We've been experiencing a quiet couple of weeks at Knollwood, with many of our students enjoying getaways to sun and sand.

With all the new Knollwood Kids, we've been hearing lots of questions about Knollwood and horses in general.

It's question and answer time!

Why do riders use bareback pads for some lessons?

Bareback riding is a strong tool in a rider’s development. Working on a bareback pad gives riders time to focus on their position while isolating muscle groups needed. Bareback riding also allows a rider the opportunity to feel every movement their horse makes.

It’s hard, particularly the first few times a rider has the experience. Nothing builds a rider’s muscles and body listening skills faster than bareback time.

Why do horses not always do what the rider is asking?

Learning to ride is a long process.

Riders start on our most experienced lesson horses who enjoy teaching beginner riders. These pro teachers instruct students that they need to be clear and sometimes firmer than the rider expected.

While it may look like a horse isn’t listening, the professional teacher is simply waiting to be asked correctly in a way that they understand.

This is why riding horses is such a fabulous activity for kids. Riders learn that things don’t always work the first time you ask, and that patience and follow through will make it work.

I’ve heard mention of Knollwood being a ‘competition based program’. What does that mean?

We believe that competition produces strong, thinking horsepeople, and that it keeps riders progressing their skills.

Knollwood offers three in-barn shows per year where students can enjoy friendly competition in a familiar environment. We offer classes for all levels of rider, including first time show participants in their own maiden division.

Riders compete on familiar horses surrounded by supportive instructors and helpers. Instructors work with each rider to develop goals for the show and work before the event to achieve them.

Knollwood shows are also about sportsmanship as riders support each other and clap for everyone, about friendship as riders meet fellow Knollwood Kids who learn on other days of the week, and about horsemanship as riders and personal assistants take great care of the best lesson horses in the world.

We encourage every rider to compete in these shows to experience the joys and learning of riding in competition. The lessons learned are priceless.

What’s the academy team?

After showing at Knollwood shows, many riders riders choose to further their riding education by showing with us away from home.

Our academy horses travel to about 10 shows a year where they compete against other professionally run lesson programs from throughout the Midwest.

We travel throughout Wisconsin and Illinois, learn many lessons, and have great fun along the way.

We’re thrilled this year to be introducing 11 new riders to academy showing, bringing our academy team to a total of 56 members.

If you’re interested in learning about our 2026 program, please talk to your instructor.

Why do some horses wear boots and/or blinkers?

Lesson horses do a lot of pattern work, from basic circles to complicated circles, half circles, at many different gaits. Some of them wear boots to protect tendons and heels while teaching students the ins and outs of steering and balancing a horse. Basically, this is protection for hard working lesson horses.

Some horses are more comfortable working in blinkers to help them focus on the work ahead of them. Blinkers allow horses to see the world ahead of them, and removes the distraction of horses or activities to the side.

Why are most of the lesson horses geldings?

Simply put, geldings are pretty consistent and easy going. Their personalities are the same from day to day, and they’re pretty unflappable.

We’re fortunate to have a posse of wonderful mares who have made their own ‘girls club.’ Bee, Fiona, and Leona spend evenings in their own ladies’ pasture, and have become fast friends. If you’ve ever heard them nicker to each other in the arena, you’ll appreciate their girls’ club. While Poppy prefers her own company, she loves her little walk and trot riders.

When do riders get to canter?

Safety is our Number one goal.

We wait until each rider is strong enough in the saddle to stay back through speed changes, and is able to keep their horse’s head up to keep the canter smooth and slow.

Riders practice many sitting trots, bareback work, dropping and picking up stirrups at the trot, and posting without stirrups.

By following these guidelines, our riders find cantering enjoyable, and they can be successful from the start.

Why do students ride different horses when they really like two or three of them?

Knollwood is proud of its collection of lesson horses, which we refer to as ‘the library.’ Each of our equine faculty members has a lesson to teach, and instructors spend plenty of time and thought assigning horses for each lesson.

Some horses are confidence builders, some will teach follow through to maintain speed, some will need a rider to relax to help the horse stay calm, some horses teach riders to canter, some have leads that require patience and set up, and some are still learning, and will challenge and educate our most advanced riders.

Many times, the horse that challenges a rider the most will become a favorite.

When do riders get to ride outside?

Once the weather is warm and our arenas are groomed for the season, riders get to experience the pleasure of riding outside.

Riding outside teaches riders to pay attention to the environment, as there are cars, wildlife, and traffic noises in the great outdoors.

Our experienced riders really enjoy riding in the big outdoor ring, and learning pattern skills on the green grass of ‘patternland.’

What’s Coming Up?

Parents Night Out

Saturday, April 5

Sign up now for this popular event!

You’ll enjoy pizza, games, crafts, and fun with the Knockout officers and board members.

Knollwood Spring Show Entries Due

April 10

Don’t miss our first in-barn show this season.

IASPHA Spring Show

April 11-13

Beyond Stable Farm

Woodstock, Illinois

Join us for our first out of barn show of 2025.

Mya and Vienna will be making their show ring debuts. Please come cheer us all on!

Easter Sunday

April 20

We won’t be holding lessons on Easter, and your instructor will be reaching out to set up a make up.

Street Clean Up

April 26 at 1:00 PM

Join the Knockouts as they spruce up Oakwood and Nagawicka Roads for spring.

It’s a fun way to earn your club service hours for 2025, and to meet new friends.

Please stay for the Knockout meeting immediately following the clean up.

UPHA Chapter 10 Show

May 3-4

Beyond Stable Farm

Join us as our academy team heads back to our favorite show facility.

Knollwood Kid Sammy will be making her show ring debut.

Mom’s Ride

May 10 at 6:00 PM

Knollwood Moms will enjoy a riding lesson with their rider acting as their helper.

For only $50,  riders can tell their mom what to do for 45 minutes!

Helpers must be at least 10, or an academy rider.

We’ll begin signups on April 15.

KF Spring Show

May 16-18

It’s almost here! 

Entries for the May 16-18 show are due on April 10 so we can order the shirts riders wear. Please talk to your instructor to experience the show weekend.

See you soon at the barn.