Team Knollwood enjoyed a classic summer weekend of horse showing at the Oshkosh Charity Horse Show.  Everything about this show is a little bit magical. Run by the dream team of Vicky Holston, Lance Hayes and Mike Bletsoe, no detail is left undone. A relaxed schedule, ringside tables complete with food and drinks provided, beautiful center ring set up, exhibitor parties and an ice cream social in a parklike setting make the weekend seem like one big party.  Oh, and the great breeze we enjoyed all weekend and Ken playing ‘bug buster’ keeping the mosquitoes at bay made it even better.

While we weren’t sitting back and enjoying the atmosphere, we were participating in a great horse show, and we have some stories to tell!

A Family Affair

Allison has been riding with us since her 13 and under Pleasure Equitation days, and enjoyed a stellar equitation career that led to her success in the adult amateur 5 gaited division with her current partner Roy, officially known as ‘I’m Royalty, Too.’ Allison also competes in the western division, showing Susan’s horse Sir Don Juan as well as her ‘home’ horse.

Now Allison’s mom Kim has decided to reenter the ring after an absence of a few years.  Kim has half leased Maddie, officially known as ‘Tura Lura Lura’ to show in the Country Pleasure division. Petite Maddie also happens to be the dam of Jodi’s horse John Dillinger, AKA ‘JD.’  Kim has enjoyed getting back into the ring, and is learning the ways of the show world again.  We’re excited to see this Mother Daughter team enjoying horse showing together!

Equitation Excitement

Our equitation riders were busy getting qualified for the fall finals, and looking great doing it.  Amanda and Pixie earned their first blue ribbon together, winning the UPHA Challenge Cup qualifier with Matthew reserve. He was also second in the Good Hands qualifier and is on his way to that final.

Emma and Fergie are becoming quite a team, and won the Saddle and Bridle Pleasure Equitation Medallion qualifier and finished second in the UPHA Pleasure Challenge Cup. 

Hanna is having a great season showing several horses and learning from all of them. Our youngest equitation rider at Oshkosh made her presence known with a second place in the Pleasure Equitation championship, and a third in the big Pleasure Eq qualifier.

Team Payton(s)

Both Paytons enjoyed great rides in the big Oshkosh arena. Payton H showed both Robert and Michael in the pleasure divisions and learned a lot under the big top.

Payton D showed her Mom’s horse Dos in the Junior Exhibitor Show Pleasure division, continuing his preparation for Louisville in August.  They did it again, winning both their qualifier and their championship, both of which were big, deep classes. We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again, Payton’s Mom Nicole is never getting her horse back. Period.

Jodi and JD enjoyed a trip to an ‘A’ show and turned in some solid rides in the very competitive Country Pleasure division.  JD also worked in the crazy deep academy division with Erika aboard on Saturday morning.

Academy Depth

We are fortunate to be in area that understands the importance of the academy division for the future of the sport. Oshkosh has always provided classes with appropriate age splits to let these future show stars compete on a level playing field, and to let them show in a big arena with big classes.  Kudos again this year to show manager Vicky for letting the walk trot and canter academy equitation championship go unsplit with 14 entries. These riders used the ring well, and showed like veterans.

Judge Clouse was very wise with his time, and in several of the biggest classes, excused the non-ribbon winners to work the top 6 a little more, saving the balance of horses in the heat. These were some tough classes to judge, and he did a great job cutting through the numbers and making his selections without wearing out horses or riders in the summer heat.

Our riders fared well in the strong competition.  Many, many lessons were learned, and we saw vast improvement in our riders since the beginning of the season. Big classes in a big ring can sure bring out confidence in a rider!

Maria and Alex emerged as the champions in the walk trot and canter division with Lauren and Baxter reserve champs in only their first year in the cantering world. Zada won her 14-17 qualifier in her first time enjoying the fun machine that is CH Callaway’s Don’t Panic as well.

Mia and Baxter were a force to be reckoned with in the walk and trot division, winning all three of their classes. These two understand each other, and look like they’re both enjoying every minute. Mikayla was a strong second in both qualifiers, too.

An event like this takes lots of support from Team Knollwood, and we’d like to thank some of the people who pitched in to make it a successful day. Sue drove up the day before the Bergets left for World Cup in Lexington to make sure the academy stars had perfect hair, Jeni, Vicky, and Hanna prepped horses and made sure they were comfortable after the show with cool baths, and to our wonderful parents who hosted a cookout for riders and their families.

It takes a village, and we have a great one.

What’s Next?

Ainsley and Haley are competing in Lexington at the Saddle Seat World Cup. They’re both members of Team USA’s 5 Gaited Team, and you can watch the event live on the USEF Network.  Good luck to them!!

The academy and ‘B’ horses are off to Gurnee next weekend for the summer IASPHA Show. We have a big group traveling to Illinois, and it’s a short drive, so please come cheer us on!

Our ‘home’ show is coming up the following weekend at Wisconsin State Fair Park. The ASAW Summerfun Show will feature great show horses and a big, big academy division. The Knockouts sponsor an ice cream social after the Saturday academy performance, so please come join us for a wonderful weekend of horse showing.

The Knollwood summer show is coming up fast, the weekend after Summerfun. Sign up sheets are posted for hair, you can sign up for practice rides, bouquets, and Songs for Saddlebreds in the lounge, and you can sign up here to help the Knockouts in the concession stand. Our in-barn shows are the biggest fundraisers for the club, so please help support our award-winning youth group with your time or donations.

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