2020 Gift Guide for Knollwood Kids

 

Does the horse person in your house confuse you with lingo like ‘4 ¼ inch stirrup irons,’ 'Woodwear,' and ‘Kentucky Jods?’  Well, we’re here to help you find the perfect gift, and we’ll even order some of them for you.

We can make you (or Santa) a real star!

 

 

Helmet

Once the rider in your house has decided that horses are not just a phase, it’s time to make your first purchase, a helmet of your own.

Our favorite is the Ovation Deluxe Schooler, because it’s well ventilated, adjusts really well, and can easily take an academy rider from lessons to the show ring. It has a nice clean profile, has dial adjustment in the back, and comes in a variety of colors. Of course, if you’re planning on showing, you’ll want to purchase a black helmet, or purchase a lycra cover that can make it black.

You can purchase it from Dover Saddlery here, complete with a size chart.

 

 Warm Gloves

 

Sure, the arena is heated in the winter, but it’s still winter in Wisconsin.  Cold weather riding gloves are a must so that riders can maintain a good solid grip on the reins.  Nothing can impede lesson progress quite like trying to ride in knit ‘civilian’ gloves that keep slipping on the reins. (Although Frank the Pony greatly enjoys slippery rein lessons!)

We recommend these gloves from Dover that come in several colors, and will help your rider progress through the winter months. They’re great for working in the barn as well!

You can purchase these directly from Dover here:

Adult sizes are available here:

 

 

 Show Gloves

 

Looking for a really nice pair of gloves for the show ring? These Roeckl Grip Junior Gloves are perfect. The material is soft, sticky, and the profile of the gloves is perfect for showing. Best of all? They’re machine washable and can air dry!

 

Buy them here.

They’re also available in adult sizes here:

 

Jods

The right equipment always makes lessons easier, and a good pair of jods will prevent saddle sores and eliminate leggings ridding up the riders leg during the ride.

P and S makes a great entry level polyester Kentucky jod, and it comes in black and navy. These are perfect for lessons and entry level showing. Best of all, they come in long and Extra long lengths, and the customer service is fabulous. Be sure to purchase some extra tie downs as well!

Buy jods here.

 Buy tie downs here.

 

 

 

Show Jods

For riders beyond entry level academy showing, we suggest Lucky jods. The fabric is stretchy, seems to repel dust, and presents a great finished look. Luckily, these jods run long, and are available in long lengths!

Get your Lucky Jods here!

 

Boots

After you purchase your helmet, boots are the next important purchase. Boots help the rider develop a proper foot position with support across the foot, and improve the ability to feel the stirrup across the foot.

Best of all, SmartPak offers a kids boot that won’t break the bank!

You can buy them here.

 

 

Saddle Rental

Our school saddles are great as riders are learning the basics of horsemanship. They’re well used, and are pretty traditional in design.

If the rider in your house has decided to start showing, talk to your instructor about leasing an upgrade saddle to help your student progress. These newer, adjustable saddles, offer better construction, finer leather, and stirrup bars that adjust to put the rider in a great position even as they grow.

We offer saddles in all sizes, and rental is only $250 per year for all lessons and shows. Best of all, if your rider grows during the year, as they often do, we can move to a bigger saddle for the rest of the year.

Please contact Ann if you might be interested in leasing for 2021.

 

 

Stirrup Leathers and Irons

Once riders are renting an upgraded saddle, we suggest that they purchase their own stirrup leathers and irons. Riders will no longer have to spend time adjusting stirrups before each lesson,  making lesson time more productive.

The stirrup combination we use runs about $175. We use the best so they don’t stretch, and will last a really long time!

We’re happy to order these for you so you get the right leather length and stirrup width for your star.  Please talk to Ann if you’re interested.

 

Woodwear!

Don’t forget, you can order the classic Knollwood Jacket, ¼ zips in purple, and Knollwood face masks for gift giving. Orders are due by November 10 for holiday delivery.  Order blanks and size samples are available in the school barn.

Remember, orders close November 10 to ensure holiday delivery!

 

 

Your instructor would be happy to help with any gift ideas. Please reach out, and we’ll help you find what you’re looking for!

