2007 Congress News

Jessica Johnson Completes Her Youth Career With Two More Congress Champion Jackets
By Carly Williams

The Johnson family never knew what to expect when they were asked to help in a food trailer coming to the Quarter Horse Congress. “We had some donut shops at the time, and a friend was bringing a bakery trailer to the Congress and asked us to help,” Barb Johnson explained. “At the time, we had racing Thoroughbreds and weren’t into Quarter Horses at all.

“We had no idea what to expect that first year, but had such a good time that we decided to come back the next year with the Sweet Shop,” Barb said. “We actually even have all of the people that came that first year still working for us.”

As the Johnsons continued to attend the Congress, and grew into a family of five, Jim Flowers, head of facilities and acquisitions for the Ohio Quarter Horse Association, continuously tried to convince them to buy a Quarter Horse.

At the time, the Johnsons were involved with racing Thoroughbreds, but had been bitten by the Quarter Horse bug. They switched from Thoroughbreds to Quarter Horses and began showing.

At first, Barb and her three children all began showing. As her two sons, Chris and Nick, got older, however, they sold their horses to buy cars. Jessica, at age 19, still has her horses, but is looking forward to buying a car this winter.

“I have three horses, so I am only going to have to sell one to buy my car,” laughed Jessica, who is adamant that she will keep showing next year as an amateur. “I am not sure what I am going to do next year, but I think I am going to take a year off before going to college so I can keep showing.

“I’m excited to show in the amateur division so I can actually start winning some money! My dad cut me off so now I will have to work a lot more in the Sweet Shop to help pay for my horse shows,” Jessica said.

Barb laughed as she pointed out that Jessica already has been helping in the Sweet Shop for years, but just not as much as her brothers, who are both older and work full-time for the family business. “We all work in the Sweet Shop. It’s a family thing for us,” Barb said.

When asked which horse she will sell to buy her car, Jessica made sure to say that only two of her three horses are for sale. She currently owns Royality In Blue (“Bentley”), Its More Money Honey (“Dolly”) and Believe N Me (“Pepsi”).

“I have both Dolly and Pepsi for sale. Bentley will never be for sale. He is nine-years-old and we have had him since he was three. He is my baby and I will keep him forever,” Jessica said.

For the past several years, both Barb and Jessica have shown Bentley, but next year they will have to make a change, as they cannot both show him in amateur classes. “Mom will have to buy a new horse for next year, because Bentley is mine,” Jessica laughed.

“I will have a lot of work to do next year to compete with her,” laughed Barb. Although mom and daughter may think this is true, the Johnsons are already no strangers to hard work. In addition to running the Sweet Shop full time, they also keep all their horses at home, instead of with a trainer. Jessica rides every day, and takes care of her horses on her own.

“We get help from Chuck Briggs, Lainie DeBoer and Gretchen Mathes at the shows, but our horses always stay at home,” Jessica said. “I love being able to work with them myself every day.”

Not only does Jessica have fun, her system obviously works. At the 2007 Congress, Jessica walked away with a Congress Champion and Reserve Champion jacket, as well as two more Reserve Champion jackets that her horses won.

“It was great to finish my youth career so well,” Jessica said. “It was really sad to sit in the line-up for my youth classes, knowing that this is the last time I would be in a youth class, but it was great to hear my name called out so much.”

Although Jessica has had a lot of success (she has won the Youth Hunt Seat Equitation for two years in a row at both the Youth World Show and the Congress), she is looking forward to amateur, and is ready to step up to the challenge. Watch out for her in 2008!

 

Jessica’s 2007 Congress Results:
Congress Champion – 15-18 Hunt Seat Equitation with Royality In Blue
Reserve Champion – 15-18 Hunter Under Saddle with Its More Money Honey
6th – 14-18 Equitation Over Fences with Believe N Me
9th – Senior Hunter Hack with Royality In Blue

Barb Johnson’s 2007 Congress Results:
6th – Amateur Pleasure Driving

Its More Money Honey with Kim Barone:
Reserve Champion – Junior Working Hunter

Royality In Blue with Chuck Briggs:
Reserve Champion – Senior Pleasure Driving