Meet The Staff

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!

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Morgan McCracken Johnson was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas. Morgan has been riding since she was 5 years old. During this time period Morgan had amazing opportunities to work with Fallon Taylor, Hailey Kinsel, Lisa Lockheart, to name a few! . Morgan's Dad was running a breeding and training facility, so Morgan started training and breaking horses at a young age. 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 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

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! She also leads all small animal farm birthdays! 

My name is Emily Adams, and I have been passionate about riding horses for over six years. Throughout this time, I have explored various equestrian disciplines, including jumping, dressage, barrel racing, breakaway roping, team roping, bull riding, cutting, and sorting, etc. I proudly represented the state of New Jersey in the National High School Rodeo Association for roughly three years. I own two wonderful horses: an off-the-track Thoroughbred (OTTB) mare that I retrained and a Morgan-Thoroughbred gelding that I broke and trained myself. Horses have been a significant part of my life, and I am grateful for the opportunity to teach others how to ride and share the joy of equestrian experiences.

I’ve been riding horses since I was 5 years old. I love both the English and western disciplines. I’ve leased many different horses. When I met Morgan a few years ago she showed me how much fun barrel racing really is. I bought my first horse Memphis from Rockin J about 2 years ago and he is my best friend. I love working with kids and showing them how rewarding horseback riding really is. Not only does it help me physically but also mentally as well. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without horses. When I’m not riding I work at an animal hospital. I love spending everyday with animals and seeing the positive effects they give to humans.

Hello, my name is Alison Sanford. My introduction to horses was thanks to my older sisters. They started teaching me how to ride English at 4 and I continued learning into my 20’s. I took a step back from horses to be a foster/adoptive parent and raise 4 amazing children. I never stopped thinking about horses or my children experiencing the connection between humans and horses. 2013 brought a horse into my life who was going to teach my daughters and me patience, perseverance, and Western riding. Niki was a schoolmaster, the been there done that type. He and I started lessons and I had to learn a different way of riding. We went to the local 4H shows entering in Showmanship(in hand), Western Pleasure both horsemanship and equitation, Western Dressage, timed trail patterns, and my girls doing lead line and starting to ride independently. Our all-time favorite time together was spent hitting the trails and being together. Sadly we lost him in 2021. With my daughters and I riding we needed to add to our herd. Enter Murdoch an ex-3-day eventing horse, who would take me back into the English show ring and who I had to train into a Western horse. We covered a lot of ground both in showing and trails, but something was missing. We wanted something new to learn, but we didn’t want to be judged. My daughter Emily asked for Barrel racing lessons for Christmas 4 years ago. We were boarding just up the road from a new ranch that was built and that is how she began learning at Rockin’ J. I would sit and watch her lessons, wondering how Murdoch would like to try this sport. A fun show was coming up, and keeping in mind the word Fun we entered. Afterward, I asked Morgan if she would take on both Sanford girls to teach us to be good partners, join the travel team, and volunteer to help with summer camp. As our first season ended, Murdoch and I finished as the Senior 3D Grand Champions for NBHA NJ01. In our second season, I had a little setback but Murdoch and I finished as the Senior 3D reserve champions. 

Sharing my passion, teaching others, and watching them succeed is one of the best feelings in the world and I am very excited to share it with you.