Today is Richmond of Knollwood’s second birthday.

We had our doubts that everyone’s favorite yellow and white kitten would even make it to his first birthday, but here we are celebrating his second.

Richmond came to us in September of 2019 in a litter of kittens from horse trainer Richmond DeHart.

We had been looking for a yellow and white kitten to break up the boringness of all of our grey-ish cats.  We were also looking for a special kitten to fill the hole left by our loss of Dean, the most personality plus Knollwod barn cat. To date.

 

So, Richmond, his three calico sisters, and his tuxedo brother came to live in school barn lounge.

His sisters soon went to Winsome Farm, and are still living the good life with Terri Anne and her daughter.

Richmond’s tuxedo brother went to live with Rachel, Knollwood rider and small animal vet.  She’ll reappear later in Richmond’s story…

 

Richmond enjoyed every minute of his kittenhood. Afraid of nothing, he hung out with Holly until the adult cats came around to ‘another kitten.’ He made fast friends with Hazel, who has an insanely good sense of humor with wild children of all types.

Covid came and shut down the farm, and it can safely be said that Richmond kept us going some days. Every day featured another ridiculous adventure, from riding horses to climbing trees to running on the barn roof, he kept us all entertained.

With all his antics, we all had our doubts that he might use up all of his nine lives in short order.

Life #1

Richmond enjoys running around the top of the pasture water tanks. Not always successful, there were a couple of days with a very wet kitten.

Life #2

Richmond was looking a little punky, so Rachel came out to look at him, found a wound in his neck, and suspected a parasite. 

Richmond took a trip to the clinic the next day so Rachel could get the creature out with some minor surgery.  The yellow and white cat returned, and …

 

Life # 2.5

Ripped out his stitches, and got an infection in the wound.

After several weeks of dressings, antibiotics, and wearing socks around his neck, Richmond was on the mend.

 

We’re sure he’s had lots of other close calls, and we’re actually glad we missed them.

 

Richmond purrs like a motorboat, acts boneless when you pick him up, loves his laser pointer,  leads yoga classes, and enjoys being in the middle of everything from the arena to the school barn counter.

 

Please be sure to wish Richmond a Happy Birthday when you see him  this Week!

 

 

 

Don’t forget the Knollwood Show is coming up October 9 and 10!

You can sign up for practice rides with your instructor.

Please consider donating to the gift baskets. These items are due October 1.

You can sign up to volunteer your time and talent to the concession stand here.

Lunch pre-orders are due on September 28.

 

What’s coming up?

 

Academy Photo Shoot

This Sunday

Hanna will take the group shot at 5:00 PM, and we ask that all participants be at the farm by 3:30 PM, so our hairstylists can have everyone ready in time.  Please remember to wear your show clothes!

 

 

St. Louis Charity Horse Show

September 29 – October 2

Team Knollwood will be in St. Louis with big numbers. The show features Pleasure Equitation finals, and a terrific horse show.

We’ll post schedules and webcast info as soon as we can!

 

 

Knockouts Street Clean Up

Saturday, October 2

You can sign up in the school barn lounge to help the Knockouts clean up Oakwood and Nagawicka Roads for the Fall.  It’s a great way to earn your Knockout service hours and help beautify our little corner of the world.

 

 

Practice Rides for the Knollwood Fall Show

Friday, October 8

Classes are at 4:30 PM, 5:30 PM, and 6:30 PM.

You can sign up with your instructor in the school barn lounge.

 

Knollwood Fall Show

Saturday October 9 and Sunday October 10

9:00 AM start both days

Join us in the BIG outdoor ring on Saturday, and in the little outdoor ring on Sunday.

Rain dates are the following weekend, October 16 and 17

 

IASPHA Fall Show

October 23-24

Our last IASPHA show of 2021 will be held at Beyond Stable Farm in Woodstock, Illinois.  We’re taking a big academy team, and would love to see you there.

 

UPHA American Royal National Championship Horse Show

November 9-13

Knollwood will be in Kansas City to compete for national championships and the last 2 BIG equitation finals, the UPHA Challenge Cup, and the USEF Medal Final.

 

Introduction to Academy Parent Meeting

Saturday, November 13

7:00 PM

If you think you might be interested in showing with our academy team next season, please attend this adult only meeting where we’ll discuss schedules, goals, and finances of the academy show program.

