Members | April Spotlight
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Julianne Johnson
Hi fellow Glass-ed members. My name is Julianne Johnson and this will be my fourth year as a Glass-ed member. I am a retired 2nd grade teacher. I have been married to Dave Johnson for 36 years. Without this wonderful man I would never be able to take part in the sport of dressage. Nearly every show that I go to you will usually see Dave outside the show ring at E or B confidently reading the tests for me and hoping there won’t be another repeat performance of “ The other left at C” !!
My first horse was a red rocking horse on springs made for me by my grandfather. We always lived in the city so I could never have my own horse but I loved to collect models of them as I was growing up. When possible I got to ride ponies at fairs or ride with a friend each summer when we went back to Minn. to visit. In college I would go home with my 2 college roommates who had horses and took me riding – adding even more fuel to my desire to have a horse some day.
Our first real live horse was given to us as wedding present from one of Dave’s High School friends and his family. What a lovely gift she was! She was about three when we got her and were blessed to have her until she passed away at 35. Cocoa was just the best for a beginner rider like myself. The first time we took her out for a ride I was leading her with only a lead rope and Dave hopped up and laid over her back (all I could think of was Rodeo Time) but she just turned her head, looked at Dave and went back to eating. Then Dave swung his leg over her and sat there. I thought for sure he would end up on the ground this time but Cocoa just went on eating the grass. We couldn’t afford a saddle so I would take her in the fields to ride bareback. I could handle the walk but would usually end up falling off at the trot and Cocoa would just stand there looking at me as if to say and you want to canter when you can’t even stay on at the trot. She was wonderful in her senior years when she would let our kids ride her and she would take them to what we called “Cocoa’s Corner” and stand there until the kids learned how to get her to walk where they wanted her to go. She also blessed us with a filly that we named Sunshine. Dave and I had many wonderful years riding in the orchards around home and having the opportunity to care for these two wonderful horses.
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We both have come a long way since our first two horses. Spark and Lucky were the next two that we were blessed to enjoy. They were both quarter horses. Lucky was the first horse that I got to take lessons on and began to improve my riding skills. She is also the mother of Lacy who is the paint horse I rode this last year in Walk – Trot.
Dave and I have been part of the Ottawa County Mounted Division as reserve deputies for the last 9 years. We have had the opportunity to ride our horses in the Holland Tulip Parade, Zeeland Pumpkin Parade, Hudsonville Christmas Parade and the Jenison Memorial Parade as well as be part of the honor guard for the service at the cemetery. We also worked security at the Berlin raceway for many years as well as many other places in Ottawa County including the Ottawa fair grounds when we had the privilege and honor of helping to protect President Bush when he came there to speak. At times our division gives pony rides at different special events around the county – it is always special when you see the smile on a child’s face who gets to ride a horse for the first time.
We have also had the privilege to ride in the parade of colors at the Mich. State horse expo and even got to be part of a wedding of two mounted officers on horseback while we were there.
Dave and I also work as Marine Deputies riding boats instead of horses in the Holland and Grand Haven Area as well as out on Lake Michigan. When we first started the Undersheriff told us he was wondering how we would get our horses on the boat.
For my 50th birthday Dave took me to the U.P. for a weeklong riding camp and instruction with Lynn Palm and her husband Cyril. I had fun and learned a lot and was lucky enough to go back 2 more times. The last time I went Cyril introduced us to dressage. Near the end of the week we were each supposed to memorize a test he gave us and perform it. I was riding Copper then and when we performed the test (which was the first test for both of us) he was going so forward I was scared to death but we did finish the test – I was nearly in tears as I asked Cyril why Copper was going so fast – and Cyril calmly said that my whip had been hitting him on his rear all through the test – thus this was my intro to dressage. Amazingly I wanted to learn more. Lacy and I had taken lessons from Shelly Dunneback who taught me so very much and had helped me find Copper but was going to give up teaching to be more involved with her active family. A friend had told me about Glass-ed so I went on the web site and found the instructor listings which helped me find an instructor who could teach me more about dressage. Thanks to Glass-Ed I have been taking lessons from Wendy Van De Laar for about 4 years now and enjoying all that dressage has to offer at my level. It amazes me how many figures, movements, and patterns there are to learn and it is so much fun to learn along with my horses. Wendy keeps lessons interesting, challenging, and fun. I am amazed at how much Copper, Lacy and I have learned. And are continuing to learn as we move up the level of dressage.
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Copper is the horse I started showing at the Glass-Ed shows when he was 5. He is solid sorrel paint, stands about 16.2, and has a wonderful disposition. Before Glass-ed we did some Western and English shows in the area. Being part of a huge group was O.K at first but when I watched dressage, I really liked how you could practice the tests at your level. perform the test at a show, get feed back on your progress, and move up the levels as you increased the skills of yourself and your horse.
The second year of training Copper injured himself and I asked Wendy if I could bring Lacy in his place. She liked Lacy and I was excited that she could help me ride Lacy better. This also became the beginning of riding Lacy at the dressage shows. I am truly amazed at Wendy’s teaching skills. She has and continues to teach us so much. But she doesn’t give you very much time to enjoy what you accomplish before the bar is raised and you and your horse are being challenged again.
So you want to know about scariest moments – how about terrifying? This long moment happened this past Jan. Some of you may have heard about it already or saw the write up and pictures in the Muskegon Chronicle or Grand Rapids press. Unfortunately yes there was a reporter there to document these moments of terror and take pictures of our truck, trailer, and ice accident. First I want to tell you I am not a person who takes dangerous risks. There wasn’t supposed to be ice on this road especially not such a large stretch of glare ice but there was. The horses and I were on our way to lessons as we do most every Tuesday, when we crested a hill going into Bailey which is usually salted and clear - to my surprise it was all glare ice!! Thankfully I was only going about 25 or 30 but I still heard Dave’s voice telling me not to hit the brakes. Suddenly I felt us going sideways. I looked in the mirror and saw the trailer sliding to the left. I then looked further to the left to see where we were headed and all I saw was a drop off of about 8 to 10 feet. I don’t remember anything else until we stopped. The truck did not roll but the trailer carrying our precious horses was on its side. Thankfully none of the injuries were serious so bute, eye med, antibiotic ointment, and lots of TLC helped them recover. Yes they even go into the trailer now without hesitation! Although Lacy did hesitate the first time when we asked her to go in the side she usually goes into and headed over to the other side as if saying – I’ll take the boy’s side so if this happens again I’ll be on top! Dave and I are thankful for all the hours of training and hauling we have done with our horses because the outcome could have been a lot worse had they panicked. We are also grateful to our vet, and all the horse people as well as rescue people that came out to help.
In conclusion I just want to say I am amazed at how many nice people I have met in the three years that I have been involved in Glass-ed. I thank you for the clinic opportunities and wonderful banquets as well as the many friendly, well run shows we have been privileged to take part in. My horses and myself have learned so much and we are looking forward to learning even more in the years to come. If you see us at a show please stop and say Hi.
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