Stoner Ridge Farm News
Foundation First Mountain Horse Training TM

Robert & Lyngle Lawson
2469 Clintonville Rd.
Paris, KY
859.988.9092  or  859.749.3008

July 2006
Summer Shows Update

As hard as it is to believe, summer has already reached its apex, and the days are becoming shorter again. We are swiftly moving toward the major shows of the season. 


The month of June began with the Stidham Memorial Boys' Basketball show held in Stanton, KY. Even though the turnout was light we had a great time. The show has become a tradition for us over the years.

The Summer Celebration was held in Murfreesboro, TN for the third year. With the heat, we were all thankful for the air conditioned arena. There were several folks there from all over-IL, IN, NC, VA, KY, MO, etc. It was great to get to visit with everyone. The horses did well. Jill Drenik won the Novice Trail class on Thunder; Josette won the Open 4 Gait and Spotted Trail Pleasure class; Gail won her very first class - Western; Silver won the 3 yo Stallions/Geldings Classic class, and Sandman who won the Park Stallions class. Congratulations to Gail also, on her third place Versatility tie. All the horses did well and placed in their respective classes.

For the first time that any of us can remember, we had to cancel a show after just a few classes. We all saw the big, black cloud rolling in over the Bourbon County Fair-grounds on June 23rd. We hoped the bad weather would blow over but it didn't. It actually blew across the fairgrounds-you know . . . that sideways rain that you just can't escape. Everything, including the people who were trapped under the gazebo in center ring, was soaked. The organ was drenched. The PA system would not work. All the ribbons were just dripping. Even though the ring had a solid bedding, it was like a pond. The show manager and Bruce Addigton, UMH President, consulted about what to do. In the interest of safety, they decided to call the show off for now even though many people were disappointed. It may be rescheduled at a future date.

The final show of the month was the UMH KY State Championship put on by the Drill Team. The turnout was good at Harrodsburg, with almost 400 entries. The competition was hot and so was the weather. We enjoyed the fellowship of friends and clients. Our horses worked well. Josette's horse, Chuckles, won the Spotted Trail, Spotted Western, and the 4 Gait class. Congratulations Josette! Erin placed Pepper 2nd in a tough Western class of 12 horses. Thunder was 2nd in Trail Obstacle with 14 entries. Sandman won the Park Stallions class. Most of our horses ribboned in their classes. The web site will be updated within the week.

Thanks to Brenda and Larry Watson for bringing all the fried chicken, fruit and fixins. It was wonderful to have good food on hand. Thanks also to Don & Nancy for their help loading up after the show on Sunday morning and for hanging out with us all weekend.

It was really great to have Steve Heuslein at the show all the way from MN. Congratulations to his filly, Gaitway's Jasmine Joy, for her 5th place Versatility Award. Thanks everyone. We thoroughly enjoy you and your horses!


UMH High Points
(Unofficial results after the IN Celebration)

2nd 14.3 - Sweet Revenge
1st Men's Trail - Charlie
1st 4 Gait - Pepper
4th Gail - Mares Trail
1st Amateur CTP - Judy Brummer
1st Novice Trail - Jill Drenik (3 way tie)
4th Amateur Trail - Jill Drenik
2nd CTP Mares - Lady
2nd - Trail Pleasure Geldings - Thunder
2nd CTP Champion - Lady
3rd Classic Champ - Merry Go Blue
2nd Park Champ - Sandman
1st 2 & 3 yo Conformation - Gaitway's Jasmine Joy
5th CTP Mares - Jazzy
1st Stallions Park - Sandman
3rd Yearling Fillies - Penny
3rd Yearling Colts - Apollo
2nd 3 yo S/G Classic - Silver
1st Amateur Classic Lyngle


Graceful Storm & Destiny's Warning Show Ring Debut at KMSHA Kentucky State

Congratulations to Gracie, owned by Green Stud Farm in the UK. She placed 4th in a large open class of 2-3 yo trail pleasure horses with Robert up. Also, congrats to Josette and Destiny for their first place win in the Ladies Trail class. WooHoo!

Laurie Returns to New York

June 12th 2006 was a day filled with mixed emotions for us at Stoner Ridge Farm. The time had come for our apprentice, Laurie Quincey, to return to her home in New York. She had been with us for twelve-weeks learning the principles of Stoner Ridge Farm's Foundation First Mountain Horse Training TM program. Laurie was a natural and fit right into the routine. We all became fast friends as she began to work in the round pen. It wasn't long before she developed her own string of horses. She had a great work ethic and was very willing to learn. We were proud of her and knew she was ready to return home on one hand but on the other . . . we knew how much we'd miss her. The evening before she left, we all went to historic Hall's on the River to celebrate the time we had spent together. 

