Tackroom at the World's Championship Horse Show, 2011

 Knollwood Farm proudly marks its 20^th anniversary this year at the current location.  Over the past two decades Knollwood has created not only an outstanding riding academy, but a nationally renowned training facility for some of the top American Saddlebreds and riders.  In 2011 alone, Team Knollwood earned four National Championship titles, a World Champion of Champions title, two World Championship titles, and a Reserve World Champion title.  Knollwood’s strong Equitation riders dominated the division earning top ten results in all the National Finals.

Knollwood's Top 10 Riders in the Senior Pleasure Olympics, 2011

The past few years have come with an abundance of wins and accolades that have not only helped Knollwood receive national attention as a top Saddlebred farm, but has helped Knollwood grow and develop into what Carol and Scott Matton envisioned as their dream farm more than twenty years ago.

Knollwood's 2011 ASHA Academy award winners

This year Knollwood Farm was one of four featured equitation training facilities at the annual United Professional Horseman’s Associations convention.  Scott and Carol were spotlighted in an open forum discussing the transition from the riding academy into the show barn equitation training.  The forum was created to energize the Equitation division and help trainers understand the progression from beginning in the academy to finish a national level equitation rider.  Being featured at this convention is a great achievement for Team Knollwood.

Exciting would be an understatement when discussing the horse and rider combinations this past year.  Knollwood has such amazing horses and owners that it is a joy seeing goals reached and surpassed every season.  Here are just a few of the highlights from this past year.

Nick Maupin and Aphrodite’s Tears (a.k.a Lilly) were the talk of Louisville this year at the World’s Championship Horse Show earning not only the Juvenile Park World’s Championship but the World’s Grand Championship title as well.

Ashley Baird and Callaway’s Rosemary and Thyme (a.k.a. Rosemary) earned the Juvenile 3-Gaited Reserve World’s Grand Championship.

Sydney Budzinski and Oh What A Feeling (a.k.a. Cartman) earned the Equitation Triple Crown this year winning the UPHA Pleasure Equitation Challenge Cup, Saddle and Bridle Medallion, and Pleasure Equitation Olympics National titles.  Sydney was also the ASHA Pleasure Equitation National Champion, the 12 year old Equitation World Champion, and the Junior Challenge Cup Reserve National Champion.

Allison Schuh and Thundersnow (a.k.a. Pogo) earned the Reserve National Championship title in the ASHA Pleasure Equitation national Championship.

Knollwood is proud to have three riders competing for spots on the 2012 Saddleseat World Cup team.  The Saddleseat World Cup is an international competition that is held every two years rotating between the US and South Africa.  Knollwood has had a number of riders represent the United States in competition over the years.  In 2010 Nick Maupin led the US Team to the Gold Medal as one of the 3 Gaited team’s Co-Captains.  He along with Angela Darrow, and Ashley Baird will all compete for spots on the team this year at the trials in March.

As Knollwood enters into its third decade the farm continues to grow and change with the current times.  Its standards keep getting higher and trainers and riders continue to learn new techniques to improve.  Team Knollwood prides itself on the education and life skills that its riders learn and will continue to challenge themselves to be better.  Knollwood looks forward to the new developments that are underway and all that the future holds.

World's Championship Show in Louisville, 2011

Sundance here!!

Thanks to everyone who bought roses for us this Valentine’s Day! There are 104 roses in the lounge.  That’s a new record!!

Thanks to you, our lounge looks beautiful.  (This is a mild hint to bring OUR roses back to OUR stalls so we can enjoy them!)

Best of all, your generosity allowed the Knockouts to donate $175 to Saddlebred Rescue to help horses who aren’t as fortunate as we, the Knollwood lesson horses are.

Nine enthusiastic academy show riders entered the ring on Saturday night for the inaugural clinic of 2012  with Scott and Carol.

These young riders benefited from the experienced eyes of these accomplished trainers.  They learned about ringsmanship, making sure the judge is able to see them in a class, and participated in  lots of  fun exercises to practice their new strategies.

Scott and Carol even put them through their paces at some workouts while working on psychology with each horse to make them stand out.

These nine academy show riders ate up all the information from Scott and Carol.  ’Team Matton’ has  produced multiple world champion horses and equitation riders, including two riders who have won the triple crown of saddle seat equitation.  In addition, Scott travels all over the country to judge shows at the highest levels of competition.

Some of  our older academy riders will get their chance to work with Scott and Carol in March, and we hope to continue these opportunities for our academy show stars in the future!

                                                             Nick Maupin,

                                                       Ashley Baird,

                                                and Angela Darrow

have advanced to the try outs to be held at William Woods University on March 30 and 31.  Ashley and Angela are vying for a spot on the 5 gaited team, while Nick is trying for both the 3 and 5 gaited teams. (Nick was the co captain of the gold medal winning 2010 Team USA in the 3  gaited division.)

