Congratulations to Emma on making the jump from academy showing to the show horse world!

Emma will be hitting the ring this season on Impressive Asset, known around the barn as Fergie. Owned by the Wenzel family, this expressive mare is a champion of teaching riders the ways of a show horse.

 

Emma has been riding at Knollwood for five years, and has become an integral part of Team Knollwood. 

The one and only Distinguished Mark gave Emma her first riding lesson at Knollwood, and the rest is history. She’s had an accomplished academy show career, learning lessons from Baxter and the boys and finished it up last season by showing show barn lesson horse Alex (AKA Perilous) under the direction of Scott and Carol.

She’s currently Co-President of the Knollwood Knockouts, and has been a legendary Tuesday helper for many years, teaching lots of young horse kids the ways of a Knollwood helper.

Pattern camps have changed her life, and her favorite game on horses is ‘Steal the Crop.’

Emma is very excited about her big move, and is grateful to her parents, Rick and Pam.

We can’t wait to see Emma and Fergie enter the ring this spring!

It’s a milestone in the history of Knollwood Farm, LTD as Willy has chosen to retire from the lesson program. 

At 33 years young, Willy has decided to join Brinkley and Sundance as a pensioner.

Born in South Dakota, and officially registered in the American Quarter Horse Association as Dakota’s Diamond Sam, this grand gentleman has been an important part of the lesson program for an incredible 30 years.

Willy, AKA 'The Golden Sofa,' is known for his patented super slow jog trot which has taught literally thousands of riders to post.

Heck, he's taught three generations of the Kellner-Van Hecke and Honkamp families!

While he was FAST in his younger days, he’s chilled out and become a legendary tiny tot instructor.

He’s also mellowed out to tolerate fly spray, spritz bottles of ‘magical drying spray,’ cats napping on his back, and even Scott shoeing him.

Willy will spend the rest of his days chilling with Brinkley, enjoying sun on his back during the day, and endless attention from all his former students.

And yes, he’ll still help at camp for grooming and tacking demos if he’d like. 

His days are his alone to schedule.

We thank you, Willy, from the bottom of our hearts for all you’ve done for all of us.

We’ll give you a happy, relaxed retirement with complete spoiling and, of course, all the benefits due the best lesson horses in the world.

 

Enjoy your well earned restful days, Willy.

Your lessons have changed the lives of many, many Knollwood Kids.

 

Well, well, well ...

Didn't Scott and Carol pick the perfect time to head to Florida?

Hope you’re all enjoying the Wisconsin heat wave when 15 degrees feels downright balmy!

We’re excited that spring is on the way, as evidenced by the start of shedding season. Be sure to ask the helper in your house about the joys of the season!

We have a lot coming up in the next couple of months, so let’s make sure everyone’s up to date.

As you can tell, Knollwood is a pretty busy place these days. Please be sure to arrive 15 minutes early for your lesson so the helpers can assist you in getting to the arena so your lesson can start on time. If you get your own horse ready, please be in the arena at least 5 minutes before the start of your lesson.

 

 

If you’re going to watch the Knockouts Virtual banquet from home, be sure to order your swag bag by this Saturday, February 20 at 1:00 PM.

 

 

And, if you’d like to help the Knockouts and watch the events in person, be sure to enter the seat auction going on in the school barn lounge.  For a minimum $50 donation to the youth group, you can join the Knockout officers in the arena and help with the festivities if you’d like!

Act soon, as we only have 20 seats to auction!

 

 

 

The Patchwork Pony Road Show is this Saturday from 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM at the Comfort Suites Johnson Creek Conference Center. Sue, mom of our 2018 Triple Crown winner Haley will be there from 8:30 - 10:30 AM to help you shop, and she'd love to meet you!

 

 

If you’d like to know why we love academy showing so much, be sure to join us for the Academy Show demo night on Saturday, March 6. We’ll meet in the arena to watch demos by experienced Knollwood academy stars, and you can ask questions of riders and parents, as well as learn our 2021 schedule.

It’s a really kid friendly event, and not as fact dense as the first meeting.  Please bring the interested rider(s) in your house!

You can sign up in the school barn.

We’ll schedule individual meetings in March as well.

 

 

 

Our first academy show for 2021 is the IASPHA Spring Show on April 17 and 18 at Beyond Stable Farm in Woodstock, Illinois. One of our favorite shows, it features academy classes for all levels, including a ‘Green’ division for riders participating in their first calendar year of showing.

We can hardly wait for the season to begin!

 

 

 

Our first Knollwood show of 2021 is coming up outdoors on May 22-23. We’ll start taking entries on March 22, and entries will close on  April 19 to make sure our show shirts are ready in time.

 

 

 

Summer camps are selling fast, and we already have three sessions sold out.  Please make your purchases quickly to avoid disappointment.  Of course, please give us a call at 262-367-2391 with questions!

Knollwood Summer 2021 is coming fast, and we hope you’ll join us!

