It’s one of the busiest times of the horse year, and that’s a great reason take a breath and reflect on why we love what we do.

Here are our top 5 reasons:

Horses.

We get to work with horses every day.

Sure they’re a lot of work, they require many staff members, they can be incredibly frustrating and they require constant clean up, but look at them. Spend any amount of time with your favorite horse, and we know you’ll get it.

Outdoors.

We get to work outdoors.  All year round.

We know we live in Wisconsin and that the weather is incredibly creative, but that’s half the fun of it. We work with screens open spring, summer, and fall, get to watch some amazing storms roll in, and watch the snow fall on the pretty farm.

Are there days when we’d just like the rain to stop, or for the temperature to drop about 30 degrees? You bet, but it sure beats working in a cubicle.

Horses Progress.

The show barn revels in the progress of their horses, and this year has been a tremendous year of growth.

Home bred Willow, now officially known as Dance Party, has gone from romping in the pastures with her mom to winning the Wisconsin Futurity Three Year OId Incentive Park Pleasure class in her first outing at her very first horse show.

 She has a bright future ahead of her!

Riders Progress.

We are privileged to watch our riders progress as the year goes on as well.

Our show riders turned in fantastic rides in St Louis last weekend, and were rewarded with some high placings. A few of our riders really stood out at the show with the experience of the season kicking in at the show.

Bella and Richie were the pair to beat in the Juvenile Country Pleasure division.  Bella and Garfield (Far Away Garfield) won the grand championship and were reserve to Richie and Tink (Miss Mheirry Mac) in the qualifier. Team TInk finished reserve in the grand championship, too! 

Richie and Sophie (CH-EQ Royal Tryst) won the 13 and under UPHA Challenge Cup at the show, qualifying this team for finals at the Royal in November.

Our academy riders have progressed incredibly this season as well.

We’ve helped kids enjoy their first ride on a horse, introduced others to diagonals, cantering, and had many show for the first time at the Knollwood shows.

Through the Wisconsin Futurity Horse Festival, our academy stars have won 26 Grand Championships, and 17 Reserve Grand Championships as well as 58 Championships and 37 Reserve Championships, Our riders also hold the champion and reserve titles in both divisions of the State Academy Championships.

The best part of our riders? They love and respect their horses, and frequently end rides with a pat or a hug, and enjoy just looking into those big brown horse eyes.

Team Knollwood.

We are beyond fortunate to be surrounded by an amazing group of customers and friends. 

Team Knollwood cheers on each and every member,  horse show moms are versatile, and everyone pitches in to do what they do best.

Some folks help out early mornings putting buns in for those busy academy sessions, some plan parties, some serve as ringmasters and announcers at in-barn shows, some help run concession stands, some create fundraising opportunities for our youth group, some serve as mentors for our youth club officers and board, some help in the barn.  Oh, and those are just the ‘grown ups.’

Knollwood Kids are the backbone of the farm.  They’re always busy, taking care of the best lesson horses in the world. Whether they’re prepping horses for lessons, helping new riders learn the ways of Knollwood,  bleaching tanks, putting up horses, giving spa treatments to our retired horses or helping with lessons and summer camp. 

Our show barn riders are the best mentors an academy rider could ever have.  They offer a unique perspective to our upcoming stars, and are super supportive. (At the Summer Fun Show, Laney, Finn, and Payton were being recruited to be baby sitters by our youngest stars. The riders were very disappointed to learn that those three live out of state …)

Knollwood Kids are some of the best ambassadors we have , and we’re fortunate to have so many of them in our program.

What’s Next?

Street Clean Up

October 12 at 1:00 p.m.

Join your fellow Knockouts next Saturday as we clean up Nagawicka and Oakwood Roads.  The clean up teams will meet up at the farm at 2:30 p.m. for a Knockout meeting!

Halloween on Horseback

Friday, October 18 at 6:00 p.m.

It’s time to get creative and make a costume for your favorite lesson horse.  For only $40, you get to dress yourself and your horse for costume judging which begins at 6:00 p.m..  Then we’ll play games on horses, and enjoy a potluck dinner in the lounge.

You can register with your instructor, and be sure to sign up to bring an appetizer or dessert.  Adults, feel free to BYOB.

IASPHA Fall Show

October 26-27

Come watch our final out of barn academy show at Fields and Fences in Gurnee, Illinois. We’ll have 20+ academy riders at the show, and are entering the Saturday night costume class.  We’d love a big cheering section!

Knollwood Fall Show

November 9-10

Entries close October 12!

Join us for the last academy show of the season!

Walk, trot, and canter classes are at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, and walk and trot classes are at noon on Sunday.  The show offers classes for everyone, and features the Finals of the Knollwood Challenge!

We’re offering the entertaining games division on Saturday, and are featuring the Helper Basket Challenge to see which night of the week can create the best gift basket.

You won’t want to miss the weekend of fun!

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

Tradition.

Honor.

Passion.

(And a whole lot of fun!)