As all of Team Knollwood knows, we choose our lesson horses by their brains, not their outward appearance. And yes, we know that if we purchased by color assortment, it would be easier to identify our equine instructors.

But, we have the best assortment of lesson horses, and the majority happen to be brown. 

Here’s some insider information to help parents identify which horsey faculty member your Knollwood Kid is working with.

And yes, we’re thinking of pop quizzes in the lounge.

This week, we’ll start with the ‘outside’ brownies, who spend their evenings in the pasture being horses, eating hay, playing with friends, drinking warm water in the winter, and sleeping.

This is Fred, the 2024 School Horse of the Year.

You will NEVER see him moving fast enough to blow back his mane in the arena. This is Fred when the dinner bell rings. Only.

Fred is a well-fed Quarter Horse who lives in the last stall on the left. You may recognize his butt from when it’s sticking out in the aisle while he naps in his oversized stall.

Judging by his snoring, we feel he may have sleep apnea. Anyone have an extra-large CPAP mask they might like to share?

Fred is an angel.

He teaches our newest riders with patience, kindness, and, yes, a well-developed laziness.

Fred maintains his trotting speed to teach posting, will steer anywhere, and will sometimes keep riders out of tricky situations by changing course when he feels it’s needed.

How to identify Fred in the arena?

 He’s slow.

 He likes to cut corners.

 He listens to the smallest of riders.

 He loves standing in the middle for still work.

When needed, he can even do a lesson without a rider.

His hobbies include listening to accordion music, eating mints and just about anything else, and Olympic level napping.

 

This is Leon, AKA Dear Sweet Leon, or DSL

If you look carefully, you can see the outline of his invisible unicorn horn.

Leon is a most handsome American Saddlebred whose registered name is ‘Keep the Change, Sir’.

Leon has a perfect star on his forehead, and no other white on his body. With no white legs, he’s the dream of our academy show techs.

Leon has the smooth gaits of a unicorn and is one of our cantering teachers.

He’s also the first academy horse most of our new show riders meet. He has the manners of a gentleman, the looks of a model, and the patience of a saint.

How to identify Leon in the arena?

He’s not the fastest guy in the arena.

When cantering, even the newest of riders sit smoothly in the saddle.

In inexperienced hands, Leon will turn his head to the left. Alignment is one of the many lessons he teaches.

 

This is Poppy.

Poppy is an unregistered Saddlebred mare who came to us from another lesson program.

Poppy is unique.

She has an incredibly smooth trot and enjoys teaching small riders most of all.  

Poppy has a consistent trotting speed and is easy to steer.

How to identify Poppy in the arena?

Poppy wears blinkers to keep her mind on her job instead of paying attention to horses around her.

You’ll often see very small people on her, trotting very slowly.

Personal notes?

Poppy is a loner.

She doesn’t love other horses, or even wild turkeys in her pasture.

But she trots like a metronome in the arena, so who cares?

 

This is Pumpkin, our 2024 School Horse of the Year.

He’s a unique fellow, being ½ Morgan and ½ Connemara Pony.

Pumpkin came to us from a lesson program in Kentucky.

They advertised him as a unicorn, and they were correct.

Pumpkin can do anything.

He can maintain his trotting speed for rookie posters and can do a variety of speeds for more advanced trotters.

Pumpkin is the second or third horse riders canter. While his canter is smooth, he’s here to teach riders to keep his head up and his brain engaged.

He’s a fantastic bareback horse, loves to play games, especially ‘steal the crop.’

Pumpkin is happy to travel to academy shows and is a star at Knollwood shows.

Did we mention he is a lunge lesson king?

How to identify Pumpkin in the arena?

He’s super handsome.

He has a beautiful stripe on his broad face.

His speed rarely changes unless he’s asked.

 

 

 

This is Thomas, our 2025 Lesson Horse of the Year

Thomas is an American Saddlebred whose registered name is Fort Chiswell’s Aristocrat.

He’s a god.

