Julie Anne went along with the program and showed a little at the local open shows. It wasn’t until she was nine that she got her first Saddlebred, a country pleasure horse named Stonewall’s Premier Genius.
“We got this horse and he didn’t have registration papers,” said Dale. I checked around and Armon Effinger had him as a two-year-old so I called him and told him we had bought the horse for our daughter to show at rated shows but didn’t have his papers. He didn’t know us from Adam but was so nice and helped us get everything together.”
Julie Anne made her walk, trot, and canter debut at Northbrook but it was far from memorable.
“I remember I was so little I couldn’t get his nose in and I’d be last,” chuckled Julie Anne. The next year I was a little bigger so I could get his nose in a little better and we got second. The following year I finally worked my way up to a few blues. I also started getting to catch ride a few horses for people like Scott Matton, Bonnie Byrne, Kenny Guell, Nealia McCracken, and the Pettrys.”
From Stonewall’s Premier Genius Julie Anne stepped up to horses like The Compliment and Perfect Pitch. Too Hoots was one of the top horses she got to show for other people as was Peerless.
“I can remember Bonnie [Byrne] calling me to show Peerless and I thought that was so cool that she would ask me of all people. We got second at Midwest and I can remember the crowd really cheering for us. Then we won at Waukesha.”
Julie Anne was enjoying success in the show ring, but her enjoyment was staying on the junior exhibitor/amateur level. Turning professional wasn’t something she was contemplating yet. Plans were to go on to school and study Marketing at a local junior college.
“The time away from the barn made me realize how much I missed it but I was afraid of the grunt work,” said Julie Anne. I would come back and help mom and dad but I didn’t think I wanted to be a trainer because of all of the physical work.
“Then I just decided, ‘no more school.’ I wanted to give training a try. They were very supportive. We laid down a few ground rules and then I jumped right in. I found out I did love the work. I am so grateful of how they sat back and let me do it. It was up to me to get myself ready. They encouraged me, but I was the one who had to do it.”
With their defined roles, the Arnston family built a solid business and the quality of their show string was improving all the time. Sometimes family constantly in close proximity doesn’t work well. It was the exact opposite here.
“We are closer than most families and this really brings us together,” said Julie Anne. “I have never considered it a negative,” added Dale. “We really enjoy each other and we support one another when one is having a bad day or a problem. It’s a very supportive environment.”
Julie Anne describes the roles the three play in the operation of Country Meadow Farm. “Dad fixes stuff, does the jogging, and takes the horses to the shows,” said Julie Anne. “Mom, she’s the strong voice in the barn. She does the dirty work and works with Dad on the tough stuff. If there’s a problem, she handles it. She also does the book work. I do most of the riding and we all teach. I still can’t believe what a sacrifice they have made stepping back and giving me the limelight. They have done a lot for me.”
About five years ago VIP Farm became available and while the Arnstons weren’t necessarily looking to leave New Lennox it was something Dale thought they should explore.
“Building was going on all around and they were closing in on us,” said Michael. “VIP went on the market and we looked at it a few times but I thought it needed too much work. It had been empty for a while. Dale kept saying, ‘Are you sure?’ and I would say, ‘Yes.’ Well, you see who won that battle.”
Part of the reason Dale was so sure about buying the place is she knew Michael could fix it. Dale and Julie Anne will tell you, “he can fix anything.” Over the past few years he has restored the barn to the grand facility it once was and has also added on. There are 33 stalls on the main aisle of the barn with tack rooms and work rooms completely redone. On the back side of the indoor arena Michael has added stalls for the lesson horses and storage. It’s constant work but something he takes great pride in.
Along with restoring the facility, the Arnstons have steadily upgraded their show string. Their strong lesson program has produced riders for the show ring at all levels. One of their strongest points is the attention they give to everyone in the barn.
“Whether it’s a $4,000 horse or a $200,000 horse they [the Arnstons] give the same treatment to everyone,” said customer Debby Murray. “They are remarkable people who give you more than your money’s worth. “We are just average working class people who wouldn’t have had a chance to be where we are in the horse business today if it weren’t for them.
Murray’s daughter Paula is one of several Country Meadow riders winning championships these days. A standout in the pleasure equitation ranks she has already won a Pleasure Olympics Gold Medal with Simbara’s Salutation. Last year was also a great season for Brittany Cortina and Callaway’s Newscaster. In addition to winning on the tough Midwest circuit, they also won a world’s championship in the junior exhibitor pleasure division. Lisa McClaren has been a force riding Super Rooster in the equitation division. With many winning trips under her belt she added Chandler to her show string for this year and debuted at Milwaukee with championship results. These are but a few of the riders that have been a part of the growing program at Country Meadow. Their hard work and belief in the Arnstons have taken them far.
In addition to enjoying great success with their horses and riders, the Arnstons are still reliving the glorious wedding which took place this past New Year’s Eve. Julie Anne was married to longtime sweetheart Jay Wroble in a ceremony fit for a queen. While not in the mainstream at Country Meadow Jay gives great support to Julie Anne and is often ringside cheering for the troops.
Getting married, having riders win world and national awards, watching other riders move from the lesson program to showing a horse with confidence, Julie Anne and the Arnston family has been blessed and rewarded for their hard work.
“The best part is when you see people you taught be able to ride their horses with confidence in what we taught them,” said Julie Anne. “It’s not about winning, but did they have a good ride? Winning is nice and what we strive for, but more importantly did they have fun? It’s more rewarding for me to have a client do well than for me to win. It’s way harder to train for others to ride.