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About Johnson Equestrian Center

Johnson Equestrian Center (JEC) boasts multiple professional trainers who seek to accommodate every level of rider in a safe and fun environment for both the horse and rider. Our trainers are well-experienced veterans in various disciplines including Hunters, Jumpers, Dressage, and Eventing. 
 
JEC offers private and semi-private lessons on either your own boarded horse or one of our well-trained and loved lesson horses. All boarded horses must be in a lesson and/or training program with JEC: Whether you are a serious competitor or just looking to take lessons we are happy to work with you on meeting your goals. 

Instructors

Beata Parsons

Barn Manager

Beata Parsons

Barn Manager

Beata Parsons has been an equestrian for 40 years.  Beata worked in veterinary medicine as a Certified Veterinary Technician for over 10 years before deciding to pursue a career in the Equine Industry full time.  She spent over 20 years teaching hunter/jumper lessons. Her students have been successful at shows ranging from local schooling shows, rated B shows, and IEA postseason, including competing at IEA Nationals. Beata met her husband in high school and they have spent over 30 years together.  Now a mother to three adult daughters, she spends her free time making jewelry, listening to Audible (she especially enjoys true crime podcasts and psychological thriller books), and watching TV with her husband.  A lifelong animal lover, she shares her home with 3 cats (Calloway, Ivy, Rizzo) and a dog (KB). She is currently owned by an OTTB, Jasper, who was a Christmas present from her husband.  Her personal motto is “when in doubt, more leg”.

Sara Merrifield

Eventing/Hunter/Jumper Instructor

Sara Merrifield

Eventing/Hunter/Jumper Instructor

Sara started riding at a young age thanks to her mom’s shared love of horses. Sara  was happy to ride at any opportunity  and enjoyed horsemanship and competition though pony club and eventing. She eventually worked your way up the junior jumper ranks before going to college.  She took time off college to go out East to be a working student for Olympian Michael Page. After college and a couple years using her Economics degree she switched over to horses as a full time profession, for the last 20 years has been  in the hunter/ jumper and eventing worlds. Her true passion is the day-to-day training. She enjoys seeing each horse and each rider progress and succeed. 

Skylar Parsons

Hunter/Jumper Instructor

Skylar Parsons

Hunter/Jumper Instructor

Skylar Parsons is a second-generation equestrian and has been an avid student of the sport for the past 20 years, crediting most of her foundation to her mom. Skylar became a full-time instructor in 2018 where she has been able to share her love for horses across multiple generations of horsepeople. She became an IEA coach in 2023 to open up more opportunities for her students, especially those that don’t own a horse or can't afford to show on the local circuits. She has been having a great time watching her students flourish! Skylar loves riding and training all breeds of horses, but would say her favorite breed to work with would be the Thoroughbred. Since Skylar was 16 years old, she has retrained multiple off-the-track-Thoroughbreds for their second career in Hunter/Jumpers. She currently owns two of her own, Parker and Charlie, and has also been a CANTER Chicago volunteer since 2019. In 2023, Skylar became a Certified Equine Nutritionist to provide a service to educate horse owners about their horse’s basic (and sometimes complicated) nutritional needs. Her goal for 2024 is to become a USHJA Credentialed Instructor. In her free time, Skylar loves spending time with her husband, Andy, and her one-eyed cat, Toast. She thoroughly enjoys reading, and has over 600 books in her personal library!  

Kathy Jachymczyk

Eventing Instructor

Kathy Jachymczyk

Eventing Instructor

Kathy has been riding for most of her life and has been teaching for over 15 years. She is an avid Eventer and has been a USEA member since 1999. Kathy has taken part in clinics with Jim Graham, Kim Severson and other top trainers. Kathy is always taking part in clinics, shows, seminars and specialized lessons in order to better her skills as a rider, instructor and trainer.  Kathy has many years of experience with riders and horses of all levels and ages. She works specifically on developing safe, educated, effective riders that have a better understanding and communication with their horse.

Certifications

USEA ICP Level 1 Certified

Interscholastic Equestrian Team Coach

IDCTA, USEA, USEF, USDF, IEA Member

Award Resume

2022 usdf bronze medal on my ottb sock monkey

USEA Medals

Beginning novice gold medal (sock monkey)
Beginner novice silver medal (sock monkey)
Novice bronze medal (Airborne Theory)
Novice gold medal (Sock monkey)

Participation in AEC (qualified every year since 2018)

2023 finished 3rd at novice (TIP champion award and overall Novice Horse TIP Champion)
2021 finished 10th at novice (reserve TIP award)
2019 finished 14 th at beginner novice (champion TIP award)

Area 4 USEA awards

2018 beginner novice horse of the year
2018 beginner novice area 4 Champion
2021 novice reserve champion
2021 usea blue ribbon award

2023 usea blue ribbon award

Erin Merrifield

Hunter/Jumper Instructor

Marcia Rigg

Dressage Instructor

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  • 10101 5th Ave Cutoff, Countryside, IL 60525
  • Sun–Sat 7AM–8PM
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