We’ll follow up with a rider and parent meeting in early spring.

 

Holiday Photo Shoots

Sundays November 21 and November 28

Hanna is coming to the farm to take photos for holiday cards, family portraits, or just for memories.

Sign-ups will be available shortly!

 

UPHA Chapter 10 Fall Academy Show

November 19 and 20

There’s still time to add to our final academy show of the season!

Walk, trot, and canter riders will show Friday night, while our walk and trot stars will show Saturday morning.

 

 

 

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

 

Scott and our three pleasure equitation stars made the trip to the All American Horse Classic in Indianapolis.  This fall show, held in the historic coliseum at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, is known for its rich futurity, and for the first two equitation finals of the year.

Our riders were competing in both events, the Pleasure Equitation Olympics, and the UPHA Pleasure Challenge Cup National Final.

Both events are divided into senior and junior divisions, with the 13 and under in the junior section, and the riders aged 14-17 competing in the senior division.

Both competitions are open to riders who participate in pleasure equitation classes throughout the year.  The Challenge Cup Final requires a rider to participate and place highly in a qualifying class during the season, while the Olympics were open to all pleasure eq riders this year.

Both competitions require showing both on the rail and in individual patterns.

Following a qualifying round, the field of competitors is cut down, and the judges’ top riders are invited back to phase II.  Following that ride, the top 10 riders are announced, and then the winners are introduced.

Knollwood’s three riders performed incredibly well, and we’re proud of all three.

Here’s a little bit about each rider's journey to Indy.

 

Emma is having an unbelievable first year out of the academy division. Indy, was, in fact, only her third show wearing a suit.

She grew up a Knollwood Kid, has been active in the Knockouts, and is currently the co-president.  Emma was a star in the academy division, and her parents have leased personality-plus Fergie, officially known as Impressive Asset, for her debut season in pleasure equitation.

Emma put on great shows in the finals, and even made the cut in the Challenge Cup final while competing against the best in the country.

We could not be more thrilled with Emma’s trip to her first finals!

 

Payton was a horse in a former life.

She travels from her home in Colorado to ride her horses, and she has the ability to understand and to ride each of them as individuals.  Payton gets along with every horse she meets.

Payton just came off a Reserve World Champion title in the 14 year old division at Louisville, and she and Eli (Undulata’s Crystal Illusionist) were ready to take on the older riders in the senior division.

Take them on, she did. Payton and her heart horse finished with the silver medal in the Olympics, and was awarded third place in the Challenge Cup final. 

 

 

Laney is a rock star.

She grew up mostly in the world of Arabian horses, and made the switch to saddlebreds several years ago. Determined to make it to the top of the equitation world, Laney has worked her butt off to get there. She works out, rides any horse anytime anywhere, and even home schooled for her final year of high school, so she could spend more time at the barn.

Laney received the fantastic opportunity to show Far Away Garfield at Indy, thanks to the generosity of the Kingsbury family.  While Garfield has never competed in the equitation division, Scott knew that Laney would enjoy the challenge of showing this grand horse in equitation for the first time.

The team rose to the occasion, winning the bronze medal in the senior Olympics, and finishing reserve in the Challenge Cup final.

All three of these riders were fabulous in Indy, and started finals season in style.

 

The next finals are at the St. Louis Charity Horse Show, where riders will compete in the ASHA Pleasure Equitation National Championship, and the Saddle and Bridle Pleasure Equitation Medallion Final.

These three will be there, ready to ride!

 

What’s coming up next?

Academy Photo Shoot

September 26

Hanna will be at the farm on Sunday, September 26 at 5:00 PM to take a picture of all our academy riders.  Please remember to RSVP by September 19 to join the celebration.

 

 

St. Louis Charity Horse Show

September 29-October 2

Our show horses and equitation stars are heading to St. Louis for a favorite show.  St. Louis features the ASHA National Championship of Pleasure Eq, and the Saddle and Bridle Pleasure Equitation Medallion Finals as well as a fantastic show.  Stay tuned for webcast info!

