Photo by Hanna

Team Knollwood has just returned from the IASPHA Spring Horse Show, the first of the 2021 campaign. From riders showing for the very first time to an experienced horsewoman returning to the show ring after a too long absence, we have stories to share!

 

 

 

Sport’s Debut

Our newest lesson horse, Calaways Never Wanted More (AKA Sport) made his debut as a Knollwood lesson horse last weekend.

He’s beginning to understand the meaning of the term ‘Mattonizing’ and teamed with smooth riding Maya to have a most successful show. Maya and Sport won all of their classes on the rail, and even finished third in the pattern class.

As you can see, it really tired him out, and he enjoyed a nap filled Sunday.

He’ll continue his education this summer, showing academy with Maya, and traveling to horse shows with Carol and the equitation riders to be the practice horse.

Sport is a keeper!

 

 

 

Jane’s Return

Jane has been a lifelong saddlebred exhibitor, riding her entire life. After retiring from a career in health care, she decided to get back into the show ring this season. Jane is leasing Tura Lura Lura to show in the pleasure divisions with Knollwood.

Jane made her return last weekend, and looked like she’d never left the show ring, even finishing a strong 5^th in her championship class.

 

 

 

Tatum’s New Partner

Third generation of the riding Honkamps, Tatum rode into the ring with a new partner last weekend and made a splash. Tatum is leasing Lola, officially known as We’re All Nuts, in the show pleasure division. Tatum and Lola rode to great ribbons in the Limit Rider division, even finishing third in their championship!

 

 

Academy Stars

Our academy riders have been working hard through the off season, and it showed at our first competition of the year. We’re so proud of all of our riders.

We had 3 riders make their show ring debuts here as well. Lydia, Paeton, and Stella showed in the Green division, and showed like seasoned riders. Heck, first time show rider Paeton even finished second in the walk and trot pattern class!

 

 

Tori’s Debut

Tori has grown up a Knollwood Kid. She enjoys horses and all that comes with them more than most. She has shown in the academy division, and has always been a competitor who sees the big picture. She’s ready with a kind word for fellow riders, and always has time to take care of horses, or just spend quality time with them. She’s also usually the last customer to leave the aisle at the show, as she takes time with each horse she knows.

Tori took a big jump in the off season when her parents purchased the beautiful mare Nuttin’ But a Lady for her to show in the pleasure divisions. Previously owned by the Cooper family, Frankie is a sight to behold. She loves being a show horse, and Tori’s calming skills make her the perfect partner for this game mare.

Tori started her show career by winning her qualifier and finishing reserve in her championship.  We are looking forward to watching these two progress together.

 

 

Show Buddies

Knockout President Heather and her officers have devised a brilliant plan for new academy riders this season. We’re looking forward to 20 riders making their debut this year, and each of them will have their own mentor, or ‘barn buddy’

Starting at IASPHA, each new rider is met at the show by their mentor who will help with finishing touches on outfits, assist with hair and makeup for the ring, and offer support throughout the show.

These experienced show riders from both academy and the show barn offer wisdom from Knollwood Kids close in age to our new riders. They also help the new riders relax and enjoy the experience,  keeping the atmosphere light and fun. The laughter leaves no time to get nervous!

All the mentors and their riders are meeting this Saturday at a Barn Buddy party.

Great thanks to Heather and her team for devising and implementing this wonderful addition to our academy show program!

 

What’s Coming Up?

 

Knollwood Entries are due April 25 

Be sure to get your entries in by April 25 for the Knollwood Spring Show! Our shirt order has to go in on the 26^th.

 

 

 

 

Food Drive through May 10

The food barrels are filling up!  Our food drive for the Food Pantry of Waukesha County runs through May 10. If you being in 5 food kits, you’re eligible to join a team for the Knollwood Olympics on Saturday, May 15.

 

 

 

 

 

Academy Palooza

We’re heading back to Beyond Stable Farm in Woodstock for an All Academy Show! Our walk trot and canter riders will show on Friday night, and our walk trot stars will compete on Saturday morning. We’re looking forward to a big show, and to seeing 2 new riders, Hannah and Jilly compete for the first time. Paeton will show for her second!

 

 

Street Clean Up

Join us on Saturday, May 1 at 1:00 as the Knockouts clean up Oakwood and Nagawicka Roads for spring! We’re looking for Knollwood Kids of all ages to help, and permission slips from the City of Delafield are available in the school barn lounge, and are required to participate.

 

 

 

FASH Spring Show

May 6-9

Show horses are off to St Paul, Minnesota for one of everyone’s favorite shows. We’ll post more info later!

