Could you ever imagine willingly giving up horses? Not just for a weekend, but for a minimum of 5 years? That’s exactly what Midshipmen Dulce Johnson and Bethany Carlson did when they were accepted to the United States Naval Academy.
The Academy is college, boot camp, and officer training all rolled into 4 years with only a few weeks of leave for the Mids. to go home and see their families. It’s hard work and takes a huge amount of dedication, but at the end, the graduates are commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corp, or as an Ensign in the Navy. Johnson couldn’t see herself anywhere except the Academy and starting working to get accepted during her Junior year of High School. She knew in 6th grade that she was going to be a Navy Officer and that she would attend the Academy located in Annapolis, Maryland (its harder than the movie).
After Johnson’s first year, also known as Plebe year, she realized that she just couldn’t live without her horses. Before attending the Academy, Johnson was an accomplished pony clubber who had successfully competed through Prelim, excelled at 3’9″ jumpers and was a heck of a games player. It was in the fall of ’09 when she and Carlson, a former hunter/jumper, decided that the Navy could really use an Equestrian Club.
By Spring of 2010 they had 74 members and 15 of those members were actively riding. Their goal is to have at least 15 Mids. compete in IHSA shows next fall. Currently they are considered an extra curricular activity, but are trying to gain “club” status. This would give their members excuses to miss evening meals, a few formations, and count for their intramural requirement. But most of all it would give them funding to pay for the farm lease and care of the club’s 4 donated horses, all of which is currently being paid out of the pockets of Johnson and Carlson.
Johnson, currently a second-class Mid (Junior), and Carlson, a first-class Mid (Senior), are great examples of how horse people never quit being horse people, they may simply go horseless for a time.
If you would like to know more about the Equestrian club you can contact Dulce Johnson at [email protected].
