Brian Johnson was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. He played football until his sophomore year of high school where he found the love for roping. Brian then joined the high school rodeo team, and got a rodeo scholarship for the Tarleton State University Rodeo Team. He also has a degree in Animal Science with a minor in Equine Studies. He specializes in breaking colts and working with problem horses. Brian was on the number one college rodeo team in the country for 4 years, with his horse Maverick. Brian started training horses about 7 years ago. He’s done steer wrestling and roping with some of the top professionals in the sport. Brian is very excited to be teaching roping and provide professional training certification.

Brian and his wife Morgan moved to the beautiful garden State of New Jersey from the big ol’ state of Texas in 2020. He's looking forward to growing the rodeo world on the east coast, and teaching people how to be a Texan cowboy!

Morgan McCracken Johnson was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas. She started pee wee rodeo at the age of 5, and obtained her pro card at the age of 13 on her horse, Blue. Morgan and Blue had an amazing PRCA time and broke 13 arena records throughout high school and pro rodeo. During this time period Morgan had amazing opportunities to work with Fallon Taylor, Hailey Kinsel, Lisa Lockheart, to name a few! The year she was heading to the National Finals Rodeo, Morgan lost Blue in a very tragic accident and stopped riding for a while. During that time, Morgan's Dad was running a breeding and training facility, so Morgan started training and breaking horses. She started a lesson program using the horses that she was breaking, and thus discovered her love of working with kids.

Morgan met her husband Brian in December 2017. Together they dreamed of running a rodeo arena, but they never imagined that it would be halfway across the country! When they came to NJ they saw the need for a western ranch for teaching, and rodeos. They're so excited to have created a happy place for kids, and a place of relief for adults who take lessons.

"I love nothing more than seeing the lightbulbs go off for the kids I'm teaching, and the smiles on their faces when they're on the horses... it is priceless!"

— Morgan McCracken Johnson

Abby Klose has been riding for four years. She was introduced to barrel racing when she met Morgan Johnson and it quickly became her favorite sport! She has recently started teaching riding lessons at Rockin’ J and enjoys watching the young kids progress quickly. Her horse, a black Appendix named Spartan, came to New Jersey straight from Texas. With Morgan as her trainer, they turned Spartan into a barrel horse of amazing skill and speed. Our goal is for Abby and Spartan to make it to the National Finals Rodeo.

Lisa Klose is Office Administrator for Rockin’ J Ranch. Proud parent of Abby, she became involved when her daughter showed interest in horseback riding and the farm world. She enjoys having a front row seat to watch the team grow together and create a community of like-minded people, cheering each other on and supporting one another. She’s excited to be part of such an amazing team and see where Rockin’ J will lead!

Hi, My name is Sydney Nelson. I have been riding horses for 16 years and started out in the English world and competed on the show jumping circuit including: USEF, USHJA, 4-H and IEA. In 2021 I wanted to try another avenue with horses and switched over to western and barrel racing and quickly fell in love! Me and my horse Montana are competing in IBRA events and events WPRA permit to move up in the racing world together. Growing up I looked forward to going to the barn everyday and has shaped me into the person I am. Im so excited to help kids develop the same passion I have for the sport and watch them grow!