Forget about snow and cold, Knollwood Spring Show entries start this Monday, March 13!

Please note that we’re taking entries through April 1.

The show is being held May 12-14, and we can hardly wait! All our riders will be wearing lime green if the supply chain holds up!

 

The Friday night performance is for Knollwood Challenge qualifiers, and patterns, and will be held inside starting at 6:00 PM.

New for 2023, we’ll start the performance with our walk and trot riders so they can get home early to rest for the weekend.

The walk, trot, and canter pattern riders will show after the completion of the 10 and under pattern classes, probably around 7:00 PM. (Of course, don’t quote us on that!)

Pattern class entries are included on both the Saturday and Sunday entry blanks.

 

The Saturday performance will be held in the big outdoor ring, and will begin at 10:00 AM.

Saturday’s show starts with our walk, trot, and canter riders from the 10 and under rock stars to the ‘grownup’ riders.

Our 11 and over walk trot competitors will show after the completion of the walk trot and canter classes, and we’ll finish the day with our Premiere walk trot riders. This division is for our walk trot riders who have competed away from home.

 

The Sunday show will start at 9:00 AM in the little outdoor ring.

We’ll start with  the leadliners, possibly the best classes of the show.

The show will move on to our maiden riders, who are showing for the very first time. They’ll be followed by the 8 and under veteran show riders, and we’ll finish with the 9-10 year old walk and trot competitors.

 

 

A Few Notes About the Entry Process:

There are two types of entry forms, one for Saturday riders, and one for the Sunday competitors.

Your instructor is happy to help with horse selections. Remember to select horses that you’ve already ridden and are comfortable with riding.

If you haven’t included the show in your enrollment, we’ll bill your IClass Pro for the entry fees.

Be sure to try on the sample shirts so you get the perfect size. We don’t order extras.

There Are Five Entry Packages:

Leadline includes a qualifier and a championship.

Bronze includes a pleasure class, an equitation qualifier, and a championship.

 It’s for riders just starting out who aren’t ready for a pattern class.

Silver adds a Friday night to the rider’s schedule. Patterns are the best!

Gold adds a Knollwood Challenge qualifier to the Friday night events. You’re an accomplished Knollwood Kid when you reach this level!

 

As always, your instructor and the office admins are always happy to help with the forms. Your instructor is a big help with determining which package is right for you, and which horses will help you be successful for your current riding level.

We can hardly wait to start the in-barn show season!

 

What’s coming up?

March 13

Thomas’ Birthday

 

 

March 24

Sport’s Birthday

 

 

March 26

Curling with the Knockouts

 

March 29

Alex’s Birthday

 

March 30

Leon’s Birthday

 

April 1

Entries close for the Knollwood Spring Show

 

 

April 2

Photo Shoots with the Easter Bunny, AKA Jelly

 

 

April 9

No lessons, Happy Easter.

Your instructor will be in touch to reschedule.

 

 

April 15-16

IASPHA Spring Show

 

April 15

Beau’s Birthday

 

 

 

 

 See you soon at the barn!!

 

After new riders have finished their beginner groups or mini camps, many students start to ask how they can best progress their skills. Whether your goal is to ride at the Knollwood shows, to show in the academy division, or perhaps to make it to the show horse world, many of the principles are the same:

 

Ride!

Ride as often as you can.  The more saddle time you get, the faster you’ll solidify your skills. Consider adding a group lesson to your package, or adding another private lesson. Summer riding school is a great way to immerse yourself in the barn for a week with lots of riding every day.

Ride any horse you can. Don’t get hung up on riding ‘fancy’ horses. Often, the ‘less fancy’ horses offer unique challenges. Have you ever tried to get an incorrect lead with Picasso? Enough said.

Ride bareback. Ride in a saddle without your stirrups. Practice patterns. Ride in a game day. Any saddle time is wonderful for building your skills.

Ride makeup lessons with different instructors. Knollwood is fortunate to have many different instructors, and while they all teach the same skills, their methods, personalities, and delivery are quite different. Like horses, you can learn something from every instructor, and it’s fun to mix things up.

Be sure to come to your lesson 30 minutes early if you get your own horse ready, and 15 minutes early if you’re too young to do that.  Come in correct riding apparel with hair pulled back, and tie downs on your jods.

Be sure to mentally prepare to ride, and don’t let distractions of the day cloud your mind. Your horse will notice if you’re not paying attention.

Ask questions! If you’re not sure of a concept, or what you’re being asked to do, always feel free to ask your instructor to explain in a different way.

And, of course, leave enough time after your lesson to take care of your horse. Bathing, walking, grooming, and dressing your horse after a ride are all part of horsemanship. You can never spend too much time with your lesson partner.

