Your 2024 Knockout officers and board members.

The Knollwood Knockouts have been around for 27 years, and their members have been contributing to the farm and the community the entire time. They’ve been having a lot of fun, too.

The Knockouts' mission statement is ‘To support equitation, horsemanship, and friendships through service to others.'

Read on to learn more about how they fulfill their mission.

 

Friendships

Joining the Knollwood Knockouts immediately brings riders into a group of horse-loving kids. Having friends at the barn creates a place where members can immerse themselves in horses, and escape the tension of school.

Knollwood Knockouts always have something to talk about at the farm, and it’s almost always horses.

Many of these barn friendships last through college and beyond. Knollwood  Knockouts always come back to the farm.

 

Horses

Knollwood Knockouts are immersed in horses and Knollwood.

The club runs three in-barn shows at the farm, staffing the concession stand, the gift baskets, and countless other tasks.

Many Knockouts also serve as helpers in the barn on busy lesson days. These young mentors help new riders learn about horses by example and in more structured situations such as running with beginner riders.

 

Leadership Opportunities

The Knollwood Knockouts are run by current Knollwood riders. The officers are elected at the annual holiday party, and serve one year terms.

The club has two co-presidents, a chairman of the board, and four board members, and all are elected positions.

These young leaders organize events, run the events, and work tirelessly to get Knollwood Kids involved in their club.

Officers address the crowd at the banquet, and run the club meetings throughout the year.

 

Knockouts provide service to others in many ways.

In addition to managing the in-barn shows, the Knockouts keep the farm neighborhood tidy by staffing two street cleanups a year. Members split into teams and, with parents assistance, they head out and enjoy a day outside while helping their neighbors.

The Knockouts host an annual car wash at the Piggly Wiggly in Hartland, and run the brat shack during the afternoon. Members band together to wash cars and sell brats and burgers while having a blast, and maybe getting a little wet.

The Knockouts hold an annual food drive for the Food Pantry of Waukesha County each spring.  Knollwood Kids collect food kits from their families, friends, and neighbors. Each rider that collects a minimum of five food kits earns the privilege of competing in the Knollwood Olympics.

On a Saturday in May, the Olympians gather to compete on teams based on the day of the week the members ride.

The teams compete in games of ‘skill,’ such as the helmet toss, the blind buggy race, blanket race, and fun events that we make up each year.

This event helps the Food Pantry at a time when their stocks run low, and their demand goes up when children don’t receive lunch at school. We’ve been a proud supporter for of the food pantry for 14 years.

 

Each Holiday season, the Knockouts adopt two families in need. Riders donate gifts from family wish lists, and the club gathers to wrap the gifts and celebrate the holiday season. Knockout officers then deliver the gifts to the families to make their holidays a little more cheerful.

 

Money from these fundraisers supports local groups in need. We’ve sent veterans on the Honor Flight, supported the American Heart Association, Lifestriders, Breast Cancer research, and several horsemen who have endured barn fires and tornado damage to their farms.

The Knockouts also sponsor academy classes at several local shows to promote the growth of academy.

In addition to donations to charitable causes, the Knockout fundraising also supports outings for members and the club’s annual awards banquet.

In 2023, club members enjoyed a trip across the street to the Kettle Moraine Curling Club where they enjoyed a lesson from the friendly members.

In previous years, Knockouts have played mini golf, enjoyed water parks, and trips to the Summerfun horse show. You just never know what fun events club officers will dream up!

 

Each February, the club members change out of their barn clothing and gather at Merrill Hills for their awards banquet.

All members, from leadline stars to National and World titleholders gather to celebrate all things Knollwood.

The club offers awards for both in-barn and out-of-barn show divisions, presents a slide show review of the year, listens to speeches from club officers, our adult treasurer, and Scott’s always entertaining ‘State of the Farm’ address.

The club partially subsidizes the cost of the banquet to make it affordable for families to attend.

To keep events like this possible,  all members are required to complete two hours of club service during the year. These service hours can be helping at a Knollwood show, working a shift at the car wash, helping with a street clean up, or assisting at any Knockout event.

