2011 World’s Championship Horse Show

We’re very proud of all the Knollwood horses and riders who competed at the World’s Championship Horse Show in Louisville last week.  Any ribbon on the iconic green shavings of Freedom Hall is an achievement, and team Knollwood came home with quite a few.   These pictures capture wonderful memories from the week both in and out of the show ring.

 

 

Nick and Aphrodite’s Tears (Lily) won the Championship and World’s Grand Championship for Junior Exhibitor Park Horses!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sydney and Oh What a Feeling (Cartman) won the equitation class for riders 12 years of age, and finished third in the championship for riders 13 and under.  Cartman knew the way to the winners circle, as he had been there in the past with Nick and Deanna, two of his previous owners!

 

 

 

 

Callaway’s Rosemary and Thyme ridden by Ashley, is the reserve world grand champion for 3 gaited horses ridden by junior exhibitors between the ages of 14 and 17.  They had a great performance in a really deep class to finish reserve.

 

 

 

 

Scott showed Hannah’s new horse, Sky Bravo, in the 3 gaited division for junior horses and earned some really nice ribbons. Here’s Hannah riding him in Freedom Hall the day after he showed. She’ll show him next season after he finishes his junior year of training with Scott.

 

 

 

 

Who could forget Shelby’s winning entry in the golf cart decorating contest?

 

She won first place in the animal theme division.  They call the Saddlebred the ‘peacock of the show ring,’ so why not?

 

 

 

 

The cocktail wiener even made it to Louisville!  (For those of  you who are unfamiliar with the story: we found this cat toy on the trailer, and  kept finding it everytime we unloaded at a show.  It has become a good luck charm, traveling to shows with unsuspecting riders.  Whoever gives  him a ride to the show has to photograph him so everyone knows he made it.  Rumor has it that he’s on his way to Indy for the pleasure challenge cup final.)

 

 

People pay good money for rail passes,  but somehow the wiener made it down to the ring!  Perhaps they need better security?

 

 

 

 

But all kidding aside, the highlight of the week was the Knockouts class sponsorship and trophy presentation.  They became the first youth group ever to sponsor a class at the World’s Championship Horse Show!  Nine members were on hand in center ring to present the trophy in the gaited gelding stake to Courageous Lord, who went on to win the $100,000 Five Gaited Grand World Championship on Saturday night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Congratulations to everyone who competed at Louisville, 2011.  Now it’s on to the fall shows and the equitation finals starting with the UPHA Pleasure Challenge Cup Finals next weekend at the All American Horse Classic in Indy !