 

Spend Time With Horses

Riding is only part of becoming a horseperson.

Spend time with the horses you ride. You’ll learn so much about them while grooming, tacking, and taking great care of your horse after your ride. Walking your horse out after a summer bath allows for quality time walking and talking with your horse.

We have several retirees in the school barn who love to spend time with people, and to be spoiled. Check with the barn manager, and see if you can groom one of them. Tink and Panic LOVE quality time with people.

Work on chores in the barn. Whether it’s cleaning up behind the slip stall horses, or watering the box stalls, you’ll learn all about how horses live.

 

PUT DOWN YOUR PHONE

Knollwood is a magical place with some of the best trainers in the country working in the arena. Knollwood Kids have the chance to watch them work show horses and teach lessons. You’re welcome to sit on the bench in the arena and watch lessons, and even ask questions when there’s time. In particular, Scott loves to explain what he’s doing with a horse and why.

While you’re at horse shows, watch classes and see what you can learn about the different divisions. See if you can follow the judge’s decisions. Better yet, participate in the junior judging programs offered at many of the local shows. It’s free to participate, and you get to ask the judge questions to learn more.

Help the newer riders you see around the farm. Everyone was once a beginner, and your help makes the new Knollwood Kids feel comfortable. Plus, you’ll feel more confident with your knowledge after you teach it to others.

Help out at the barn in structured situations, too. We’re frequently looking for help with mini camps, birthday parties, Welcome to Knollwood lessons, and summer camp. The more time you spend around horses, the more you’ll understand their world.

 

If you have any questions about moving forward with your riding, please talk to your instructor. They’re always happy to make a plan to achieve your goals.

 

What’s Coming Up?

 

Camp Enrollment is Open!

March 1

All sessions of our Tiny Tot and Summer Riding School are available on our website, www.KnollwodFarmLTD.com . You can also sign up by calling the school barn at 262-367-2391.

 

 

Entries Begin for the Knollwood Spring Show!

March 13

Entries will close April 1.

 

 

Knockouts Curling Outing

March 26

3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Knockout members are invited to cross the street to the Kettle Moraine Curling Club for a lesson. Curlers must be age 10 or older, and the younger members can enjoy some crafting activities while the older kids are on the ice.

The event is limited to 20 curlers, so please sign up soon in the school barn.

 

Easter Bunny Photo Shoots

April 2

Jelly will be posing in costume to raise funds for the Knockouts. You can sign up here for your photo session with Hanna Agathen Photography.

 

 

Parents Night Out

April 8

5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Join the Knockout officers and board members for some fun in the barn.

We’ll start signup soon!

 

Happy Easter!

April 9

We will not be holding lessons on Easter Sunday, and your instructor will help you schedule a makeup lesson.

 

 

 IASPHA Spring Show

April 15-16

Come cheer us on at our first show of the season. We’ll be at Beyond Stable Farm in Woodstock, Illinois for the weekend.

The facility is weatherproof, and we’re looking forward to a great show.

 

 

Academy Palooza 

May 5-6

We’re returning to Beyond Stable Farm for an academy show for some of our newer riders. Please join us!

 

 

Knollwood Spring Show

May 12-14

We’ll be celebrating the first in-barn show and Mother's Day over the weekend.

 

 

 

 

See you soon at the barn!

 

.

 

 

Photo by Hanna Agathen Photography

Last Saturday, Team Knollwood enjoyed it’s first in-person banquet in three years. While we were a little out of practice, the evening flowed beautifully. We can safely say that everyone was happy to be together in person to celebrate all things Knollwood.

We’ve done some thinking after the big event, and several big things came to mind.

Photo by Hanna Agathen Photography

 

The Knockouts Build Leaders.

The 2022 officers presented the year in review to more than 150 guests before handing the mic over to the 2023 management team. They presented their remarks with humor and composure.

In addition to their speeches, the teams met guests as they entered the ballroom and helped them find seats with friends, or introduced them to new friends, so everyone felt welcome.

 

Photo by Hanna Agathen Photography

The Knockouts build life-long friendships.

The Knockouts mission statement is ‘To support and promote equitation, horsemanship, and friendship through service to others.’

The banquet showcased riders of all ages for their accomplishments. The evening also showed how the older riders mentor the younger ones, and make everyone feel welcome, especially on the wild dance floor.

Several of our instructors were Knollwood Kids and remain friends with the riders they grew up with at the barn. Wedding parties are full of Knollwood friends, and many riders come back to the barn as friends when they’re finished with their college careers.

 

Photo by Hanna Agathen Photography

The Knockouts are Fierce Competitors

The Knockouts compete in the arena, but cheer for each other’s successes, and support each other in their struggles.

