Just Johanneck

The earth is blanketed in a fine veil of sparkling snow, mounded high at the end of The Stables at Greenfield Farm’s driveway, nearly covering the fence. The rolling acres are beautiful; trees complete with glittering hoarfrost.

Stepping into the office, Vicki and her husband, Mark, greet you with bright smiles and handshakes. They offer you coffee, and a quick tour of the stable, where their nine horses have weathered the recent winter storm. They approach their animals kindly, with treats at hand, and share a little of everyone’s story before finishing off their tour. Nearby, their friendly “barn cats” quietly patrol the aisles, everything in order.

This is just one glimpse into the life of Maple Lake locals, Vicki and Mark Johanneck.

Getting Here

Life wasn’t always complete with a dream barn, office, and beautiful horses for the Johanneck’s, though they couldn’t imagine any other life than the one they currently have. Together, Vicki and Mark have shown American Saddlebred horses for a good number of years, and have won ribbons and an assortment of titles during that time.

Getting to be accomplished showmen, however, has been a journey.

“We actually started riding horses together,” Vicki explained. “We both wanted something to do with one another, as a hobby.”

She was on a bowling league, and he golfed regularly, neither really feeling quite at home with the other’s sport. So, they decided to take riding lessons together in 1978, the year they were married.

Vicki and Mark actually met through Mark’s job, working at a vehicle dealership, which is a career he has consistently maintained. Vicki recalls that she bought a car from Mark in 1977, and that the next week, she’d called a tow truck because of a major breakdown, ending up right back at the dealership.

“It’s quite funny thinking about it,” she commented. “No one expects to meet their husband because their car breaks down.”

Mark grew up in Seaforth, Minnesota, while Vicki is from Viroqua, a small community in Wisconsin. While Mark has made a notable career in dealership management, Vicki has completed her Doctorate of Psychology, and Masters of Divinity. Additionally, she is also a board-certified coach, and specializes in self-awareness, family and marriage, and self-development. She has trained in the veterans system, as well as studying trauma and anger management while working in the Minnesota prisons.

Through Mark’s position at Morrie’s Buffalo Ford, the “Classics by the Lake” car show came to be, roughly ten years ago. Mark has always emceed the event, and Vicki helps tally votes to award prizes. The show is something they have loved watching develop in Buffalo, and are proud to be associated with the event.

“This has really been something we’ve done together,” Vicki stated. “Cars have always been a passion of Mark’s, and I love watching him thrive while doing the show.”

Mark’s background in cars began at a dealership in Minnetonka, which would lead to majority-ownership at Morrie’s Buffalo Ford, as well as assisting Vicki in the management of The Stables at Greenfield Farm.

Horsing Around

The idea to get into owning horses of their own came shortly after Mark and Vicki started riding saddlebreds, though having children quickly swept any notion of horse ownership away – for the moment. Together, the couple have three kids: Brian, Jessica, and Emily. The Johanneck’s also have five grandchildren, aged three to seven; all who are pretty “into horses.”

The Stables at Greenfield Farm got its start, really, from Vicki’s daughters – they desperately wanted horses of their own, and began with riding lessons. After graduating high school, one thing led to another, and without warning, the family put up a barn “seemingly out of nowhere.”

“It happened so quickly,” Vicki remembers. “Mark and I love showing saddlebreds, but we never imagined owning a business in the industry. Neither of us have any experience with horses from our childhood, so ours is a very unique approach.”

American Saddlebred’s are a breed from the United States and are commonly referred to as the “horse America made.” Descended from riding-type horses bred at the time of the American Revolution, the American Saddlebred includes the Narragansett Pacer, Canadian Pacer, Morgan, and Thoroughbred, among its ancestors. Saddleseat is a form of riding using a flat saddle.  Mark competes in Country Pleasure Driving , which involves pulling a cart, with Herby, another of the couple’s horses.

“We got into saddlebreds because of the adrenaline,” Mark explained. “It’s the same reason why people go into rodeo. It’s quick paced, takes discipline, and the horses can be a handful.”

The Johanneck’s have nine horses, one of which is a three-time world champion, WC Paranormal, or “Norman,” for short. Since saddlebred horses are inherently an energetic, performance horse, Vicki and Mark have spent many hours working on letting their horses be “just horses.”

“Saddlebreds are great, well-rounded horses and are used in many disciplines, including dressage, jumping, eventing,  and rodeo; they make great family horses, while many of them are, indeed, performance horses,” Vicki explained. “Unfortunately, there are a lot of people who think saddlebreds are only ‘show horses,’ so they never really give them a chance and purchase them. I honestly believe that folks should think of a saddlebred for their next family horse, because they have such awesome personalities,” she finished.

The Stables at Greenfield Farm was, at one point, a public company that offered riding lessons, training, and boarding. At one point, the Johanneck’s were involved in showing many horses, and, ultimately, the business-side of management began to take over.  Not wanting to spend all their time in the office, and wanting to work with their own horses, they decided to take their stable private, and just work with their animals.

Now, they host clinics with widely-renown horsewoman Farrah Green, out of Wyoming, and show their own animals. Their focus is building relationships, and connections, with horses.

“We’ve started with relationship,” Vicki started, “because relationship is, in my mind, the most important piece of foundational work you can do with horses. And, these horses are athletes, so they have a job they understand and love. We want to connect with them and their love of sport, and not just use them. It’s a matter of fitting into their world, and them fitting into ours, together.”

Relational Advice

Showing horses, for Vicki and Mark, has been not only a bonding experience, but has also served as a “good test” to their marriage, as Vicki shared. Since showing is a partnership, working together has grown their understanding of each other, and tested their four-decade bond. And, what’s more, owning a business that focuses on building connections with horses has grown them together, as well.

“Patience is really something you must learn,” said Vicki. “It’s the same as training horses, really: patience is key. Switching gears, for us, was frustrating, but we both had a willingness to be open and take chances together. We grew as a unit, and learned how to keep our expectations attainable. It’s truly been remarkable.”

“Switching gears” from a public to a private company has had its challenges for the Johannecks, but widely, it has been a raving success. From that, Mark and Vicki both explained that it is vital to a marriage to celebrate successes, both big and small. 

Communication is also important to the Johannecks and has been a key element to their success in marriage, and business. “I can remember when we were first married,” Vicki shared. “Mark told me he does not do dishes, and I told him sure, that was fine, because I didn’t cook!” She laughed and finished, “As a result, we’ve gone out to eat quite a bit. But, really, being up front like that is so important – otherwise, who knows? That may have turned into a huge quarrel if we had not communicated with one another.”

As of now, the pair love spending time in their barn and arena, working with their horses. Their relationship training with Norman has been a priority, as is their work with Mark’s driving horse, Herby – and all of their other seven horses, as well.  

Vicki and Mark think all of the horses have grown by “leaps and bounds” in their connection,  personalities, relationships, and relaxation training through this approach to horsemanship.   They credit  their success to hard work, patience, love, and the animals’ willingness to trust.

The Johanneck’s reside in Maple Lake, with all of their kids – and grandkids – close by.