 

 

 

 

Knollwood Olympics

Let the games begin on Saturday, May 15 at 6:00 PM.

Teams based on days of the week will compete in ‘games of skill’ to celebrate the food drive.  Simply bring in 5 food kits by May 10, or donations by check made out to the Food Pantry of Waukesha County. $15 if the equivalent of 1 food kit.

 

 

 

Knollwood Spring Show

It’s coming up fast!

Our walk trot and canter, and walk trot riders aged 11 and up will compete in the big outdoor ring on Saturday, May 22. Our 10 and under walk trot riders, maiden riders, and leadliners will compete in the small outdoor ring on Sunday May 23.

If the weather absolutely doesn’t cooperate, we’ll move the show to June 15 and 16 when we can move it indoor if need be. We sure hope we don’t have to!!

 

 

Photo by Hanna

 

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

2021 marks the 10^th year of a grand Knollwood tradition, our spring food drive. Benefitting the Food Pantry of Waukesha County, we are proud to say that we’ve donated more than 10,000 pounds of food to our local food bank over the last decade.

What began as a small Knollwood helpers event, has grown and evolved into a total Team Knollwood phenomenon involving all members who’d like to support our neighbors in need, and create Olympic memories in the process.

2020 and 2021 have been a tough time for many in our community, and food pantries are feeling the pinch. Additionally, schools will be out soon for summer break, and many students will no longer be receiving lunch at school.

 

Enter Team Knollwood.

Any rider who would like to collect five food kits is eligible to join a team and compete at our 10th year of silliness, the  Knollwood Olympics on Saturday, May 15 at 6:00 PM.

A food kit consists of:

Food Kit

*Instant Potatoes

*Gravy

*Can of Vegetables

*Can of Fruit

*Can of Soup

*Box of Jell-O

*Boxed Dessert

*Box of Cereal

 

Food barrels are ready for your donations in the show barn lounge.

 

Simply put the items into a bag, write your name and the day of the week that you ride on the outside of the bag, and we’ll tally for you.

If you have friends or family who prefer to make a financial contribution, they can write a check to the Food Pantry of Waukesha County and we’ll deliver it.

The cash equivalent of a food kit is $15.

 

The Teams

 

Knollwood Kids are placed on teams based on the day of the week that they ride. Each team will have riders of different ages, and the team captain will assign different members to different events.

 

The Events

 

Through the years, we've competed in many, many games of 'skill,' including:

Blanket Race

Blind Buggy Race

Helmet Toss

Hop, Skip, and Wrap

Wheelbarrow Obstacle Races

School Horse Charades

Relay Race

 

Got an idea for a fun Olympic event? Please pass it on to your instructor!

 

 

Please have your food kits and checks to the farm by May 10 so we can set up the teams.

 

We can hardly wait!

 

 

 

What’s Coming Up?

IASPHA Spring Show

We’re off to our first show of the season! We have three academy riders making their show ring debuts, and Tori will be showing in a suit for the first time on her new horse, Frankie.

Come join us at Beyond Stable Farm in Woodstock, Illinois. We’d love a cheering section!

 

 

Knollwood Show Entries Due

April 25

Entries for the Knollwood Spring show are due April 25. Please check with your instructor to see which classes are right for you.

 

 

Academy Palooza

April 30 and May 1

The UPHA spring show has been reborn as an all academy event at Beyond Stable Farm.  We have riders making their cantering debuts on Friday night, and two more walk and trot riders making their show ring debuts on Saturday morning.

Come join us!

 

 

Knockouts Street Cleanup

Saturday, May 1

1:00 PM

Join your Knockout friends as we clean up the neighborhood for spring! We’ll be sprucing up Oakwood and Nagawicka Roads, and we’re looking for Knollwood Kids of all ages to help.

Permission slips from the City of Delafield are required, and will be available in the school barn shortly.

 

 

Knollwood Spring Show

May 22-23

Join us for a full weekend of fun outside.

 

 

 

 

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

 

It’s April, and all of Team Knollwood is looking forward to the start of show season this month. 

Recognizing the horses who got us to where we are today is an important aspect of horsemanship and sportsmanship. The wonderful lesson horses who made us the riders we are as we enter the ring in 2021 may no longer have young bodies, but they have beautiful minds. These legends were patient when you were struggling, forgiving when you were frustrated, taught you the value of perseverance and grit, and always offered a neck to hug and a place to share your secrets.

During April, we honor three of Knollwood’s finest souls who are celebrating birthdays this month.

 

 

Hylee’s Red Fox, known around the barn as Eddie, is a pattern legend, and we suspect there are some unicorns hidden in his bloodlines.