Thomas represented the academy superstar party in the election, and they couldn’t have chosen a better candidate.

Thomas is reserved for members of our academy show team and is usually the second academy superstar they enjoy.

Our man of the year is a pattern rock star who has memorized all editions of the UPHA pattern book.

He builds confidence, starts teaching riders about alignment, and instills patience in pattern work.

Thomas is pretty business like in his demeanor and really doesn’t have many quirks.

He does, however, love to pretend that he doesn’t know where he lives. Every day when he comes in, he trots past his stall to the hay storage area, takes a mouthful, reverses, and heads to his stall. Kind of like hitting the salad bar before the entrée arrives?

How to identify Thomas in the arena?

He has a little pep in his step, especially at the trot.

His very Saddlebred face has a big star and a snip dripping off it.

Ears are forward when he’s working.

Thomas spends a lot of time teaching patterns, so look for him doing moves off the rail.

This is Vaughn.

Vaughn was born at the farm on the day that Stevie Ray Vaughn passed away.

He’s official name in the Saddlebred registry is 'He Plays the Blues.'

Vaughn is an unsung hero.

Vaughn is a steady guy who goes with the flow.

He’s a little plain on the outside, with an attempted star on his forehead for a marking.

His trot may not be the smoothest, but his canter more than makes up for it. (Point of reference, only world champion eq rider Brooklyn and super strong academy star Dilly enjoy riding him bareback.)

Vaughn teaches many, many lessons to our cantering riders who don’t show academy.

He’s a pattern guru, and is always ready to share his own interpretations, especially if there’s something shiny, or if someone has moved in the lounge.

Vaughn is not the bravest of chaps, and doesn’t enjoy going to academy shows. He does not embrace new adventures well.

Vaughn loves a good game, even is they are a little confusing.

In his stall, Vaughn loves to nap, and loves to ignore our instructions of ‘Don’t lie down after you’re groomed.’

He also wants to be the first horse out at night, and will lose his patience quickly if he has to stay in for a later lesson. You might label the behavior a temper tantrum?

How to identify Vaughn in the arena:

He’s the brown guy trotting around waiting to hear what to do next.

Vaughn may try to cut corners on the lounge end, and he may try to come off the rail on the school barn rail while going second way in the arena. You’ll enjoy watching your rider learn the ways of a horse’s mind.

We’ll delve into the ‘brown’ horses of the box stalls next time.

What’s Coming Up?

 

Continuing Through February

Currently enrolled riders can choose their summer riding school session until February 25. Be sure to check in with your instructor or admin to choose the week that’s right for you. Sessions will be opened to the public on March 1.

We’re ordering Jelly Bean jods through February 28. Don’t miss the chance to order the classic Knollwood edition in navy with tan knee patches and our logo embroidered on the leg,  Size samples are available in the school barn lounge.

Trish is Coming!

February 21

Our fabulous tailor is coming to Knollwood this Saturday to measure for new academy outfits and to fit outfits for the season ahead.

She is willing to meet at the barn at other times. Please reach out to her directly to set up a time.

 

Knollwood Spring Show Entries

March 6-20

The Knollwood show is coming up on May 15-17. Please talk to your instructor about what classes are right for you. Show weekends are the best.

Academy Kick Off

March 14

6:00 PM

All academy riders and their families are invited to join us for a fun evening getting ready for the season ahead.

We’ll have hair and makeup demos from Karina as well as demos on packing and preparation and tying the perfect knot.

Parents Night Out

March 28

Kids can join the Knockout officers and board members for a fun night of crafts and barn fun. Please save the date!

Easter Sunday

April 5

We’ll be closed for the day and will schedule make ups with our Sunday riders.

 

 

Bridlespur Society Horse Show

April 9-11

National Equestrian Center

St Louis, MO

Knollwood’s show horses are headed to St Louis for their first show of the season.

IASPHA Spring Show

April 11-12

Beyond Stable Farm

It’s our first academy show of the season, and we can hardly wait!

 

See you soon at the barn.