Competitors who rode hard against each other all season were cheering for everyone, and those who aren’t yet competing away from home were there screaming for the winners.

Everyone, from our in-barn leadline champs to our world champion equitation riders, was cheering for everyone else in attendance.

 

 

The Knockouts Are A Family Affair.

The banquet was a celebration of Knollwood families. We have the greatest parents around helping the club. Whether they’re grilling at the brat bash, running the concession stand at Knollwood shows, or cheering for all the Knollwood Kids at shows, they all contribute to the great opportunities for all the kids.

We’re glad we were able to offer them an evening of food, drink, and dancing for all their help.

 

 

Photo by Hanna Agathen Photography

The Knockouts Know How To Have Fun

Shocking, isn't it? Not!

After the awards presentations, the dance floor came to life with Knollwood Kids of all ages. If dancing wasn't your thing, or you wanted a little quieter amosphere for conversation, the bar area was full of parents mingling.

The DJ had to shut down the still full dance floor at the 11:00 PM closing time. 

 

 

 

Photo by Hanna Agathen Photography

Here’s a Brief Rundown of the Banquet by the Numbers:

158 people attended the banquet

 23 In-Barn High Point Championships were awarded

Photo by Hanna Agathen Photography

 20 Academy Awards were presented from the American Saddlebred Breeders Association

 14 Out of Barn High Point Championships were awarded

 11 Knollwood Challenge Finalists were recognized

 

 

  3 Overall High Point award winners were presented with embroidered vests.

  1 Horse of the Year Award was presented to Klem in absentia.

 

 

 

What's Coming Up?

We’re currently looking for indoor homes for some lovely cats whose owner has passed away. They’re from one of our instructor’s families, and we can vouch for the cats. Please talk to Ann if you can offer one of these pets a soft landing for an indoor life.

 

Knollwood Spring Show Entries Begin

March 13

We begin taking entries for the Knollwood Spring Show. We’ll take entries through April 1. If you don’t have the shows included in your enrollment, we’ll bill your account in April or May.

 

The Knockouts Go Curling

March 26

3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

All Knockouts age 10 and older are welcome to come to the Kettle Moraine Curling Club for a curling lesson. The club is right across the street from Knollwood.

Knockouts under 10 are welcome to come over and work on crafts while the older riders are on the ice.

The event is limited to 20 spots, so please sign up soon in the school barn lounge.

The Knockouts are paying for the event, so if you sign up, please be sure to come. We’ll have to bill any no shows, as we’ll be paying for 20 spots.

 

IASPHA Spring Show

April 15-16

Our first show of the season!

 

 

Photo by Hanna Agathen Photography

 

The Knollwood Spring Show

May 12-14

 

 

Spring Street Clean Up AND Knollwood Olympics

 June 10

 

 

 

See you soon at the barn!

 

 

 

 

 

Sure, more than 150 of us are heading to the banquet at the Legend at Merrill Hills on Saturday, but did you ever wonder what goes on at Knollwood when all the people are away for a bit?

 

The indoor school horses are betting on who will win the horse of the year election. The pool is, of course, being run by Klem, and the currency is flakes of hay. We expect to find a mess in the aisle on Sunday morning.

The outdoor lesson horses will be enjoying limitless hay and warm water in their pastures. Every night is a party for them!

Dogs and cats are holding their own party in Carol’s office where we think the copy machine will be the center of the festivities. (Don’t worry, all the computer passwords have been safely secured. This isn’t Lin’s first rodeo …)

The kittens seem to be obsessed with making copies of themselves, and Hazel in particular is happy to help.

Richmond is pretty much terrified of the copier, so he’s choosing to enjoy the evening in the cooler cubbie.

 

For the humans joining us for the 25^th annual Knockout banquet, we have a few helpful reminders:

Social time starts at 6:30 PM, with dinner at 7:15 PM.

Most riders dress up while parents are a little more reserved in their attire.

If you haven’t already paid your 2023 Knockout dues, please fill out a membership envelope with your cash and drop it in the payment box in the school barn lounge. We will not be taking money at the banquet.

 

 

What’s Coming Up?

Current Student Camp Sign Up

Through February 28

That's right, through February 28, surrently enrolled students can sign up for the summer riding school session of their choice.  We'll offer the remaining spots to the public starting on March 1.

Please talk to your instructor or office admin before the end of February.

Spots are going fast, with the second week of Knollwood Show Prep camp already sold out.  You don't want to miss out on the summer tradition!

 

February 25

Academy Measuring

 Trish is coming for academy measurements. The schedule day is full, but if you’d like to meet with her at another time, please talk to Ann. Trish works out of her home and is happy to meet you there.

