Tennessee Walking Horse Stallion

TWHBEA Number 20806071
Horse Name I AM JOSE’
Color BLACK
Markings NEAR HIND CORONET, STAR, SNIP
Height 15.1 hands
Historical Pedigree              Champion Progeny

No Shipped Semen Available

2013, 2014, 2015 World Grand Champion Tennessee Walking Horse
2013 World Champion Four-Year-Old Stallion
2012 World Grand Champion Three-Year-Old Reserve
2012 World Champion Three-Year-Old Stallion
2011 World Grand Champion Two-Year-Old
2011 World Champion Two-Year-Old Stallion
2019 TWHBEA Ascending Sire Of The Year
World Champion Sire

 October 8th, 2008 was a long-awaited day for renown horse breeder Bob Rollins. It was the day his best mare Prides Angelique finally delivered a stud colt sired by the great Jose’ Jose’. After the first 3 attempts of breeding Angelique to Jose’, Bob felt he was destined to only have fillies. But these fillies were exceptional. The first Tarheel’s Rose was a top show mare and always tied very well at the World Championships. The second Tarheel’s Angelique was a two-time Reserve World Champion, and the third Tarheel’s Star of Jose was a top show mare in her own right and produced one foal which was WGC Star Of Ritz.

A testament to these mares’ abilities was shown at the North Carolina Championships at Asheville in 2007, Star won the 2-year-old mare class, Angelique won the 3-year-old mare class and Rose was 4th in the 4-year-old mare class. To say Bob was desperately wanting a stud was an understatement. A stud was born, and he was perfection! Bob named him Tarheel’s Jose’.

All of Pride’s Angelique’s foals toted a name to represent the great state they were produced in. Angelique’s first foal was Tarheel’s Miss Dumas, a top show mare for Kenny Compton and the dam of WGC A.C.C. Her next was Tarheel’s Pusher whose show record spans the past seven years and is still winning today. Tarheel’s Busting Out was next and he also was a proven show horse. The next was UNC who had a show career of 9 years always tying well at the World Championships. Out of the first 10 foals Prides Angelique produced, 8 of them have made a name for themselves in the show ring. None better than this beautiful stud born on October 8th of the year 2008 who eventually became I Am Jose’. I Am Jose’ was awaited by more than Bob. Most horse trainers knew of his arrival and the owners who had purchased his siblings knew of his arrival. They all waited to see if this anticipated stallion would be everything he was expected to be.

Skipping to the fall of his yearling year I Am Jose’ began his training at Yokely and Sons Stables in Ethridge Tennessee. He was absolutely the most talked about young prospect around. He was soon purchased by a group of investors and moved to Cottonwood Stables in Corbin Kentucky under the direction of Ryan Blackburn to continue his training. He made his presence well known. Everyone who saw him at these beginning stages spoke of his greatness and how he was better than his great sire at the same age. He was later moved to Landrum Stables in Franklin Tennessee where he was trained by Tim Smith. Tim has been quoted as saying at that time “this horse will win the roses someday, I guarantee it”. At Landrum’s is where he was seen by Casey Wright who knew this was the horse he was looking for. Purchased by Debbie and Billy Max Woods on Casey’s recommendation I Am Jose’ was matched with the trainer and owners who would guide him to the top.

During his two-year-old year I Am Jose’ was shown 4 times all ending with victory passes. He won the Spring Fun Show, The Moneytree Classic and a World Championship and World Grand Championship at the 2011 Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration. They say the greatness of a horse is determined by his competition; in his Two-Year-Old World Grand Championship class, the top 5 horses were or would eventually become World and World Grand Champions in their own right.

As a three-year-old, in 2012, I Am Jose’ would become a World Champion again and Reserve World Grand Champion. Only missing a repeat of his previous title by 1 point on the judge’s card. After that one-point wakeup call there was no looking back for I Am and Casey Wright. Never again would a judge tie I Am Jose’ lower than first. They stormed through the Delta Fall Classic at the end of 2012 with a victory to prepare for his historical four-year-old year.

I Am Jose’ began his four-year-old year with a unanimous decision by all judges at the Spring Fun Show. He would return later in the summer for his Celebration prep at the Red-Carpet Show of the South in   Pulaski, Tennessee. He left there as Four-Year-Old Stallion Champion. Now he was set for the Celebration and History. Most years the Celebration (World Championships for Tennessee Walking Horses) is somewhat predictable by the best horses all year long being favorites in their respective divisions. This year was no exception and as expected I Am Jose’ breezed through his preliminary class and became the Unanimous Four-Year-Old Stallion World Champion. What would happen next had not happened in 47 years at the Celebration.