 

Street Clean Up

Saturday, October 2

Join the Knockouts on Saturday, October 2 when we’ll be cleaning up Oakwood and Nagawicka Road for the fall. We’ll meet at the farm at 1:00 PM, and return for a snack.

We’re looking for adults to help chaperone the kids, as well!

 

 

Knollwood Show Prep

The record-setting Knollwood Fall show is coming up fast on October 9-10.

This event takes help from many, many friends.  Here’s a link if you can help with the concession stand the weekend of the show!

 

 

Practice Rides

October 8

We’re hosting outdoor practice rides on Friday, October 8. Groups are offered at 4:30 PM, 5:30 PM, and 6:30 PM.  The 4:30 PM and 6:30 PM sessions will be in the little outdoor while the 5:30 PM time will be held in the big outdoor.

Classes are $40, and we’ll start accepting sign ups on Monday.

 

 

Knollwood Fall Academy Show

October 9-10

The Knollwood Fall show is going to be amazing.  Please be sure to pick up your info packet from your instructor so you have your schedule, lunch pre-order form, and lots of information about the weekend.

We’re excited that ‘Knollwood Kid’ and riding rock star Allison Schuh will be judging the whole weekend.

 

 

Mane Event

October 14-17

Show horses and Equitation stars will head to Springfield, Illinois for the Mane Event Show.  This show features the first of the ‘Big Three’ finals, the Good Hands. The first jewel in the triple crown, the event attracts the very best equitation riders from around the country.

It’s a heck of a horse show, too.

We’ll update webcast info when we have it!

 

 

 

IASPHA Fall

October 22-24

Academy and ‘B’ horses head to Woodstock, Illinois for the last IASPHA show of 2021. The show has a Halloween theme, and we can hardly wait to see some of our riders compete at only their second show!

If you’d like to attend the show, but it wasn’t on your initial show schedule, please talk to your instructor soon, as the show is expected to be a sell-out, and we’re providing stall counts shortly.

 

 

ASHA Points Due

Academy Award points are due by October 25.  Please be sure to review your point sheets, and to sign the bottom of the sheet so we can submit them to the association on time!

 

 

Academy Meeting

November 13 at 7:00 PM

Would you like to know more about academy showing for next season? We’re hosting an informational meeting for parents at 7:00 PM on Saturday, November 13. We’ll  discuss schedules, requirements, costs, and what’s to be gained from the academy showing experience.

We’ll also host a meeting in early spring for riders and parents, which is more geared to the riders.

 

 

UPHA Fall Academy Show

Our final academy show of the 2021 season will be at Beyond Stable Farm on November 20-21. If you'd like to add this fun weekend to your show schedule, please talk to your instructor.

Where did the time go?

 

 

Holiday Photo Shoots

November 21 and 28

Here’s your chance to support the Knockouts, and to get a beautiful holiday family photo. Sessions will start at 10:30 AM both November 21 and 28, and we’ll start signups shortly.

 

 

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

We’re still getting used to the quieter days at Knollwood while kids settle back into their school schedules.  We’re enjoying the cooler days, and looking forward to lots of great activities coming up.

 

The All American Horse Classic

September 8-11

Scott and our three senior pleasure equitation stars, Emma, Laney, and Payton are in Indianapolis waiting for the All American Horse Classic to get underway.

Home to one of the richest futurities in the country, it also hosts the UPHA Pleasure Equitation Finals and the Pleasure Equitation Olympics.

Our three riders will be competing in the senior division of each event, for riders between the ages of 14 and 17. They’ve qualified for the final by placing in a qualifying class during the season, and are ready to meet fellow qualifiers in the grand finale.

The three Knollwood ladies will ride in the Olympics Friday morning, and the award ceremony is Friday evening at 6:00 PM ET, Indy time.

Challenge Cup competition starts bright and early Saturday morning, and riders who make it through to Phase II will compete with rail work again Saturday night in class 148.

 

Wisconsin Futurity Horse Show

September 15-18

The following weekend, Team Knollwood will be on the road again. We’ll travel to Oshkosh with both show horses and 10 academy mounts for the Wisconsin Futurity Horse Show.

It’s a new venue this year, as we’re competing at the Sunnyview Expo Center, but it’s a sell out, and we expect the same great competition.