 

 

March 5

Baxter’s Birthday

 

March 13

Thomas’ Birthday

 

March 24

 Sport’s Birthday

 

March 26

Knockout Curling Outing

3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Join them at the Kettle Moraine Curling Club for a curling lesson and lots of fun.

 

March 29

Alex’ Birthday

 

 

 

March 30

Leon’s Birthday

 

April 9

Easter, No Lessons.

Your instructor will contact you to schedule a make-up.

 

 

April 15-16

IASPHA Spring Show

Our first show of the season!

 

 

 

See you at the barn!

 

 

With all the fun happenings at Knollwood this winter, it’s time to catch up on a few things before we hit show season prep full on!

 

Early Summer Riding School Enrollment for Current Riders

Through February 28, riders currently enrolled in our program can sign up for their summer riding school sessions before the camp becomes available to the public on March 1.

Camp fees will be charged to your IClassPro account on your March statement.

And, we have two weeks of KF Show Prep camp this year!  Riders enrolled in these special weeks will pay for their show at the time of camp signup.

Please talk to your instructor or admin to join the summer adventures!

 

 

Please Check Your Lesson Attire

Because we want our riders to progress and remain safe and comfortable, we instituted clothing requirements for 2022.

After three months of lesson enrollment, all riders are required to wear their own jods with tie downs, jod boots, a fitted shirt, your own helmet, and gloves. Long hair should be pulled back into a pony or braid.

Riders learn better when they’re dressed properly in well fitted riding clothes.

Here are a few helpful links to products we really like:

Jods

Freedman

Kerritts

 

Boots

Freedman

Riding Sport

 

Gloves

 

Helmets

Ovation Deluxe Schooler

Ovation Extreme

Please talk to your instructor with any questions. They’re always happy to help.

 

 

 

What Associations Should I Join for 2023?

We’re looking forward to attending 12 academy shows in 2023. Most of the shows are sponsored by Saddlebred charter clubs, whose members and boards work tirelessly to promote lesson programs and the breed. These groups rely on membership fees to support their promotional work and the shows that they run.

Associations require show exhibitors to join their organizations to help with their work.

The associations may sound like alphabet soup at first, so here’s the simplified version.

 

ASHBA is the national organization, The American Saddlebred Horse and Breeder’s Association. All academy riders should be a member of this organization, which promotes the breed and offers the Academy Award Program.

You can join here for 2023.

 

 

ASAW is the American Saddlebred Association of Wisconsin, our state’s charter club, which is a member of ASHBA.

They promote the breed in Wisconsin, and run the Summerfun Show at State Fair Park each July.

Their annual awards banquet is held each spring, and is March 4 this year.

You must be a member if you’re showing at Summerfun, and we suggest you join to support their work in Wisconsin. Knollwood is well represented on the board, with Scott and Jane members. Please speak to either of them if you have any suggestions for new activities, or if you’d like to help at events.

You can join here.

 

The Illinois American Saddlebred Pleasure Horse Association, or IASPHA,  runs a series of wonderful ‘B’ and academy shows at Beyond Stable Farm through the year. These well-run shows are favorites for their array of classes, good competition, great management, and wonderful judges.

Their annual awards banquet is a Sunday brunch around Thanksgiving each year.

You must be a member if you’re showing at any of the IASPHA shows in 2023, and you can join here.

 

The Mid-America Horse Show Association, or MAHSA, is a charter club serving the Chicago area.

They run three shows a year, and our academy team attends their Signature Show held outdoors at Beyond Stable Farm each summer.

Their annual awards banquet is held each February in Illinois.

You must be a member if you’re showing at the Signature show, and you can join here.

 

Please talk to Ann or Nancy with questions or for clarification of this alphabet soup of organizations.

 

 

 

What’s Coming Up?

Academy Demo Night

This Saturday, February 11 at 6:00 PM

All new academy riders for 2023 are required to attend, and anyone who'd like a refresher is welcome to join the event. We'll meet in the arena.

 

 

25^th Annual Knockout Banquet

Saturday, February 18 at 6:30 PM

The Legend at Merrill Hills

We can hardly wait. We'll finish lessons at 2:00 PM so we can get the venue ready for the celebration of all things Knollwood. We hope to see you there!

 

 

Academy Tailor Visit Day

Saturday, February 25 from 10 AM to 3 PM

 

 

Easter Sunday

Sunday, April 9

No lessons will be held. Your instructor will be in touch to schedule a make-up.

 

 

 

IASPHA Spring Show

April 14-16

Our first academy show of the season!

 

AcademyPalooza

May 5-6

Please come watch our academy team compete at the show at Beyond Stable Farm!

 

 

 

Knollwood Spring Show

Friday – Sunday May 12-14

 

 

 

See you soon at the barn!