With all the fun happenings at Knollwood this winter, it’s time to catch up on a few things before we hit show season prep full on!

Early Summer Riding School Enrollment for Current Riders

Through February 28, riders currently enrolled in our program can sign up for their summer riding school sessions before the camp becomes available to the public on March 1.

Camp fees will be charged to your IClassPro account on your March statement.

And, we have two weeks of KF Show Prep camp this year!  Riders enrolled in these special weeks will pay for their show at the time of camp signup.

Please talk to your instructor or admin to join the summer adventures!

Please Check Your Lesson Attire

Because we want our riders to progress and remain safe and comfortable, we instituted clothing requirements for 2022.

After three months of lesson enrollment, all riders are required to wear their own jods with tie downs, jod boots, a fitted shirt, your own helmet, and gloves. Long hair should be pulled back into a pony or braid.

Riders learn better when they’re dressed properly in well fitted riding clothes.

Here are a few helpful links to products we really like:

Jods

Freedman

Kerritts

Boots

Freedman

Riding Sport

Gloves

Helmets

Ovation Deluxe Schooler

Ovation Extreme

Please talk to your instructor with any questions. They’re always happy to help.

What Associations Should I Join for 2023?

We’re looking forward to attending 12 academy shows in 2023. Most of the shows are sponsored by Saddlebred charter clubs, whose members and boards work tirelessly to promote lesson programs and the breed. These groups rely on membership fees to support their promotional work and the shows that they run.

Associations require show exhibitors to join their organizations to help with their work.

The associations may sound like alphabet soup at first, so here’s the simplified version.

ASHBA is the national organization, The American Saddlebred Horse and Breeder’s Association. All academy riders should be a member of this organization, which promotes the breed and offers the Academy Award Program.

You can join here for 2023.

ASAW is the American Saddlebred Association of Wisconsin, our state’s charter club, which is a member of ASHBA.

They promote the breed in Wisconsin, and run the Summerfun Show at State Fair Park each July.

Their annual awards banquet is held each spring, and is March 4 this year.

You must be a member if you’re showing at Summerfun, and we suggest you join to support their work in Wisconsin. Knollwood is well represented on the board, with Scott and Jane members. Please speak to either of them if you have any suggestions for new activities, or if you’d like to help at events.

You can join here.

The Illinois American Saddlebred Pleasure Horse Association, or IASPHA,  runs a series of wonderful ‘B’ and academy shows at Beyond Stable Farm through the year. These well-run shows are favorites for their array of classes, good competition, great management, and wonderful judges.

Their annual awards banquet is a Sunday brunch around Thanksgiving each year.

You must be a member if you’re showing at any of the IASPHA shows in 2023, and you can join here.

The Mid-America Horse Show Association, or MAHSA, is a charter club serving the Chicago area.

They run three shows a year, and our academy team attends their Signature Show held outdoors at Beyond Stable Farm each summer.

Their annual awards banquet is held each February in Illinois.

You must be a member if you’re showing at the Signature show, and you can join here.

Please talk to Ann or Nancy with questions or for clarification of this alphabet soup of organizations.

What’s Coming Up?

Academy Demo Night

This Saturday, February 11 at 6:00 PM

All new academy riders for 2023 are required to attend, and anyone who'd like a refresher is welcome to join the event. We'll meet in the arena.

25^th Annual Knockout Banquet

Saturday, February 18 at 6:30 PM

The Legend at Merrill Hills

We can hardly wait. We'll finish lessons at 2:00 PM so we can get the venue ready for the celebration of all things Knollwood. We hope to see you there!

Academy Tailor Visit Day

Saturday, February 25 from 10 AM to 3 PM

Easter Sunday

Sunday, April 9

No lessons will be held. Your instructor will be in touch to schedule a make-up.

IASPHA Spring Show

April 14-16

Our first academy show of the season!

AcademyPalooza

May 5-6

Please come watch our academy team compete at the show at Beyond Stable Farm!

Knollwood Spring Show

Friday – Sunday May 12-14

See you soon at the barn!