No deep thoughts this week, just a quick recap on all the goings on around here!

 

 

 

Equitation finals are underway, and we’re thrilled to report that Laney finished in the Top 10 of the Pleasure Olympic Senior Division last weekend at the All American Horse Classic.

 

The Saddle and Bridle Pleasure Equitation Medallion Finals and the ASHA National Championship of Pleasure Equitation are both coming up at the St. Louis National Charity Horse Show the week after Futurity. Best of luck to the Knollwood Kids making the trip!

 

 

At this moment, show horses are all set up and showing at the Wisconsin Futurity Horse Festival. It’s a BIG show, with many quality entries in divisions ranging from weanlings to polished performance horses as well as equitation riders to academy stars.

The show is officially closed to those not involved in the show, but waivers to attend ARE available on the show website, http://wisconsinfuturity.com/horseshow.html.

Our schedule is posted on Facebook and Instagram, complete with all the academy listings for Saturday afternoon.

 

We’ll try to keep everyone up to date with social media posts as best we can throughout the show!

 

 

It looks like Richmond the cat might just make it to his first birthday next Tuesday, September 22.  He’s hosting an ALL DAY party, so please feel free to stop by for a visit. He’s a pretty busy fellow, so he may or may not be in the barn. He IS providing cupcakes for his friends, provided by our favorite, Twisted Lemon Bakery.

 

Emma Utoft Photography will be at Knollwood on Saturday, September 26 for photo shoots. She has a few spots left for sessions, so contact her at 815.742.0838 to snag a spot.

Academy show riders, our ad shoot is at 6:00 PM that day. Please arrive by 5:45 PM dressed in your show clothes with hair done.  We can hardly wait to celebrate our crazy 2020 season with a pic.

 

 

Our October In-Barn show is coming up fast!  Here are a few reminders to keep everyone up to speed:

 

Be sure to get your bids in soon for the Knollwood Suite! Available on both Saturday and Sunday, the suite will offer shade, seating for four, a cooler of beverages, and raffle tickets! You can sign up in the school barn lounge, but better be snappy! Bidding ends October 2.

 

Shirt packets are ready for pick up by riders who have entered by completing their form and paying their class fees.  You’ll also receive a lunch pre-order form and info from our photographer, Hanna Agathen.

 

 

Our pre-order touchless pickup meals were a hit at the August show, and we have a new fall menu for October. You’ll receive a pre-order form in your shirt packet, and extra copies are available in the school barn lounge.  Remember, orders are due September 28.

Gift baskets are still looking for some donations.  Please consider donating an item or two after you check out the sign up sheets in the school barn.

 

It takes a village!

We’re looking for parent volunteers to help set up, man the lunch pick up area, and to assist with the gift baskets. We have a Sign Up Genius that you can access here to join the best parents in the world at the show.

We only have two academy shows left this season! We’ll be traveling to Beyond Stable Farm in Woodstock, Illinois on October 23-24 for the IASPHA Fall Show, and on December 5-6 for the UPHA Chapter 10 Holly Jolly Show.  We expect both shows to be quite popular, so please get your entries in soon so we can start preparing for some great shows.

 

 

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

 

It’s Finals Season!

 

 

No, not the academic kind, the exciting kind!

EQUITATION finals season is upon us, and we’re offering a somewhat brief "explainer" of  the competitions coming up.

 

In the broadest terms, an equitation final is an event at the end of the season in which riders who have shown in a qualifying class throughout the season meet up at a designated show to compete in a final round pitting the best against the best. Winning a final is the goal of many equitation riders, and reaching that goal means you’re among the best in the history of the sport.

 

 

Here at Knollwood, we start the finals process early at the in-barn show level with our very own Knollwood Challenge.  Riders who have progressed to learning patterns compete against each other in qualifying classes at each of our barn shows.

Riders compete at both the walk/trot and walk/trot/and canter levels. Their classes consist of rail work followed by all of the riders performing a pre-determined pattern of trotting either a ‘regular’ figure 8 for the walk and trotters, or an inverted figure 8 for our competitors who show at the canter.

 

The first two places of each qualifying class will meet up in November for the Finals of the Knollwood Challenge. Our top six riders in each division will compete against each other in both railwork and a more difficult pattern to determine who wins a custom made show shirt and who gets to display the bronze traveling trophy with all winners’ names engraved on it.

