UMH Summer Celebration

The UMH Summer Celebration was a great show! The numbers were up and the competition was tough! There were no soft spots in any of the classes. We had a great time with everyone who was able to join us. Bob and Marty Morris came from PA to see Thunder and brought us three of their two year olds to start - D.J., Addy, and Heidi. Steve Heuslein was able to join us again from MN along with Nancy Copland, Tim & Marcia Spencer, Barry Hickey along with Lauren and J.T. It was great to see Brenda Watson from up in Paintsville. We also had lots of other visitors who stopped by to visit for awhile. Our congratulations goes out to Gaitway's Jasmine Joy, winner of the Adult Versatility Award (she also won Trail Obstacle and 4+ Conformation). Stoner Ridge Farm has won all the UMH Versatility competitions this year woo hoo! I'll have to check the numbers to see whether it is Robert with Jazzy or Charlie with Silver who will win the High Point award. Way to go guys! We also congratulate Lauren Hickey on her fantastic win with Barb's Stormy Knight in the Juvenile Equitation Class . . . she did a great job riding her pattern and giving direction to her horse while maintaining the elegance for which Equitation is known. Marcia and Tim both did an excellent job with Stormy in their Novice and Amature classes winning a blue as well. Silver was awesome in the stallions trail and the Men's trail placing reserve and 1st respectively. Squirrel made a great show in Conformation and the Open Four Gait placing 1st in both and 3rd in his under saddle class. See other placings below. Mike, Charlie, Robert and all the amateur and novice riders did a great job. Thanks to everyone who brought treats, drinks, ice, etc. Thanks to Nancy Copland for our rolling saddle rack. Now we can roll our saddles dowm to the warm up ring for inspection. Nancy also humg up a little sign for us that said "When you're here, you're on happy time." We do love it. You all are just too much. Here is the list of SRF wins:

SRF’s Silver Sundown
UMH Summer Celebration - Open Western - 2nd
UMH Summer Celebration - Stallions Trail - 2nd
UMH Summer Celebration - Men's Open Trail - 1st
UMH Summer Celebration - Adult Versatility - 5th

Pepper’s Capital Venture
UMH Summer Celebration - 3 YO Stallions & Geldings - 3rd

Gaitway’s Jasmine Joy
UMH Summer Celebration - Lead Line - 1st - Ruby DeAtley
UMH Summer Celebration - Country Trail Mares - 4th
UMH Summer Celebration - Adult Trail Obstacle - 1st
UMH Summer Celebration - Non-Pro Country Trail - 5th - Steve
UMH Summer Celebration - Juvenile Trail Obstacle - 3rd
UMH Summer Celebration - Amateur Country Trail - 5th
UMH Summer Celebration - Pro – Am Country Trail - 4th - Steve/Robert
UMH Summer Celebration - Open Western - 4th
UMH Summer Celebration - Juvenile Western - 4th - Lauren
UMH Summer Celebration - 11 and Under Country Trail - 3rd - J.T.
UMH Summer Celebration - Adult Versatility Award - 1st
UMH Summer Celebration – Juvenile Versatility Award - 3rd - J.T.

RPM’s Squirrel’s Blackfoot
UMH Summer Celebration - 2 & 3 YO Conformation - 1st
UMH Summer Celebration - - Open 4 Gait - 1st
UMH Summer Celebration - 2 & 3 YO Trail - 3rd
UMH Summer Celebration - Adult Versatility - 3rd

RRF Gold Nugget
UMH Summer Celebration - Non Pro Classic - 4th - Lyngle
UMH Summer Celebration - Classic Pleasure Championship - 4th
UMH Summer Celebration - Pro Am Classic - 5th - Charlie/Steve
UMH Summer Celebration - Geldings Classic - 2nd