The Knollwood Knockouts have earned awards from Saddlebred Rescue, and are the only youth club to have their name represented at the American Saddlebred Horse Museum in Lexington as recognition of their good works and support of the breed.

 

How Can You Help?

Parents

We need your help. Many of these events require adult assistance with organization and/or execution, as the officers are still in high school.

We’re looking for parents who would like to mentor these wonderful kids before and at the events. You won’t regret time spent with these fantastic Knockouts.

You can volunteer at the concession stand at Knollwood shows, help get the gift baskets put together, help get the show set up, help count food kits for the Olympics, take a shift at the car wash, lead a team at the street clean up, attend a meeting and offer suggestions, or provide any of your talents to help the members be successful.

If you own a business, please consider sponsoring our concession stand at a Knollwood show. We provide signage and recognition at the show, including announcements, stickers on drink cups, and social media shout outs. Please talk to Ann or super admin Lisa for more details.

 

Riders

Your $5 Knockout membership is a ticket to becoming more involved in Knollwood.

You’ll meet great friends, receive an invitation to the holiday party and the banquet, and earn the right to vote for club officers and the school horse of the year.

You’ll help your neighbors in need, enjoy more time at the farm, and earn points towards high points awards.

 We’re proud of all the Knockouts have achieved, and we’d love for all Knollwood Kids to be a part of the experience.

 

What’s Coming Up?

Through December 31

10% off all purchases

The best gift of all is 10% off all things Knollwood. You can prepay your enrollment fees, or give a gift certificate to a new rider at a discount.

You can purchase online using promo code HOLIDAY2024, or talk to your instructor or admin who will be happy to run the transaction for you.

 

 

School Horse of the Year election continues!

Remember to pay your 2024 Knockout dues to receive a ballot for the big election.

Fred, Jelly, Leon, Pumpkin, and Thomas all survived tough primary battles in their respective parties to make it to the general election.

Every vote counts, and Richmond is our experienced poll watcher when he’s not out killing mice or sleeping on a heated bed.

 

January

Banquet invitations will be mailed to all Knockout members.

The banquet is Saturday, February 24.

 

January 5

Midwest Saddleseat Consignment Private Shopping Event

7-9 PM

Hilton Garden Inn, Oconomowoc

It’s a great place to start your 2024 show shopping, and it’s just for Team Knollwood.

 

February

In house camp enrollment throughout the month. Don’t miss your chance to sign up before we announce camp dates to the public in March.

We’ll send camp dates to current customers in January.

 

 

February 10

In house academy consignment sale

10:00 AM

Bring your outgrown academy attire to the school barn by February 7 marked with your name and cell #, as well as the item’s price and size.

Jodi will be there to accessorize your look to make it your own.

 

February 24

Academy Tailor Appointments

The fabulous Trish will be in the show barn lounge starting at 9:30 AM to measure for custom shirts and vests, and to fit current clothing for alterations.

Jodi will be there with her wonderful bling and ties as well.

Please talk to Ann if you’d like an appointment to create a new look, or to alter your current one.

 

Knollwood Knockouts Banquet

The Legends at Merrill Hills

It’s banquet time!

Join your friends and their families for the party of the season.

You’ll enjoy social time, dinner, awards, speeches, the annual slide show, and a DJ to dance the night away.

No one wants to miss this!

Remember, the country club dress code is in effect.

No denim of any kind.

Men’s shirts must have collars and be tucked in.

Thank you for celebrating in style and in code.

 

 

Academy Prep Fun Night

March 23

6:00 PM

Join us in the show barn lounge with Knollwood mom and master stylist Karina to learn to create the perfect bun, and to learn tips and tricks for appropriate make up for young riders.

As an added bonus, Scott will be joining us to teach the perfect tie knot for small riders.

Of course, refreshments will be served.

 

IASPHA Spring Show

April 13-14

Beyond Stable Farm

Our first academy show of the season!

 

 

 

Photo by Hanna Agagthen Photography

 

 

See you at the barn!