Another first for the Knockouts!

On Wednesday night, the Knollwood Knockouts will attain another first when they become the first American Saddlebred Horse Association youth group to sponsor a class at the nearly century old world championship horse show in Louisville, Kentucky.  Members will be on hand in historic Freedom Hall to present the trophy in the $10,000 Five-Gaited Gelding Stake, which is a step for horses on their way to become the five-gaited world’s grand champion for 2011.  Be sure to tune-in to the webcast Wednesday night as Knockouts representatives make the presentation.

To support and promote equitation, horsemanship, and friendships through service to others.

The Knockouts, whose mission statement is ‘to support and promote equitation, horsemanship, and friendships through service to others, have a long history and are in fact one of the oldest youth groups affiliated with the American Saddlebred youth foundation. Founded in 1996,  the group has a long history of service to the breed and to others. In 2000, members took command of all the horses competing at the World Cup competition held that year in Madison, Wisconsin.  Knockouts cared for 50 horses for the entire week of competition, a feat that no other youth group has attempted since. 

 

  They also provide generous donations  to the Wisconsin Futurity Horse Show for their scholarship for the winner of the pleasure equitation championship.  Knockouts raise money for the ASAW scholarship as well through their annual car wash at the Summerfun horse show in July as well as the summer academy show held each year.  They also generously donated a television for the ASAW display booth to showcase the saddlebred at events around the midwest.

In addition to horse related service, Knockout members also reach out to those in need.  Each year, they sponsor a family for the holidays, providing gifts and decorations to ensure a happy holiday.  They sell roses at the Wisconsin Futurity show to raise money for breast cancer research and sell roses each Valentine’s day to raise money for Saddlebred Rescue.

The Knockouts added two new service projects this year.  This summer, they sponsored the first ever ‘Helper Olympics,’ to raise money and gather food for the Waukesha County Food Pantry. Helpers from each night of the week competed against each other in fun events and raised more than $2000 and gathered more than 400 pounds of food.

 The second new event this summer is their ‘Support the Troops Drive.’  Members of the 128th Airborne Refueling Wing of the Wisconsin National Guard provided the Knockouts with a list of items they’re missing while serving overseas.  These goods, as well as cards and letters of support will be shipped to the troops who are working for all of us.

In addition to service, members compete at horse shows all over the country, from in barn shows to world and national championships. In the history of the club, the Knockouts have produced two triple crown of equitation champions, numerous national and world champions, members of the US world cup teams, and several professional horsewomen.

 Next Wednesday on the bright green shavings of historic Freedom Hall, the Knollwood Knockouts will add yet another chapter to their legacy of serving the breed as well as those in need.