 

For our riders who continue their riding education and love of horses to the next level, there are a number of equitation finals each fall.  Here’s a little information about each one!

 

The All American Horse Classic, where Scott is currently located, hosts two Pleasure Equitation finals each fall. Laney and Aaron will be competing at both finals hosted in Indy and you can watch them live here!

 

The Illinois American Saddlebred Pleasure Horse Association (IASPHA) runs the Pleasure Equitation Olympic competition. Riders reach the finals of this competition by earning a specified number of points showing in the pleasure equitation division. The field is divided into two age divisions, 13 and under and 14-17. Riders compete on the rail and in patterns to try make the top 10 in each age split, and ultimately, to earn gold, silver, and bronze medals in the final.

 

The UPHA Pleasure Challenge Cup Final is also held at Indy.  Started in 1992 to showcase pleasure equitation riders, this popular final was split into age divisions in 1999.

Riders reach this final by competing in a qualifying class, and all riders all over the country perform the same classic pattern.  The mandatory workout in all qualifying classes is: "Trot a serpentine consisting of four half circles to the opposite end of the ring. Return down either rail at a show trot." Judges are not permitted to alter the mandatory workout in any manner.

 

Sponsored by the United Professional Horsemen's Association, this final is judged 60% on railwork, and 40% on the pattern. Showmanship is stressed in this final.

Here, too, riders strive to earn a Top 10 honor, but even better to be named National or Reserve National Champion!

 

 

The St Louis National Horse Show is also home to two Pleasure Equitation Finals.

The American Saddlebred Horse Association’s National Championship of Pleasure Equitation takes place first. Open to ALL pleasure eq riders aged 17 and under, riders compete on the rail and in a pattern, and it’s tough. This is the first final of the year without an age split, and some of those 13 and under riders are very good.

Imagine telling Knollwood Kid Payton D that she couldn’t compete with the older riders. You get the picture of the intensity.

 

The Saddle and Bridle Pleasure Equitation Medallion Final is held in St. Louis as well. This one is split into a junior and senior division, and the competition is deeeeeep. Oh, and the show has the BEST ribbons. Ever.

 

 

 

 

 

The Mane Event in Springfield, Illinois is home to the first of the ‘Big Three’ finals.

The Good Hands is the oldest of them all, having started in 1929 as the ASPCA Good Hands Final held at Madison Square Garden. In those days, riders of all seats (hunt seat, stock seat, and saddleseat all competed together, and riders could win multiple times.

 

In 1941, the shenanigans ended, and the event was split into 3 separate divisions and was renamed the NHS Good Hands Final. It was held at the National Horse Show in NYC for many years before it took a meandering route to Mane Event where it has been held since 2009. Great thanks to the Mid-America Horse Show Association for supporting this historic and prestigious event.

Riders must participate in a class and perform a preset pattern of: Trot from the line-up (or into the ring, if it is during the finals themselves) on the correct diagonal to the center of a figure-eight. Canter a figure-eight. Trot to the judges stand, stop, and back up three steps. Then they continue trotting to the line-up (or out of the ring).

The Good Hands is the first jewel in the triple crown of saddle seat equitation.

What’s that? If a rider wins all three of the big finals in one year, they’re a member of a very select club. Only thirteen riders in history have joined this club, and we’re thrilled to say that three of them are Knollwood riders.

So, if you win the Good Hands, you ‘just’ have to win the UPHA Challenge Cup and the USEF Medal Final to join this exclusive club. Knollwood's Sarah Agrawal won the triple crown in 2001, Nick Maupin won it in 2010, and Haley Berget won in 2018.

 

 

 

 

 

On to the Royal, the Grand Finale of the season.

The Royal hosts the last two finals, and arguably the most prestigious ones. 

 

The UPHA Challenge Cup final, which began in 1972, starts it off, and the event is split into two age divisions. It’s an open final, meaning that it’s open to pleasure equitation horses as well as trimmed equitation horses.

 

 

What does that even mean?

Well, back in the day, there weren’t many events for pleasure equitation competitors, and they formed their own finals. Basically, pleasure eq classes and finals are for riders on horses with manes and riders with informal attire. Saddle seat eq classes are traditionally for trimmed horses with riders who show in tuxes in the evening.

Open classes are open to riders riding horses wearing either style of mane, and all riders can wear formal attire in the evening.

Luckily, this line is blurring as people are realizing that whether a horse sports a mane or not has no bearing on the ability of the horse or rider. It’s just hair.