It was decided to enter I Am Jose’ in the last class on the Saturday before Labor Day. He would bypass his Four-Year-Old World Grand Championship on Friday to vie for top honors as the World Grand Champion Tennessee Walking Horse for 2013. From start to finish I Am Jose’ dominated the class. Not since an unexpected Betty Sain on Shaker’s Shocker in 1947, had a Four-Year-Old won the World Grand Championship. I Am Jose’ was the Unanimous choice by all judges. The decision came just after Midnight, which put it on his trainer’s birthday. Earlier in the evening Casey Wright was named Trainer of the Year for 2013 and just a couple hours later, on his birthday he rode his favorite horse to the World Grand Championship.

Now I Am Jose’ begins his next career in the breeding shed here at Rising Star Ranch. A Stallion that had big shoes to fill as a show horse and fulfilled more than ever was expected has an even bigger challenge to become the heir apparent to the throne of the great Jose’ Jose’ himself. Time will tell, but he is already the choice of the owners of many current World Champion producing mares and it is easy to see that he will be as successful as a sire as he is as a show horse. From that cool fall morning in 2008, he has met and exceeded all the great expectations that were laid before him. He can easily proclaim, I Am The Best, I Am The One……I Am Jose’.

Update August 30th, 2014:  I Am Jose’ made history again by becoming the first stallion since Go Boy’s Shadow in 1956 to win back-to-back World Grand Championships. Only Haynes Peacock, Midnight Sun, Merry Go Boy, Talk of The Town, Go Boy’s Shadow and now I Am Jose’ have accomplished this feat.

Update September 5th, 2015: I Am Jose’ with Casey Wright aboard were victorious again and were crowned the 2015 World Grand Champions at The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration. This feat of 3 back-to-back-to-back wins was only accomplished before by Talk of The Town who won in 1951, 1952 and 1953. I Am Jose’ is also the first stallion to EVER accomplish this feat.

Update September 3rd, 2017: I Am Jose’s first crop of colts entered the show ring as two-year-olds. Over 50% of his two-year-olds for 2017 were award winning show horses. This includes I Am Mighty Jose’ who became the 2017 Two-Year-Old Amateur World Grand Champion and Jose’s Consuelo who became the Res. World Champion Two-Year-Old mare. A great breeding future lies ahead for I Am Jose’ and knowledgeable breeders are lining up.

Update September 2nd, 2018: I Am Jose’s 2nd crop of foals enter the show ring and at the 2018 Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration his two-year-olds win both divisions of the Two-Year-Old mare class. They were I Am Angelique and Me and Pocahontas. He also again produced the Two-Year-Old Amateur World Grand Champion with As I Am! and his three-year-old son I Am A Mighty Jose’ becomes a World Champion again in the Amateur Three-Year-Old stallion class.

Update September 2nd, 2019: I Am Jose’s 3rd crop of foals enter the show ring at the 2019 Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration and AGAIN for 3 years in a row a son of I Am Jose’ wins the Two-Year-Old Amateur World Grand Championship. Smoky Mountain Strong walks away with another set of roses for an I Am Jose’ offspring. In addition to Smoky Mountain Strong’s victories, I Am Precious became a Res. World Champion in the Two-Year-Old Open Mare and Two-Year-Old Amateur Mare class. In addition, I Am Mighty Jose’ becomes Four-Year-Old Amateur World Grand Champion, Me and Pocahontas repeat in their age group as World Champion Three-Year-Old mare and As I Am repeats in his age group becoming Three-Year-Old Amateur Stallion World Champion.

Update September 7th, 2020: I Am Jose’ offspring continued their show ring dominance at the 2020 Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration. New faces hitting the winners circle were, I Am Rip the 2020 TWHBEA National Futurity Two-Year-Old Stallion Champion, I Am Big Enough 2020 World Champion Three-Year-Old Amateur Stallion, Balboa the 2020 Res. World Champion Two-Year-Old Stallion, and Wood’s Stock who became the Res. World Champion Three-Year-Old Amateur Stallion. Smoky Mountain Strong repeated as World Grand Champion in his age group as well as As I Am. I Am Jose’ first aged horses were shown, and I Am Mighty Jose; became World Champion 15.2 Stallion and I Am Jose’s Silver Dollar became Res. World Champion for Novice 11 and Under riders. To date, I Am Jose’ progeny have been awarded 36 World Championship and Reserve World Championship Titles.