This brilliant Morgan came our way when his owner Kellyn went off to college. She and Eddie showed all over, and were quite a team. We are beyond fortunate that Kellyn called us first when Eddie needed a new home.

Eddie can do it all. He’s shown on the ‘A’ circuit when a horse was needed in an Open Pleasure class here and there, and is a stellar academy mount.

Because Eddie has been everywhere and has done everything, nothing really bothers him. His bombproof personality teaches the tiniest of academy riders that they can own the ring in the 8 and under walk and trot division.

Eddie is the king of patterns. With an even stride both ways of the ring, Eddie is a favorite horse all summer at pattern camps. This brilliant horse always does exactly what you tell him, even if it’s not what the pattern calls for.

This mild mannered soul prefers to go out for recess with the older gents, as he doesn’t like to play rough like Heist and the boys in the big playground. Eddie can have whatever he desires.

Eddie’s 21^st birthday is coming up on April 26. You can bet that a package from Kellyn will be delivered.

 

 

 

Hawaiian Cat, known to all as Hugo, is one in a million.

This big homegrown Saddlebred was born at Knollwood on April 25, 2007.  His large mother was The Hula Dancer, and Daddy was The Cheetah.

Hugo let it be known early on that he interested in being a show horse, and he started his lesson career early.

Hugo was teaching lightly as a four year old, and even attended his first show. He’s been a legend ever since.

As the first saddlebred our students ride, he’s a favorite at Knollwood. The look in little eyes when his neck comes up for the first time after learning on the pony and quarter horses is priceless.

Hugo’s favorite job? Teaching wee ones. He’s happiest when he’s doing his super slow jog trot with about 30 pounds of rider aboard.

Besides giving low stress lessons, Hugo enjoys sleeping in his stall. Time outside is too valuable for naps, as there are lots of friends to wrestle with.  He also enjoys pooping in neighbor Picasso’s feed tub every day, and generally being well, a pig in his stall.

Most of all, Hugo likes to play games on horseback. You wouldn’t believe it’s the same horse that moves in super slow-mo in walk and trot lessons if you saw him play relay games or ‘steal the crop.’

 

 

 

Bonnie’s Novel Santoro, known to all as Sundance, is master of the pasture.

He may be retired from lessons, but he’s still in charge out on the playing field.

Sundance arrived at Knollwood 27 years ago, and what a career he’s had. Sundance has taught countless riders the ways of a really smart horse. This handsome fellow taught riders how to read a horse's mind, how to sit when he’d shy at things unknown, and to ride a horse that truly enjoys being a horse.

Sundance attended countless academy shows, and was always a favorite of judges and riders alike.

He was a fixture of advanced camps, and of games on horseback. All the other horses were afraid to cross his path while playing games. In fact, they let him win many, many points rather than get in trouble later in the pasture.

Sundance has retained control of the pasture all these years through his personality of benevolent dictator. If his horses don’t act according to his rules, either he’d pay a visit to correct the behavior, or he’d send one of his lieutenants for a coaching sessions.

Current lieutenants are Tony, Hugo, and Picasso. Although, Hugo is usually off messing around.

 

We’re so fortunate to have enjoyed Sundance’s lessons for many years.

The grand gentleman turns 30 on April 24.

 

What’s coming up?

 

Food Drive Starts April 15

Our food drive to benefit the Food Pantry of Waukesha County starts on April 15.  Anyone who donates a minimum of five food kits is eligible to join a team and participate in the Knollwood Olympics on May 15.

Help us help our neighbors in need, and have fun with your barn friends, too!

  

Knollwood Show Entries Are Due April 25

Entries for the spring show are closing on April 25.  Please see your instructor to join in the fun!

 

 

IASPHA Spring Show April 17-18

Team Knollwood’s first show of the season! Come cheer us on at Beyond Stable Farm in Woodstock, Illinois.

 

Street Clean Up  May 1

The Knockouts will be cleaning up Oakwood and Nagawicka Roads for the spring. It’s a great way to earn your Knockout service hours for 2021, and spend time with your barn friends.

 

 

 

Knollwood Olympics  May 15

You won’t want to miss the finale of the food drive and the celebration! Knollwood Kids of any age who donate a minimum of five food kits will participate in Olympic style contests of ‘skill.’

 

 

 

Knollwood Spring Show  May 22-23

It’s back! We’re showing outside, and we can hardly wait! 

Please talk to your instructor if you’re interested in volunteering with the event. It takes a large village!

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

Show season 2021 is just about to begin for Team Knollwood. While last year threw us some curveballs, we’re looking forward to a more traditional season on 2021.

