Honey Tree Stables

Sarah S. Oelerich

Owner, head trainer, professional rider, horsewoman,

and steward of Honey Tree Stables.

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Sarah Oelerich leads Honey Tree Stables with a horse-first approach shaped by the farm, the hunt field, and the show ring. She combines serious hunter/jumper training with practical horsemanship, careful horse management, and a long view of how horses and riders develop together. She also competes as a professional rider in United States Equestrian Federation (USEF)-licensed hunter/jumper competition.

A life formed early

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Sarah first sat on a horse at three years old, and horses have shaped her life ever since. Her late father, Harry W. Oelerich, acquired the family farm in 1964 and operated it as Honey Tree Farms. Over time he bred and raced thoroughbreds in partnership with farms and trainers in Lexington, Kentucky, later turning the property toward award-winning Charolais cattle. He also recognized Sarah’s gift with horses early, and in 2001 he passed the farm and the torch to Sarah, who carried it forward as Honey Tree Stables.

Ring, field, and competitive foundation

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Sarah’s riding career began in childhood and developed across both formal competition and open-country horsemanship. At eight years old, she was the youngest scholarship recipient to ride with Camargo Hunt - an experience that grounded her in attention, balance, terrain, and the manners of the field as well as the ambitions of the ring. She later qualified for and rode at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg, the Washington International Horse Show, and the Capital Challenge Horse Show with her medium pony and junior hunter. Since then, she has trained and shown under renowned professionals including Mindy Darst, Michael Newman, and David Biesel, and has also worked extensively with Steven Duchac and Bobby Dryer. Today, Sarah competes as a professional rider in select United States Equestrian Federation (USEF)-licensed hunter/jumper competitions.

Teacher and program builder

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Sarah’s work extends beyond training horses. In 2012, she was chosen to lead the Xavier University Equestrian Team as Head Coach, where she expanded participation, built a more competitive program, and led riders to regional and zone-level success. In 2017, she was asked to guide the Earlham College Equestrian Team through a transition year, helping redesign the program and lead the team through a successful competitive season.

The Honey Tree philosophy

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Sarah believes exceptional horse care comes first. She emphasizes turnout, consistency, nutrition, clear communication, and honest horse-and-rider matching because long-term fit matters more than quick transactions. Her teaching reflects the same principle. Riders at Honey Tree learn not only in the ring, but also in the hunt field and on the trails, because confidence should travel from one environment to another and horsemanship should not collapse when conditions become less controlled.

Horse listener, not horse hype

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One of the most useful ideas carried forward from The Horse Listener is the description of Sarah as someone who sees what a horse can be, not only what it is. That is the right tone for the website. Sarah’s strength is not hype, and it is not empty luxury language. It is judgment. She notices effort hidden inside awkward moments, helps worried horses become more trusting, and teaches riders to bring calm, assertive energy to the horse in front of them.

Camargo, stewardship, and public service

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Sarah’s background also remains connected to the Camargo Hunt tradition. She is a Professional Member of Camargo Hunt and serves as a Board Director and one of the founders of the Camargo Hunt Foundation, a federally recognized 501(c)(3) public charity dedicated to preserving hunt heritage while promoting education, conservation, responsible land stewardship, and ethical horsemanship. That work strengthens the public story behind Honey Tree: the farm is not only about lessons and showing, but also about preserving the land-based traditions that shaped the sport.

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Honey Tree is best suited to owners and riders who value standards, communication, horse-first care, and thoughtful development. Sarah’s program is selective by design. It is built for people who want serious training anchored in care quality, judgment, and the depth of a real working farm.

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Sarah's commitment to history and knowledge is also a commitment to sharing, learn more about these important aspects of Honey Tree and the foundation of the sport and where it all began:

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The History of Honey Tree

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The History of Hunter / Jumpers

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The History of Fox Hunting, Camargo, and the Long Country

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