 

Happy shopping!

Shop like Richmond, from the comfort of your own bed.

 

 

 

The Knockouts have a long history of serving their community. They know that many of their friends and neighbors are struggling in this unpredictable year, and have started an additional food drive to help the Food Pantry of Waukesha County.

Please bring your food kits to the farm through November 22, and the Knockouts will deliver them to the pantry.

A food kit consists of:

Instant potatoes
Gravy
Can of vegetables
Can of fruit
Can of soup
Box of Jello
Boxed dessert
Box of cereal
 
Please mark your bag with your rider’s name, and the day of the week that they ride. We’re planning on prizes for the day of the week that brings in the most donations to help our friends in need.

Thank you for helping the Knockouts help their neighbors.

 

 

 

Even as this strange year of 2020 is swirling all around us, we're still managing to have fun safely. We thank all of our customers and their families for their diligent mask wearing at the barn so we can look forward to more safe fun at Knollwood.

 

Catch up on all of the latest adventures of Team Knollwood!

IASPHA Fall Adventures

The venue may have changed, but the atmosphere and fun surely did not. The IASPHA Fall Show was a sell out, and the  first at Beyond Stable Farm in Woodstock. Always well run and organized, these shows are a pleasure to attend.

Both show horse and academy classes were big, with nice horses and riders in the ring. Sunday’s academy performance was the biggest we’ve seen all season, with most classes split, and one division even had to split into three different classes!

Team Knollwood was well represented at the event, and our academy riders really shone in great competition. We learned many lessons, enjoyed time with the best lesson horses in the world, and showed off all the hard work we’d put in at home.

Some highlights?

Lauren stepped up and showed future academy star Willis for the first time, coming out on top of their championship class.

In her first year of showing in the walk trot and canter division, 11 year old Mia showed Heist for the first time, winning the second split of the championship as well as the pattern class.

The walk and trot division held several firsts as well.

Amelia showed lovely Sadie for the first time, and learned lessons about the mind of a show horse. She turned in really strong rides, and so appreciates all her lessons about horse alignment!

Brooklyn showed the one and only Panic in his walk and trot debut. After winning their horsemanship class, we honestly couldn’t tell who had more fun on the victory pass, as both Brooklyn and Panic were grinning from ear to ear.

In the show division, Erika showed Willis in the Monarch Single Bit division, winning both her qualifier and championship. Both of her rides showcased the value of academy showing as she worked the ring and always had Willis in a great spot even in a group of 10 riders.

 

Holly Jolly Show 

We have one more academy show in our 2020 campaign, the Holly Jolly show on December 5 and 6 back at Beyond Stable Farm in Woodstock, Illinois. Run by UPHA, the show features a relaxed schedule with walk, trot, and canter classes that won’t start before 1:00 PM on Saturday, and walk and trot classes that won’t start before 1:00 PM on Sunday. The show also offers novice and green classes for our newest show stars.

Entries close on November 10, so please talk to your instructor if you’d like to join our academy finale for 2020! We’re expecting a BIG show.

The Royal! 

The show horses will be leaving the first week of November for their finale, the UPHA National Championship American Royal in Kansas City.  Home to National Championships and the last 2 jewels in the Triple Crown of Equitation, the Royal is a BIGGIE.

Team Knollwood will be there with the finest horses and riders in the country, competing for titles in many, many divisions.

There IS a live feed, but the facility owns the rights, so it must be purchased to watch it live.  We’ll update with more info as soon as it’s available.

Woodwear 2020! 

Woodwear for Fall 2020 is fantastic, and ready for ordering.

This year’s must haves?

Purple quarter zips with warm, fleecy insides, available in misses and youth sizes.

Face masks! One size fits all, with the Knollwood Logo across the front.

Iconic Knollwood jackets with a new addition for 2020. Jackets for this year will have #KnollwoodStrong down the left sleeve.  These are available in misses sizes, and men's are available upon request.

Layering vest in black! Available in misses sizes, this vest is the perfect layering piece for those chilly barn days.

Remember, orders are due November 10 with payment due with the order. Woodwear will be delivered for the holidays.