You may have possibly heard us say that we love academy showing. Well, maybe about 1000 times.

How much do we love it? Well, since we reopened after the shutdown, we’ve been teaching lessons non-stop.  Lots of lessons.

Riders who fell in love with horses before the pandemic  returned to their horse passion with incredible enthusiasm. Riders who started riding after the shutdown have taken to the best lesson horses in the world with great enthusiasm as well.

Trust the process and the results will come.

We’re thrilled to announce that we’re introducing 20 new riders to the academy show ring in 2021.

Some people think we’re crazy, but we’re traveling to 12 academy shows and hosting three in-barn shows at Knollwood. How do you get better at anything? Doing it over and over and over again.

In addition to the riders starting the academy show process, we’re proud that both Emma and Tori will be moving up to the show horse performance divisions.

 

 

 

The academy showing process is a winning one with many, many life lessons learned along the way.  Here are a few of our favorites:

 

 Sportsmanship

Be a light.

This life skill starts way, way before the rider’s first showing experience. Be glad for others’ successes, be happy to learn from every single horse, view each ride as a chance to further your education, and learn that struggle is a sign of stretching your knowledge and limits.

At home shows, please welcome and encourage new riders, tell a first time rider you loved their ride, congratulate leadliners on their ribbons, give a hard working walk trot horse some of your time....and carrots! Tell a parent how good their new show rider looks, or offer to help with bathing horses during a break.

Away from home, if you enjoyed someone’s ride, congratulate them, even if you don’t really know them. Cheer on your friends, be there for them if things are a little rough. Offer positive comments only, and never comment negatively about anything, or complain about results.

As we like to say,

'Sit with the winners. The conversation is different.'

 

 

 

Friendships

Your horse show friends will often be your forever friends. Being horse kids, and especially Knollwood Kids, you’re surrounded by other horse crazy people of all ages. Those older than you will offer their experience to guide you, those your own age will be your ‘gang,’ and you can help those coming behind you with your inspiration and support.

 

 Compassion

Horses are wonderful teachers.

Just like people, they have illnesses and injuries, and they may affect your riding or show schedule. Horses will teach all of us that this sport is really all about the horse. Their health and well being come first, and yes, it will change our plans sometimes. It just will.

Offer support to your horse, or to your friends who may not get to ride or show their favorite horse.

 

 Fairness

Is life always fair? Absolutely not.

You may think you should have won a class, or you may be shocked that you won a class after an error.

Judges are humans, and can’t see everything all the time. They do their absolute best, but they’re not superhumans with 360 degree vision.

Ride your best, enjoy the ride, learn something, and hope that your trainer or instructor is as thrilled with the ride as you are! Those words are worth more than any ribbon could be.

 

 Composure

Academy showing will teach you how to stay cool, calm, and collected when the unexpected happens. Maybe you canter into the ring, maybe you think you’re reversing at the trot and you end up going the wrong way, or maybe you miss a diagonal.

Maybe you forget your pattern, maybe you ask for and receive the incorrect lead, (and here you will hear Scott’s voice in your brain saying, ‘Stupid horse.’) or you trot three circles in one direction on a sandwich figure eight.

Showing will teach you to fix the problem and move on. If it’s too late to fix, move on and focus on your next task. You’ll have a good laugh about the lesson learned later.

 

 Confidence

Nothing builds confidence in horse kids like entering a ring with a living breathing creature and asking someone to judge your abilities. These kids, some as young as six, work hard at multi-tasking with both themselves and their equine partner.

We have different levels of academy horses for different levels of academy experience.

The initial confidence builders of Dexter, Eddie and Klem can’t be beat for safety and expertise in the ring.

After riders have developed some confidence and are happy thinking independently in the ring, they can move up to the Baxter and Cashew club.

When riders are comfortable with a little more speed, they’re ready for some ‘personality,’ and they can ride the likes of Panic, Heist, and Murphy.

Riders who learn from Scott and Carol can work their way up to the show barn lesson horses for a taste of a real show horse. Alex, Willis, and Sadie offer the most experienced academy riders the chance to learn from the minds of show horses.

 

Bottom line, our academy show program gives our riders friendships and memories to last a lifetime.

We can hardly wait to start another season of memory building!

 

What’s Coming Up?

Jacket Deadline

April 1

It’s the last day to order your classic Knollwood jacket in misses and men's sizes.

They’re only $120, and will be billed directly to your account.

 

Food Drive Starts!

April 15

Please contribute to our annual food drive benefitting the Food Pantry of Waukesha County.

