Robert Lawson, Owner/Head Trainer

Robert Lawson has been involved with gaited horses most of his life. As a youngster, he rode over the hills of Eastern Kentucky long before there were any Mountain Horse breeds.  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. He began starting his own stock and it wasn’t long until other folks saw what a knack he had for training.  That has been nearly 20 years ago.  During that time, Robert has developed his own unique style of training horses and instructing people.  His Foundation First Mountain Horse Training ^TM methods have not only produced International and World Grand Champions in conformation and under saddle classes but many versatile trail companions as well. 

Riders from Stoner Ridge Farm, under Robert’s direction, have won the Ashley Hytry Award, the UMH Jr. Robinson Super Horse Award, the RMH Rea Swan Versatility Award, and the Sam Tuttle Memorial Award multiple times.  Robert has received many High Point awards and Grand Championship honors in under saddle, western, and conformation classes himself.  He has been the recipient of the KMSHA James Powell Trainer Award and the UMH Volunteer award as well. Stoner Ridge Farm is not only fortunate to have his training expertise with horses but to have benefit of his ability to educate people, which can be seen in all the skilled riders from Stoner Ridge Farm.

Lyngle Lawson, Owner/Secretary

Lyngle has always loved horses from the time she was a little girl riding her grandpa’s pony, Mable.  She got away from horses for a while when her children were very young and she was going to college.  She, like Robert, rediscovered that love when they got a couple of horses for their girls to ride. 

It wasn’t long before she and Robert were riding with the Rocky Mountain Drill Team and they were showing horses themselves.  Lyngle has become an accomplished rider winning the Non-Pro World Grand Championship on RRF Gold Nugget in 2008 – the first World Grand Championship class held at the Kentucky Equestrian Center. 

Currently, Lyngle is a reading specialist at Hannah McClure Elementary School in Winchester.  She also helps at the farm by taking care of the bookkeeping and riding as often as she can.   

Charlie DeAtley, Trainer

Charlie came to Stoner Ridge Farm as a 16 year-old high school junior looking for a part-time job. For two years, Charlie was Robert's right hand man when it came to working on the farm. When Charlie graduated, he needed more hours, but he didn't know anything about training horses or riding for that matter. Robert assured Charlie that he could teach him what he needed to know, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Charlie's patience and work ethic have served him well. By the end of his first full show season, Charlie rode to win the UMH Reserve Trail Pleasure Grand Championship. Since that time Charlie has ridden to win many UMH, KMSHA, RMH, and Mountain Pleasure Championships and High Point Awards.  He won the UMH Classic Pleasure World Grand Championship with Merry Go Blue in 2006.  Then in 2007 he was awarded the RMH Rea Swan Versatility Award with Storm Warning's Thunder.  That same year, Charlie felt especially honored to win the UMH 3-4 Year Old Open Park World Grand Championship with Robert’s Rockin’ Rosey. He continued the winning tradition in 2008 obtaining the High Point Award for combined dressage, stadium obstacle, and cross country at the Three Phase Event.  

Last year, Charlie rode SRF’s Silver Sundown to win the UMH Western World Grand Championship.  This winning team also obtained the High Money Horse Award, Stallions Trail Pleasure, and Championship Trail Pleasure High Point Awards for their year-long accomplishments. Charlie has developed great skill in the round pen starting young horses.  While the winning record that Charlie has established is phenomenal, his training skill is unsurpassed. He’s one of the best when it comes to teaching a horse to be responsive and respectful. We are proud to have him on staff at Stoner Ridge Farm.

Erin Lawson DeAtley (available for lessons only)

Erin has been riding since she was a child just like her dad, Robert. They make a good team. Erin has a great deal of savvy when it comes to working horses in the round pen. She has great perception about their attitude and what they need in order to perform.

Erin has outstanding skills to her credit. In 2004, she added trail obstacle training to her list of specialties and in 2005, she added four gait. Her first year riding as an adult, she won the UMH Novice Trail Pleasure High Point Award. In 2003 she rode Santa Anna to be the Reserve UMH Western World Grand Champion. In 2004, she rode Merry's Painted Surprise to win the UMH Kentucky State Championship in the Country Trail Pleasure Division. In 2005 Erin rode Strike it Rich, a two year old filly, to win the UMH World Champion Junior Horse Trail Obstacle class.

In 2006, Erin rode Silver Sundown to place reserve in the 3 Year Old Stallions/Geldings High Point division with her amateur rider receiving the High Point award in the Classic division. She was also awarded the UMH High Point Award for Pepper's Just Plain Pretty in the Four Gait division. At the RMH International, Erin received one of the top honors in the Mountain Horse industry when she was awarded the Sam Tuttle Memorial Award for her performance with Legendary Lady. Last year Erin was the recipient of the High Point Award at the Three Phase Event (dressage, stadium obstacle, and cross country). We appreciate her talents and dedication here at Stoner Ridge Farm

Michael Butler, Trainer

Mike is a young trainer that has been riding horses most of his life.  He’s been working at Stoner Ridge Farm for over a year now. He’s very people oriented and a polite young man. He has talent in starting young horses and in the show ring.  He is constantly seeking to improve his horsemanship. 

Last year, Mike rode Blue’s Magical Charm to the reserve KMSHA Open Four Gait High Point and 2-3 year old SMH Trail Pleasure High Point.  He also was the trainer of The Cross Filly who earned the distinction of reserve 2–3 year old KMSHA Trail Pleasure High Point Award winner.   We are glad to have Mike as part of the SRF training team.

Lisa Sidwell, Trainer

Lisa has been riding horses since she was a young girl.  She became enamored with the Rocky Mountain Horse from an early age but did not get one of her own until 2002. While she has always been interested in the gaited horse, she began riding at the age of 8, where she got her start with hunter-jumpers.

As a high school student, she acquired her first Rocky Mountain Horse, and from there she completely fell in love with the breed. In college, she showed on her college IHSA team in Western Pleasure and was the team captain her senior year. She also got the opportunity to work for one of the top 50 reining trainers and was able to ride some of the best reining horses in the world. However, her true passion continues to be the Mountain Horse industry.

She graduates in May with two Bachelors of Art degrees in Equine Management and Equitation Instruction from Midway College. Lisa has many accomplishments to her credit.  She won the KMSHA Open Western Pleasure High Point Award in 2008 and 2009, and won the KMSHA Open 4-Gait High Point Award in 2009 on Xena's Dark Star. 

Lisa was an intern two years ago and last summer she was able to help at some of the larger shows.  We are excited that Lisa will be a full-time member of the Stoner Ridge Farm team after her graduation.

Cesario Sanchez, groom

Cesario has been working at Stoner Ridge for 6 or 7 years now.  You’ll find him at the farm seven days a week feeding, grooming, tacking, and cleaning stalls.  He keeps a watchful eye on everything that goes on so he can take care of any problems that arise.  He’s a good worker and we’re fortunate to have him.