Susan Michele Morey

Surrounded by family, Susan Stearns Morey peacefully passed away December 10, 2021, from progressive results of ALS. Susan left this world as she lived it, holding the reins of her life firmly in her control. Born August 28, 1959, Susan was the only, much loved child of Bill and Suzanne (Wittick) Stearns, of Edmond, Oklahoma. She graduated from Edmond Memorial High School in 1977.

Susan found her calling in the horse show ring. She began riding at a young age. In 1977, she won her first Arabian National title in Saddle Seat Equitation under the direction of Harold Adams. After graduating from High School, she became a professional Arabian horse trainer, founding Oaktree Farms in Edmond.

She married R. Stanton (Stan) Morey in 1985. The couple soon began their family that would form the cornerstone of their lives together. They had son, Colter Stearns, in December 1985, and daughter, Julia Laing, three years later in December 1988.

Stan and Susan started Hallmark Farms training and showing Arabian horses. Susan gave up her professional status to raise her family, but remained a force in the show arena, garnering numerous National Championships riding Arabian and National Show Horses in saddle seat, hunt seat, and western disciplines.

When a career change came for Stan, Susan was determined to stay in the show ring. Her friend had a Morgan horse at the farm and Susan decided to take on the training. She ended the year winning a reserve world championship and her career as a Morgan trainer was launched. She was a self-taught businesswoman and obtained her CDL so she could drive the farm’s semi-truck to shows across the country. In just 10 short years, Susan made her mark in the Morgan horse world, riding 45 victory passes at the Morgan Grand Nationals. Susan coached more than 80 world, reserve world, and Grand National victory passes for her clients in the same time frame. One of the highlights of her career was winning the 2020 Western Pleasure Open World Championship on JRH Remember Me, a horse she bred and trained, and is undefeated in the Grand National arena.

With grace and grit, Susan's last ride came in October 2021, when she won the Ladies Western Pleasure World Championship. In 2020, Susan was awarded the APHA Hero Award. Posthumously, she will be awarded the 2021 AMHA Person of the Year and the 2021 USEF Barbara Worth Oakford Trophy, which recognizes a horseman or horsewomen who has excelled above all others in competition in the current year.

There was nothing more important to Susan than her family. She was Memaw to her grandson Conway and Poppy to granddaughter Stella, both monikers she carried proudly. Susan leaves behind her husband of 36 years, Stan; son, Colter and wife Ginny; daughter, Laing; two grandchildren; brother-in-law, Brent Morey and wife Debbie of Frederick, Oklahoma; extended family; lifelong friends, and her dog, Grady.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Susan’s memory to:

The Harry Sebring Memorial Grant

In Care Of: AMHA

407 Ironworks Parkway, Suite 130

Lexington, KY 40511

Arabian Horsemen’s Distress Fund

236 Henry Road

Bridgewater, CT 06752