Hey Fam,

This upcoming circuit should really get your heart rate up and your core on fire.  These reps will be timed, like last week!  So this circuit is best performed one rep/exercise and then do the whole circuit 3-5 times.  If you're combining with previous circuits, just do 3 rounds.  If a stand alone workout, do closer to 5. For a real challenge, start your times out higher and lower them as you go through the circuit, for example: 60 seconds work, 30 rest, 40 seconds work, 20 rest, 30 seconds work, 10 rest. Make sure to focus on form over speed, but push yourself to the limit on reps, while maintaining that good form.

 

Exercise 1 - Squat Jump Switches - 30 seconds, 10 rest

Much like the traditional squat jump we've seen in our previous circuits, squat down into your hips and power up into a jump with your hands over head.  This time however, you're going to swap directions to face the other way each time you jump.  Focus on turning with your obliques as you jump!

 

Exercise 2 - Switch Kicks - 30 seconds, 10 rest

Laying on your back, with your arms by your sides, raise your head, upper back and arms off the ground and begin to kick your legs as if you were swimming.  Focus on pressing your lower back into the ground as you contract your lower ribs.

Exercise 3 - Ski Jumps - 30 seconds, 10 rest

Similar to a squat jump, this is a side to side jump so rather than having your legs hips width apart, your feet should be relatively close as if you were speeding down the luxurious ski hills of Aspen. Make sure you land softly and stay on the balls of your feet.

Exercise 4 - Plank shoulder raises - 30 Seconds, 10 rest

In a high plank position begin alternation arm raises working exclusively from your shoulder.  Be sure to focus on keeping your hips steady as you lift one hand off of the ground, and really squeezing those shoulder muscles at the top of their movement.  If you need extra stability you can widen the stance of your feet!

Exercise 5 - Flat Out Burpee - 30 seconds, 10 rest

The only difference between this burpee and a regular one is that instead of just doing a pushup, you will lower your body entirely onto the ground (chest to the floor, belly on the ground) and push up from there before jumping your feet to meet your hands, and jumping up into the air.  It's a real doozy guys!

 

Exercise 6 - Side Plank Crunches - 30 Seconds, 10 rest each side

In a side plank position, raise your top arm over your head and drive your top arm and leg together for a side crunch all the while maintaining your side plank with hips lifted to the sky!  Repeat this movement on the other side after a moment of rest.

 

As always make sure you cool down and stretch after any workout.  

 

Stay healthy everyone!

Greetings to all of you schooling at home.

Some of the lesson horses have been taking their studies very seriously.  For instance, Fred is determined to study the science and benefits of sleep. Here he is, sharing what he's learned with others.

The other horses haven’t shown as much progress in their selected fields of study, so we decided to start with some mandatory subjects that all the boys can take part in.

Personal Hygiene

 

It’s shedding season, and the boys all want to look their best when their riders return.  There has been MUCH currying and brushing around here the last month.  Spring coats are coming in sleek and shiny. Eddie is so shiny you almost need sunglasses to look at him!

 

Reading

We know that some of the horses can read.  Klem has posted a sign outside his door, and is asking all his horse friends to tell him what is says.  So far, no one but Klem has read it correctly. We’re working hard on our alphabet at the moment.

 

Playing Well With Others

Everyone needs to learn to play well with others, especially those who may be a little different than you. 

Enter instructor Richmond.

He enjoys riding horses, after he introduces himself to his mount for the session. So far, only Sadie has gotten tired of his act. Her trick? She grabs her coat, AKA Richmond’s saddle, and gives it a good shake.

 

Phy Ed

This unusual schedule is tough on all of us, even the best lesson horses in the world.  The boys have found that physical exercise is very important, even if they’re not teaching lessons to people. Somedays, the boys run in for their food, and others they play with each other in the pasture.

Please note that Mark is going so fast he's blurry!

 

Nap Time

Stress of this new temporary schedule is often relieved by naps. The horses have called on Professor Fred to help them get their Z’s in the pasture.  Thomas is apparently the teacher’s star pupil.

We hope you’re learning as much at home as the school horses are.  Please feel free to pass on any advice you think will help them get ahead.

 

Other Happenings:

Great thanks to everyone who has donated to the lesson horse unemployment fund. 

If you’d like to join the movement, you can send checks to:

Merton Feed

N71 S28312 Mill Street

Merton, WI 53056

 

You can also call them at 262 – 538- 1250 to make a donation with your credit card.

 

 Please be sure to tell them that you’d like to help the Knollwood lesson horses.

And besides, you never which Knollwood friend you'll meet there!

And, they have the best chicks.  Just ask Brenda who's picking up her 5 new family members on Friday.

 

 

Mary is auctioning one of her artworks for the school horses as well. The current high bid is $400, and if you’d like to up the ante, please contact her at her FB page.

