Yes, we’ve turned the iPad over to the lesson horses, who are the real stars of the show this weekend. We gave them a list of questions, and pasture leader Hugo assigned who should answer each.  

 

 

What’s with all the pattern classes on Friday?

Thomas here.

I’m proudly the current chairman of the pattern horse department.

We love patterns, and all the things they teach riders about horses’ minds and bodies.

We’re complicated creatures, and will do almost anything if a rider asks us in a way we understand. Sometimes, a rider will make a pattern look really simple, and sometimes communication gets a tad, shall we say, confuzzled, and the result looks more creative than correct.

We turn out riders who understand how we think, and how our bodies work. My department couldn’t be prouder of the riders we turn out.

 

 

What’s the Knollwood Challenge?

Baxter here.

As the holder of the corner office, and of the most wins in Knollwood Challenge history, I’m uniquely qualified to take this one.

The Knollwood Challenge is our own equitation final modeled after the UPHA Challenge Cup Final.

We hold qualifying classes at each show for both walk trot and walk trot canter divisions. Each qualifier features rail work and a predetermined pattern.

The riders who finish first and second in each qualifying class will advance to the final at the October show.

The finalists will ride railwork at the fall show, followed by a challenging pattern. The winner of the final receives a traveling trophy, and a custom show shirt from deRegnaucourt, who outfits our show barn riders.

 

 

What’s a maiden class?

Legend Sparky here.

It’s for riders who have never shown before, and we love it.

As the department head for the beginner horse group, we enjoy introducing new riders to the show ring. We sometimes ‘take the reins’ for riders who forget what to do next. My best employees work in most of the maiden classes, as they’re the experts in all things beginner.

Shout out to Fred, Pumpkin, Bilbo, Jelly, Hugo, and Hooper. Of course, I’ll be there in all splits, keeping an eye on my boys.

 

 

 

What’s the Premier walk trot division about, and why do these small riders compete in the BIG arena?

Academy star Cashew here.

This is a great set of classes, where we continue to educate riders who have shown away from home in the academy division.

These sometimes cocky young stars get to experience the big outdoor ring with all of its distractions such as cars on Oakwood Road, hawks overhead looking for lunch, and an enthusiastic crowd along the rail.

We get to challenge the riders in a safe environment as we continue to educate them in the ways of the show ring.

And, it’s great to not have to canter, too…

 

 

What’s the difference between horsemanship and equitation classes?

Jelly here.

First of all, I’m adorable. I am a little worried that the new guy Earl may give me a run for the money in the handsome department, but I digress.

Horsemanship is, unfortunately, not judged on how beautiful the horse is. Rather, it’s judged on what the rider does with the horse.

The rider should find the horse’s best speed to trot, keep his head up at an appropriate height for his or her build, and get the horse around the arena wisely.

Equitation is judged solely on the rider’s position and skills.

Body position is very important, because proper position is the most efficient way to ride a horse. If the rider is out of balance, so is the horse.

Riders are judged on those pesky diagonals, body position, use of the voice and bridle, and their ability to plan ahead.

 

 

What is a personal assistant?

Dear Sweet Leon here.

Personal assistants are the best.

They’re experienced riders who volunteer their time to take care of a lesson horse all day on Sunday.

They give us a spa treatment before the show, and are in charge of our tack changes, rider changes, and getting us in and out of the ring.

They keep us comfortable, making sure we have water breaks, are safe from flies, and even get baths during the day if it’s hot.

We couldn’t do it without these heroes.

 

 

Who’s Judging this affair?

Duke here. Really.

Jeni Burton-Kleba is handling judging duties for the weekend.

Jeni is a lifelong saddlebred exhibitor, and was my teammate in a game day event a couple of years ago.

This woman can RIDE, and I thoroughly enjoyed the time we spent together.

I think she’ll be looking for riders who really get the most out of their horses this weekend.

 

Who’s taking show pictures this weekend?

Pony Frank here.