 

Anyway, back to the UPHA Challenge Cup Final…

Riders qualify in the same way as in the Pleasure Challenge Cup, and this final stresses showmanship as well, with judging weighted on showmanship.

 

The Royal offers finals for riders 13 and under as well as the senior division for riders aged 14-17.

The senior final has been won four times by Knollwood Kids Sarah in 2001, Kelsey in 2004, Nick in 2010, and Haley in 2018.   Our junior winners are Ainsley in 2014 and Courtney, (leadline star Madelyn’s mom) in 1998. There’s even a walk and trot final for riders 10 and under added in 1988, won in 2012 by Knollwood’s own Ainsley.

Manage to win the UPHA Challenge Cup? Then you just have to conquer the biggie, the USEF Medal Final to win the triple crown!

Another oldie, the Medal Final started in 1937 with all seats competing against each other. The seats were split in 1948, and this is considered by many to be the most prestigious of the triple crown events.

Competition is crazy deep and it’s the last final, so pressure is unbelievably high and Knollwood Kids have won it four times as well. Sarah won in 2001, Kelsey won in 2004, Nick won in 2010, and Haley won in 2018.

 

 

Best of luck to everyone this finals season, especially our Knollwood Kids!

 

 

 

 

What’s Coming Up?

 

Wisconsin Futurity Horse Festival

Academy Classes Saturday, September 19

Starting around 12:30 PM 

 

 

 

Photo Shoots with Emma Utoft

Saturday, September 26

 

 

 

Knollwood Outdoor Show #2

 

Saturday October 3 and Sunday, October 4

Start time is 11:00 AM both days

 

We are thrilled that both days of the show will be judged by Knollwood Kid Ainsley Budzinski. She literally grew up at Knollwood, first watching older sister Sydney ride, and then making her own way through the equitation and performance divisions aboard CH-EQ Oh What a Feeling and Ashlyn's Only Charm. She may be a college student, but she's won 5 equitation finals, ridden on a gold medal winning USEF World Cup Team, and can ride the hair off of any horse brought to her.

And, she's joining in the games on Saturday afternoon! Here's your chance to ride with one of the greats. 

 

 

A reminder to bid on the Knollwood suites, where you can enjoy seats, beverages, and raffle tickets!

And don't forget to preorder your show day lunches!

Orders are due September 28 at 1:00 PM.

And, raffle basket sign up is ready. You'll want to win these, and your donations benefit the Knockouts!

 

 

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

 

Our 2020 journey continues with many new adventures.

Let’s catch up, and see what’s in store.

 

Team Knollwood returned from a small, but very successful World’s Championship Horse Show.  Finn and Richie made the trip to Louisville to compete in their Equitation World Championships, and we’re proud to report that both riders ribboned in their respective finals.

 

Showing Leila, officially known as CH-EQ Brookhill’s Passion Punch,  Finn was among the most accomplished equitation riders in the country. Riders from all over the United States traveled to compete in the Senior Final on Thursday evening. Finn qualified for the championship by placing a terrific third in her age group. Her grace teamed with Leila’s power propelled team Finn to the top 10 riders who were asked to perform an individual workout which included an entire rail without stirrups.

Finn and the always creative Leila nailed the pattern, and their no stirrup work was a thing to behold. Team Finn finished 8^th out of the 22 best riders competing that day!

 

 

Richie and Sophie, officially known as Royal Tryst, qualified for their Junior Championship by earning a Reserve World's Champion ribbon in the 12 and 13 year old equitation qualifier. Richie and elegant Sophie rode into their Friday morning championship and came out with a terrific 5^th place ribbon.

Congratulations to these accomplished Knollwood Kids on a terrific Louisville!

 

 

What's Coming Up?

 

Scott is off to the All American Horse Classic next weekend with Laney and Aaron, who will compete in the UPHA Pleasure Challenge Cup Finals, and the Pleasure Equitation Olympics.  This marks the beginning of equitation finals season, and it's going to be a great one!

 

It's Futurity Time!

 

One of our ‘home shows’ is coming up at Wisconsin State Fair Park! The Wisconsin Futurity Horse Festival takes place September 16-19, and it’s going to be a big one.

In addition to most of the show horses attending, Team Knollwood is bringing 19 academy stars and 12 of the best lesson horses in the world.