 

 

 

Are you looking forward to riding again as much as we are looking forward to seeing you? 

 

Please consider purchasing one of our #Knollwoodstrong tees to wear to all the summer activities we have planned. We’d love for everyone to wear them to show your support for the best lesson horses in the world.

Plus, we’d like to look like a wall of orange at horse shows this summer and fall. They’re only $25, are made out of great athletic fabric, and are perfect for riding in the summer months.

You can buy your shirt here.

 

 

 

We’re going with the flow about scheduling. Some horse shows have cancelled, and some are looking to reschedule, so stay tuned for all our updates.  We’re open to moving the Knollwood Summer show further back in the summer so that we can all enjoy our annual tradition.

Most importantly, we can't wait to start lessons and camps as soon as it's safe to do so. As always, we follow the guidance of the CDC for everyone's safety.

 

It looks like Saturday is going to be a beautiful spring day, so we’re planning on doing some FB live broadcasting from the big outdoor arena, and from the pasture.  Plus, Parker is cooking up a LIVE version of her hit game, ‘Knollwood’s Separated at Birth.’ We’ll update with times, and please send us any questions you may have, or about suggested pairings for the game.

We miss you.

The horses miss you.

We can't wait to see you in person!

 

 

#Knollwoodstrong

 

 

 

Hello Knollwood Families and Students,

As we are all well aware, COVID-19 has changed so many aspects of our lives; delayed the starting of activities, limited gatherings, meant wearing masks to the store (if we even go to the store), and put us all in our homes for our own safety for at least 30 days.  It has touched most, if not all aspects of how we run our daily lives.  One aspect of an equestrian's life that hadn't really been thought of much as being effected by this global shut down, was exhibitor age groupings and how this shut down might effect those Junior Exhibitors on the cusp of aging out.  

We've all heard, seen, or even experienced our "last year" as a junior exhibitor.  It's a bittersweet time as it truly means that you're growing up, but it also means that you're growing up.  Perhaps growing up means riding won't be something you can do in the next phase of your life.  Perhaps it means you will continue on into the amateur division.  Perhaps it means you will have to take a very long break and come back to it, or perhaps you ride equitation, where aging out is truly a milestone no matter what your next step is.  Either way, our typical show season begins in March or April.  That has been pushed to, well who knows when, meaning many riders have the uncertainty of whether or not they will even GET their last year as a junior exhibitor.  

Having a milestone pass unexperienced is of course not the worst thing that can happen during a global pandemic, but a few equestrians have gathered together to petition the United States Equestrian Federation to reinstate Junior Exhibitor status to those that would be aging out this year.  The petition has already been signed a whopping 6,013 times and only needs 7,500 to be considered a victory. So many communities have truly come together during this time of social distancing to care for one another.  Signing this petition is just another way the equestrian community is coming together to protect the youth and to protect their equestrian experience.  Click the button below to add your name to the list of signers and hopefully we can allow for all the junior exhibitors spending their last year in quarantine, another shot at experiencing their milestone in the show ring. 

 

Welcome back to another Saturday circuit though somehow on Easter Sunday.  While we would normally be spending this day celebrating with our families, and eating lots of Easter candies, we should add a circuit in between rounds of Cadbury Cream Egg eating contests.

This circuit is a little different in that it is best served to do in one whole circuit, rather than doing each exercise 3 times in a row, do the reps for each exercise once and start back at the top for 3 circuits.  As always, be sure to warm up with some light movement or stretching and cool down when you're done! 

Exercise 1 - Forward Sprint with Backpedal - 60 seconds on, 20 seconds rest

While it is rainy today, if you have a long hallway in your house, with as much speed as you can muster, sprint to the end, touch the ground and backpedal back to starting, then explode forward again.  This is a fast twitch muscle exercise that helps with things like reaction times and muscular control.

 

Exercise 2 - 1 Legged Chair pose, alternating legs, 10 reps

Essentially a one legged squat, you will need to ground into your standing foot and move slowly to ensure you keep your balance.  Keep your chest high and think about sitting your seat bones down onto a chair behind you, rather than bending over your knee.  Ideally your knee is never passing the point where you can't see your toes if you look down.  This is a movement that should be done with good form rather than speed or going really deep into the pose, so only go as deep as you feel you have control over!

Exercise 3 - Cross Jacks - 60 Seconds on, 20 seconds rest

Cross jacks are an alternate version of jumping jacks where you alternate crossing your arms and feet in front of you.  Just like a jumping jack you want to keep your eyes up and feet light and continually be moving off of the balls of your feet into the air.

 

Exercise 4 - Inner Thigh Leg Lifts 10 reps, each side

Inner thigh leg lifts are a small, but focused, isometric movement that allows you to really isolate that upper inner thigh that you use to much to keep your balance when riding without stirrups!  Laying on your side, move your upper leg just behind you while keeping your hips stacked on top of one another.  Begin to lift your lower leg as if you were trying to touch your ankle to the ceiling. Focus on a good contraction of the upper inner thigh at the top of the movement before lowering your leg to start over.