All around Knollwood Kid and great photographer Hanna Agathen is capturing memories this weekend. She’ll be in the ring all three days, and she’s really great at catching moments that mere mortals could miss.

Oh, and she’s always had a great sense of humor, as evidenced in this camp pic of little Hanna.

Ha Ha Ha. Put the cone on the pony’s head.

I deserved it.

 

 

Who is the concession stand sponsor?

Sport here.

Knollwood Kid Shelby Hader has sponsored the concession stand in memory of her father Steve, who passed away earlier this year.

While she can’t be here this weekend as she’s enjoying a trip to Germany, she’d want to tell everyone to ride hard, and that you can do anything when you’re on a horse.

Former Knollwood equitation rider Shelby is a graduate of Lawrence University, and is currently a researcher at the Medical College of Wisconsin.

She is  an honorary member of the Tuesday night academy group, instructs when Ann is at horse shows, and took great care of me at the Summerfun horse show in July.

 

 

Hooper has been assigned the miscellaneous section, as it resembles his unique style of mental organization.

 

Parking lots will fill in fast. Our friends at the Kettle Moraine Curling Club have allowed us to use their parking lot for the show.

You can also park on Horseshoe Bend, but PLEASE do not park between the posted ‘No Parking’ signs unless you’d like to meet a Delafield Police officer.

Plus, it’s a scary blind turn in the best of times, and with all the pedestrian traffic this weekend, please use the curling club lot.

 

The concession stand and gift baskets all benefit the Knollwood Knockouts. The money is used to fund their charitable activities and their awards banquet.

I’m going to campaign for horse of the year for 2023!

 

Finally, from Pumpkin, who is everyone's friend:

Sportsmanship is the key ingredient to horse showing.

Compliment someone on their hair.

Thank someone for helping.

Answer questions, or find an adult who can.

Congratulate someone on their ride.

Applaud everyone.

Say something nice to the person next to you in the line up.

Pet your favorite lesson horse, or all of them.

Respect everyone.

Be grateful for the opportunity to surround yourself with these horses and riders.

Cheer for your favorite horses.

 

It’s not the ribbon, it’s the ride.

 

 

 

 

Team Knollwood has been busy. Really busy.

Let’s catch up on the latest adventures.

 

The IASPHA Summer show was a blast.

We always enjoy shows at Beyond Stable Farm, especially the ones held outside. We all enjoyed the huge, breezy outdoor arena, complete with lights for the evening performances.

The competition? It was deep, deep, deep.

Here are some of our favorite stories:

Jane and Fergie just keep getting better and better. At IASPHA, they won both their qualifier and championship.

Nacho continues his brilliant performances in the single bit division, earning a reserve championship with Kim.

Sofia and Emilie showed for the last time before heading off to college.

Sofia will be attending Macalaster College in St Paul, and Emilie will study at UW-Platteville.

 

Leighton and Thomas were stars in 10 and under walk and trot, even winning a pattern class of 14 riders of all ages.

 

 

 

We returned to Beyond Stable Farm the following Thursday for the Mid America Signature Show. Ten different academy stars showed in the glorious outdoor ring, and what a time we had.

Aubrey and Morgan traded off first and second places in the green walk, trot, and canter division.

 

 

Kylie made her show ring debut on Thomas, turning in consistently good rides at her first show. Her cool, calm, and collected self even earned the reserve championship in the green walk and trot division.

Leon traveled to the show, and was bright as could be. Judge Kraegel really liked him, awarding him great ribbons in some big horsemanship classes.

Most importantly, unicorn Leon got to meet a pink unicorn after the show. He was perplexed, to say the least.

 

 

 

 

This weekend, the academy team heads to the Ozaukee County Fairgrounds for the ASAW Summer Showcase.

Five Knollwood Kids will be making their debut at the show, held at the beautiful Ozaukee County Fairgrounds.

Please come join us!

 

What’s Coming Up?

Louisville, 2023

The World Championship Horse Show gets underway on August 19, and runs through the 26th. Held in historic Freedom Hall, the show features beautiful horses and ponies as well as champion equitation stars.