These nineteen riders represent students on all different paths and at different places on their journey to becoming horse people. We have a few riders riding at their second and third shows, some in their first year out of the walk and trot division,  some really seasoned academy stars who are looking forward to putting on a suit in the near future, and everything in between.

Horse shows teach things to kids of all ages without even trying, and the academy division is where countless lessons are learned. Because everyone starts on an even level as horses themselves aren’t judged, it’s all about what the rider does with the horse they’re learning from at that moment. 

We have horses that are beautiful, horses that are unicorns, horses that look like cartoon characters, horses that aren’t so bright, and some that are wiser than we are. Riders on their journey to becoming horse people will meet all of them, and they’ll meet people just like these horses throughout their lives as well.

Truly, the joy is in the journey.

 

 

Some small print about the show:

Our show riders are thrilled to be mentoring our academy stars at the show. You'll see these accomplished riders prepping horses, caring for horses, assisting riders, offering advice for the ring, heading horses in the line up, and cheering on Team Knollwood.

  We’ll have three stylists working on creating perfect buns, and they have requested that walk, trot, and canter riders arrive at 9 AM. Walk and trot stars, please arrive at 10 AM.

 

 

Each academy rider has a packet waiting for them at the barn. It contains a show schedule, COVID-19 rules for the show, and three COVID-19 release forms. Please sign and return the forms before the show and we’ll have your wristbands waiting for you. If you need additional releases, we have them, just ask!

 

 

 

 

 

Richmond may make it to his first birthday, after all!

Our favorite yellow and white kitten reaches cathood on Tuesday, September 22,  so please stop by and wish him a Happy Birthday.  Great thanks to Dr. Rachel for helping him make it!

 

 

Emma Utoft Photography will be at the farm on Saturday, September 26 for photo shoots with horses. Please call her at 815-742-0838 if you’d like to set up a session.

We’re also planning the annual academy ad shot, so please stay tuned for time updates.

 

 

 

We’re doing it again!

The Fall Knollwood show is coming up on October 3^rd and 4^th, using the same format as our show in August. Walk, trot, and canter riders as well as our 11 and over WT riders will compete in the big outdoor ring on Saturday, starting at 11 AM. The gaming division will follow immediately.

Because of the popularity of the gaming division, only riders showing will be eligible for the games.

 

Our 10 and under WT riders, Maiden riders, and Leadline stars will compete in the little outdoor ring on Sunday, also starting at 11 AM.

We’re happy to say that Hanna Agathen Photography will be capturing all the memories.

Please get your entries in soon to join the fun!

 

Shows are a big fundraiser for our award winning youth group, the Knollwood Knockouts. Parents have been busy and letting their creative juices flow for this show

Gift basket sign-ups will be posted shortly, and we’re excited to announce a NEW item…

 

 

You can bid on your own private suite for either day of the show! The winner will enjoy FOUR comfy seats, a roof over your head, a cooler of beverages, an 8" X 10" photo of your choice from Hanna Agathen Photography, and 12 free raffle tickets!

 

 

Thank you for joining us on this unpredictable journey we call 2020.

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

 

 

Team Knollwood lost one of it’s celebrated members today when SA Denmark’s Geronimo was laid to rest.

This seasoned campaigner was born in South Africa on January 3, 1997, and came to the US in 2004 by way of England.

For the past seven years, Geronimo was a member of the Honkamp family. Originally purchased for Susan to show, Geronimo went on to introduce two of her granddaughters to the show ring.  Both Payton and Tatum enjoyed their first rides in suits on this grand soul.

Always ready for the show ring, Geronimo had a show record that made him a CH many times over, and included wins throughout the Midwest.

In fact, Tatum won her Limit Rider Show Pleasure Championship earlier this month on Geronimo at the IASPHA Summer Show!

 

We’ll miss this grand soul who safely introduced many riders to the joy of the Saddlebred show horse.

Peace to Geronimo, and to everyone who loved him.

Team Knollwood may have created a new tradition last weekend when we hosted our first ever outdoor in-barn show. This crazy year of 2020 has all of us of thinking in creative ways, and we really wanted to have a horse show that everyone could attend, so we changed things up and moved to the great ourdoors. And boy, did the weather cooperate!

Spectators made themselves comfortable on lawn chairs and blankets. Some even came prepared with umbrellas and pop up tents. Everyone we able to remain comfortably distant and still find shade when is was desired.