 

2021 Academy Show Q and A 

We’ve had a lot of parents inquiring early about academy showing for 2021, so we’re hosting an early meeting in the arena on Saturday, November 14 at 7:00 PM. We’ll turn up the heat, spread out our chairs, and enjoy snacks while we talk about why we love academy showing. This is a preliminary meeting geared to parents with lots of details about the process.  We plan on hosting another meeting with demonstrations in January or February that will be more kid friendly.

Please contact your instructor if you think you might be interested in showing outside the barn next year. RSVPs are due on November 10 so we can be sure to have safe refreshments and info packets for everyone attending.

 

The Holidays are Coming!

Next week’s blog will be about gifts for Knollwood Kids. If you have any items you’d like details on, please talk to Ann.

If you’re interested in purchasing stirrups, just catch up with Ann, and she can order the Knollwood approved leathers and irons for the horse kid in your house!

 

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

 

All of Team Knollwood is home after a very successful Mane Event horse show.

Some Highlights?

Our equitation riders shone in the deepest competition in the country.

 

Four of our riders made the first cut in the Good Hands final, the first of the ‘Big Three’ finals comprising the coveted Triple Crown of Equitation. Finn and Heather battled into the top 10, with Finn finishing a strong third, and Heather a fantastic 7^th.

 

Not to be outdone by the Knollwood Kids, Allison returned to the equitation division after a highly successful juvenile career there, and won the Adult Good Hands Final on Ava.

 

Proving that equitation is the base for a successful riding career, Allison also showed her Mom Kim’s new horse Joe in Show Pleasure and finished a strong third in the championship after finishing second in their qualifier.

Kim and Allison enjoyed a ‘Mother Daughter’ weekend, with Kim showing Maddie in the Open English Pleasure division. Is there a better way to spend a weekend?

 

 

Margit and Charlie keep marching on together in this, their first season together. Winning both their qualifier and championship unanimously, you can see the value of all those academy shows in Margit’s riding education. She can find her way around the ring like a pro.

 

 

Payton and Rescue Riddle added another chapter to their Cinderella story by winning their USEF Medal qualifier at Mane Event. From the kill pen to most beautiful show ring in the country is a tribute to the Duerrs who took a chance on him, and to everyone who helped him get here. Thank you for saving this great soul.

 

The show horses are now prepping for the UPHA National Championship American Royal in Kansas City on November 9 – 13. The Royal is home to many national championships as well as the last of the Big Three finals that make up the Triple Crown, the UPHA Challenge Cup National Finals, and the biggie, the USEF  Saddle Seat Medal Final.

 

What’s coming up?

IASPHA Fall Show

Academy horses are off to Beyond Stable Farm this weekend for the IASPHA Fall Show. It’s a new location for this show, and we’re looking forward to enjoying the hospitality of Amy and staff.

And, the show is a sell out!!

Riders joining us, don’t forget to turn in your Covid release forms by Thursday evening if you’d like us to have your wristband waiting for you.

 

Order Woodwear!

Embroidered size samples have arrived for the fashion ‘must have’ of the season, the purple ¼ zip pullover. Available in youth and misses sizes, it’s perfect for gift giving.

We’re also offering our classic embroidered Knollwood jacket in misses sizes, with an update for 2020. The latest version of the jackets will now say #Knollwoodstrong down the left sleeve.

We can also order these in mens sizes if requested!

We’re also ordering really warm vests in misses sizes, and the fashion accessory of 2020, Knollwood Face Masks!

Please place and pay for your order by November 10 to ensure holiday delivery.

 

Knollwood Challenge Final 2020

Friday, November 13 at 6:00

While the most accomplished equitation stars are battling it out at the American Royal, our stars of the show ring will be competing at home in the 2020 finals of the Knollwood Challenge.

Because of the current Covid climate, we’re limiting the event to riders and their parents. If there’s enough interest, we’ll FB live broadcast the event.

 

Academy Showing Information Session

Saturday, November 14 at 7:00

We’ve been hearing so much interest in academy showing next season that we’ve decided to get together for an early information session. This preliminary meeting will present an overview of the process, including different levels of shows, clothing requirements, what if offers for riders’ developments, and basically, why we believe in it so strongly. And, we have a whole lot of fun!

