Stormy weather didn’t stop Gina-Maria Schumacher from dominating the 6666 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Non-Pro Derby presented by Markel. Schumacher rode CS Sailing Gun (Gunners Enterprise x La Bigia Sailor x Frozen Sailor) through the Jim Norick arena on Friday, June 23 to the championship run.
“He was waiting for me all the way and just waiting for the next step every way through the whole pattern,” Schumacher said. “He is a really honest and sweet horse.”
The pair scored an impressive 224.5. They were one-and-a-half points ahead of reserve champion Jack R Medows riding Fire N Rein (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Chicsdreamofdiamonds x Magnum Chic Dream). Meadows and Fire N Rein were hot on Schumacher’s heels at the National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC) as well.
“It’s truly amazing to celebrate another big win. I work hard for it and my horses give so much back to me,” Schumacher said. “It’s such a great feeling when you can have this special connection with the horses and the feeling that they want to do it for you.”
The championship win added $50,000 to Schumacher’s lifetime earnings and follows her first NRBC Championship, where she scored 227.5 riding GunnaStepYa (Gunnatrashya x SDP A Lasting Step x Wimpys Little Step) to win the Non-Pro Level 4 Championship in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Schumacher, who is from Switzerland and now calls Gordonville, Texas home, owns CS Sailing Gun through her XCS Ranch LLC. The win will push CS Sailing Gun’s earnings over $75,000 according to EquiStat. The six-year-old stallion has had limited showing since beginning his career in Europe. CS Ranch of Girvins, Switzerland nominated the 2017 bay gelding, earning them a check of $2,500.
“He always tries to the best of his abilities and that makes him special. I think that’s why we managed to win because there are many very talented horses, but they sometimes do things before you ask them and it messes with your timing. He is so easy and waits,” Schumacher said.
Schumacher, an EquiStat $1 Million rider, also tied for third aboard Legendary Whizkey (Whizkey N Diamonds x Legends Lil Squeeze x Custom Legend), scoring 221 and fifth with Gunin Addy Tude (Gunnatrashya x Miss Lil Addy Tude x Whizard Jac), marking 220.5, which brought her total weekend earnings to nearly $70,000.
