We’re kicking off the in-barn show season this weekend, and we can hardly wait.

Here’s some legal insider information to help you enjoy the weekend to the fullest!

 

Parking

Our friends at the Kettle Moraine Curling Club have graciously offered us their parking lot for the weekend. It’s directly across from the little outdoor ring where we’ll be showing on Sunday.

Please do not park on the curve of Horseshoe Bend between the ‘No Parking’ signs. It’s a low visibility curve on the lightest of traffic days, and we’ll have a lot of pedestrian traffic this weekend.

So if you don’t want to be a nuisance or meet a big beefy Delafield police officer, please park in the lot.

Arrival Times

We try to be respectful of everyone’s valuable time. Each rider has received a personalized schedule in their show bag. If you can’t find the schedule, please feel free to give us a call or stop in and we’ll be happy to help.

Horse shows are not the most exact timed events.  When spending time with young riders and horses, it’s best to chill out and enjoy the beautiful day. We’ll do our best to stay on track.

Clothing

As a list minute reminder, show attire includes dark jods or riding leggings, black boots, the cool blue show shirt, and gloves. Helmets are worn if worn in lessons, and are, of course, required for all 10 and under riders.

Please, please remember to have tie downs for your jods. No judge wants to look at a rider with their pants riding up towards knees.

Jodi does have number magnets for sale at the school barn counter if you need a set.

 

 

Horse Assignments

As you can imagine, it takes many brains and a whole lot of fuzzy logic to assign horses to 90 riders in 64 classes.

Your rider may not be able to show their favorite horse at the show this weekend. There are several reasons why this may be:

Some horses behave differently in daily lessons than they do in different situations. Our number one goal for show weekend is safety.

Some horses are requested by most of the riders, and we carefully watch each horse’s work load for the weekend.

Riders can learn from all the lesson horses. Some of our horses who aren’t considered beautiful on the outside are very beautiful on the inside. These great souls help us keep riders building skills and confidence. And they’re cute as buttons.

We never want to overmount riders. Once a rider is scared, it’s difficult to overcome the experience. In different situations such as horse shows, we mount appropriately to be sure riders learn and advance, but are never in a scary situation.

The Knollwood Village

Our fantastic volunteer army of Knollwood parents and kids create a village for show weekend.

They’ll have tents set up for concessions, gift baskets, and Woodwear.

We’re still ordering summer clothing through show weekend, and size samples will be outside in the Knockout village.

We can’t thank these hard working parents and riders enough. Best of all, we’re always looking for more friends to join the volunteer army.

Got some time this weekend? We have some shifts open, and you can sign up here.

 

Show Schedule

We kick off the weekend with pattern night on Friday night at 6:00.  Our most experienced riders perform patterns in the indoor arena, and some will attempt to qualify for the Knollwood Challenge final in October.

Our walk, trot, and canter riders as well as our 11 and over walk and trot riders will compete in the beautiful big outdoor arena starting at 10:00 AM on Saturday.

Riders will compete in Horsemanship, Equitation, and Equitation championships.

We have a record number of walk trot and canter riders at this show, with 5 splits of 11-17 year old riders!

We’ll finish our Saturday with a special charity class to benefit the Food Pantry of Waukesha County.

10 experienced riders will compete bareback at the walk, trot, and canter with a $20 bill under each Judge Shelby will put the riders through their paces while trying to dislodge the money. 

The last rider with money left will take home half the money, and the other half will be donated to the Food Pantry of Waukesha County, Judge Shelby’s charitable choice.

You’ll want to stay and watch this!

Sunday’s performance will spotlight our 10 and under and maiden walk trot riders.

We’ll start at 10:00 AM with our leadline riders.

Sunday will finish indoors with an 8 and under pattern class.

How to Watch the Show

Please bring lawn chairs to watch the show.

On Saturday, you can set up anywhere in the west pasture. Please don’t sit in Scott and Carol’s yard so they can enjoy privacy. We have plenty of room for everyone.

On Sunday, please set up your chairs on the north side of the small outdoor ring. We will need to maintain a path to the in-gate, and will mark it off with cones.

 

We’re Looking Forward To …

Watching the best lesson horses in the world enjoy the weekend as much as their riders do.

Helping Knollwood Kids build confidence and resilience through showing.

Watching the Knollwood community create a weekend centered around the riders.

 

 

What’s Coming Up?

 

Horses’ Day Off

Monday, May 19

We’re not holding lessons on Monday, so the horses can enjoy a day to rest.

All riders received a credit on their May bill.

 

Madison Classic Horse Show

May 22-25

Oh, it’s going to be a great show, with almost 600 horses entered.

The show barn will be almost empty with so many horse making the trip to Madison, and the academy riders show at 10:00 on Saturday.

Please come join us at the show!

Memorial Day

Monday, May 26

We’re not holding lessons so we can honor our fallen heroes.

All lessons have been rescheduled.

Prairie State Classic

May 30 - June 1

Our academy team is heading to the beautiful big outdoor ring at Beyond Stable Farm. Please join us at our first outdoor show of the year.

Food Drive Starts

June 1

Our annual food drive begins today, and runs through June 14.

Knollwood Kids who collect a minimum of 5 food kits or the cash equivalent of $15 per kit will earn the right to compete in the Knollwood Olympics on June 21.

Collect from friends, neighbors, or relatives to help the Food Pantry of Waukesha County at a time of year when their stores run low.

 

Dad’s Day Ride

Saturday, June 14

Knollwood Kids are invited to be their Dad’s helper during a fun introductory lesson. It’s only $50 to show your Dad why you love riding so much.  Helpers must be at least 10, or be an academy show rider. Please pay and sign up in the school barn lounge.

Knollwood Olympics

Saturday, June 21

All of the Knollwood Kids who collected a minimum of 5 food kits are getting together to compete in ‘games of skill.’  It’s silly, it’s competitive, and you’ve probably never laughed so hard in your life. (Unless you rode in the Mom’s ride last weekend…)

Oshkosh Charity Horse Show

June 26-29

Team Knollwood is heading to the Fox Valley for the Oshkosh Charity Horse Show. It’s held at Sunnyview Expo Center, a relaxing park like setting. Riders compete in the beautiful covered outdoor arena, and ringside tables are a highlight of the hospitality offered.

Academy riders will compete at 10:00 AM on Saturday, May 28.

Independence Day

July 4

No lessons on July 4^th so everyone can celebrate.

Lessons will be rescheduled.

 

 

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