Laurie, and her fiancé, Rick, are beginning their indoor arena in NY while they look for property here in KY. Laurie is planning to return to SRF for the UMH World Show and the RMH International this fall. Look for more information about Laurie's experience in the next issue of the United Mountain Horse Times.

Majority Opinion System

As in the past, the judges' cards for the 2006 World Show will be tabulated using the Majority Opinion Scoring System that is used frequently at shows where there are three judges.

Under the Majority Opinion System, all three judges carry equal weight in the final class decision, and winners are placed by the best two out of three votes. Each horse is judged as if it were working individually and then compared with the performance of all other horses in the class who are judged on the same basis. All judges tie the same number of entries in each class, depending on the number of places to be awarded. While the Majority Opinion system seems complicated on the surface, it works very well. It adds validity and reliability to the art of judging horses. It reduces the problem of exhibitors' biases against particular judges and rewards horses that perform consistently. 

It is the current method of choice for shows with multiple judges. To learn more specifics about the Majority Opinion System, read Lyngle's article in the next issue of the UMH magazine.

Note: In a phone conference July 6th, the UMH Board voted to have a 5 judge system for the 2006 UMH World Show. All 5 judges will be in the ring at the same time. The high and low vote will be thrown out and the three remaining judges' decisions will be tabulated using the Majority Opinion System.

World Show Plans in Full Swing

The time is drawing near so we've begun making plans for one of the largest shows of the year-the UMH World Show which will be held again in Harrodsburg.

We want to thank everyone for your support and willingness to contribute to the double Diamond sponsorship being contributed by Stoner Ridge Farm and our clients. It is your support that enhances the quality of the show. We will receive a two page ad in the magazine, two sets of box seats, entrance to the Blue Diamond Room (located near the entrance ramp to center ring), parking passes, exhibitor party tickets, priority stall reservations, etc. Trainers will benefit from increased paybacks and the quality of the trophies will grow because of you. Again, thank you for all you do and how you support us.

As always, we will have made pre-entries for classes we are sure of by the deadline (June 30 this year). If the horses are pre-entered, we receive a discounted price of $35 per class rather than the $50 that is required for late entries. Once a horse is pre-entered, all classes regular classes are $35. Horses will also be in the program.

We will be in barn 10. If you have horses you want to bring that you are working, you are welcome to bring them and join us there. Just let Julie Clark know (606.663.0916). We'll be staying at the Day's Inn. If you haven't made reservations, do so ASAP. Rooms are filling up. We're looking forward to the fellowship and great times we always enjoy at Harrodsburg!

Barns Under Construction

If you have checked out the UMH web site lately, you've see the work well under way on the barns for the facility. We are all hoping that many of next year's shows will be able to be held there.

Thanks to creative financing plans, many owners and trainers are helping with the construction. One way to help is by making a $1,500 donation toward construction of a stall that will be designated in memory or in honor of someone (or a special horse). Another idea that has taken hold, is a 'young trainers' barn.' By dividing the cost of a barn into 22 stalls and further dividing it into 24 monthly payments, several young trainers have made the commitment to $68 payments each month for two years. The cost for financing an entire barn is $35,000. UMH has a repayment schedule based on stall rental. It's going to be great when it is all complete.

Good Deed

Back in January Larry and Brenda Watson happened across a chocolate gelding. He was by Owen's Choctaw but he had not been well cared for. He was extremely thin (you should see Brenda's pictures). It was obvious he needed lots of care if he was going to live. Well, the Watson's took him home. They didn't care that he wasn't registered. They just wanted to help him. Larry told Brenda, "We've done our good deed for the day," and the name stuck. Now you would never know that Good Deed had ever had anything but the best of care. Over the winter months, Brenda nursed him back to health and brought him to SRF this spring to start. We also got his registration papers in order. Last week, he made his show ring debut at the Kentucky State show. Thank you Brenda and Larry for your kindness and your Good Deed!

Welcome Nancy Puckett

We'd like to welcome Nancy Puckett to Stoner Ridge Farm. Nancy will be coming to take lessons here twice a week. She plans to bring two different horses from home - one on Tuesday and another one on Thursday. Welcome Nancy!

Stoner Ridge Farm Mission Statement

Our mission at Stoner Ridge Farm
is to serve the needs
of our clients and their horses.
We utilize proven horsemanship techniques to reduce horses' fear as we teach them to respect their handlers. 
Within the structure of our training program, we make adjustments to meet 
the unique needs and talents of each animal with the goal that every horse meets his highest potential whether it is on the trail, in the show ring, or in the breeding of potential offspring.
We desire, also, to build trust and friendship as we help educate our clients on the selection, safety, and effective ownership of their equine companions. 
In addition, it is our aim to gain knowledge through professional activities and organizations that influence the Mountain Horse industry. 

SRF has a large selections of fine horses currently for sale. 
See the Sales Page!