Our educational journey continues.

Last week, we offered a guide identifying our ‘brown’ lesson horses who live outside at night. These are our priceless fellas who teach beginners and advanced beginners as well as being stars of the Knollwood in-barn shows.

This week, we’ll help parents and friends identify our brown box stall horses. These horses are all registered American Saddlebreds, and many of them have been shown at the ‘A’ level. They are all well-educated, although they don’t always look like it.

These brownies live inside at night and go out for recess during the day before lessons. (Only when the weather permits, of course. They don’t like rain, snow, or wind. Don’t even mention bugs!)

So here, in alphabetical order are our rarified lesson horses that serve our academy riders and above.

 

Alex

Known in the registry as Perilous, this giant chestnut is a sight to behold. He’s big going, smooth, bold, and is perfectly ‘Mattonized.’ (For those unfamiliar with the term, 'Mattonized' is the utmost compliment. It means that the horse knows his boundaries, can do any pattern at any time, and has a great respect for Scott and Carol.)

He has a couple of imperfections.

He’s prone to sore backs, so he’s carefully padded, and doesn’t carry big people.  Alex LOVES his small, accomplished riders.

2013 baby pic at the Royal

Alex is not smart. He’s lovely, but frequently is unaware of what day it is, what he did yesterday, or what he had for breakfast, even though he has the same thing every day.

He frequently thinks the arena has been remodeled and that new doors have been added. The chute door is particularly challenging.

How to identify Alex in the arena?

He’s a big beautiful ‘brown’ horse. All brown.

He’s frequently teaching small riders patterns.

He may have ‘that look in his eye’ as he approaches the chute door. No worries, it’s just his few brain cells trying to contact each other.

He’s a great guy and a good teacher.

 

Baxter, AKA the GOAT

Known in the ASHBA registry as A Champagne Toast, Baxter is a legend through and through.

Both of his parents were World Champions, and the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

He’s lived at Knollwood since he was four years old, and has been teaching ever since. He’s been an integral part of the education of all our  equitation champs ever since.

Future Triple Crown winner Nick winning with Baxter at Madison Classic

He’s the school master who’s safe in any situation, and LOVES going to a horse show.

Fully Mattonized, he’ll perform any pattern for the tiniest of riders, and will throw a few wrenches into patterns for more advanced riders who think ‘it’s just Baxter.’  It’s never ‘just’ Baxter.

This once in a lifetime horse has few faults.

He doesn’t like his ears clipped for shows, but that’s about it.

He’s smart as  a whip, loves mints more than anything, and loves his people. We think he identifies as a human.

How to spot Baxter in the arena?

He’s the one with a small person on him, teaching patterns with a smile on his face.

Beau

Beau is the rare combination of an inside and outside horse. Beau is used by all of our riders but lives the ‘inside’ life.  His personality isn’t made for the great outdoor playground, so he has the best of both lesson horse worlds.

Beau is officially registered as Beaucoup Revival, and came to us from Colorado.

Beau can do it all. In a pinch, he’ll enjoy a ‘Welcome to Knollwood’ class, he’ll enjoy a bareback group for our academy stars, and is a mainstay of summer academy camps.

He has a beautiful stripe on his face, and is always alert. He’s not quite sure about our new arena heaters yet, but he’s working on it.

Occasionally, his brain short wires and be believes he’s trotting down the chute at Louisville. It only lasts a minute. Trust us.

How to identify Beau in the arena?

He’s the big chestnut with lots of white trim.

He’s usually not going really fast, but is totally aware of everything, and is on ‘heater alert.’

Beau is frequently teaching smaller riders about diagonals and circles.

You can see his kindness through the windows.

Mariah

Mariah is a queen.

An accomplished equitation star in her former life, Mariah teaches show barn riders about the mind of a show horse.

Mariah’s registered name is ‘Melrose Mariah,’ and was eq star Natalie’s before she joined the Knollwood team.

She’s beautiful, a little lazy, and is so very well educated. Heck, she was a top contender in national finals with Natalie.

How to spot Mariah in the arena?

She’s a beauty queen.

She teaches her riders all about follow-through, especially when they’re asking for her ‘tricky’ lead.

Murphy

Where to begin…

Murphy is a big beautiful American Saddlebred whose official name is Irish Victory.

Owned by Jodi Nelson, he’s become an important part of our academy team.

He has beautiful gaits and is lovely going down the rail.

Murphy and Scott have spent many hours of quality time together.  Murphy has learned that it is best to wait for instruction from his rider instead of going his own way.

How to recognize Murphy in the arena?

He’s the pretty chestnut with an elongated star on his face.

His riders look pretty still above those smooth gaits of his.

Murphy will find scary things at the side door, the show barn door, or the chute door.

At the 27 minute mark of the lesson, Murphy loses the ability to walk. He thinks he must trot. Alas, it rarely works.

 

Nacho

Nacho is destined to be a legend.

His real name is Trust Fund Blues, and is cute as a button.

Born at Knollwood, Nacho has the same mom as Vaughn.

He’s been a bit of punk his whole life. With lots of show barn rider lessons under his belt, and lots of personal time with the show barn staff, he’s become an academy star.

