Hi Everyone,

Forest here!

As the official spokeshorse for the best lesson horses in the world, I’ve been asked to update everyone about our fall show coming up this weekend.

First of all, we’re thrilled to welcome Sarah Agrawal as our judge for the weekend. She’s a full grown Knollwood Kid who grew up around here, and went on to  win the coveted Triple Crown of saddle seat equitation in 2001. After lots of school, she’s now a physician, and has given up a rare open weekend to judge the show.  I just know she’ll appreciate the lone Fjord in a sea of saddlebreds.

The concession stand will be located in the show barn, and they’re offering some new menu items. Please test them, and let me know about the quesadillas!

We will have some bouquets for sale at the show with proceeds to benefit the Knockouts. At only $15, these arrangements designed by our friends at Bank of Flowers will delight the rider in you house, or a friend, or just about anyone.

Gift baskets and silent auction items are displayed in the back of the arena.  If any of the baskets contain lots of food or anything Norwegian, please buy some tickets for me. I promise I’ll share.

There are still songs available for some classes. For only $5, you can choose the music for your class, or for a friends.  ALL of the proceeds are going to Saddlebred Rescue, the Knockouts’ favorite charity. I would love to hear some pleasant New Age music to calm my performance anxiety.  I cover up my stage fright pretty well, wouldn’t you say?

Our friends at the Kettle Moraine Curling Club are hosting an event of their own all weekend, so we absolutely cannot use their parking lot.  Instead, we’ll be parking in the pasture.  Just follow the signs, and remember that unless you’d like a visit from a Delafield police officer, don’t park between the ‘No Parking’ signs on the curve of Horseshoe Bend!

It’s your last chance to order Knollwood sweatshirts and tees for holiday delivery. Size samples and order blanks are in the school barn  lounge which, of course, serves as the horse show office this weekend. How do I know this? I’ve been there!

This weekend starts the Knockouts winter coat drive.  You can drop off gently used or new coats in the show barn lounge and they’ll be donated to One Warm Coat. Donations are being accepted until December 15, the day of the Knockout Holiday Gala, of which I’m a star.

Here’s the really important stuff, the stories we’re looking forward to this weekend:

Our grown-ups asked for, and received their own pattern class. We have 6 brave adults who going to ‘attack’ a pattern without pesky teenagers around.  Somehow, I wasn’t invited to be in this class. Erika has taken the challenge and will be showing me in the 14-17 pattern class, and I doubt you’ll want to miss this performance.

We have 13 lead line riders, so we have a split class!

And I’m in both of them!

We’re thrilled to have so many young riders who even have a split championship. Watch our smallest riders compete and even perform their first workout in the final where they’ll either 2 point in the line up or drop and pick up their stirrups.

The finale of the Mother Daughter melee takes place on Saturday afternoon. Sadly, I was not invited to the party, probably because part of it is a race. Fast, I am not.

You won’t want to miss the race for the fastest team to get Mom off and daughter on.  It’s worth the price of admission, which happens to be free.

Newish lesson horse Thomas, officially known as Fort Chiswell’s Aristocrat, will be making his official Knollwood show debut on Sunday with Mia in the 10 and under walk trot and canter division. Equitation star Hanna will be working him during the show on Saturday to prep him for his first trip to the big time.

The biggest story of the weekend is the finals of the Knollwood challenge. Modeled after the equitation finals that took place in Indy, and those taking place this week in Kansas City, our challenge introduces our riders to the qualification process as well as the excitement of a final. Pictured above is Knollwood Kid Haley and Leila who won the UPHA Senior Pleasure Challenge Cup National Final in September.

Riders have qualified at the spring and summer shows, and more will qualify this weekend.

The challenge finals will finish the show each day with all qualified riders performing rail work followed by a new pattern not seen before show day. The winner of each final will receive a traveling trophy and a custom show shirt from deRegnaucourt.  Last year’s winners, Maddie and Emma, will present the trophy to this year’s champions.

Actually, I lied.

The biggest story of the weekend is our celebration of a fun filled academy show season.

Whether your showing is currently limited to the Knollwood shows or you’re a well traveled academy show pro, all the lesson horses are proud of everyone’s accomplishments this year.

Even Mark and Big Frank agreed they’re proud after I explained what proud meant.

So on behalf of the best lesson horses in the world, have fun this weekend.

With your family,

with your barn friends,

and with your favorite horses.

Like everyone at Knollwood, we love what we do.

Tradition. Honor. Passion.