• Ready For The Banquet?

    0 comments / Posted by Ann Wilt

    The Knollwood Knockouts banquet is a storied event with a rich past. For more than 25 years, Team Knollwood has been gathering to celebrate the accomplishments of both the lesson program and the show horses.

     

     

    The Knockouts can hardly wait to celebrate all things Knollwood on Saturday night, February 19.

    In the interest of keeping everyone safe, we’ll be hosting the banquet with a limited in-person audience via Facebook Live.

    In attendance will be Knollwood staff, Knockout officers and board members, and 25 lucky people who are willing to bid for their seats. The opening bid to join the ‘studio audience’  is $25 per seat, and the auction will run through February 12.  We’ll notify the winners on February 14, and payment can be made to the Knockouts with cash or a check made out to them.

     

    Once again, we’re offering nifty party packs for our friends watching from the comfort of their own homes.

     

    For $15, the kids party bag will include:

    Sparkling juice

    A plastic champagne glass

    A snack

    Candy

    Bubbles!

     

    For $20, the Adult version will include:

    Prosecco

    Charcuterie

    Chocolate

    Plastic champagne glass

    Snack

    Bubbles!

     

    Paid orders are due February 12, and bags will be available for pickup February 14-18.

     

     

     

    We have a grand event planned.

    2021 President Heather will review 2021 before new Knockout leaders Emma, Hanna, and Margit will announce their plans for the upcoming year, and then Susan will deliver her always enlightening treasurer’s report.

    We’ll be  presenting 38 high point awards for both in-barn and out-of-barn academy stars, and we’ll honor our show barn mentors as well.

     

    Knollwood academy riders have earned 18 academy awards from the Saddlebred Horse Association, and we’ll recognize those achievements, too.

     

     

    Our 2021 slide show is in progress, and we’ll show it in the arena while the Facebook live audience will receive a link to watch from home.

     

    Of course, we’ll introduce the winner of our ‘2021 School Horse of the Year’ election, and it’s a doozy.

     

     

    We’re pretty sure Scott is already working on his “State of the Farm’ speech, and it’s always a ‘must see and hear’ event.

     

     

    We hope you can join us for an action-packed evening of all things Knollwood!

     

    What’s coming up?

     

    In-House Academy Consignment Sale

    Saturday, February 5

    Show Barn Lounge

    Has the rider in your house outgrown their show outfit from last year? Are you looking for an outfit for the 2022 season? Bring in your old clothes, and you can sell them in-house with no commission, and help outfit another team member.  Plus, Jodi will be there with bling and ties!

    We’ll update soon with hours, and how to enter your items in the sale.

     

    Patchwork Pony Road Show

    8:30 AM – 4:00 PM

    Saturday, March 12

    Hilton Garden Inn, Oconomowoc

    The Patchwork Pony is coming with their wonderful customer service, and a terrific supply of academy clothing. Professional horse show mom Sue will be there at 8:30 AM to help Knollwood Kids create the perfect look for 2022.

     

     

    Academy Demo Night

    7:00 PM

    Saturday, February 26

    All new academy show riders should plan on attending our action packed evening of demonstrations, refreshments, and fun.

     

     

    IASPHA Spring Show

    April 9-10

    Beyond Stable Farm

    Our first academy show of 2022!

     

    Parents’ Night Out

    Saturday, April 16

    6-8 PM

    Save the date while our Knockout officers plan an Easter themed event.

     

     

     

    See you soon at the barn!

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  • 2022, Here We Come!

    0 comments / Posted by Ann Wilt

     

    Happy 2022!

    Sure, parts of 2021 were, well, challenging. 

    Luckily, all of Team Knollwood had many friends for company, beautiful horses to spend time with, and so many adventures along the way.

    We’re ready for new experiences and stories for 2022, and here are seven things we’re looking forward to!

     

     

    The Virtual Banquet

    Sure, Covid may still be changing things around us, but it can’t keep us from celebrating all the fun we fit into 2022.

    We’re taking to Facebook Live at 7:00 PM on Saturday, February 19 to honor all of our academy high point winners, our ASHBA academy award winners, our show barn mentors, and of course, to announce the winner of the school horse of the year election. 

    To top it all off, we’re putting together a fabulous slide show, and Scott is preparing his annual ‘State of the Farm’ speech.

    You really won’t want to miss this!

     

     

    Photo by Hanna Agathen

    Knollwood Shows

    We’re going back outside! 

    We’re already picking shirt colors and contacting judges for busy home show season. 