While he's earning his star in the academy hall of fame, Nacho enjoys chewing on his reins. Even with a towel as a bib, he makes a grand effort. No worries, we have this one figured out.

Nacho is a standout in the single bit division, and has helped a number of our show barn riders gain show ring experience.

How to spot Nacho in the arena?

He’s adorable.

He loves being a horse, looking down the rail with his ears up while keeping them on doors and any other source of excitement for his brain.

He can turn on a dime.

Best Nacho moment of the year? He shied and lost his rider while doing a four one and a half pattern this winter. After losing his rider, he completed the 1 ½ circle. And stopped on the center line waiting for his rider.

Mattonized indeed.

 

Oscar

The newest member of our academy team, Oscar is registered as Oscar Nominee.

This big, beautiful guy would be a model if he were human.

He was a star in the western division before he joined the academy ranks.

Oscar has a very high opinion of himself, and has been on a self-improvement journey over the winter with Carol and her equitation stars.

Oscar has smooth gaits, a quick mind, and can’t be missed going down the rail.

How to recognize Oscar in the arena?

He’s big and beautiful with a perfect star on his forehead.

He’s becoming a pattern master and can frequently be seen in center ring.

He’s frequently the  biggest guy in the arena.

Sport

This one has a BIG personality.

His registered name is Callaway’s Never Wanted More, and comes from Callaway Hills and a tradition of wonderful horses.

Sport had quite a show career in the southeast where he was a pleasure horse, a park horse, and an equitation horse. He finished his show career as a 10 and under walk and trot equitation horse.

Sport is an important part of our academy team, and loves going to horse shows. He also loves working at home where he instructs riders on following through until they get what the want.

Fun facts about Sport?

He occasionally likes to overreact to oncoming horse traffic. When he’s feeling extra fresh, he’ll attempt to spin and go the other way.

Many a Knollwood Kid has learned the ways of Sport, and how to prevent and/or deal with his shenanigans.

Sport LOVES, and we cannot stress this enough, LOVES taffy.

You haven’t lived until you’ve seen him devour any flavor of taffy.  The ‘mouth noises’ Sport makes after taffy treats are not to be missed. Insiders refer to them as his ‘toilet noises.’

How to spot Sport in the arena?

He’s usually teaching our up and coming academy stars who are learning the ways of a former show horse.

He does lots of patterns, lots of no stirrup work,  and lots of canter starts.

Watch his ears when horses pass him going the opposite direction. It’s his only trick, and he brings it out a couple of times a year. That’s it.

Willow

One of the few ladies on the team,  Willow is Knollwood born and bred. This pretty mare’s registered name is Dance Party. Instructor to the show barn riders, Willow is her own mare.

She loves to act lazy the first direction, and go like she’s at Freedom Hall the second direction. She finishes the lesson ‘totally exhausted’ in center ring, looking like we should call horsey 911.

Baby Willow.

Willow is super friendly in her stall, and enjoys spending time with her riders.

How to spot Willow in the arena?

She’s the one who does her job well, and then acts like exhaustion will take her form this earth.

 

 

 

We adore our lesson horses who all have their own personalities.

Next week, you’ll learn all about our ‘funny colored’ horses, and there’s plenty of personality and quirks in that group!

 

News Update:

The American Saddlebred Horse and Breeders Association has named Knollwood the Program of the year.

We’re humbled and thankful for the honor.

We all love what we do, and are thankful to the people and horses who make it rewarding day in and out.

You can read the press release here.

What’s Coming Up?

All through March

New Application Month

We have new application forms, and we’re requiring all existing customers to complete an updated edition.

These forms now include sign offs for cancellation policies, social media usage,  and billing policies as well as a photo release.

This program will also allow us to update contact info for all of our riders.

Your friendly admins will be in charge of the project with instructors pitching in.

Camp Sign Up For Everyone!

Camp sessions are available to the public starting this Sunday. Please invite any horse crazy kids you may know to join the fun at Knollwood.

We’re looking forward to Knollwood Summer 2026.

Knollwood Spring Show Entry Time 

March 6-20 

Show May 15-17

Please talk to your instructor to see which classes are right for you.

If you’re going to be traveling during this period, you are welcome to enter early. Your instructor or admin is happy to help.

Academy Kick Off Night on March 14

All of our academy show team riders and families are invited to our annual kick off event. Join us for the celebration and sessions about all things academy showing.

New families should plan on attending.

Please sign up in the school barn lounge.

Parents Night Out March 28

All Knollwood Kids are invited to join the Knockout officers and board members for an evening of barn fun and crafts.

Sign ups will be up soon.

 

Bridlespur Society Horse Show April 9-11

The show horse team is heading to St Louis for their first show of the season.

 

IASPHA Spring Show is coming up on April 11-12.

The academy team is heading to Beyond Stable Farm for our first show of the season, and we can hardly wait.

From some of our most accomplished academy stars to riders making their academy debuts, we’re looking forward to an amazing weekend of horse showing.

Please come and join us, especially if you’re interested in academy showing in the future.

 

See you soon at the barn.