Knollwood will be well-represented, both in performance and equitation.

We’ll post the show schedule later, and you can purchase the webcast if you’d like to watch from home.

 

 

The Big One!

The Knollwood Summer Show gets underway at 6:00 PM on Friday, August 18, with the first of our pattern classes.

Saturday will feature our walk, trot, and canter riders as well as our premier and 11 and over walk and trot riders. The Saturday show will take place in the big outdoor ring, and will start at 10:00 AM.

Sunday we’ll see Knollwood’s leadliners, maiden riders, and the 10 and under walk and trot stars. The performance will start at 9:00 AM in the little outdoor ring.

 

We still have some classes available for sponsorship. For only $25, we’ll read your message to the crowd. It’s a nice way to honor a rider, a horse, an instructor, or …  Forms are available in the school barn.

We’re looking for volunteers for the concession stand, as well as set up and tear down. You can sign up here to fulfill your Knockout service hours.

 

Show packets are ready for pick up in the school barn lounge. Please remember to return your back number after the show so it can be used for future shows. We have a few riders with missing numbers.

The concession stand at the show is sponsored by Knollwood Kid Shelby Hader in memory of her father Steve who passed away earlier this year.

Judge for the show will be lifelong saddlebred enthusiast Jeni Burton-Kleba. Jeni has ridden her whole life, and has a great eye for horses and equitation. We’re excited that she can spend her weekend with us.

 

 

 

See you soon at the barn, or at the ingate!

 

 

 

One of the drawbacks to having experienced horses in your lesson program is that their years of being a horse eventually catch up with them.

Our hearts are heavy today, because Picasso’s many years of being a horse finally caught up.

Picasso was a registered Paint horse, officially known as Way Cool Willy.

He was a giant physically, intellectually, and in his understanding of the rider on his back.

Picasso would be gentle to the littlest tiny tots while he did his patented super slow jog trot, and he was thrilled to play games more enthusiastically than the other horses. In fact, he was such a ‘steal the crop’ enthusiast that he frequently took his rider onto the playing field even when it wasn’t their turn.

He taught countless riders to canter with his slow smooth lope, and he taught many kids how to be demanding when Picasso declared ‘steering optional’ days.

He was so smart that instructors had to avoid using words with a long ‘O’ in them, or Picasso would “whoa’ immediately. In his later years, he even took to stopping quickly when the instructor would start a sentence with ‘Let’s.’

Our giant would do anything for a mint, and took many a rider into his stall looking for food.

 

Most of all, Picasso loved being a horse, and did it well his whole life with us. He came as a three year old and worked at Knollwood for over 20 years.

Picasso was the rare lesson horse who could do almost anything. He loved the weight of Tiny Tots, had the slow jog to teach posting as well as bareback, and cantered as smoothly as any 1800 pound creature could.

He’ll be sorely missed.

Peace to you, Picasso.

You were well loved, and gave your riders so much to remember you by.

 

Since they do so much of the work, it’s only fair to give the lesson horses the chance to share their thoughts about Knollwood Summer 2023.

Here, in no particular order are summer musings from the best lesson horses in the world.

 

Fred:

My favorite part of summer is Wednesday afternoons. While the campers are having fun with the Soul Fire artists, I get to nap. I like to call it my Wednesday siesta.

 

Sparky:

My favorite thing about summer is all the grooming. I’ve never looked so good.

 

 

Bilbo:

I like the relaxed bathroom rules in the little outdoor ring. I’m not allowed to pee in the indoor arena, but the little outdoor is my personal urinal.

We decided no picture was needed. We know you can visualize yourselves.

 

Picasso:

The grass in center ring is delicious!

 

 

Jelly:

I LOVE pattern camps. They give me a chance to develop my latest pattern comedy routines.

 

Leon:

I love summers, but sometimes I have no idea what's going on. 

 

Hooper:

I love the Friday horse shows. I’m perfecting my ‘faraway look’ pose for the camera.