 

And don't forget to drop any and all questions in the tin. We have some great submissions so far, and would love to hear all your questions, and answer them in future blogs.

 

 

See you at the barn!

Valentines Day is coming up this weekend, so we thought we’d talk to the lesson horses about their views.  We asked them who their Valentines were, but being the lady and gentlemen that they are, most declined to name an individual person.  Rather, most of the best lesson horses in the world named groups of people, or inanimate objects.

Here, in mostly alphabetical order, are the lesson horses’ Valentines for 2021.

 

Big Frank, occupant of the first stall on the right, is in love with his stall location.  It allows him to see all the comings and goings of the barn, and allows him to become personally invested in said events.

Duke loves playing games. While he’s usually, well, slow beyond belief in lessons, he becomes a different horse as soon as games start. He has been known to score all of a team’s points in games of ‘Steal the Crop,’ which is more than amazing if you’ve ever seen him in a lesson.

Fred loves round bales, especially for napping when the sun is out.

 

Hugo loves his new role as a walk trot star. Our gentle giant loves his slow trots and small children best of all.

Jelly loves Laser Sheen, his favorite hair polish which keeps his long flowing locks free of dreaded tangles.

 

Leon couldn’t name a single thing that he loves the most. Our ‘dear, sweet Leon’ loves all his people, loves giving lessons, and loves being a Knollwood lesson horse.

 

Little Frank loves warm weather, when the frightening arena heater isn’t making all that noise. (All the other lesson horses wish that the pony would just get over it.’)

Mac loves his farrier Scott, who makes sure he always has ‘happy feet’ for his lessons.

 

Mark loves small children. In case you don’t know, Mark is less than brilliant. We wonder if he even knows he’s carrying a rider, or if he thinks he’s just getting his steps in.

 

Picasso is in love with early afternoon naps. What’s better than a nap after lunch?

 

Sparky loves staying in at night. It keeps his energy up in the arena, and gives him quality discussion time with senior greats Willy and Brinkley.

Sundance may be retired from lessons, but he loves spending time in the pasture with his crew. He still holds the title of ‘Master of the Pasture.’

Thomas loves the Knollwood lesson horse medical plan. As an employment benefit, he feels super comfy after spring joint injections. He’s looking forward to show season 2021!

Tony seconds Thomas’ choice. After a tendon injury this winter, Tony is enjoying stall rest in the stall that everyone must pass on their way into the barn. He’s happy to nicker at EVERYONE who passes, hoping for some quality time with his peeps, or a snack, or another spa treatment.

Vaughn is still a growing boy, and really loves naps. He also loves teaching some of our smaller, up and coming riders.

Willy loves winter recess in the arena with his retired friend Brinkley.

 

Brinkley loves spending his retirement with best friend Willy.

 

Baxter loves his corner office, and loves greeting everyone who gets a tour of Knollwood.

Cashew loves stall visitors, especially those who arrive to give him a spa treatment.

Dexter is in love with introducing fierce small riders to Saddlebreds. He gives them their first ride on a high headed horse that aims to please.

Eddie loves recess time outside with wise men Willy and Brinkley. He also loves pattern camps where he shows off his second to none pattern teaching skills.

Heist loves Laura.

 

Hooper loves his personal assistants who understand his fear of ‘over-the-head’ blankets.

 

Klem loves showing small new academy stars the ways of a savvy, highly intelligent Morgan who keeps them safe and challenged. A little.

Murphy loves Nancy because she always tells him that he’s beautiful.

Panic loves Holly. He also loves the Knollwood Kids who have developed a need for speed. The looks on their faces after hitting Panic’s second trotting gear is fantastic.

Alex responded by asking for a definition of Valentine.

Sadie loves being the only mare among the grand geldings of the Knollwood lesson horses.

Sport loves Carol and her advanced riders who are teaching him the ways of a Knollwood academy star.

Willis loves Richie for helping him win a Monarch National Championship.

 

 

 

 

Upcoming events

Used Academy Clothing Sale

Saturday, March 13

11:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Join us in the show barn lounge to shop our selection of used academy clothing!

 

 

Patchwork Pony Road Show

Saturday, March 20

8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Comfort Suites Johnson Creek Conference Center

Shop Patchwork Pony's expansive collection of academy clothing, and enjoy personal shopping help as well. Knollwood's own Sue Berget, mom of our 2018 Triple Crown winner, and clothing expert will be at the sale from 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM to help Knollwood Kids with selection and fit.

Please let Ann know if you'd like to meet Sue at the sale.

 

 

Knockout's 25th Award Banquet, Virtually!

Saturday, February 27

7:00 PM

Facebook Live

Tune in to Facebook Live to experience our unique 2021 awards banquet. 

We'll announce award winners, including counting down the Top 10 vote getters in the School Horse of the Year election.

We'll premiere the slide show, and enjoy Scott's annual 'State of the Farm' address as well.

 

Banquet News

The seat auction is going strong!