    Our home season starts with our Spring show on May 14-15, our Summer show will be held August 20-21, and our final show of 2022 will be October 8-9.

    We’re thinking of hosting pattern classes and Knollwood Challenge qualifiers on the Friday nights before the shows to shorten the other two days as well. We can hardly wait!

     

     

     

    New Show Barn Combinations 

    Our show barn team has been busy putting together new horse and rider combinations for the 2022 season.

    Their first announcement was that Maiya is leasing Riddle this year, and that’s just the start.  Stay tuned for more news for 2022!

     

     

     

     

     

    Photo by Hanna Agathen

    New Academy Stars

    We’re thrilled to announce that we have more than 10 new riders joining our academy team showing away from home this season.  Some riders will be making their debuts at the Academypalooza show in April, and the rest will join throughout the season.

     

     

     

     

     

    Summer Riding School 

    Knollwood Summer 2022 is coming!

    Our first ever camp pre-sale is starting January 15 and runs through January 30.  All enrolled students currently taking lessons are eligible to sign up for summer riding school before the dates are announced to the public. 

    This summer, we’re offering three weeks of traditional summer riding school, two weeks of Knollwood show prep camp, three weeks of Tiny Tot Camp, and three weeks of invitational pattern camp in addition to our sold out Summer Showcase Prep Camp.

    Please talk to your instructor who will help you select the camp that fits the rider(s) in your house. You can sign up with the office admin at the desk, or with your instructor. Camps will be billed to your account.

     

     

    The Adventures of Richmond

                      Just this week, Richmond had his nails trimmed, and he put on a dramatic performance that deserved an Oscar nomination.

    Over the past year, he’s ridden school horses, hunted countless mice and birds while only regurgitating some of them on instructors’ belongings, spent many hours on the bench in the arena during lessons, and lost his bones several thousand times. 

    What will he do this year???

     

     

     

     

    The Education of Honey Bee

    Since she came in, Bee has made great progress to becoming one of the best lesson horses in the world. She’s doing group and private lessons, is working on patience and her patterns, and is preparing for the challenge and fun of pattern camp 2022.

     

     

    What’s Coming Up?

     

    Saddle Rentals

    Due December 31, 2021

     

     

     

    Photo by Hanna Agathen

    Midwest Saddleseat Consignment

    Friday, January 7

    7-9 PM

    Hilton Garden Inn, Oconomowoc

     

     

     

    Photo by Hanna Agathen

    Patchwork Pony Consignment Show

    Saturday, March 12

    8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

    Hilton Garden Inn, Oconomowoc

     

     

    Knollwood Virtual Banquet

    Saturday, February 19

    7:00 PM

    Facebook Live from the arena

     

     

     

    Academy Demo Evening

    Saturday, February 26

    7:00 PM

    Knollwood’s Arena

     

     

     

     

    See you soon at the barn!

     

     

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  • Happy 2022!!

    0 comments / Posted by Ann Wilt

    Happy 2022!

     

    The best lesson horses in the world have spent the past few weeks reflecting on their wishes and hopes for the new year. In the past, they’ve worked on New Year’s resolutions, but judging by Fred’s continued weight challenges, and Hugo’s continued anti-social behavior with his next door neighbor Picasso, the resolutions have not been kept.

    So, in alphabetical order, so as not to make anyone feel slighted, here are the wishes of Knollwood’s finest:

    Baxter would like a sun lamp in his stall so he gets plenty of vitamin D on days when he can’t get out.  He’d also like everyone to remember all the great lesson horses who have gone before, especially Sundance and Dudley, who were great friends as Baxter was becoming one of the gang.

     

     

    Bee is grateful to have landed at Knollwood, and is wishing for a 2022 full of more learning and more quality time with her teachers, our up and coming academy stars. She’d like to make it to a show or two, also!

     

    Big Frank is always looking for ways to improve himself. He’d like to steal the lesson horse iPad and enjoy some of ‘The Great Courses’ online. If he can’t get enough screen time, he’d like to learn more about landscaping so he can dig some interesting shapes in his stall. A berm, perhaps?

     

    Cashew would like some new colors for his fleece covered cribbing collar. Periwinkle IS the color of the year, you know!

     

    Dexter would like more wee pattern riders. He enjoys teaching them the ins and outs of circles, and really loves to use his patented ‘speed racer’ timing when they least expect it. Of course, he’d also like to attend more outdoor shows where his perfect coloring shines in the sun!

