Our Legacy

 Before purchasing our new property in Garden Valley, California, our program was based at Sun King Farms in Arroyo Grande, California. It was there, in 1999, that I met Cathy Smith, owner of Sun King Farms. Cathy became one of the most influential people in my life and played a tremendous role in shaping who I am today. She was like a second mother to me and, as she did for so many others, taught me not only about horses, but also about life and adulthood. She was a loving and remarkable person with an incredible spirit, and we became fast friends almost immediately. Cathy was truly my teacher in all things horse, as well as in life.

During our time at Sun King Farms, we used “Suns” as the prefix for all of our registered horse names. When the time came to establish our new ranch, I knew I wanted to continue using the “Suns” prefix for my Arabian horses. However, I also wanted the name to carry a deeper meaning and connection to the history behind our program.

After countless ideas and much deliberation—as anyone who knows me can attest, I can be incredibly indecisive—I finally found a name that truly felt right. We came very close to becoming Bear Creek Ranch, but in the end, one name stood out above the rest: Suns Legacy Ranch.

The name holds special meaning for me. “Suns” honors Cathy and the tradition she loved of incorporating it into the names of her horses, while “Legacy” is a tribute to my parents, Kenneth and Donna Morrissey, whose love and support helped shape the person I am today. I am truly a product of all of the adults who guided and influenced my life, and this name felt like the perfect way to honor them all.

My hope is to continue the legacy Cathy began through her breeding program. I am fortunate to have several lines tracing back to her mares, and I am committed to continuing those bloodlines in a way I believe she would have respected and appreciated.

I’ll also be sharing the stories behind each mare on our mares page, and I invite you to explore and visit our new website.