Conquering Life Together – Eva Johnston and Certenly A Good Time

Since the time she could walk, Eva Johnston possessed an unmistakable passion for horses.  When her parents found a trainer who would teach her and cultivate her love of horses at an early age, it turned out to be the gift of a lifetime.

“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” – Albert Einstein.

By Delores Kuhlwein

When she was still a toddler, Eva Johnston had already revealed to her parents she had a deep desire to be around horses, and she was determined to do so.  “Eva became heavily interested in horses at the age of two while we were living in Los Angeles, and we would visit the horses at Griffith Park,” explains Eva’s mom, Shannon.

Then the family moved to San Francisco when Eva was four, and they began to search for riding lessons for her, but it wasn’t an easy task.  “Most everyone we approached would not offer lessons until she turned seven,” says Garrett, Eva’s dad.  “Then we met her first trainer, Pam Majauskas.  Pam and Eva had an immediate connection.”

Pam and Eva went to work, with Pam teaching her to care for horses from the ground up well before she was in the saddle. Once Eva was ready, her parents explain, Pam gave her the opportunity to ride every horse in their training program, from ponies to draft horses, and Eva met every challenge head on.  “Pam was instrumental in building the foundations of Eva’s dedication to hard work and putting the wellbeing of the horse first,” Garrett says.

A Change In Their Plans

That relationship and connection turned out to be the greatest gift imaginable, as Eva was diagnosed with Juvenile Dermatomyositis (JDM) shortly thereafter.

American College of Rheumatology defines JDM, a rare condition affecting only about three in one million, as “an inflammatory disease of the muscle (myositis), skin (derma-), and blood vessels. Patients with JDM have varying symptoms ranging from mild muscle weakness like difficulty getting out of a chair or difficulty turning over in bed to severe symptoms including profound weakness or difficulty swallowing. Patients can also develop rash or skin changes ranging from mild redness to more severe ulcer formation.”

Four years of treatment including chemotherapy and steroids followed, keeping Eva’s immune system low.

Throughout their journey into JDM, an important element also stood out to the family: the fact that both mind and body mattered. “Being mentally, emotionally and physically engaged is a key to thriving with a chronic illness,” Shannon says.

Today, Eva is in fact in remission, and her parents explain that this is in part due to her unwavering passion she’s been pursuing.

Guiding A Passion

So it was a logical choice to take Eva’s undeniable love and dedication to the horse and let it evolve into competition, they explain, when they met trainer Rob Meneely three months after they moved to Georgia.  “They clicked right away,” Garrett reveals.  “We had no idea what AQHA was and had never been exposed to competitive showing.  Rob Meneely has been an integral part of Eva’s path with showing.”

Eva, however, was already primed for the sport, being naturally driven, and a person who demonstrated she wanted to do her best in everything.

“They came over to the farm and I put her on one of the school horses,” says Rob.  “I immediately knew she was a very talented rider and I got really excited.  In her first lesson with me, she was already galloping fast circles and changing leads.”

Rob explains the Johnstons bought Absolutely Watch Me, aka Scout, a horse that was already in the barn and they showed him for about a year. Shannon adds, “Eva started showing in 2020 at the age of 9 and Rob put her immediately into lope classes.  He did – and still does – encourage Eva to go outside of her comfort zone.”

But when the 2014 gelding Certenly A Good Time, aka “Zorro,” came up for sale by one of Rob’s other customers, the impact was readily apparent.  Rob adds, “She just immediately gelled with that horse, and you could tell he liked her right away.”

“First off, Eva has never met a horse she did not like.  But when she road Zorro for the first time, their chemistry was instantaneous,” Shannon agrees.  “We want to thank Becky George and Colton Pylman for selling Zorro.”

Due to unforeseen circumstances, their first show together was at the 2021 Youth World Show after just 5 days of practice together, she explains, but despite the fast immersion into a top show, they went home with multiple top 10 placings.

In 2022, the pair demonstrated even more determination and success, winning circuits and high point awards at big shows, and then they had a great NSBA World and Congress. At Congress, for example, Eva and Zorro placed 3^rd in both Youth 13 & Under Western Riding and L1 Youth 13 & Under Hunter Under Saddle, they earned Reserve Championships in 11 & Under Youth Horsemanship and in 11 & Under Youth Hunt Seat Equitation, and they cinched a Congress Championship in 11 & Under Youth Hunter Under Saddle.  Eva and Zorro ended up crowned the 11 and Under All Around Champions and the Youth All Around Champions.

“Between Congress, Youth World and NSBA World, they placed in every class shown but one – between the two world shows they placed in 16 of 17 classes,” says Rob, who explains that Eva applies whatever coaching she receives. “She has natural appearance and posture on a horse, and she’s a hard worker who’s always motivated to do better.”

The Horse Show Life

One might wonder if Eva’s experience as a youth in remission from Juvenile Dermatomyositis at such demanding horse shows differs from a child without a chronic illness, but her parents say, not so much, as long as they remain vigilant to anything that can trigger her immune system to over-react (germs, viruses, too much sun, etc.) as falling out of remission will always be a concern.

“I was a little worried about her going to Congress because you have to be careful about how late she stays up, and I didn’t want her at the barn all hours,” says Rob.

The Johnstons explain they’ve had to become conscious about their habits at a show.  “We just have to be more mindful of germs and sun exposure.  We focus on getting plenty of sleep and eating healthy at a horse show, which is easier said than done,” says Garrett.

Despite the health hurdles, Eva has thrived and shown everyone exactly what happens when you do become mentally, emotionally and physically engaged, especially when you have the right partner.

“Eva was awarded the Roland Stacey Sportsmanship Award for Georgia Quarter Horse Association.  As her parents, we’ve always been proud of the good sportsmanship she displays (when she wishes her competitors good luck, she truly means it).  Relatedly, Zorro was awarded the GQHA horse of the year, judged upon his charisma and athleticism,” Garrett explains.

Looking Forward

Eva’s fortitude about the sport she loves is unstoppable, as proven by the next set of goals in her sights:  to win a globe at Youth World.  Her parents explain her underlying goal is to place in every class she shows in and demonstrate what Zorro is capable of.

Considering what they have already accomplished in such a short time, anything is possible for the ambitious young rider and her horse. “She’s come a long way,” says Rob. “They have no idea how fast they went up the ranks!”

Eva certainly has made it clear what she loves, and she’s applying her passion of all things horse, to riding them, taking care of them, drawing them, and collecting models of them… basically spending every day doing something with horses.

Without a doubt, what the entire family has learned from their journey is perspective. “We have learned to balance allowing her to pursue her passion while maintaining as much protection as reasonably possible at a horse show and traveling around the country,” says Shannon.  “One of the lessons learned out of going through a significant diagnosis is that it instantly crystalizes what matters in life.  Doing what you love in life is the most important thing.”