Knollwood Kids of any age who collect a minimum of five food kits are eligible to participate in the Knollwood Olympics on May 15.

 

First Show of 2021

April 16-18

Beyond Stable Farm, Woodstock, IL

Come watch academy riders as well as show riders compete at one of our favorites, the IASPHA spring show!

 

Knollwood Show Entries Due

April 25

Be sure to get your entries in to participate in the Knollwood Spring Show on May 22-23.

Your instructor is happy to help you sign up. We’ve simplified the process and will be billing

directly to your account.

 

Adopt A Street Day

May 1

Join your fellow Knockouts as they clean up Oakwood and Nagawicka Roads for spring. We’re looking for Knockouts of all ages to help.

 

Knollwood Olympics

May 15

It's Olympic time! All Knollwoodians who contribute a minimum of five food kits for the Food Pantry of Waukesha County are eligible to join a team for this ‘athletic’ event. You won’t want to miss the blind buggy race or the helmet toss!

 

 

See you at the barn, or at the In-gate!

 

Note: We've used plenty of pictures from the archives, so you could see the smiling faces without masks. Plus, you can enjoy seeing Knollwood Kids from years past!

 

 

The signs of spring are everywhere. From the arena screen door being opened to the school horses shedding up a storm, it’s time to think about the warm weather ahead.

Many members of Team Knollwood are heading off to spring break adventures. Some are heading to tropical locations while others are heading to Kentucky or to the mountains of Colorado.  Wherever you’re going, we hope you have a glorious time.

Not wanting to miss any fun, the school horses have thought long and hard about where they’d like to go for spring break.

Here are responses from all the horses who chose to answer the survey:

 

Big Frank would like to go to his mothers basement and play video games.

 

Duke would like to test his stamina and try an endurance race. He’s been saving up the energy for a long, long time.

 

Fred would like to go on a cruise because the meals are all-you-can-eat.

 

Hugo would like a stay-cation where he can sleep and wallow in the mud all week.

Jelly would like a trip to Austria, his ancestral home.

 

Leon would like to participate in a service project for people in need.

 

Little Frank would like to buy and visit his very own time share in Florida.

 

Mac would like to take a walking tour where there are no straight paths.

 

Mark is still ‘thinking.’

 

 

Picasso would like to try his hand at being an actor, and to star in a western film.

 

Sparky would like to be a substitute kindergarten teacher.

 

Thomas would like to study up on geography in hopes of being able to find his stall some day.

 

Tony would like to improve himself while vacationing, and embark on an educational European river cruise.

 

Vaughn would like to stay up late, sleep late, and eat a lot, just like boys his age.

 

Baxter would like to be a goodwill ambassador for any charity so he can make friends with lots of new people.

 

 

Eddie and Klem would be off to Vegas together.

 

Heist would embark on a meditation schedule to improve his outlook.

 

Master of teaching pattern skills to wee ones, Hooper would take intensive dance lessons to become even more agile.

 

 

Panic would spring break at Holly’s house.

 

 

 

 

For those of you heading to exciting places, please be sure to let your instructor know when you’ll be off on adventures.

 

For those of you staying at home, it’s a great time to get in some extra lessons, or to get in make-ups from the past month. Remember, make-ups must be used within 30 days of the missed lesson. We have lots of options over the next couple of weeks.

 

Coming Up?

 

We’re currently accepting entries for the spring Knollwood Show on May 22-23.  Entry blanks and size sample shirts are available in the school barn.

 New this year? All payments will be handled on your in-house account!

 

We're ordering classic Knollwood jackets in misses and men's sizes through April 1.  For only $120, you can own the jacket that the cool kids of all ages are wearing. Best of all? Ordering is easy with forms in the school barn and billing to your account.

 

 

 

 

 

Our annual food drive starts on April 15.  Every Knollwood Kid who collects a minimum of five food kits is eligible to join a team for the Knollwood Olympics on May 15!

Food kits and $ equivalents are donated to the Food Pantry of Waukesha County. 

Not in the shopping mood? You can write a check to the Food Pantry of Waukesha County and give it to your favorite Knollwood Kid to turn in.  1 food kit = a $15 donation to the pantry.

 

We’re off to our first show of the season!

Both academy and show horses will be heading to Beyond Stable Farm in Woodstock, Illinois for the IASPHA Spring Show on April 16-18.

 

The Knockouts spring street cleanup is happening at 1:00 on Saturday, May 1 this year.  Save the date for fun with your friends, and making the barn neighborhood look wonderful for spring.

 

Please don’t forget to arrive 15 minutes early for your lessons. We want you to spend as much time with your horse as possible!

 

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