Are you looking for a way to establish a positive relationship with your horse and 
get the results you want?

Clinics, Lessons, or the Robert Lawson Apprenticeship Program 
may put you on the road to better
horsemanship. If you have been looking for a way to learn more about how to help your gaited horses and haven’t known where to turn, then Robert can point you in the right direction. Individualized instruction will help you learn about the care, control, and nature of horses.

Training Philosophies

Robert Lawson has been involved with gaited horses for most of his life. As a youngster, he rode over the hills of Eastern Kentucky long before any of the Mountain Horses were known as a breed. He got away from horses as a young adult when he worked for an architectural pre-cast firm. It wasn’t until Robert acquired a horse for his daughters that he discovered his true talent where horses are concerned. That has been close to twenty years ago. During that time, Robert has developed his own unique style of training horses and instructing people. Because he understand that the process of education is never complete, Robert has begun sharing his many experiences with others through clinics and his apprenticeship program. His amateur, juvenile, novice, and versatility programs are top notch because he understands that the importance of building a solid foundation. His Foundation First Mountain Horse Training TM methods have not only produced International and World Grand Champions but many versatile trail companions as well.

Riders from Stoner Ridge Farm, under Robert’s direction, have won the UMH Junior Robinson Super Horse Award, the RMH Rea Swan Versatility Award, Ashley Hytry Juvenile Versatility Award and the UMH Versatility High Point Award multiple times. Robert himself has received many trainer awards, high point awards and Grand Championships in under saddle, western, and conformation classes.

Foundation First Mountain Horse Training TM

Clinics and Lesson Program 

At Your Farm

Clinics are available in a variety of venues. Robert (either as an individual or with assistant trainers) can come to your facility. Rates are available by the day or week.

At our Facility

Our facility at Stoner Ridge Farm is also available for your use. By April 2008, our indoor arena will be complete. We also have a trail obstacle course, round pens, and a regulation size Dressage pad. Clinics are custom designed to meet your individual needs or the needs of your group.

By the Hour or by the Day

Private or group lessons are also available and charged by the hour or by the day. If you plan to show or you have a juvenile who would enjoy showing or learning how to care for their horse, we can schedule lessons as frequently as necessary to insure success. 

The Robert Lawson Apprentice program will show you the
way to effective horse ownership. 

Would you like for your horse to be a responsive companion that is easy to handle and performs without resistance? Robert’s introductory apprenticeship program will help you learn how to build a firm foundation and create a
trusting relationship.

Included in the Introductory Level Apprenticeship Program 

• Safe horse management
• Round Pen Basics
• Establishing Respect
• Creating a Responsiveness
• Ground Control
• Flexing and Bending
• Bitting
• Mounting and Dismounting
• Riding
• Leg Pressure Basics
• Stopping
• Backing
• Loading

For folks who need to manage their personal herd, the Introductory Level course will provide opportunities to build confidence. You will learn to build a solid foundation with your horses that will help you avoid pitfalls that lead to problems later on by establishing respect. You will gain leadership and establish ground control while improving your skills as a rider. The Apprenticeship Program is scheduled by the day (one day per week x so many weeks), weekly, or monthly. A certificate of completion is awarded at the conclusion of the program. The time commitment depends on each client and the level of expertise that is desired from his/her individualized program.

The Advanced Level Apprenticeship Program 

In addition to attaining the skills taught during the introductory phase, individuals who participate at the advanced level will focus on the business of becoming an equine professional. Robert will show you where to start, how to promote yourself, and how to build a reputation as a professional. There will be more emphasis on refinement of the horsemanship skills that have been learned as well as focusing on what is required from a business perspective..

The Robert Lawson Apprentice Program is designed to be flexible with its customized programs. Call Robert for pricing and an application.

Versatility Training
There's More to it Than You Think

Reducing Fear and Establishing Trust

A horse is a prey animal. We are the predators. A horse would rather run than fight. His strong flight instinct has helped keep him alive from ancient days and continues to do so in modern times. That is why we must begin our training by reducing a horse's fear. We don't want him to be afraid. An effective tool for helping with this process is the round pen. When we ask a horse to move in a round pen he eventually will start to look for a way to rest. Working a horse in the round pen, forces him to use his brain. It is just as if he is being made to think, "How can I get to rest? My lungs are beginning to hurt." Eventually he discovers that he can rest when he stops and faces the trainer. He doesn't stop and face you because he is thinking, "I love this guy." He is thinking he may have found a way to survive. Horses are basically lazy creatures. They will look for the easy way out every time. It is our responsibility to help them find it and do the right thing.

