JoAnn Guidry and Rock’n J Foxtrotter owners Sandy and Larry Johnson ride in the 12,500-acre Watermelon Pond Wildlife Preserve. Located some 25 miles southwest of Gainesville, the ranch is ideally situated within riding and/or reasonable driving distance to nine Florida state parks.

Larry and Sandy Johnson love their Missouri Fox Trotters. And the good news is, they love sharing them and the Florida trails with visitors to their Rock’n J Foxtrotters Ranch in Newberry, Florida. Located some 25 miles southwest of Gainesville, the Johnsons’ ranch is ideally situated within riding and/or reasonable driving distance to nine Florida state parks.

A Smooth Ride
It was while recuperating from a serious car accident that Sandy acquired her first Fox Trotter, because of the breed’s smooth gait. When husband Larry couldn’t keep up on the trails with his Quarter Horse, the Johnsons bought another Fox Trotter. That was 15 years ago, and the Johnsons are now great advocates of the breed. 

Over the years, their herd grew to as many as 50. But it’s now pared down to a riding string of 18, two stallions (Comet of Hoofbeat Hills and Hi Dollar Joe), and a few broodmares and their offspring. The ranch is also home to a Kiger Mustang mare that the Johnsons adopted several years ago. 

You can come for the day or for an extended stay. Accommodations include two guest houses; if you prefer to bring your own horse, boarding is also available. Guest houses include full kitchens for preparing your own meals; or you can take the pleasant country drive and dine in the nearby towns of Newberry, High Springs, or Gainesville. Newberry and High Springs are quaint Florida towns filled with antique stores and character. Newberry is also home to the Canterbury Equestrian Center, while Gainesville is the college hometown of the Florida Gators.

Over the last 15 years of Fox Trotter ownership, the Johnsons’ herd grew to as many as 50. The Fox Trotter herd now includes a riding string of 18, two stallions, and a few broodmares and their offspring. Several of their youngsters are shown here, enjoying pasture grass.

Rock’n J Foxtrotters is also home to a Kiger Mustang mare that the Johnsons adopted several years ago.

For the past 10 years, the Johnsons have been welcoming guests to Rock’n J to ride the trails on a Fox Trotter. Their season runs from October through April, thus avoiding the sometimes stifling heat and humidity of Florida’s summers.

Tacking up: Rides at the ranch vary from two hours to half-day to all day. But be forewarned, an all-day ride at Rock’n J means just that—in the saddle at dawn and back at the ranch at dusk.

Rock’n J Foxtrotters owners Sandy (left) and Larry Johnson cool their horses off in Watermelon Pond. For the past 10 years, the Johnsons have been welcoming guests to Rock’n J to ride the trails on a Fox Trotter. Their season runs from October through April, thus avoiding the sometimes stifling heat and humidity of Florida’s summers.

WithLarry [left] leding the way oh his black-and-whitefox Trotter mare, Reveille, We headed out the ranch gate and crossed the sugar sand road into the stands of pines, “ reports JoAnn Guidry. Soon we were riding on winding trails shade by ancient, moss-draped live oaks and bordered by enormous palmetto bushes.

Southern Charm
But of course the main reason to visit Rock’n J is to trail ride, and there’s plenty of opportunity to do just that. Rides vary from two hours to half-day to all day. Be forewarned, an all-day ride at Rock’n J means just that — in the saddle at dawn and back at the ranch at dusk.

Just across the road from the ranch, there’s riding in the 12,500-acre Watermelon Pond Wildlife Preserve. The Johnsons also have riding access to the adjacent 6,500-acre Berry’s Cattle Ranch. If you want to venture farther out, you can trailer your horse (or the ranch’s) to nearby state parks, such as Paynes Prairie, Goethe, O’Leno, Cedar Key, Gulf Hammock, Suwannee River and San Felasco.

On the day of our visit, we opted to ride into the Watermelon Pond Wildlife Preserve, which offers a great opportunity to see the diverse environment unique to this area of north central Florida. With Larry leading the way on his black-and-white Fox Trotter mare, Reveille, we headed out the ranch gate and crossed the sugar-sand road into the stands of pines. Soon, we were riding on winding trails shaded by ancient, moss-draped live oaks and bordered by enormous palmetto bushes.

This inquisitive Fox Trotter foal, bred at Rock’n J Foxtrotters, has a bright future as a quality trail mount.

Coming out of the woods, we rode across wide-open cattle pastures as we headed toward Watermelon Pond. It was easy to picture the area as the major cattle market trails that it once was thanks to its preservation as a state park.

Watermelon Pond appears as a centerpiece between the woods and the open cattle pastures. It was a good place to water the horses and enjoy a break. The pond’s water level varies according to the time of year and a six-year cycle that Larry assured even allows for bass fishing.

We rode along the shores of the pond for a while before turning back into the woods. Larry, a veteran trail rider and deer hunter, decided to get a little adventurous and took us off the beaten path. Trusting our trail guide, we did a bit of bushwhacking as we picked our way through the forest on our way back to the ranch.

In addition to being an excellent horseman, Larry is also quite a raconteur. All the while we were riding, he entertained us with lively stories of his many adventures on horseback, colorful people and horses he’s known, as well as the history of the Florida trails he’s come to love.

Too soon, we were back at the ranch, having been treated to good horses, good riding, and good storytelling, too.   

For more information, contact Rock’n J Foxtrotters Ranch, (352) 472-3911; www.rocknj.com