Riders will compete on two different, unfamiliar horses in two different phases of the try out.  One session will be for rail work while the other will be patterns.

Good luck to all in your quest to represent the Unied States in South Africa!

Mark your calendars to watch or participate in the 2nd Annual Helper Olympics held by the Knollwood Knockouts on Saturday, May 19th. 

Teams of helpers from each day of the week will compete against each other in events of skill and creativity, all to raise money and collect food for the Waukesha County Food Pantry. Last year’s games collected more than $2000 in donations and more than 400 pounds of food for the pantry whose stocks are low in the summer months.

Each team will submit a new event so that we can update the schedule of events.  Big hits at the last games were Muck bucket dancing,  garbage obstacle course, and trying to jump on Forest and then Dudley!

Wether you’re a helper, rider, or fan, please plan on joining us for this fun event as we help neighbors in need!

Sundance here!!

I have to make this quick before Carol realizes I’m sitting at her computer!  Forest keeps telling me that he can get me an IPad to make this easier and to save Carol’s chair, but I think he might just be trying to get on my good side, after always eating more of his share of the round bales out in the pasture!

Anyway, I’m here to ask your help in making this a Happy Valentine’s Day both in our barn, and for the horses at Saddlebred Rescue.  The Knockouts are having a rose sale to benefit horses in need at the rescue. 

You can order rose(s) for only $4 each through February 6  in honor of your favorite barn friends of any species.  We even let the dogs, cats, and humans in on this because it benefits horses to be so inclusive!  Your rose(s) will be delivered to the barn on February 13 and will have a tag attached so the recipient will know who the gift is from.  (And yes, we all know how to read…even Dudley.  How do you think we get the rookies through the patterns???)

All proceeds of the sale benefit Saddlebred Rescue, so please be generous in your gifting this holiday!

Thanks so much for your help! 

Jaimee, Allison, and Emily

Award banquet season got off to a rousing start with the Knollwood Knockouts Annual Award Banquet last Saturday!

Some of the Walk Trot Academy riders

A record gathering of more than 130 members turned out to celebrate the 2011 show season and to look forward to 2012. The Legend at Bristlecone once again provided a beautiful setting for this formal, yet fun event.

Jordan, Abby, Heather, Jen, and Rachel

Team Knollwood enjoyed a lively social hour to catch up with old friends and meet new ones. With the large group in attendance, it was easy to meet lots of new interesting people to talk horses with!

We enjoyed a delicious buffet dinner and then settled in for the evening’s awards presentations.  2011 Knockout President Sydney recapped all the events of the past year, including the inaugural helper olympics, ASAW car wash, supporting our troops overseas, and the many other charitable activities for the group.

2012 president Shelby with 2011 president Sydney

2012 President Shelby then addressed the crowd and promised to continue the great work Syd had done in her term.  Shelby and her officers are looking forward to trying some new events as well this year, including support of the Honor Flight Network.

Hannah and President Shelby

Awards were presented for both ‘in barn’ and ‘out of barn’ academy showing as well as for the ‘A’ and ‘B’ circuits.  In addition, high point awards were presented for each circuit.  Champion and reserve high point winners all received garment bags, rolling duffles, or tote bags, each embroidered with their name and title!

Knollwood's 2011 ASHA Academy Awards Recipients

Academy riders who earned  medallions  from the ASHA were also recognized.

A year in review video highlighting the people and animals of Knollwood entertained the crowd with memories of Knockouts riding, planking and having fun.  Images of Forest, Skeet and Dean provided comic relief from the animal set.  Scott then took the microphone and entertained the crowd with his unique perspective of the 2011 season and hopes for 2012.

Knockouts on the dance floor!

Following his presentation, the Knockouts continued the celebration on the dance floor until the Bristlecone Pine staff politely suggested it was time to end the evening – truly a sign that a good time was had by all! 

Role reversal was the theme of the night on Saturday at Knollwood as parents got the chance to take a riding lesson with their children acting as their helpers.  Nine parents signed up for the chance to be told what to do by their children, and it made for a really enjoyable and entertaining lesson!

After donning helmets, the helpers took their students to meet their horses and headed to the arena. 

Michelle and Forest

Here the parents mastered the basics of walking, stopping, steering and trotting. 

Cathy, Willy, Bubbles, and Deb

Some of the more dedicated riders even mastered diagonals in the first lesson!

Lynn stretching on Brinkley

Everyone finished the lesson with a stretching session.

We finished the evening with the helpers teaching their parents how to take care of their horses after a ride. 

After their mounts were set for the night, the riders retired to the lounge for pizza and refreshments.

Special thanks to all the helpers who assisted with this fun evening, and to Jeff and Debbie for being the demonstrators!

Keep your eyes peeled for sign ups for more of these parent nights!!!

