Hi Everyone, Sundance here, AKA the Master of the Pasture.

First of all, we all miss you already. The barn is way too quiet, even with Klem talking. Nonstop.

I hope you're all studying hard in your online courses. I was caught unprepared for the current situation, so I am allowing the best lesson horses in the world to study a topic that is especially interesting to them.

I'm listing in alphabetical order each of my staff's study topics.  Some of their choices may shock you, but I'm guessing that most of them won't. You all know these fellows pretty well.

 

Baxter will enjoy his corner office with 2 windows, and research the effects of sunlight on the psyche of horses.

 

Big Frank will study equine anatomy to further his skills of getting away from humans trying to catch him in the pasture.

 

Cashew  will research new ways to crib even with his collar on.

 

Dexter  will practice Tai Chi in his stall to remain calm in these uncertain times.

 

Dudley will read up on the history of the Canadian Mounties, as he’s named after one.  He will also lead group exercise classes in the pasture.

Duke  will re-write the book on strategies for Steal the Crop.

 

Eddie will rewrite the UPHA pattern book.

 

Fred will study the science and benefits of sleep.

 

Hooper will read up on the history of nudism to see if he can find a location where he can live free of clothing.

 

Hugo will try to get out of school by lying down and pretending to not be in his stall.

 

Joey is too sad to study well without his Monday visits from Whitney and Rachel, but he'll try so soldier on with his anger management courses.

 

Klem will  learn about investing so he can make lots of $$ when this is all over. He's especially interested in investing in the food industry.

 

 

Leon will study up on the history of Knollwood so he get a feel for the place, and for all of the fantastic lesson horses who have come before him.

 

Little Frank will study the works of Houdini in the hope of perfecting his stall escape act.

Mark is excused from further learning.

 

Murphy will study the history of the beauty pageant system.

 

Panic will study Richfield Video Archives to find past performances of great gaited horses.

 

Picasso  will study the history of the American west so he can better understand his people.

 

Sparky will earn his PhD in child psychology and continue his meditation practice.

 

Sundance? I shall continue my studies of group psychology and coaching while I keep my herd in line. 

 

Thomas will serve as as social director for Leon as he slowly is introduced to the rest of the Knollwood gang.

 

Tony will work on his physics so he can pull on his bridle with more precision to teach his students how to properly operate his bridle.

 

As the youngest lesson horse, Vaughn is looking to his future and will start his studies in management in the hopes of one day leading the herd.

 

Willy will read up on locksmithing so he can find his way into the feed room and snack whenever he wishes.

 

As a life long learner, Brinkley will continue to further his education even in his retirement.  Because he misses his spa treatments from Addison, he'll study up and offer spa treatments to his fellow lesson horses.

 

I hope your studies are going well, and we all look forward to seeing you soon!!

 

 

 

Knollwood Family and Students,

Out of an abundance of caution, and per the most updated recommendations from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Wisconsin Department of Health Services (WDHS), and the most recent statement from the White House, Knollwood Farm will be shutting its doors to the public for a 15 day period, beginning Wednesday, March 18th.  We will be looking to reopen for lessons Thursday, April 2, 2020.  This decision will be assessed and reassessed on a week to week basis as the developments around guidelines and recommendations for gatherings are rapidly changing.  Please keep an eye on our blog and Facebook page for news updates as we go forward. 

As an active member of this community, it is important to us to be a part of the solution in slowing the curve of this illness to protect the families and children we share the American Saddlebred with on a daily basis, as well as our staff.  

During this closure, our full time staff will still be on site and horses in training will be worked and kept on their regular, show preparation work schedule of daily exercise.  Our expert staff will be continuing their daily duties taking detailed care of our beautiful show and school horses. 

We hope to offer some fun posts throughout the next two weeks to stay connected with the students and families that we know will be missing time with the horses.  We also intend to make up for the quiet time with some fun new offerings, once it is safe to do so.

Stay well everyone!

Knollwood Families and Students,

Per our previous newsletter, Knollwood Staff have been closely monitoring the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Wisconsin Department of Health Services (WDHS) guidelines.  Keeping that in mind, the CDC has recently updated their gatherings recommendations to cancelling any event with 50 or more people for the next 8 weeks.  

Due to this development, Knollwood Farm will be canceling the Knollwood Farm Spring Show.  Your entry fees will be pushed forward to the June show.  T-Shirts for the spring show will be available for purchase as wood wear to support the loss to the Knollwood Knockouts youth group that puts on the show.  Lessons are still in operation, as lessons are definitely below a gathering of 50, though we now strongly urge that riders only come to lessons with one supporter who is considered a low risk for infection.