Horses have a strong herd instinct. We all have observed the hierarchy when horses are out in the field. A 600 pound boss mare can keep a stallion in line. She pins her ears and throws her heels and that stallions knows what's what in no uncertain terms. When I am with my horse, one of us will be the leader and the other will follow. There is no void when it comes to who is in charge. If he sees me as another horse, I am the one who needs to be the leader. We can use this natural instinct and pecking order to help us reduce a horse's fear and gain his trust.

When teaching a horse in the round pen, if he turns to face me, I pet him and walk away. In essence, I am saying to the horse, "All you have to do is stand, and I'll leave you alone." I may repeat this process many times before the horse is comfortable with what I'm doing. If he loses focus and turns away, I put him back to work until he engages his brain again and figures it out. The best way to get on the horse is to not get on the horse. I may walk up to him like I am going to get on, but then I'll turn and walk away. Put an end to everything so that your horse will begin to trust you. He begins to think, "Oh, that's all you want. That's not so bad." I may repeat this process 50 times before I actually get on the horse for the first time. 

Flexing, Bending, and Moving Away from Pressure

Another technique we use to help prepare our horses is teaching them to bend and flex. We begin flexing them before they ever have a saddle on their back. While standing on the ground, I'll ask my horse to turn his head to the right by pulling on the lead rope attached to his halter. If he will bend a ˝ inch, I release the pressure. My horse will get the message, "Ok, I know what he wants here. When I turn my head, he'll turn me loose." I repeat these steps over a period of time until the horse will bend and flex equally on both sides. I want him to be able to bend his head around until his nose touches my leg with no restriction of motion or stiffness. Horses, as you know, have a right and left side that must be taught independently. Information does not transfer automatically from one side of their brain to the other. That is why whatever you do with one side you must repeat with the other.

It is essential that your horse knows how to move away from pressure and that you, as a trainer, realize the importance and power of this strategy. We begin teaching our horse to move away from pressure quite inadvertently when we lead him. When we pull on the lead rope, we are actually putting pressure on the opposite side of his head. We are not really pulling at all but creating pressure that the horse will want to move away from. With that knowledge in mind, we can begin to use our hands to help horses learn to move away from pressure. By placing a hand on their flank and pushing until our horse moves away, we begin to help them understand that they must move away when they feel that pressure in their side. Eventually, that pressure will come from our legs when we have our horse under saddle.

Build a Solid Foundation

It is very important that we have a plan in our training and follow it carefully. Just as in building a house, we have to have a plan and build from that plan. We can get into trouble if we miss steps or leave something out. I use specific cues when working with my horse once he is under saddle. I teach him these cues and expect his cooperation. When I get my horse under saddle, I continue to build on the flexing exercises that my horse learned on the ground. I teach him to give to pressure by getting him to move his head around to my leg to the right and to the left. As soon as he gives, I release the pressure. We may need to begin with the horse moving his head only a small degree. I keep asking for more over time and releasing when I get it. It doesn't take long to get his cooperation. Horses look for instant gratification. They receive it in the release. 

Versatile horses are responsive horses. All training methods work to some extent. Some horses, however, can't withstand the harsh lessons once meted out by our cowboy legends. It will break their spirit. Everything has a load bearing capacity. Whether you are building a house or training a horse. There is no need to over tax your horse. While we expect him to do what we ask, there are times when we must back up in our training to be sure that our horse has really learned the lessons we've been trying to teach him. In the learning process, horses - like humans may make mistakes. Sometimes we skip a step. Horses, however, are forgiving animals even when we make mistakes. If you will slow down your training, it will actually make your training faster in the long run. Don't try to accomplish too much in too short a time. We know we want to move from point A to point Z. We are all too often guilty of thinking, "Well, if Z is where I want to be, let's just go there." When we pursue this type of logic it won't get us where we want to go. It is bad horsemanship. 

We need to teach our horse to move to cues that will establish flexibility and responsiveness. When I am working my young horse under saddle, I teach the cues to move in this way. First, I squeeze with my legs to let the horse know I want him to go. Sometimes it is a squeeze to the left or to the right. You don't have to squeeze both sides at the same time depending on what it is you want your horse to do. Horses can be taught to bend around your leg which really increases their ability to perform well on the trail or in trail obstacle competition. Second, I kiss to him to give him encouragement. In order to have a responsive horse, we must expect his cooperation every time we cue him to go. He must move. In the learning stages, he doesn't have to move a lot, but he must move. My final cue is what I call a 'spank.' It can be the use of more aggressive leg pressure applied until my horse moves, or I may use the ends of my reins to reinforce my request. I continue to apply the third cue until I get my horse to move.

