tallahassee, Florida


While the Mustang Magic Celebrity Freestyle competition is over, the fun continues at Will Rogers Coliseum. Fifty-seven adults and 31 youth participants will participate in the


MHF’s Extreme Mustang Makeover competition, where each partici- pant had approximately 120 days to train a wild mustang and prepare it for domestic life while teaching their mustang show tricks. w


8 SouthWest Horse Trader February 2020


ons in the arena. He’s trained and shown multi- ple NRHA Futurity and Derby winners, including winning the 2017 NRHA Futurity on his homegrown mare Face The Attitude. He’s earned multiple FEI team and individual medals, and multiple AQHA World Champion- ships. He trains every horse as an individual and finds ways to maximize their strengths while minimizing their weaknesses.


Becky Hanson Horsewoman of the Year - Abby Mixon


Abby Mixon, who’s based at Winfield Farms in Marietta, Oklahoma, trains rein- ing horses of all ages and coaches riders of all skill levels. As the daughter of NRHA Professional Don Boyd, Mixon grew up in the reining industry, riding alongside her father. She began showing at age 8, earning more than 330 points, multiple paychecks, and several NRHA top 10 titles


as a youth. In 2005, Mixon took her NRHA Professional card, launching her training career under the tutelage of NRHA Four Million Dollar Rider Craig Schmersal. She also worked for NRHA Professional Duane Hicks before moving to Winfield Farms with her husband, Jeff, in 2008. To date, she’s earned more than $391,480 in NRHA Lifetime Earn-


ings and has competed and been a finalist at major events including the NRHA Futurity and NRHA Derby. As a top-level female professional, Mixon strives to create more opportunities for women with a desire to compete in the reining industry and promote the sport in any way she can.


Non Pro Coach of the Year - Jared Leclair


Jared Leclair began working for Steve Si- mon at Quarter Mount Farm, home of NRHA Million Dollar Sire Custom Crome, in Paxton, Massachusetts, in 2003. After a year of gain- ing valuable experience, Leclair was offered an assistant trainer position with Tim McQuay in Tioga, Texas. Leclair went out on his own and established Leclair Performance Horses in 2007. Leclair currently has an NRHA LTE over $798,000. He also owns and showed stallion


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