Sandy Sessink is a world renowned Morgan trainer, equitation instructor, judge and show manager who began her career at the famed Carousel Stables in 1974, the largest Morgan show barn in the country at that time and home of many World Champions. For over 20 years, she owned and operated Old Orchard Farm in South Lyon, Michigan, turning out such well known riders as Rebecca (Kelce) Gruenberg, Mary Carlton, Jessica Cavanaugh, Stacy Hennessy and countless others.
She was the first instructor to train a Morgan Triple Crown Champion Saddle Seat Equitation rider (UPHA Challenge Cup, AMHA Gold Medal and World Champion Morgan Saddle Seat Equitation) which she did two years in a row in 1990 and 1991. Over 150 World Champion horses and riders adorn her accomplishments.
Sandy has been a USEF Morgan R Judge for over 25 years, with assignments that have included 8 Morgan Grand Nationals, 11 American Royal UPHA National Championships including the USEF Medal finals and UPHA Challenge Cup finals, and many World Cup Trials. She coached the winning “Team Morgan” riders against the South Africans in 2009 and judged the World Cup Saddle Seat Equitation Finals in South Africa in 2006. She has served as a judge in four different countries.
She is a popular clinician around the country and serves as the Show Manager for multiple Morgan shows throughout the year including the Indiana Spring Classic, Route 66 Morgan Classic, Jubilee Regional Morgan Horse Show and the Buckeye Morgan Challenge Show.
In 2016, Sandy spearheaded the “Day of the Morgan Horse” in Ohio for the Ohio Morgan Horse Association. In 2017, she expanded the program nationally and with the support of the AMHA, October 28, 2017 was named the "National Day of the Morgan". 100 stables participated across the country to expose the public to the wonderful Morgan She was honored to be the recipient of the AMHA Person of the Year Award in 2017 which honors the individual who has made particularly exceptional contributions to the support and preservation of the Morgan breed and/or AMHA for her work with the National Day of the Morgan.