     

    Photo credit Hanna Agathen

    Duke would like padding installed on the arena walls so he’s more comfortable as he leans into them. If Scott nixes the arena padding idea, he’d appreciate some game days this year so he can show his competitive nature. 

    Really. Just ask Hanna.

     

     

    Eddie loves being a horse every day, even though we all know he’s so much more. He would like more pattern camps, especially in the big outdoor ring where he can power down the rail showing off for the broodmares. Match.com might not be a bad idea either for this fantastic ladies man.

     

    Photo credit Hanna Agathen

    Happy Jack is just thrilled to be a Knollwood Kid. He’d like to receive more credit for his great moves in the arena, especially his stopping ability. Oh, and he’d prefer if we removed all the crops from the farm and slow life down a little bit. You know, we should all enjoy his slow pace.

     

    Hooper would like the entire world to convert to front clothing items for everyone. Yes, everyone.  That way, there can be NO confusion about him getting a dreaded ‘over the head’ article of clothing in his wardrobe.

     

    Hugo would like Ken to change the width of the bars on the walls between stalls. He’d like to spend less time aiming at Picasso’s feed bin, and this would make it so much easier.

    If Ken is too busy, Hugo would settle for an extra week of vacation.

     

     

    Jelly would like all of his friends to stop grooming his mane. Even he realizes that he’s starting to look like a mullet man, and it’s getting a little embarrassing. If they won’t lay off, he’ll have to beg Carol for hair extensions, and he’s afraid to ask.

     

    Klem would like world peace.

    Realizing that may be a big ask, he’d settle for daily spa treatments, invitations to lunch with the pattern campers every day, and an unlimited supply of baby carrots.

     

     

    Photo credit Hanna Agathen

    Leon is upset that Klem asked for world peace before he had the chance.

    Always thinking of others, dear sweet Leon wishes that in 2022, next door neighbor Thomas figures out the location of his stall. At a minimum, he’d like Thomas to get that first left turn down.

     

    Photo credit Hanna Agathen

    Lil Frank wishes to squash the stereotype that all ponies are evil. Heck, Little Frank is a winner with tiny tots, beginning bareback riders, beginner canterers, and enjoys time with the more advanced riders knocking over cones and playing games.

     

    Photo credit Hanna Agathen

    Mac would like guard rails installed in the arena so he’s not constantly tempted to go to the middle.  Realizing that Scott may not be a big fan of school horse ‘bumpers,’ Mac would settle for a date with Bee.

     

    Murphy would like mirrors on the walls of his stall so he could admire himself all the time. If Ken isn’t up to mirror installation for a horse, Murphy would settle for a small, lighted make up mirror mounted near his door. But Ken, this WOULD require an electrical update...

     

     

    Photo credit Hanna Agathen

    Nigel enjoys Knollwood shows, and would really like to feel that thrilled about life every day.

     

    Picasso would like a new neighbor, or at least a solid wall on the side facing Hugo. Also, he’d like more game days!!

     

    Sparky has reached full Zen enlightenment and wouldn’t change a thing.

     

    Sport reports that he’s happy as can be, and is most thankful for his vet work that makes him feel like Superman. He wants to go to all the shows he can in 2022, and to learn all he can from his retired brother Callaways Don’t Panic as they reminisce about their Dad, Callaway's Blue Norther.

     

    Thomas would like to enter therapy and work through his fear of towels on the ground. It’s holding him back from enjoying games of ‘Musical Towels' and it's officially called apollophobia, He looked it up.

     

    Vaughn would like to outlaw scary white lights during the holiday season. Although, he does admit that he enjoys messing with his students while pretending to be afraid of the lights. If the lights are removed, he promises to find something else to overreact to.

     

    These two insisted on adding their wishes…

    Hazel wishes that everyone is happy every day of 2022.  If you’re having a problem with this, she’s always available for therapy.

     

    Richmond wishes for lots of bird hunting time, and he will try his best not to puke the remnants on instructors’ belongings in the lounge.

    He’d also like to earn his yoga instructor certification, and to spend more time in the arena with Hazel, and with all the Knollwood Kids in the barn.

    He shared two words, ‘BLANKET TOSSING!’

     

     

    It’s been a challenging year in the world, and everyone at Knollwood is grateful for many things.

    Our customers are the best, offering us friendships, support, and countless laughs. Thank you for trusting us with your riding educations, and with your beautiful horses.

    We wish everyone a healthy, happy 2022 full of adventures, and of course, horses.

     

     

    Photo credit Hanna Agathen

    See you soon at the barn!

     

     

     

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  • It's Almost New Year's!

