dunit-the-walla-way-sebastian-petroll
Dunit The Walla Way's tenacity and game demeanor amazes her trainer, Sebastian Petroll. * Photo by Madison Steed.

All Heart: Petroll & Dunit The Walla Way Win NRHA Futurity Levels 3 & 2 Open

Sebastian Petroll is grateful to show a horse with as much try as Dunit The Walla Way. 

Petroll, of Whitesboro, Texas,  and the big-hearted filly won both the NRHA Futurity L3 and L2 Open Championships thanks to their score of 218.5. They also finished 12th in the Open L4 Finals for combined total earnings of $53,879.

Owned and nominated by her breeder, Ellen Lloyd Cummins, Dunit The Walla Way is by Equi-Stat Elite $3 Million Sire Walla Walla Whiz and out of Dunit The Gunner Way (by Colonels Smoking Gun [Gunner])

“We bought her mother several years ago,” Petroll said. “Her owner, Ellen Cummins, and I both showed her. It’s always fun when you are part of the whole process with a horse.” 

Petroll says Dunit The Walla Way is a horse that he can always depend on to perform.

“She has a heart that I don’t know how it fits into her little body,” he said. “She is so kind and she always wants to be with you. You can count on her 100 percent of the time. That’s what makes her so special; that paired with some obvious talent, but mentally she is just very special.”

Petroll’s plan for the preliminary round was to make a safe run that was enough to get to the Open L4 semi-finals, sponsored by Not Ruf At All & Tamarack Ranch, which he accomplished handily with a 219.5. His aim was similar for the semi-finals. “I knew if I could finish in the upper half that I should be fine, so I tried not to use up my horse. In the Finals I just tried to get as good of a run together as I could, and it worked.”

With all the uncertainly in 2020, Petroll says he is happy that the Futurity went on uninterrupted.

“It means everything to get to show here, not just for me personally, but it’s very important that we were able to have the event for the sake of the entire industry,” Petroll said.

He is also thankful for Dunit The Walla Way’s owner, Cummins, who has been a client with him for more than a decade.

“She’s just been amazing. She’s a pleasure to work with and very important to our program. We can only do this because of all our great owners,” Petroll said, adding, “Also, my wife Melanie, she rode this horse for big stretches during her 2-year-old year. Without her, I couldn’t do this.”