 

Hugo:

I’ve almost perfected the world’s slowest trot. Almost. I’m still practicing.

 

Poppy:

Camp is fantastic. I could do it in my sleep, and I sometimes do.

 

 

Pony Frank:

This is the best.

 

Pumpkin

Endless children. It’s perfection.

 

 

Mac:

I don’t like straight lines, and I really hope the kids don’t either.

 

 

Bee:

I often wonder exactly how many helpers there are.

 

 

Thomas:

Is there camp going on?

 

 

Duke:

Games are the best part of lessons. Can we play more?

 

 

The horses are having a great summer, and much thanks to everyone who has joined us for Knollwood Summer 2023, so far!

 

What's Coming Up?

 

IASPHA Summer Show

It's this weekend! Join us at Beyond Stable Farm in Woodstock for a sold-out show IASPHA style. We're looking forward to a great show with HUGE academy classes. Please come join us!

 

 

Mid America Signature Show

It's next Friday and Saturday, and we're back in Woodstock. We'll be there with 10 academy riders, and we hope you can join us.

 

 

ASAW Summer Showcase Show

Join us at the Ozaukee County Fairgrounds for an academy weekend on August 12 and 13.

We're looking for two volunteers on Saturday, and two on Sunday who would like to hand out subs at 11:00 AM each day. You can earn your Knockout service hours, and watch a show!

 

 

Knollwood Summer Show

August 18-20

It's the big one! Shirt packets will be ready for pick up shortly, and the complete schedule is on the school barn wall.

Please be sure to sign up for volunteer time, and/or gift baskets. It takes a big team to pull off a three day show, and we appreciate Team Knollwood's assistance.

 

 

 

 

The World's Championship Horse Show

Louisville, KY

August 19-26

It's Louisville time!

Team Knollwood will be in Freedom Hall competing with the best. 

 

 

 

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

 

 

There’s only one ASAW Summerfun Horse Show.

 

It’s close to home, the stabling and arenas are wonderful to use, and the management is so user friendly.

Team Knollwood was there in a big way, with 28 show horses before five more academy horses joined the crowd on Friday.

We had everything from the young horses that Lin has started  and showed for the first time to seasoned show stars like Bella’s horse Tyler who won the amateur 5 gaited amateur championship and Margit’s friend Charlie who won the 5 gaited show pleasure championship.

Our equitation riders were in great form, with Richie and Payton finishing 1-2 in the Saddle Seat Equitation final and Knollwood riders Maiya, Brooklyn, and Natalie finishing 1-2-3 in the pleasure equitation championship.

We sure have stories to share…

 

 

 

 

Nacho

Officially known as Trust Fund Blues, Nacho started out as well, a brat. He’s now officially a recovering juvenile delinquent, and boy is he a great guy.

To begin his recovery, Nacho did lessons for the show barn kids. A LOT of lessons.

Since realizing he could, in fact, control his behavior, and that life is a lot easier, he’s become a great asset to team Knollwood.

This adorable horse is a star in the single bit division, and he and Kim won their championship at Summerfun. Previously, they won a big championship class at FASH.

In addition to being a star in the single bit division, Nacho is an expressive academy star as well.

 

Lin’s Young Horses

Lin’s been working hard with Scott and Carol's young horses at the farm.

Robin has been a bit of a project, as she enjoys sharing her opinions with others. Lin had a fantastic ride with her in the Junior/Novice Park Pleasure class. They may not have ribboned, but Robin exhibited great behavior and looked cute as a button.

Ruby, officially registered as Blue Trust, was a beautiful star in her class. This talented young mare won her Junior/Novice Park class at Summerfun.

 

Frito has been a work in progress, and is really coming into his own. Hanna showed him, and earned a second place ribbon in the Wisconsin owned show pleasure class. He’s turned into a big, handsome pleasure horse with a bright future ahead of him.

