Aug 13, 2015 By Suzanne Elliott 4 min read

For someone who isn’t even old enough to drive a car yet, Sausha Saunders of Peters Township expects a lot from herself.

“Everything has to be perfect for her,” said Sausha’s mother, Shelley.

But Shelley is used to her daughter’s need for perfection. For the last decade, 15-year-old Sausha, a sophomore at Peters Township High School, has been competing in horse shows at championship levels.

On Aug. 22, Sausha will be competing in the World’s Championship Horse Show at the Kentucky State Fair in Louisville, Ky. To put this into perspective, Sausha and her horse, Stonehenge, an American Saddlebred gelding, will be competing against riders in her age group from all over the world. Simply put, this is the Super Bowl of horse shows and to be eligible for the World’s, a rider has to win three competitions and meet various competition standards (American Saddlebreds are known for their gentle temperament and are trained to perform four-beat ambling gaits).

“It gives me goose bumps,” said Shelley, who grew up in Greene County and introduced her daughter to horses and riding competitions, when asked what it is like to see Sausha compete.

“My goal is to be a world champion,” said Sausha. “I expect to do well. I am hard on myself when I lose.”

Shelley and her husband, J.D., a golf course superintendent, recognized their daughter’s way and ability with horses years ago and encouraged her desire to ride competitively. They started Sausha out on a pony and eventually got her a mare, Maddie. Just before the World’s in 2013, Maddie died unexpectedly at the age of 7 of colic.

The Saunders ended up leasing a horse for their daughter before acquiring Stonehenge, a 6-year-old Red Chestnut, last year from Smith Lilly, a trainer in Princeton, W.Va. Sausha met Lilly, who is a well-regarded trainer in Saddlebred circles, at shows and equestrian events throughout the years and ended up training with him as well. Sausha keeps “Stoney” at Lilly’s farm, Mercer Springs, in West Virginia.

Sausha and her mother make the four-hour drive to Princeton at least twice a month to see Stoney and train with Lilly.

The Saunders family foots the bill for all of Stoney’s care; Sausha’s training costs and riding attire, which includes jodhpurs, boots, a long fitted coat, tie, gloves and a derby hat. Money won at equestrian events can be as much as $2,000, an amount that barely makes a dent on what the family spends on Sausha’s riding, Shelley said.

“Those horses (at Mercer Springs) have 24-hour care,” Sausha said. “They even have an acupuncturist and a chiropractor.”

Sausha, who competes in six shows a year, placed third at World’s last year. This year, she has her eye on the blue ribbon. Overall, more than 2,000 riders in all age groups are expected to compete at this month’s event.

Riders at the World’s compete in age groups – Sausha will be competing against riders who are 14 to 17 years of age. Before a panel of three judges, riders are asked to walk, trot and canter. Sausha said judges look at a rider’s posture and how she is seated in the saddle and how legs are used to control the horse.

“You have to make the judges like you,” Shelley said.

And you have to show you’re confident in the ring, said Sausha, who admitted she can’t eat before a competition. But, she always goes into a competition with a plan.

“There are times she rides so hard,” Shelley said. “She just needs to ride her ride.”

Shelley said she, J.D. and their son, Payne, 12, will be in the stands cheering Aug. 22. They don’t sit in a special place, but cheer loud enough for Sausha to hear them.

Even with school starting Aug. 31, Sausha said she plans to continue riding and going to equestrian competitions throughout the school year. She does plan to make time to try out for the Peters Township High School golf team, a sport she claims she is not very good at, but one day would like to master.

As for the future, Sausha said she would like to go into a medical field and has no plans to pursue equine studies.

“It has been a fun ride,” Shelley said.