Barb’s Stormy Knight
UMH Summer Celebration - Open Novice Rider - 1st - Marcia
UMH Summer Celebration - Amateur Trail - 1st - Tim
UMH Summer Celebration - Geldings Trail - 3rd - Nancy
UMH Summer Celebration - 17 & Under Equitation - 1st - Lauren
UMH Summer Celebration - Juvenile Trail Obstacle - 4th - Lauren
UMH Summer Celebration - 12 – 17 Juvenile Trail - 5th - Lauren
UMH Summer Celebration - 17 & Under Showmanship - 3rd - Lauren
UMH Summer Celebration - Juvenile Versatility Award - 2nd - Lauren
UMH Summer Celebration - Lead Line - 1st - Ruby DeAtley

C.D.’s Girl’s Got Rhythm
UMH Summer Celebration - 3 YO Fillies Classic - 5th

Little Anne
UMH Summer Celebration - Open 4 Gait - 3rd
UMH Summer Celebration - Trail Obstacle - 4th

Wishes Come True for Emma

Photo from the RMH Franklin Show


It was an amazing phone call . . . we were in the middle of the UMH Summer Celebration when Robert's phone rang. When he answered, it was Emma DeWeese. She and her family were at the RMH show in Springfield, OH. We had wanted to attend this particular show but since it was the same weekend as the Summer Celebration we just couldn't make it to both. Robert had given Emma lots of instruction on how to work with her horse when getting her ready to show (especially since we knew we couldn't be there ourselves). We just hated that it just wasn't possible for us to be with her the first time she was going to show Shannon. Well, Emma was ecstatic. She and Shannon had had a great show! Chris had already called to let us know that Emma placed 3rd in her Trail Pleasure class with Shannon. Everything had gone really well. They decided to put her back in the Juvenile Trail Championship. After tough competetion, they placed reserve! Emma was sooooo excited. She placed ahead of several more experienced riders so that really helped her confidence. Our congratulations go out to Emma for her hard work and her strength of spirit. What an overcomer! It takes courage to embrace a dream and make it come true and that's exactly what Emma had had the determination to do. Way to go Emma!

Emma

Last week Stoner Ridge Farm had the privilege of hosting Emma DeWeese in order to help her live her dream with the help of the Make a Wish Foundation. When interviewed, Emma decided she wanted a Rocky Mountain horse of her own and to be able to come and train with Robert. She wanted to learn more about the how to show and compete in the rated trail rides that are sponsored by the RMH. Last week, Emma and Robert worked together to help Emma and her new mare, Shannon, be able to work as a team. Ten year old Shannon needed a refresher course on how to be responsive to leg pressure and how to give to the bit. When Emma tried to get her to back up, she would brace against the bit and throw her head in the air. Well, Robert and Emma started in the round pen. Emma was an active participant with all phases of training. They all made a great team. Robert helped Emma learn how to establish respect and how to help her mare learn to bend and flex on the ground and while Emma was on her back. Emma's mom, Chris, also stayed a few days to make sure Emma would be comfortable here at the farm. It was exciting to see improvements each day as Emma and Robert worked together. Before we knew it, it was Friday and almost time for Emma to return home. We decided that we needed to celebrate all that Emma and Shannon had accomplished so we had a cook out and let Emma share what she had learned. I guess there were about 25 people here. Robert asked Emma if she would like to tell everyone what her goals for the week had been and what had been accomplished. Then he let Emma demonstate her new skills by putting her and Shannon in the round pen. He asked Emma to flex her horse and yield her hind quarters. She also showed everyone how she had helped Shannon learn to respect her space and to come into her only when she asked. Then she got on Shannon and demonstrated how easily she backed. The moved from the round pen to the rail where Emma rode at a calm, quiet walk and a more antimated show gait. It was beautiful to see the degree of harmony they had achieved in less than a week's time. After Emma finished showin what she had learned, we all played corn hole and sat around visiting. It was great to have Emma's mom and dad, Frank, and her brother, Tyler, as well and Barbara and Jerry Stains all the way from Louisville. I'm sure Emma will continue to work with her mare and help her continue to learn and grow. She showed a great deal of maturity and equestrian knowledge while she was here. I'm really looking forward to watching them at the International in September. What a fantastic experience it has been for all of us!