For a minimum of $50 donation to the Knockouts, you can win one of the 20 seats available to watch the banquet in person. Attendees will be eligible to help with the horse countdown, and with the reading of the award winners.

Place your bids in the school barn lounge until 6:00 PM on February 20.

 

Banquet swag bags!

For only $10, Kids can purchase a swag bag which includes a choice of drink, popcorn, a school horse of the year magnet, and a noisemaker.

For only $15, Knockout parents can purchase theirs which includes wine, cheese and chocolate, as well as the coveted magnet and noisemaker.

Orders are available in the school barn lounge, and are due at 1:00 PM on February 21.

 

 

 

Academy Meeting

Saturday, March 6

7:00 PM

Possibly interested in academy showing? Join us in the arena for an evening of demonstrations, information, and clarification. We'll  have parents of academy show riders as well as riders themselves to answer all your questions.

We'll schedule individual meetings after this event to work out individual plans for each rider.

 

 

IASPHA Spring Show

April 17-18

Beyond Stable Farm in Woodstock, Illinois

Join us at our first academy show of 2021, and one of our favorites as well. Walk trot and canter riders will show Saturday afternoon, while walk and trot stars, including riders making their show ring debuts will show on Sunday afternoon.

We can hardly wait!

 

Fill the Question Box!

What have you always wanted to know about horses or Knollwood? Put your question in the tin in the show barn lounge, and we'll answer it in an upcoming blog.

 

 

We hope you can join us for all the fun we have planned.

See you soon at the barn!

 

 

Never content to let winter slow us down, Team Knollwood has planned an action-packed February for everyone!

 

We’re hosting a used clothing sale on Saturday, February 13 for our academy riders. Join us in the show barn lounge from 11:00 AM until 2:00 PM and shop our collection formerly worn by fellow Knollwood riders.

Riders with donations, don’t forget to get your items to the Knockout office by the end of the day on Saturday, February 6.

AND, we’re looking for some academy mom or dad volunteers to help our up and coming academy stars put outfits together.  Please consider being a personal shopper, and sign up in the school barn lounge.

 

Patchwork Pony is coming to Wisconsin the following Saturday, February 13 and will be setting up at the Comfort Suites Conference Center in Johnson Creek. The sale will run from 8:30 AM until 4:30 PM, and our own Sue Berget will be there from 8:30 AM until 10:30 AM to help Knollwood Kids shop. Mom to Haley, our 2018 Triple Crown winner, Sue is an expert in fit and putting the perfect outfit together.

Please let Ann know if you’d like to meet Sue at the sale!      

Great thanks to Sue for helping our riders look great.

 

 

Our first, and hopefully last, ever virtual banquet is coming up fast at 7:00 PM on Saturday, February 27.

Awards are arriving, party bags are being created, and the Knockout officers are planning a big party to celebrate the club’s 25^th banquet.

New for 2021?

 

Party Bags!

We know everyone is missing being together, so kids can purchase a bag of goodies for only $10. Each bag will include a beverage of your choice, popcorn, a noisemaker, (sorry, parents!) and  jewels for the occasion.  Best of all, you’ll receive your magnet honoring our 2020 school horse of the year!

Parents can get party bags, too!  For only $15, you’ll get white or red wine, salami, crackers, chocolate, the coveted magnet, and a NOISEMAKER!

Orders are due by 1:00 PM on February 21.

All proceeds will benefit the Knockouts, and you can get your order form in the school barn lounge.

 

Seat Auction!

We decided that the arena would be a little too quiet for the virtual banquet, so the Knockouts are auctioning off 20 socially distanced seats.

For a minimum $50 donation per seat to the Knockouts, you’ll enjoy VIP seating, a party bag, the chance to read off some of the winners, and to help with the parade of the top 10 lesson horses of the year.

Perhaps most importantly, you’ll be expected to participate in events, with cheering winners, and, of course, heckling Scott during his ‘State of the Farm’ address.

Open to Knollwood Kids of all ages, let's make the 25^th banquet one to remember!

The auction starts Thursday, February 4, and runs through 6:00 PM on February 20.

All proceeds will benefit the Knollwood Knockouts.

 

 Other News!

Don’t forget to put your questions about all things Knollwood in the question tin! Ask us about the lesson horses, show horses, equipment, why we do things that seem crazy, anything you can think of. We’ll answer all your questions in upcoming blogs!

 

 

 

Riders looking forward to showing academy in 2021, don’t forget to join us at 7:00 PM on Saturday, March 6 for demonstrations. We’ll meet in the arena and review the official show schedule, and enjoy demos from some of our academy stars.  

It’s a fun evening for riders and parents to learn about why we love academy showing. We know you will too!

 

 

 

 

Summer camps are selling FAST!

Our first session of Tiny Tot camp is sold out, and the first week of Summer Riding School only has two spots left.

Knollwood Prep camp July 12-16 is more than half sold as well.

Be sure to sign up for the week of your choice soon!

 

 

 

See you soon at the barn!