    0 comments / Posted by Ann Wilt

    Team Knollwood is enjoying a shortened holiday week with college kids dropping in while we enjoy some time to recharge our batteries.

     

    The lesson horses are using their days off to work on their New Year’s Resolutions which they’ll share shortly. 

    While we’re enjoying our break, we’re really looking forward to getting ready for show season 2022!

     

     

    The Clock is Ticking!

    Remember that December 31 is the final day to pay Knockout dues for 2022 to receive a ballot for school horse of the year. Polls will stay open until midnight! Richmond will shut down the election at the stroke of midnight. He says …

    Our deal of the year, 10% off gift certificates, also ends at midnight on December 31. Please use promo code Holiday2022 to get your 10% off your enrollment fees. 

    All enrollment changes are also due on the 31st. Be sure to talk to your instructor if you haven’t already!

     

     

    It’s Shopping Time!

    We’ll start our show shopping on Friday night, January 7 with Jen from Midwest Saddleseat Consignment. She’ll be set up at the Hilton Garden Inn in Oconomowoc for our private shopping hours from 7-9 PM. The sale opens to the public on Saturday morning, so we can pre-shop before the crowds hit. 

    Patchwork Pony is also coming to the neighborhood, and will be set up at the same hotel on Saturday, March 12.  She’ll be open for business at 8 AM, and equitation mom extraordinaire Sue Berget will be there to help our stars shop for the perfect outfit.

     

     

     

    Customer Camp Pre-Sale!

    From January 15-30, currently enrolled customers can purchase their summer camp sessions before they're offered to the public starting on February 1. 

    Look for flyers at the farm with the session dates so you can find the camp and dates that are right for the rider in your house.

    All camps will be added to your account at time of purchase to reserve your spot.

     

     

    Academy Demo Night

    All of our academy riders are invited to an informational night of demos and discussion about our upcoming season. We’ll have demonstrations in the arena with current academy riders in their show attire, and we’ll have riders and parents on hand to answer any questions.

    Please RSVP in the school barn lounge.

    Of course, we’ll serve refreshments.

     

     

     

    Please add your 'Riding Resolution' to the bulletin board in the school barn lounge!

    We can hardly wait to see the lesson horses' 2022 resolutions soon, too.

    We'll also have many more new show horse and rider teams to announce soon!

     

     

    Team Knollwood wishes all of our friends a happy and healthy New Year!!

     

    See you soon at the barn!

     

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  • It's Almost Holiday Time!

    0 comments / Posted by Ann Wilt

    Knollwood Kids are finishing up school before their school break, parents are running around putting the finishing touches on holiday celebrations, our Knollwood college kids are coming home, and everyone is trying to stay healthy.

    It’s almost holiday time!

    Just a reminder that Knollwood will be closed December 24, 25, and 31, and January 1.

    RIchmond will be guarding the place.

     

     

     

    We still have lots of fun things to look forward to, so here’s a quick catch-up!

     

    The Polls Are Still Open!

     

    Knollwood Knockout members can pay their 2022 dues and vote for School Horse of the Year through December 31.  The winner of this coveted award will be announced at our banquet on February 19. Be sure to vote for the horse who stood out in 2021!

     

    Gift Certificates are 10% off!

    You still have time to purchase Knollwood gift certificates at 10% off.  Through December 31, the discount will be applied when you use promo code Holiday2022 on our website.

    All purchases for currently enrolled students will be applied directly to their account!

    It’s the perfect gift for any Knollwood Kid!

     

     

    Enrollment Updates Are Due.

    Planning on joining our academy team this season? Be sure to meet with your instructor to update your enrollment info for 2022. We can hardly wait for show season.

     

     

    2022 Riding Resolutions Coming Up!

     Our annual 'Riding Resolutions' bulletin board is going up soon.  Start thinking about your riding goals for the new year so you can tell yours to the world!

     

    Midwest Saddleseat Consignment is Coming!

    Jen from MSSC is coming to the Hilton Garden Inn in Oconomowoc on Friday night, January 7. Knollwood’s special private shopping hours are from 7-9 PM before the sale opens to the public on Saturday.

    Please join us to update or start your show wardrobe. Ann and Carol will be there to help.

     

     

     

    Academy Showing Extravaganza

    Saturday, February 26 at 7:00

    Join us in the arena for a fun filled evening with academy stars and their parents to learn all about showing away from home.  If you're joining our academy team for 2022, this evening is all for you.  Please sign up in the school barn lounge so we can be prepared with refreshments for all!

     

     

    See you soon at the barn!

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