Mom Agatha will be there with baby Patience to compete in the futurity, 16 academy riders are showing in the state championships, and plenty of show horses will be there in deep competition.

It’s a short drive, so please come up and cheer us on!

 

 

Photo Shoots at Knollwood

Sunday, September 26 10 AM to 4 PM

Academy Photo Shoot at 4:30 PM

Knollwood Kid Hanna will be at the farm for photo shoots with your favorite horse. Her pictures are perfect for gifts, holiday cards, or just memories.

You can sign up here.

 

 

 

Knockouts Street Clean Up

Saturday, October 2

1:00 PM

Join your fellow Knockouts to clean up the neighborhood for Fall. It’s a fun way to get in your service hours for 2021, too!

 

 

Knollwood Fall Show

October 9-10

9:00 AM start both days

This is going to be fantastic!

We’ll have info packets for everyone who entered our record breaking show soon.

We’ve updated the schedule a bit, and have added a ‘Premier’ Walk Trot division on Saturday afternoon for our academy showing walk and trot riders. They deserve their chance to show in the big outdoor ring!

Oh, the memories we’re going to make…

 

 

 

 

We hope to see you soon at the barn, or at the in-gate!

The Honkamp Family and all of Team Knollwood lost a great soul when CH Sir Don Juan (Rudi) passed away last Friday.

Born in 2007, this striking gelding made an early name for himself in the western division. He campaigned in the division until 2014 when his then owner moved him to the hunt division.

Rudi took to the hunt discipline, and went on to win the Saddle and bridle Hunt Seat Classic National Championship in 2015 out of a class of 15.

The Honkamps purchased him in 2015, and he became a star for the whole family.

Payton showed him in Saddle Seat, Kerry and Allison Schuh showed him western with Kerry winning the championship at the Royal in 2017, and both Kerry and Payton showed him hunt.

Truly a versatile gentleman, he’ll be greatly missed by the Honkamps and all those who admired him.

Peace to you, Rudi.

Team Knollwood is home from the World's Championship Horse Show, and the laundry is still going.

Our horses and riders all performed wonderfully, our equitation stars shone on their workouts with their patience and horsemanship, and our performance riders rode the hair off their horses in some terrific traffic.

Boy, do we have stories to share!

Bella and Her Stars

Following a successful Junior exhibitor career, Bella traveled to her first Louisville this year as an adult amateur.    In one of the deepest shows in memory, Bella finished 8^th in both her County Pleasure qualifier with Garfield, and om her 5 Gaited Amateur qualifier with Tyler. What an accomplishment for Bella’s first year as a ‘grown up!’

 

 

Tori Made the Trip.

It's been quite an inaugural show year for Tori and her charismatic pleasure horse Frankie. They've been gaining valuable experience at shows this season, and decided to make the trip to see what Freedom Hall is all about.

They gained lots of knowledge, and enjoyed the whole Louisville experience while cheering on all of Team Knollwood.

Best of all, they'll be veterans next August!

 

 

You Can't Stop Laney.

Nobody works harder than Laney.

Laney will ride any horse any time, just for the opportunity to learn. She even switched to online school for her final year of high school to spend more time concentrating on her final year of competition as a junior exhibitor.

Laney and beautiful Aaron competed in Freedom hall in the 17 year old equitation division.  They worked the arena like pros, looking poised and confident, and finished with  a wonderful 7^th place ribbon in a field of the absolute best riders in the country.

Laney may have missed the cut to compete in the Grand Championship, but she’s already focusing on her next goal, the Equitation finals starting at the All American Horse Classic in September.

 

 

Margit is a competitor.

She make look shy and retiring, but put her on a show horse, and she takes no prisoners.

Margit rode Robert, the three gaited show pleasure horse she’s leasing this season, and finished 4^th in her crazy deep qualifier.  To top it off, she showed back in the Grand Championship and made to cut to show again in a 10 horse workout.

Robert is a wonderful horse, but it was Margit’s tenacity and ability to use the ring that made those achievements possible.

Margit also showed her own horse, the one and only Charlie in the stacked 5 Gaited Show Pleasure division. In a gigantic class of the best horses around, Margit piloted Charlie to a reserve world championship (with a first place vote!) in their qualifier.

The top ribbon winners from all three qualifiers showed back in the World Grand Championship, and the dynamic duo finished a fantastic fourth.

