Ron is the owner of R&M Stables and is passionate about owning horses that have a solid foundation and can be used everyday from doing ranch work to riding down the street to check the mail in the mailbox. Ron is certified through the County Mounties national organization and has spent countless hours of training in service horse organizations throughout Middle Tennessee. His horses have performed at the top level of WHOA competitions along with winning national titles at the Mounted Police national Colloquium held annually at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. In 2021 Ron rode with the Tennessee Mounted Officer Association at the national championships in Lexington. He and his horse Trooper had the following results:
1st Gaited Equitation
2nd Individual Obstacles
2nd Combined Obstacle & Equitation
1st Department Award - (partner Sgt. Kevin Hooper Nashville Parks)
At the 2023 national championships at KHP - Lexington Ron and Trooper:
2nd Gaited Equitation
4th Dual Obstacle Team Event -(partner Sgt. Kevin Hooper Nashville Parks)
During the 2017 Colloquium - KHP national championships 1st Dual Obstacle Team event -(partner Doug Wyatt North Carolina)
In 2018, two R&M Stables horses partnered to win the title in Dual Obstacles:
1st Dual Obstacle Team event - (partner Jason Parizek riding Geronimo & Ron riding Trooper)
In both 2014 and 2015, Ron’s horses(Geronimo and Trooper) won the WHOA national service horse division winning both dual and individual obstacle competitions at the Miller Colosseum in Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Ron loves teaching and spending time with the adult working rider. He views maturity as an asset and encourages adult riders to analyze the skills and abilities they already possess and apply them to riding and horse ownership.
Brian Felts,Trainer
In 2023, Brian was hired to the R&M staff in order to train horses, retrain problem horses, teach clinics and give lessons to both youth and adult riders at our facility. His passion is focused on the process of constant learning as the rider advances their level of horsemanship abilities. Brian believes that the fun of riding will be found in an ability to improve communication between the horse and rider, and enabling a constant desire to refine the rider’s skills while on the ground or in the saddle. Whether your dream involves learning at the entry level, roping cows, or peaceful weekend trail rides through the woods, his style of teaching and training can provide a rider with limitless challenges and years of enjoyment with their equine partner.
During his tenure at R&M, Brian has brought his own style of natural horsemanship into the training program. His goal is to develop balanced, willing, forward horses and thoughtful, tactful riders.
Brian achieved ‘Trainer of the Year’ status by winning the buckle at the Tennessee Equine Trail Competition series in the 2023 season. Students who interact with Brian have appreciated his sense of humor, empathy, respect, and great affection for both horses and humans. Regardless of whether you are an aspiring rider or an accomplished one, he has an ability to draw out the joys and responsibilities of becoming a safe and effective rider.