The academy team is done competing for 2024, and the show horses are at the American Royal, their grand finale of the season.

If it seems like things are quiet around Knollwood, we’re hiding it well. We’ve been busy already, planning for 2025.  Here’s what we’ve been up to:

We’re preparing for the election everyone looks forward to, the School Horse of the Year contest. We hear that debates are currently being held in the pastures at night, and that primaries will follow. We’ll start voting as soon the parties agree on their candidates.

Portion size is a big issue in the debates, with most of the candidates promising bigger ones. The lone dissent comes from the Academy Superstar Party, who argues that it will affect show fitness. This is not a wildly popular stance.

Rumor has it that the Energy Conservation Party and the Academy Superstar Party will try to seize the top spot from last year’s winner, the Master of All Trades Party.

Stay tuned, as all current Knockout members are eligible to vote when they renew their membership for 2025. If you’re not yet a member, we’d love to have you! Please talk to your instructor or admin to join the fun.

Photo by Andrea Sitzman

We’ve done our research, and have all of our out-of-barn academy show dates on the website. We’ll be meeting with all of our academy show families to plan enrollments for 2025. We love mapping out strategies to help our riders meet their goals.

We’ve mapped out dates for our introductory Welcome to Knollwood sessions and will update the website as soon as 2025 pricing is finalized. We run these small group classes to help riders discover all that horses and Knollwood have to offer.

They’ll once again be run on Mondays and Wednesdays at 6:30 From January until May, and then start up again in September through the end of the year.

We even have tentative summer riding school dates. We’re just waiting for a couple of  2025 ‘A’ show dates before we can share the information.

Once again, currently enrolled Knollwood Kids will have the month of February to choose their dates before we offer the program to the public starting on March 1.

Academy riders will discover their special advanced camp dates at their enrollment meetings.

We’re working on some new ideas for 2025 as well!

Would you like to act as your parent’s helper during a special Mom and/or Dad’s day ride?

How about a ‘Bring a Friend’ day where Knollwood Kids act as a helper while a friend from school or the neighborhood rides an introductory lesson?

How about the return of Halloween on Horseback?  With the way the show schedule works out, it should work in 2025.

How about a special day of appreciation for our hard working helpers?

These are all things we’re pondering for 2025. We’d welcome your ideas!

What’s Coming Up?

Academy Demo Night

Saturday, November 23

6:00

We had a lively introductory parent meeting last Saturday, and we’re looking forward to meeting in the arena on the 23^rd. Several of our current academy riders and their parents will be on hand to show what the judge is looking for.

They’ll be happy to answer questions, and to share their experiences.

Please sign up in the school barn lounge.

Thanksgiving Closure

Thursday, November 28

We’re not holding lessons on Thanksgiving Day, and your instructor will arrange a makeup.

Parents Night Out

Saturday, November 30

6:00 – 8:00 PM

Parents, here’s a great chance to shop, grab dinner, or enjoy some quiet time while your rider enjoys fun barn time!

All Knollwood Kids are invited to help us wrap gifts for our adopted family, to enjoy a pizza dinner, and to have fun with the Knockout officers and board members.

Please pay your $25 in the school barn and sign up with your instructor or admin.

Knockout Holiday Party and 2025 Election

Saturday, December 7

6:00 – 8:30ish

All Knockouts are invited to attend the club’s holiday celebration. Members will enjoy a team scavenger hunt, pizza, and lots of fun with barn friends.

We’re hosting an optional gift exchange. If you’d like to participate, please bring a wrapped gift with a value of $25 to join.

We’re also hosting club officer elections for 2025. Our fantastic co-presidents Adrienne and Thea are both heading to college next year, so we’ll be electing new leadership.

Please attend and listen to the candidate’s messages. After their addresses and a question and answer session, all Knockouts are invited to vote.

We’ll announce the results that night.

Not yet a Knockout member? We’d love to have you. Please sign up for only $5 in the school barn lounge for 2025. Plus, you’ll receive a ballot to vote for School Horse of the Year, and an invitation to the club banquet on January 25.

Holiday Closures

December 24, 25, 31

January 1

We’ll be closed for the holidays, and will credit lessons for these holidays.

Saturday, January 25

Merrill Hills

All Knockouts will receive invitations in the middle of December.

We can hardly wait!

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