Sure, most of the Knollwood Kids are just settling  into a new year of school, but to our equitation stars, it’s the start of Finals Season!

It all starts this week at the All American Horse Classic in Indianapolis where team Knollwood is set and ready to show.  This iconic show is home to two finals for Pleasure Equitation stars.  These riders have worked hard all season showing pleasure eq horses, and it’s time for the best to gather.

On Friday morning, the stars will gather for the Pleasure Equitation Olympics. Run by the Illinois American Pleasure Horse Association, (IASPHA) the same organization that produces three popular shows a year in Gurnee, this final offers gold, silver, and bronze medallions to the top three riders in both the junior (13 and under) and the senior (ages 14-17) divisions.

Team Knollwood will be represented and in the Senior Division by Laney showing Robert, and Heather showing Tucker.

The UPHA Pleasure Challenge Cup National Final starts Saturday morning, and is also a big part of this show.  Pleasure equitation riders who have qualified at shows across the country are gathering in Indy for a chance at a national title.

Riders have qualified by competing in a qualifier, completed a set pattern of a 4 loop serpentine at a trot, and finished the top 4 in their class.

The best will compete in this final sponsored by the United Professional Horseman’s Association. It’s judged a little differently than some of the older finals, with showmanship being paramount throughout the process.  This final is judged 60% on railwork and 40% on individual work.

The ability to show a horse will set a rider apart in this final which is also split into Junior and Senior divisions. Payton, Laney, and Heather will be competing for Team Knollwood, and we can hardly wait to watch.

You can catch all the action on SeeHorse Video for free, and here’s the link.

In addition to all the pleasure equitation excitement, this show offers the All American classes for weanlings through three year olds, the Indiana futurity, and the American Hackney Horse Society’s futurity. Oh, and there’s a heck of a horse show for all divisions as well!

Our Pleasure Eq finals competitors may be the ‘riders of the hour,' but in addition, Haley will be showing Gwen in Show Pleasure, and Finn will be showing Leila in equitation.

It’s going to be an exciting start to finals season, and we wish all competitors the best.

What’s Next?

Our fall ‘home show’ is coming up! The Wisconsin Futurity Horse Festival runs September 19-22 at Wisconsin State Fair Park. It showcases young saddlebreds in the futurity classes, show horses in the performance divisions, and even hosts the state championships in the academy division.

Team Knollwood will be there with numbers, and we hope you can join the fun! We’ll publish a schedule, and the academy performance is Saturday morning starting at 9 AM.

Finals season will continue the following week in St Louis where the Saddle and Bridle Pleasure Equitation Medallion and the ASHA Pleasure Equitation National Finals will be held.

In addition, the show is home to the Western and Hunt finals. We’ll keep you updated with schedules!

See you soon at the barn, or at the in-gate!