 

Exercise 5 - High Skips - 60 seconds on, 20 seconds rest

High Skips can be done in place or in motion like the forward sprint back pedal.  Either way your focus should be keeping your chest up and getting your knee as high as possible, each time.  This helps you contract your core.  Be sure to land softly on the balls of your feet when you jump!

 

Exercise 6 - Side Plank 30 seconds on each side, 10 second rest

Side planks are great for lateral stability and can be difficult to maintain good form so be focused on keeping your hips stacked and trying to create a straight line from your feet to your head rather than letting your hips curve down toward the ground.  If you start to feel like your hips are struggling to float up, you can bend your lower leg and drop that to the ground for a modification.  Good form is essential!

Remember to do a cool down of light stretching and feel free to add this to the last few Saturday Circuits for a doozy of a workout!

Hi Everyone, Sundance here!

First of all, we really miss our Knollwood Kids of all ages. We’re being well taken care of, and enjoying plenty of extra recess when we’re not keeping up on our studies, but it gets pretty lonely around here without our students.  Plus, some of my co-workers are running out of creative ways to spend their time, and are eating far too much.  Fred has taken to sleeping in the round bale with his pony friend.  They even refuse to come in on some days so they can enjoy the outside buffet alone!

Ann, Brenda, and Nancy are in the barn every day taking care of us.  We’re getting spa treatments from the grownups, and shedding season is going pretty well. I bet the helpers aren’t missing THAT part of spring so much! Brinkley would like to say that he really misses his conversations and spa treatments from his good friend Addison.

Oh, and thanks to customers who have been leaving treat bags hanging on the front door.  We're currently enjoying horse cookies from our good friend Bubbles.  She even wrote us a letter!!

Klem misses his Tuesday Amigos, and is afraid his acting skills may be suffering without his weekly photo shoots.

Mark has yet to realize that anything is different.

 

 

The show horses are working every day, and have even been enjoying the great outdoors on nice days.  The arena screen door has been open a couple of days, a thought that gives me pause. Those sunlight spots on the arena footing can be downright terrifying.

 

I’ve been hearing all about projects going on around the barn.

Parker is washing a lot of winter coats over in the show barn, and trunks are being cleaned and prepared for the 2020 show season.

In the school barn, all the academy show bridles are clean and ready to go, rental saddles have been deep cleaned and conditioned,  the stirrup wall has been reorganized and is now arranged alphabetically by first name, and the box stall cubbies are being reshuffled next.

 

Celebrations

Did you know my birthday is coming up on the 24^th of this month?

 

And did you know that Hugo turns 13 the next day?

 

 

I reviewed the Knockout membership list, and found out that a lot of Knollwood Kids have birthdays this month, too!

Happy Birthday to:

Helen on April 4

Madelyn R on April 9

Jilly on April 11

Richie and Emme on April 17

Cecilia on April 22

Elaine on April 28

 

 

 

We’re always happy to help you celebrate even if you can’t be at the barn. Just contact my agent, Ann, and she can arrange to have a birthday video sent to you!

 

 

 

 

Great thanks to everyone who has donated to our feed bill during this difficult time.  Our staff here have let us know how much you've been donating, and we're humbled by your generosity. The most impressive thing to us is that no one asked you to donate, you started the program up yourselves. We can't possibly thank you enough, but we'll sure try!

You all know how much we love to work, and it’s been really hard on us not seeing all of you. The most important thing is that you all stay safe at home so we can get back together as soon as possible. We can’t wait for lessons and shows to begin again!

If you'd like to donate to our unemployment fund by check, you can send it directly to our friends at Merton Feed. Please note that it's for the Knollwood lesson horses.

 

 

Merton Feed

N71 W28312 Mill Street

Merton, WI 53056

If you prefer to donate with a credit card, please call the mill at 262-538-1250.  Please mention that you're donating to the best lesson horses in the world.

Side note, they have the best chickens in the world, and they sponsored our show concession stand last year!

 

 

 

 

We’re going to start doing some Facebook Live broadcasts, and some Zoom meetings.  Again, please let Ann, my agent know if you have any specific topics you’d like to discuss. Otherwise, I’ll run the show!

 

 

 

 

Finally, don’t forget to order your #Knollwoodstrong shirts here.  All proceeds from these snazzy Team Knollwood shirts benefit the school horse unemployment program.

We want to have a huge orange cheering section at every show we go to, so please show your support of the best lesson horses in the world by outfitting every Knollwood fan.

 

 

 

Sundance signing off.

We miss you more than you know, and can't wait to see you all soon.

Till then, stay safe and #Knollwoodstrong