CONSIGNOR HIGHLIGHT
Catlin and Monique Martin
Both Catlin and Monique were raised in rural ranching communities where horsemanship wasn’t a hobby but a necessity, and that upbringing continues to shape the horses they raise and the program they are building today.
Catlin grew up in Adel, Oregon, where he spent his early years working on ranches and honing his skills starting colts. Those experiences gave him the opportunity to ride a wide variety of horses across different breeds and disciplines. Over time, his horsemanship took him far beyond southeastern Oregon—from Lexington, Kentucky, to even the Camargue region of France. Each opportunity added to his experience and broadened his perspective on horses and training.
Much of Catlin’s approach to horses has been shaped by experience. Getting on countless young horses over the years has been his greatest teacher, along with the many mentors and peers he has ridden with. Among the most influential have been his sister and brother-in-law, Jymme and Frank Dominguez.
Monique grew up in Drewsey, OR on a ranch where 4-wheeelers were thought more dangerous than horses, so even though she did not have a choice in the matter, horses have been indispensable since a young age. Both of her parents truly enjoyed riding and raising horses, and Monique was able to tag along with her mom to cuttings and reined cow horse shows starting at a young age, growing her passion for more of the performance side of the horse industry.
When Catlin and Monique married, building a horse program together was never in question. Both shared the same goal of raising quality horses that could stand up to the demands of real ranch work. “We made it a goal a long time ago to raise high quality cows and high quality horses,” they explain. “Thankfully those two goals go hand in hand.”
Today, the Martins ranch near Drewsey, Oregon, where they continue to build their broodmare band and horse program, Sunny C Performance Horses. Each mare has been carefully selected from horse programs they respect, with the goal of producing horses that combine athletic ability, good minds, and the kind of practical cow sense needed for everyday ranch work.
Their ideal horse, they say, is “well-built, easy minded, athletic… with lots of cow sense that travel well.” But they’re quick to admit that finding the perfect horse isn’t always simple. “We are still looking for our ‘unicorn,’ and sometimes we have to give and take on a few of these qualities since it is hard to find the perfect combo of ‘go’ and ‘whoa.’” That balance is important on a working ranch. As they point out, “No one likes to lunge their horse for 30 minutes every day before getting on, but no one likes peddling after two hours either.”
Rather than forcing horses into rigid categories, the Martins appreciate the individuality each one brings. “We don’t like to put them in boxes either—each horse is a little different. The beauty of ranch work is it allows horses different niches that they might excel at and even allow the horse and rider to have some fun.” These horses have to perform at home on the ranch and actually complete their jobs since the Martin's livelihoods depend on it. “They don’t get to lose a cow and just get a poor score for the day—they get to do it till they get it right," they explain.
The horses the Martins raise today tend to excel in ranch and rope horse style events. “They have enough size and cow to be powerful and they are smart,” they explain. Ranch rodeos, local cow horse events, and roping are natural fits for the type of horses they produce. Above all, the Martins hope their horses go to homes where they’ll be used and enjoyed.
Their connection to the Rancher’s Horse Sale runs especially deep; Monique’s parents were part of the original founders of the sale, and so she has been riding horses through the Sale since she was about 10 or 11. Until she started having children, she can only recall a few years she didn’t take a horse or two. Since Catlin and Monique have been married, they have sold three personal horses through the sale, with this year marking their fourth consignment. "It’s nice to have a sale that celebrates these horses and their honest talents."
“The beauty of ranch work is it allows horses different niches that they might excel at and even allow the horse and
rider to have some fun.”
Their 2026 consignment, a horse named Elwood, reflects the kind of horse they strive to produce. “Elwood is an all-around neat little horse,” they say. “He carries himself very elegantly, wants to do the right thing and tries new things without making a big deal out of it.” Both Catlin and Monique have spent time riding him, giving him additional training beyond everyday ranch work. They believe he will make someone a phenomenal town horse, reined cow horse, or really nice ranch horse.
Looking ahead, the Martins plan to continue improving their program while staying true to their roots. “We hope to continue to raise horses that we enjoy riding,” they say. “We don’t wish to chase fads, but we don’t want to ever stop improving our horses.”
Ultimately, their greatest hope is that the next generation carries that passion forward. “The most important part about this lifestyle is to hopefully pass our enthusiasm and knowledge onto our kids—and hopefully they will accomplish even better things than us.”