 

 

Tori and Stella

This perfectly matched team added two more victories last weekend as they continue their march to Louisville.  Registered as Stella’s Stillettos, the beautiful, powerful mare loves Tori, who makes her very confident and comfortable in the ring.

They’re a pleasure to watch!

 

 

Photo by Hanna Agathen Photography

Academy Show Stars

The academy division was super competitive at Summerfun, as usual. Team Knollwood was there to compete.

Maddie and Sport won all three of their classes last weekend. It was Maddie’s last show before she heads off to the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay to play soccer, as she has done her whole life.

She and Sport are a perfect duo with competitive Maddie matching enthusiastic Sport step for step.

 

Kali and Leighton, our two walk and trot riders had spent the previous week at pattern camp. All of their extra saddle time paid off as these two small, but mighty riders competed like giants.

They met their goals, had a blast in the big arena, and had some nice ribbons to show for their efforts.

Congratulations to all of our academy riders who made us so proud.

 

 

Mentors to Academy Stars

Great thanks to Knollwood’s experienced show riders who volunteered their time to help the academy riders compete at the show.

These ladies took care of the best lesson horses ever, offered advice, triple checked clothing, headed walk trot riders, and encouraged riders to be their best.

We are grateful for their help.

 

 

Photo by Hanna Agathen Photography

 

Scholarship Sweep

Three of our riders who are heading off to college this fall received scholarships from the American Saddlebred Association of Wisconsin.

In a ceremony on Saturday night, these awards were presented to Tori, Sofia, and Emma.

These scholars grew up as Knollwood Kids, have spent hundreds of hours helping young riders at the barn, been active Knockout members, and have loved the best lesson horses in the world. (When they weren’t studying, of course,)

Congratulations, and we know we can't wait to catch up on all your college adventures when you return to Knollwood at Thanksgiving.

 

The Horsemanship Challenge

What an event!

Eighteen riders entered the UPHA Horsemanshp Chalenge, the final event of Friday night, including Knollwood riders Margit, Mia, and Natalie. The class is a true test of horsemanship, with 18 horses competing for spots, and all the teams are new to each other.

Each rider was assigned a donated horse (randomly, of course) and rode into the arena on that horse new to them. Knollwood donated Nacho, Sport, and Thomas for the event.

Eighteen riders were judged on railwork before Judge Parker made her initial cut to 10 riders.

Mia and Natalie made the cut to 10.

All three of the Knollwood horses made the cut, too.

After more work for the 10, Judge Parker picked four riders including Natalie. These riders then switched to another new horse, and went back to the rail.

After additional work, Natalie was named the winner of the whole thing!

We could not be more proud of Natalie’s work in that arena.

She received the traveling trophy from last year’s winner and barn mate Richie.

 

 

 

When people wonder why we have many different lesson horses, and why we do group lessons and advanced camps, this is why.

Congrats to everyone who competed in the grand event.

 

What’s Coming Up?

Knockout Meeting

July 22

1:00 PM

Show Barn Lounge

Join your fellow Knockouts in the lounge to prepare for the Knollwood Show, and more fun events.

 

 

Knockout Car Wash

Sunday, July 23

11:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Piggly Wiggly in Hartland

If you haven’t yet signed up, you can still join the fun. There’s no better way to earn your Knockout service hours!

 

 

IASPHA Summer Show

July 28-30

Beyond Stable Farm

Join us for another sold-out IASPHA show in Woodstock. It’s a fantastic show in a beautiful covered outdoor arena.

 

Mid America Signature Show

August 4-5

Beyond Stable Farm

We’re back at Beyond Stable Farm for a Friday and Saturday show. Please come cheer us on!

 

 

ASAW Summer Showcase

August 12-13

Ozaukee County Fairgrounds

It’s almost a home show! Come cheer on some new riders making their debuts in this park like setting at the Ozaukee County Fairgrounds.

 

 

Knollwood Summer Show

August 18-20

It IS a home show, and it’s going to be a great one.  Don’t forget to sign up to help with set-up, concessions, or donate to gift baskets.

We can hardly wait!

 

 

 

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