If you think you might be interested, please talk to your instructor to see if this might be for you and your rider. RSVP’s are due by November 10.

 

Holly Jolly Academy Show

December 5 – 6

The academy team is returning to Beyond Stable Farm in Woodstock for UPHA’s Holly Jolly Show.   We’ve never shown in December before, and we’re looking forward to another new 2020 experience!

The facility is expecting another sell out, so please get your entries in soon to make sure we can get enough stalls.

 

Holiday Gifts

It’s never too early to think about the perfect gifts for the horse person in your life!

We’ll publish a blog soon with links to our favorite equipment for Knollwood Kids of all ages.

Please talk to Ann by December 1 if you’d like her to order stirrups for your rider.

 

 

 

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

 

Team Knollwood’s horses are resting up in Springfield, Illinois, waiting for the 2020 Mane Event to begin. Held in one of the most beautiful arenas for horse showing in the country, the show is a favorite of trainers and exhibitors alike.

Plus, it’s home to the first of the ‘Big Three’ equitation finals, The Good Hands.

And, you can catch all the action here, on SeeHorse Video, for FREE! If you’re really a show geek, and you know who you are, you can even review entries here.

 

This year’s Good Hands competition promises to be one for the ages. Seventeen of the nation’s top equitation stars are entered and all are coached by the best in the business. This competition is crazy deep.

Knollwood is proud to be well represented by (in alphabetical order) Finn, Heather, Laney, Payton, and Richie.

 

Preliminary rounds will be held Friday morning at 9:30 AM. Riders who make it through phase I will return to the arena Saturday evening at 6:00 PM for railwork and a pattern for phase II. The top 10 and awards ceremony will take place immediately after phase II.

 

There’s even an adult division, and Knollwood’s own Allison will be competing for the final. A juvenile equitation star back in the day, Allison is back in the division on her animated mare, Ava.

 

Mane Event is so much more than just the Good Hands finals though. The four day show features fantastic show horses and ponies in all divisions, and Team Knollwood will be in the thick of it.

Margit will continue her exciting inaugural suit year, showing Robert in the 3 gaited show pleasure division, and the one and only Charlie in 5 Gaited Show Pleasure.

Allison’s mom Kim will be showing Maddie in Country Pleasure, and Alison will show her new horse, Joe, in 3 Gaited Show Pleasure.

The Honkamp family will be there with both Rudi in the Hunt classes and Hershey in the 3 Gaited Show Pleasure ones.

Linda will be showing Parker in the amateur 5 Gaited division, and Richie will show Fergie in Show Pleasure as well.

 

In the Cinderella story of the year, Payton and Rescue Riddle will continue their adventure together, too!

Best of luck to everyone showing at this wonderful show!

 

Meanwhile, at the Home Office…

 

The school barn refreshing has begun. Frank of Molett Painting LLC has started painting in the lounge for color testing. We’re looking forward to some great changes!!

 

The lesson horses and a few show horses are heading to the last IASPHA show of the year next weekend. Nineteen academy stars will compete at Beyond Stable farm against other academy riders from around the Midwest, and it’s a SELL OUT! We can hardly wait.

 

The 2020 Knollwood Challenge Finals are coming up on Friday, November 13 at 6:00 PM, with Terri Anne Ullman judging the affair. We’ll host a qualifying class for both the walk and trot division and the walk, trot, and canter division before the two final classes.

Haven’t qualified yet? Sign up with your instructor for a qualifying class for only $40. If you finish first or second, you’re in the finals with a chance to win a custom shirt from DeRegnaucourt!

Riders already qualified for the final, don’t forget to pay your entry fee of $45.

Due to Covid, we’re limiting the audience for the evening to riders and their parents. If there’s enough interest, we’ll Facebook Live the finals.

 

We’re heading to Beyond Stable Farm for our last academy show of the crazy 2020 season on December 5-6. The show is expected to be another sell out, like the IASPHA show next weekend, so we’ll be turning in stall counts soon. If you’re planning on joining the adventure, please be sure to get your entry form and deposit in now to be included in our count!

 

 

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