Participating in Knollwood’s academy season is a commitment that can appear ambitious.  Some people think we’re crazy when we tell them that our academy riders will be able to compete in their choice of fifteen shows this season.   Riding in academy shows can absolutely be challenging, but taking on the challenge is part of the reward as are the life experiences and life lessons gained throughout the process.  Academy showing is as much about fun and pride in accomplishment as it is about discipline and hard work. 

Here is a brief overview of the climb from lessons to academy shows for the uninitiated.  Academy showing is entry level competition for riders enrolled in professional lesson programs.  Riders from different barns compete against each other while riding lesson horses.  Knollwood competes in Wisconsin and northern Illinois against barns from the same areas. 

Shows offering these competitions vary from smaller shows that offer plenty of academy classes to large ‘A’ rated shows that offer limited academy classes for the most experienced riders to present their skills. Two of the smaller shows even offer ‘maiden’ classes for our riders competing for the first time away from home.

Here are just a few reasons that we love academy showing along with some personal testimony by a few of our riders’ parents:

Showing creates and nurtures confidence. 

Riders are able to take a large animal into the show ring and compete against other riders.  While they’re competing, the horse’s thoughts, feelings, attitude, and perception of events all must be taken into account while performing the skills requested by the judge. This is some serious multi-tasking!!

As Haley’s mom said, “Academy showing has given her confidence. Haley was really shy before she started, and as many of you know, she is no longer shy!”

Showing promotes good sportsmanship. 

Riders are competing to better their skills in each class. Sometimes a rider is working on a particular skill, or is working on an issue with a particular horse, such as keeping him walking.  The reward comes from improving what they’re working on, and not necessarily on the ribbon from the class.  Learning how to make a horse walk in a class when he would really rather trot is a much more important achievement than winning a blue ribbon. That skill may lead to many top ribbons down the road!

Members of Team Knollwood reward each rider’s accomplishments in the ring!  Micki’s Mom said, “Academy showing has taught her ‘teamsmanship’, grace, and poise.  She has learned the importance of being a good winner, and a really good seventh place recipient!”

 Friendships

Time spent at lessons and at shows leads to many new friends.  Riders get to spend time together riding, taking care of their horses, talking about horses, playing around horses, and simply sharing their common passion.

Maria’s mother said, “Academy showing with Knollwood has given Maria great confidence, self discipline, and responsibility.  She has made a wonderful group of friends who are a very important part of her life. Riding is her passion and has helped her become a stronger student.”

Riders learn resilience. 

Riders learn that not every day is a perfect one for either horse or rider.  Sometimes horse and rider aren’t in tune, sometimes the horse acts like a horse faster than the girl thinks like a rider, sometimes you have a good ride and the judge doesn’t agree, and sometimes you don’t have a good ride, and you get a good ribbon. Academy showing teaches us that we can always try again and work to improve skills, timing and focus.

Academy showing is really fun! 

Team Knollwood has a great time at shows.  Being in the ring provides a wonderful rush for the rider, but there is also a fun experience outside the ring.  We cheer each other on, help each other out, take care of our wonderful lesson horses, and then allow kids to be kids and goof around after everything is done.

If you are interested in joining the fun, you are invited to attend our Academy Show Seminar on Tuesday, January 31 at 6:30.  We’ll meet in the show barn lounge to talk about our 2012 schedule, go over presentation and preparation for the ring and answer any questions.  Please sign up in the school barn if you can attend, so we can have plenty of refreshments for all. 

Lizzy, Syd, Savannah, Emily, Shelby, and Alex on the ice!

.

Sunday afternoon, thirty plus members of the Knollwood Knockouts descended on the Kettle Moraine Curling Club for a rare non-horsey event! 

Jordan, Kailee, Haley, Emma, Bella, Nugget, Abbie, and Maria on the ice!

Thanks to a donation from ASAW in appreciation of all the work the youth club has done to support the scholarship fund, members enjoyed an afternoon of curling instruction and practice.

For those of you who may not be aware, the building housing the curling club was once the indoor riding arena for the farm that is now Knollwood.  Check out the photo in the show barn lounge of the club as it looked as an indoor arena!

Knockouts watching their video in the beautiful Kettle Moraine Curling Club

Knockout members enjoyed an introductory video about the sport learning about stones and brooms, delivery and sweeping and skips and buttons.  Then they met

Abbie meeting her coach for the afternoon

their instructors for the day. 

Ainsley and her curling coach

The Knockouts then made it out on the ice for some terrific lessons from curling club members,

Nugget curling

followed by additional ice time

Savannah and Lizzy

to practice their new found skills.

Lizzy and Shelby

We all had a great time learning a new sport and spending time with friends!

Knockouts take to the ice!

Great thanks to all the members of the Kettle Moraine Curling Club who shared their passion for their sport! We really enjoyed your hospitality!