Practice rides on Friday night will be cancelled and can be utilized for practice rides in spring.  Our normal lesson schedule for Friday only will continue. 

As always, please remember our 24 hour cancellation policy is flexible and if you, or your rider are not feeling well, you can cancel at anytime without losing your lesson.  We intend to keep up with our rigorous sanitization efforts to keep riders, families and staff safe and healthy.  

Stay well, and happy riding

Dear Knollwood Farm Families and Students,

Given the global coronavirus epidemic, we want to share with you the latest on how Knollwood Farm will be operating over the coming weeks and months.

Based on the guidelines provided from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Wisconsin Department of Health Service (WDHS), we will remain open, and continue to offer lessons.

 

In an effort to keep your children and families safe, Knollwood Farm staff will be adhering to the following regimen of precautions:

1. regular sanitization of all lounge surfaces and doorknobs in and out of our facility

2. sanitizing equipment between lessons (including brushes, reins, saddles and school owned helmets)

3. instructors will be limiting any unnecessary close proximity contact with students and will be sanitizing before and after each lesson.  

4. We will be providing readily available sanitization options in the lounges, tack rooms, and bathrooms, for customers to sanitize spaces as they see fit for their comfort level.

And we are asking that any of our clients who are feeling unwell remain home and avoid coming to lessons or the upcoming Knollwood show. Our 24 hour cancelation policy is flexible.

We are planning on proceeding with the upcoming Knollwood Show

Per state guidance on events and nonessential gatherings, the Knollwood Show will continue on as it will be well below the size of event that is being advised to cancel.  However, out of abundance of caution, we recommend that attendance be limited to just athletes and one or two supporters. We strongly recommend that at-risk family members, and anyone who has been traveling where there is a known outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, remain home. In lieu of attending, we will be providing a live stream of the horse show on our Facebook page. We will also be changing the format of the concessions stand to exclusively pre-packaged snacks and meals.

If any students do not feel comfortable attending the upcoming Knollwood Show or their lessons, please rest assured, your lessons do NOT expire and your Knollwood Show entry fees can be utilized for the June show, though you will still receive your spring t-shirt and will therefore be required to just pay for the summer shirt.

Knollwood Staff are keeping a close eye on the rapidly changing recommendations via the CDC and WDHS with daily checks ins for updates and intend to keep you all informed, safe, and maintain as much of a sense of normalcy as possible.

Stay well, and happy riding!

We’re so excited to welcome the start of show season 2020 with the Spring In-Barn Knollwood Show coming up on March 21 and 22.

Our home shows are incredibly important in the education of our riders, and they’re a lot of fun, too. We’re thrilled to report that we have a whopping 13 riders making their show ring debuts in the maiden division, we have lots of ‘promotions’ into the walk trot and canter division, and our 10 and under walk trot and canter division has almost a totally new cast of characters.

Why are these shows so popular among our riders? They offer the perfect environment to become confident in the show ring.  Riders show in their ‘home ‘ arena, ride the best lesson horses in the world, and do this all under the watchful eye of our instructors and ring assistants.

The shows benefit the Knollwood Knockouts, and they’re the group’s biggest fundraisers of the year. These shows provide funds for the annual awards banquet, the club’s holiday party, outings for the members, and donations to the group’s favorite charities.

How do we produce events of this size that are so much fun for so many? 

2 words:  PARENT VOLUNTEERS.

 

We are beyond fortunate that we have a fantastic group of parents who are always there to support our riders. They represent all ages and levels of our kids, and come from both our lesson program and our show horse world. We can safely say that everyone will want to hang out with these peeps once you meet them, you'll be hooked.

What exactly do they do?

Our parents shop for the concession stand, set up the concession stand, run the concession stand with youth members of the Knockouts. These kids learn all about customer service, making change, and salesmanship all while working with their barn friends.

Parents set up chairs in the arena, set up center ring, and get the PA ready to rock.

Prior to the show, parents donate to gift baskets, sign up to work in the concession stand, and ask friends and family to donate silent auction items. Just before show day, crafty parents get together to put the gift baskets together so everyone will want to take them home.

So basically, parents make horse show magic happen! We’re looking for your help for this upcoming show, and we’d really love for some new parents to join the fun we all have.

Please consider taking a shift at the concession stand. You can sign up here.

If you can’t so that, please donate to a gift basket or two. Lists of themes and items needed are posted on the tackroom door in the school barn.

We’re looking forward to a wonderful weekend of horse showing, and we hope you can help support the kids in their efforts.

 

 

Tradition.

Honor.

Passion.

And a whole lot of fun.