Two Breeds, Two World Champions, One Farm

By Aubrey Welles

It was October 15th, 2005 and somewhere amid the increasingly surreal blur of cheers and photoflashes, and the waning echo of the P.A. system, James and Suzanne Sanders realized that their three-year-old stallion had just won. This win would become the penultimate achievement of an already extraordinary year. Now James and Suzanne no longer simply held the honor of having one world champion horse. Now, they had two world champions—both from the same small farm in rural Texas, and both in different gaited breeds.

The Sanders’ story begins back in 1970 at the University of Texas, in Austin, at the genetics lab. This is where Suzanne, then a research associate, met James, who was working on his Masters degree before moving on to Dental School. They both shared two common interests—genetics and horses. During their work together at the university, the couple developed a curiosity over how different crosses could possibly enhance the breeding of horses. This mutual fascination would continue to grow throughout the remainder of their school years, and later in life. It gave them both an “eye” for recognizing “good genes”; that three decades later would pay off with interest.

James and Suzanne make their home in Weimar, Texas on Sanderosa Farms. Weimar is a relatively quite town, like many of the little establishments found in and around the Texas foothills. Located 87 miles west of Houston, with a population hovering around 2100 people, Weimar, initially known as Jackson, was founded in the mid-1800’s after a native Georgian landowner, named D.W. Jackson, donated the land for a railroad right-of-way along with the site which the town now sits. Weimar would become an early cotton center, and later would be known as an historic baseball town after having constructed the first lighted field between San Antonio and Houston in 1948. Also prominent in the town’s history is the water tower. Before the use of wireless communication, the “Weimar Welcomes You” water tower was used for emergency communications. When the town’s sheriff was out on duty there was no quick and easy way to reach him. So the community devised an emergency broadcast system that utilized the tower. In the event of an emergency, one would just have to contact the local phone operator who would then flip a switch illuminating a beacon, located at the bottom of the tower, that was visible for miles. The sheriff would see the light and call the operator to find out what the problem was.

Sanderosa Farms lies on the outskirts of Weimar. Stretching across 150 acres of rolling pastureland, it is an idyllic location for a horse farm set against the beauty of the foothills and mingling with the native wildflowers. When James and Suzanne bought the land, which once belonged to James’ family, there was little more than a dilapidated barn on the property—much less the dream of becoming the home for two current world champion horses. They rebuilt the antiquated barn and set out to create a farm that bred, trained, and sold potential world champions. Now, with a 75’ foot wooden bridge running across the property, and a new house recently built out of native Austin stone along with 150-year-old hand-hewn timber beams, Sanderosa is a place where the couple’s love for animals is allowed to flourish. Not only do they share the property with over 100 horses and various dogs, they recently made room for a new litter of extremely unusual puppies that are half Rhodesian Ridgeback and half Catahoula Leopard. Alone, both are rare breeds. But together the cross is even more rare. The Catahoula, the state dog of Louisiana, is a hunting dog used for, of all things, hunting hogs. While the Rhodesian Ridgeback, the maternal side of the puppies, is used to hunt lions in Africa. Without seeing these critters, just the mention of such a cross may conjure up thoughts of a dog with a ferocious disposition. But in reality, though, they are very well behaved—and absolutely adorable!

Suzanne has had a passion for horses all of her life. At the age of four, when most young girls are just learning to tie their shoes, she was already riding in rodeos. She developed an interest in mountain horses early on and decided they were the type she wanted to raise, especially due to their rarity around the area—Texas is simply not known for mountain horses.

The Sanders’ have always had gaited horses at Sanderosa. But, it was Suzanne’s grandfather who owned a foxtrotter that sparked an interested in the breed. “Both mountain horses and foxtrotters have wonderful gaits, but both are different,” explains Suzanne when talking of her admiration with the two gaited breeds.

With James’ and Suzanne’s passion for breeding, vast knowledge, the facilities, and a simple mission to raise world class horses and bring about awareness of mountain horses throughout not only Texas, but the world, it would take a little “Gold In Motion”, a bit of “Sir Macho’s Hard Rock”, and some “Touch Of Class” to create a winning season like no other in 2005.

Foaled in 1993, the Sanders’ bought Touch Of Class in 2000 after he had achieved the Rocky Mountain International Show’s title of International Reserve Conformation Champion for stallions and geldings, 6 years and older. Touch is world renowned. A triple registered (Rocky Mountain, Kentucky Saddle, and Mountain Pleasure Horse), he was the first stallion James and Suzanne purchased for the farm. Standing at 15.1 hands, Touch is athletic, stocky, a dark chocolate color with a flax mane and tail, and four white socks. He is the resident stud of the farm—and also a film star is his own right. He can be seen on demonstration tapes used to show the gait of the breed, of which he is exemplary.

The year 2000 also found the couple making another major purchase. This was the year when they bought, the then seven months old, Gold In Motion.