Margit can ride.

 

 

Payton made the jump.

A perennial winner in throughout her junior equitation career, Payton rode into Freedom Hall for the 14 year old qualifier, and acted like she owned the place.  She and her partner in crime, Eli, looked confident and thrilled to be on the green shavings.

It appears that Eli is really enjoying his career change from 3 Gaited horse to equitation star as the new senior team finished as Reserve World’s Champion 14 year olds!

 

 

 

Heather is unflappable.

Senior equitation at Louisville is beyond tough, but calm Heather and beautiful Sammy rode with the best 16 year old riders in the country and came out with a third place ribbon in their stacked age group qualifier.

These two returned to the Grand Championship  on Thursday night, and performed with the best riders in the country. Even in this star studded group, Heather stood out, especially after  performing one of three clean patterns after making the cut.

At the end of the class, Heather was rewarded with a third place ribbon, quite an achievement.

 

 

Richie is a sportsman,

and a horseman.

Richie and Sophie came into Freedom Hall for his last year in the Junior equitation division. This 13 year old Knollwood Kid discovered again that horses are horses and sometimes things don’t go the way you had planned.  After Sophie told him it wasn’t the day for her, he handled it well and finished the class, leaving the ring with a 7^th place ribbon, good enough to earn a spot in the Junior championship.

In fact, he was complimented by several trainers for the way he handled the moment when his morning changed.

But, the young man had a pony to drive in the next class, so he changed into his silks and jumped into the cart an drove his pony to a great 3^rd place ribbon.

Flash forward to Friday when Richie and Sophie entered the ring again and performed beautiful railwork in a class crowded with great junior equitation stars. Richie and Sophie performed a smooth precise workout, and were named World’s Grand Champion Junior Equitation Rider.

Richie’s poise and horsemanship were amazing throughout the challenging week.

Oh, and he ribboned riding the pony, and in both his pony championships.  Thanks to Rick Wallen for the opportunity!

 

 

Finn is an overachiever.

Finn finished her Junior Exhibitor career at Louisville on an up note. She’s been an equitation star almost her whole life, and it’s been a dream of hers to finish at the top of the stars.

Poised and elegant on a horse, Finn’s competitive strength is sometimes hidden under her calm demeanor. She and Leila finished second in the stacked 17 year old rider qualifier, quite an achievement in itself.

On Thursday night,  Leila and Finn were ready to meet the best in the country, and looked fabulous in the great company.  They made the cut to the workout, and along with barnmate Heather, rode one of three clean patterns.

At the end of a wonderful class, Finn was named Reserve World’s Grand Champion of Senior Equitation.  What a way to end a Louisville career!

The next day, Finn was off to Ann Arbor to start her college career at the University of Michigan where she’s entered their business school.

 

 

 

What’s coming Up?

 

We're  closed for Labor Day on Monday, September 6.

 The horses will enjoy a day off!

 

 

 

 

The Knollwood Fall Show is coming up fast on October 9 and 10.  

Entries are in, and it’s going to be our biggest show ever. In order to make it a smooth day for everyone, we’ve made some schedule changes, and will provide the new listing later this week.

With the strength of our walk and trot division, we’ve added a ‘Premier’ walk trot division for our riders who have shown away from home, or are ready to leave home soon.  These walk and trot riders will compete in the big outdoor ring on Saturday afternoon.

We’ll also provide show attire hand outs shortly, with the schedules.

 

 

We’re heading to the Wisconsin Futurity Show in Oshkosh on September 18, and we can hardly wait. It’s the last show of the ASHA Medallion season, so please be sure to complete your point sheets by October 15 to receive your Academy Award from the association.  Please talk to Ann if you have any questions.

 

 

Knollwood Kid (and professional photographer) Hanna will be at the barn for photo shoots on Sunday, September 26   You can reserve your session here:

Academy riders, Hanna will be taking your photo on Sunday afternoon for our annual ad in National Horseman.  Please save the date, and we’ll have more info later this week.

 

The Knockout Steet Clean up is coming up on Saturday, October 2.

Please join your fellow club members as we clean up Oakwood and Nagawicka Roads, and stay for the Knockout Meeting.

 

 

 

 

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