The value of positive reinforcement in training our horses cannot be underestimated. It is even more important than correction. If I am riding a lazy horse and he seems to unwilling to work, it may be necessary for me to be more aggressive in my approach. Don't, however, ask your green horse to do something then use your whip or spurs in a forceful manner. Undesirable results may occur. Remember to use the slow and easy approach under those circumstances. Horses generally do only what they have to do. That is why it is extremely important to know if your horse is being obstinate or if he simply doesn't understand your cue. A good trainer or perceptive rider will get to know his horse and his many attitudes which will allow the rider to apply the appropriate corrective techniques for the horse's undesired behavior.

Preparation and Presentation

One of the fastest growing categories for showing gaited horses now is the versatility division. Most Mountain Horse shows offer a variety of classes in which to show horses that allow our equine companions to shine. The traditional rail classes are offered but often so are western, conformation, trail obstacle, pro-am, driving, working western, and/or four-gait. Frequently at shows these classes are tied together with a prestigious Versatility Award presented at the end of the show. 

Hopefully, you have chosen for your equine partner a horse that has a good mind, a strong heart, and one that is a willing companion. It takes a horse with stamina, regardless of his way of going division, in order to compete in the five to seven classes that may be counted toward a versatility award. It is essential that your horse has an excellent gait and is presented in the appropriate frame for his division whether he is ridden by a novice, amateur, or a professional. A horse that has good conformation is also an asset in competition. He needs to be built to move and use his body appropriately. He needs to be free moving up front and be able to reach up under himself from behind. He needs to have a well balanced body that is an appropriate weight for his frame. The horse you have chosen should also have a solid foundation built on the skills previously discussed. Trail obstacle classes can be varied. Frequent obstacles include walking over a bridge, backing through a gate, side passing, backing through an L or through cones, pulling a bag behind your horse, mounting on the off side, etc. If you have taken the time to teach your horse and have moved through all the steps to help reduce his fear and help him become flexible, the obstacles will not be a problem for him. He will be able to move through them with confidence. If you are planning to show your horse in a western class, be sure you are familiar with the correct way to hold your reins and that you have taken the time to teach him to neck rein and to do a 360 degree turn. All horses, regardless of division, should know how to complete the back appropriately. Riders should have practiced this skill many times at home before attempting it in the show ring. A good back will not win a class for you but a faulty back can cause you to be tied down on a judge's card. Be sure you have read the rules in the show rule book and have read the specific show bill distributed on the day of the show.

In order to make the most of your opportunity to shine be sure you prepare properly by grooming your horse to an impeccable level. He should shine like the proverbial new penny. Ears and muzzle should be shaved and have a sheen to them. Manes and tails should be glistening - hooves polished and glowing. Your tack should match your class and attire and be in good working order. As an exhibitor, be sure to put your best foot forward by looking crisp and confident for your class. There can be no exception for not working you horse the week(s) before the show. Nothing can replace the need for that training time whether you are the professional or the amateur. We don't win our ribbons on Saturday night. We win our ribbons Monday through Friday and just go pick them up on Saturday. Know your horse's strengths and weaknesses. Become aware of the amount of time that he needs to be warmed up appropriately for your class and don't use it all up in the warm-up ring. When you enter the ring, remember this is a SHOW. It is a time for you to make a good impression. Sit up straight and be confident.

The Advantage of Versatility Training

There is a distinct advantage to having a horse that has been trained using the methods described. It doesn't matter whether you plan to show competitively or trail ride all summer. The advantage of taking the time to truly train your horse will make him a better companion - a more confident companion and one that is less likely to spook on the rail or at a flock of turkeys. We've all been there, in the show ring or on the trail when the unexpected happens. Perhaps there is a huge fallen tree that we must cross or turn back. Maybe we have to maneuver our horse in and out among trees to get through. If we have a horse that responds to leg pressure and can flex and bend, we are at a definite advantage. It is also quite a thrill when you work hard to help your horse learn the skills he will need to compete at the shows. Perhaps you have to overcome a few weaknesses in your riding or in your horse's performance. It is so exciting to hear the winner of the Versatility Award announced . . . . and it's you.

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