Gold In Motion has become the epitome of gaited stallions. A registered Missouri Foxtrotter, bred by Ed and Cheryll Shinn, of Arkansas, Suzanne immediately saw Motion’s star potential. His sire is Bacchus out of Traveler’s Lone Star, and dam is Copper Flair, a Zane’s Go Boy mare. “[We] realized there was something special about him,” said Suzanne. Motion has a breathtaking, radiant, beauty: a dark palomino with long, flowing white mane and tail. He is a first class stallion that has built an international reputation through shows and photo-shoots. He even receives letters personally addressed to him from countries as far away as India. Possessing a flamboyant personality and high intelligence, Motion displays tremendous athletic ability. Especially in the way he handles a ball. “When he plays ball, he throws it up with his mouth and kicks it with his front feet like a place kicker!”

In 2002, the Sanders’ added another young stallion, named Sir Macho’s Hard Rock, to what would soon become their winning team. A registered Rocky Mountain/Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse, Rock was purchased from Debby and Nelson Ashcraft. Sired by Ashcraft’s Sir Macho, with Choco Dock’s Dancer as dam, Rock is a deep, dark chocolate with a flax colored mane and tail. “We’ve raised so many of our own…but when we bought these two there was just something about them…it was a feeling that’s hard to describe,” Suzanne said speaking of when they first saw Motion and Rock.

During 2004, Gold In Motion won his first major title for the Sanders’. This would be the first year that James and Suzanne found they had two champions, though not world, on their hands. Trained and shown at the time by Wade Hightower of Hartsville, Missouri, Motion won the title of Reserve World Grand Champion in Senior Studs and Geldings Model class. Also, Junior World Grand Champion Model honors went to La Bay Silk, their two-year-old foxtrotter filly (sired by Talk To Me with Lady Lucki as dam, and trained and shown by Linda Shaddy of Grovespring, Missouri).

Since Gold In Motion had arrived at the farm he had been shown extensively, and always placed either first or second. And with the 2004 win, James and Suzanne decided to give him another go in 2005.

It was at the Missouri Foxtrotter Horse Breed Association and Celebration held in Ava, Missouri, on September 10th, 2005, when Motion did the extraordinary. Johnny Miller was Motion’s new trainer at the time. He had begun working with Motion only two months prior to the Missouri show. “Johnny is fantastic,” exclaims Suzanne. Though the Sanders’ knew they had a wonderful horse, they did not expect the unanimous first place rating on all three judge’s cards that gave Gold In Motion the title of World Grand Champion. “I think we looked at each other and said something like, ‘…we did it!’” Suzanne chuckles now over the outpouring of emotions that stirred that night. “We were stunned.” The win has further propelled Motion’s stardom, making him one of the most well know, if not most well respected, gaited horses in the industry.

But, 2005 was not over yet.

On October 15th, a little over a month later, James and Suzanne were at the Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse Association International World Show, held in Lexington, with both Touch of Class and Sir Macho’s Hard Rock. Touch Of Class had once again won, as he did in 2000, the Reserve Conformation title for stallions and geldings—only this time with James and Suzanne as owners. Not bad for an old man who was literally pulled out of the stall and hauled to Kentucky. His job now a days is breeding mares, but Touch has proven he can still win in the show ring.

Without much expectation for a win, since Rock was only three years old, the Sanders’ were drinking in the night’s events by casually taking pictures and visiting with friends and acquaintances they had made throughout the years.

With camera poised to photograph the night’s big winner, somewhere in the back of Suzanne’s mind the name of the winning horse began to register—Sir Macho’s Hard Rock. “We dropped our cameras to the table and started running,” said Suzanne of the immense feelings of joy over winning the International World Grand Championship title. Amid the hugs and tears, Debby and Nelson Ashcraft, who were on hand at the event, came over to join in the celebration and congratulate the Sanders’ on the miraculous win. “We knew he was a good horse,” the Nelson’s beamed with pride. Vernon Stamper of Sharpsburg, Kentucky trained him. With his glowing mane and tail set against a deep chocolate body, Rock is, in Vernon’s words, “…one of the finest examples of a Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse.” Mr. Stamper would know—he has trained seven previous International Champions.

So now the dust of 2005 has settled and, for James and Suzanne, it is time to look forward to 2006. Touch of Class had been invited to be in the Master Stallions’ parade and exhibit—the old boy still does indeed have class. Both Gold In Motion and Sir Macho’s Hard Rock are continuing to be trained by some of the best trainers in the business. Motion is currently being trained to enhance and show off his athletic abilities in hopes that he can win a versatility championship. As for Rock, to become a world champion at such a young age is, in itself, phenomenal. We can be assured that we will see more from him in the coming years. And let’s not forget their siblings. Motion’s full brother, Goldmaker, and Rock’s full sister, Rockette, are sure to be standouts at upcoming events continuing the Sanders’ winning streak as world champion owners.

For life around Sanderosa Farms, it is daily work of pride and patience. All new foals begin training at birth by being exposed to other animals and introduced to leading and haltering. Each horse is given a high quality diet tailored to meet its own individual needs. But what is most important is, as Suzanne states, Sanderosa’s approach to training—”It’s simple…daily handling and always use gentle methods.” And, as 2005 has proven for James and Suzanne Sanders, it doesn’t hurt to have that “eye” that can see the extraordinary. It’s what gave them both a magical year.

And now, the town of Weimar, Texas can add to its list of local interest, right next to the famous water tower and baseball field— “Two World Champions. Two Different Breeds. One Farm.”