RMH Kentucky Downs and Tavares Championship

We had a great time this past weekend in Franklin, KY at the RMH Kentucky Downs Classic and the Tavares Championship Classic. Penny Deweese and the show manager, Tabitha Locher, did a great job making sure everyone was taken care of. They had golf carts for rent which was a great help since barns were quite a distance fom the show ring. Folks come around and announced which horses needed to go to DQP since it was hard to hear that far from the warm-up arena. Penny even had supper for everyone on Friday night - steak, salads, and chess pie. We really enjoyed having Randy and Regina Jones all the way from Conway, AR to join us. Regina did a great job riding Squirrel's Blackfoot in the amateur classes. LouEllen Johnson and her friend Johanna came to see him show. He did a great job. We also enjoyed visiting with Kathy and Jim Wilkerson from MO. We met these fine folks when we did the clinic at the Bar 59 in Arkansas.

The show on Friday counted as one show and then Saturday counted as another one. There were two different judges - one for each day. Our horses did really well:

SRF’s Silver Sundown
RMH Kentucky Downs Classic - Open Western - 2nd
RMH Kentucky Downs Classic - Trail Pleasure Stallions - 1st
RMH Kentucky Downs Classic - Men’s Trail Pleasure - 5th
RMH Kentucky Downs Classic - Trail Pleasure Championship - 5th
RMH Tavares Championship Classic - Open Western - 1st
RMH Tavares Championship Classic - Trail Pleasure Stallions - 3rd

Pepper’s Capital Venture
RMH Kentucky Downs Classic - 3 YO Show Pleasure - 1st
RMH Tavares Championship Classic - 3 YO Show Pleasure - 3rd
RMH Tavares Championship Classic - Show Pleasure Geldings - 4th

Gaitway’s Jasmine Joy
RMH Kentucky Downs Classic - Open Western - 4th
RMH Tavares Championship Classic - Trail Pleasure Mares - 1st
RMH Tavares Championship Classic - Open Western - 5th
RMH Tavares Championship Classic - Mentor and Me - 3rd -Robert / Emma Deweese

RPM’s Squirrel’s Blackfoot
RMH Kentucky Downs Classic - Amateur Trail - 3rd - Regina Jones
RMH Tavares Championship Classic - Amateur Trail Pleasure - 2nd - Regina Jones

RRF Gold Nugget
RMH Kentucky Downs Classic - Ladies Show Pleasure - 2nd - Lyngle
RMH Kentucky Downs Classic - Show Pleasure Geldings - 1st
RMH Tavares Championship Classic - Ladies Show Pleasure - 1st - Lyngle
RMH Tavares Championship Classic - Trainers Class - 4th


The highlight of the whole weekend, however, was Robert's Mentor and Me class with Emma Deweese. Emma and her mom, Chris, came to Stoner Ridge Farm last summer to take lessons. Emma got to ride Jazzy during one of those times and that helped her feel confident riding her in the show ring in Franklin. The class was unusual because it grouped all the ways of going together. It also allowed all age juveniles to show in thta one class. Well, Emma and Jazzy looked beautiful together. Emma had the biggest smile all over her face. At the end of the class, they began calling off the places. The first two places were show pleasure then they called Emma and Jazzy! She dropped the reins on Jazzy's neck and clapped her hands together because she was so excited. She was thrilled! You see 13 year old Emma has had quite a time of it in her short life. She has a rare disease of the immune system and had to take chemo over 5 years. While her disease is not yet in remission, medication is helping keep it under control. She has to be very careful to stay out of the sun but other than that, she's doing really well right now. She is a joy to be around. I wish everyone could see the joy that was on her face at the end of the class . . .what a thrill!