It takes a lot of great minds and hard work to reinvent an event of this size, and we have a lot of people to thank for their efforts and creativity.

 

Our riders embraced the outdoor show in both arenas. On Saturday, showmanship was on full display in the wide open spaces of the big outdoor ring. Pattern classes were HUGE, with 12 competitors in the 13 and under WTC division.  The riders got the chance to use every but of space in the Patternland arena.

 

Our younger riders on Sunday were not outdone by the bigger people.  Zoe and Jilly had their horses showing off the rail, and it looked like greats Sparky and Picasso really enjoyed it.

 

 

 

 

Our judge for the weekend did a fabulous job with the riders all weekend. Having grown up in these arenas, Haley was on top of the whole affair.  She texted results to announcer Jeni who was announcing from a remote location on Saturday to help the show run smoothly, too.

 

 

Sunday families were treated to a demo of Heather riding Fergie, officially known as Impressive Asset.  This exciting mare has been shown in Park, Pleasure, and Equitation divisions, and loved the crowd noise from the enthusiastic audience.  Customers new to the saddlebred world were especially thrilled to see this stunning example of a show horse with an accomplished Knollwood Kid aboard.

 

 

Knollwood parents are just the best. The change of venue was no problem for this group as they created a tent city outside with pop ups. Thanks to these dedicated parents, the show featured pre-orderable lunches with touch free pick up, gift baskets, and even silent auction items.  Thanks to their hard work, the Knockouts made over $1000!

 

 

Announcer Jeni and her ring crew rolled with the new arrangements as they went along.  Used to being in center ring, Jeni found herself under a tent on Saturday, and outside the ring on Sunday as well. Thanks to the wonders of technology, she and Haley texted results back and forth.

Jeni was also a rider in the show, competing in the pattern and gaming divisions. Knollwood Kids Maiya, Tess, and Addi took over the microphone in her absence, and may have broadcasting careers ahead of them!

 

 

Hanna signed up to help at the show, and ended up being our official show photographer. This Knollwood Kid has proofs available here where you can purchase digital images of the weekend.

 

We know we brag about the helpers a lot, but they really outdid themselves this time.  They designed the show prep areas, devised an outdoor tack change system, and stayed cool, calm, and collected while taking great care of horses and riders.

Bet you didn’t even know that they were bathing horses on the show barn wash rack DURING the show to keep them cool, did you?

This is an amazing group of horse kids, and we are beyond fortunate to have them in our program.

 

OK, we brag about our lesson horses a lot, too, but how can we not? These boys performed flawlessly in 2 different show arenas with new scenery in the form of people, umbrellas, and tents. There was a sizeable Sunday crowd, so fans of the riders were right up along the rail, but it was no trouble for our professional boys.

 

These marvelous horses brought countless smiles to their riders and fans this weekend and we just can’t thank them enough. But we’ll sure try!

 

 

 

We had such a good time, that we’re going outdoors again with a show in October. We are unsure whether we’ll be able to show indoors in November as originally planned, so we’ll show in both outdoor arenas on October 3 and 4. We’ll use the same format, with walk trot and canter riders and our 11 and older walk trot riders showing in the big outdoor on Saturday, with the 10 and under walk trot riders, the maiden riders, and the leadline riders showing in the little outdoor ring on Sunday.

We’ll be using the long sleeved tees we purchased for the spring show that we had to Covid cancel, so they’ll say ‘Knollwood Spring 2020 In-Barn Show.’ In our spirit of retooling things to make them work out these days, we’re holding a contest to see who can alter their shirt to eliminate the date in the most fun way. It’s time to get your creative juices flowing.

Entries are being accepted starting on Thursday, so get your entries in soon for horse selection.

 

Other News?

Finn and Richie both rode to terrific ribbons at the World Championship Horse Show in Louisville, and will be competing for World Grand Championship titles on Thursday and Friday.

 

 

The Wisconsin Futurity Horse Show is coming up fast at Wisconsin State Fair Park on September 16-19.  The show will culminate Saturday afternoon with the state academy championships which will be overseen by a three judge panel. We’re looking forward to a wonderful weekend of horse showing, and a HUGE academy turnout for the Saturday afternoon festivities.

 

Emma Utoft Photography is coming to the farm for photo shoots on Saturday, September 26. Please contact her at 815-742-0838 to set up a time for your session. Academy riders, we’ll be hosting a session for our annual group shot, so please keep the afternoon free!

 

 

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