What a blast Knollwood Summer, 2019 has been so far!

Tiny Tot Camps

We finished four sold out sessions of fun with our 4-6 year old campers. The riders and ‘personal assistants’ enjoyed riding, games, and snack times every day.

The coolest thing about this summer is that a couple of our former equitation stars brought their daughters to camp.  The next generation of Knollwood kids has begun their journey!

Classic Camps

 We’re on our third week of sold out classic camps, and we can say that every available spot has been claimed. These week long horse-immersion sessions have been a blast for counselors, helpers, and riders.

Our latest adventure in our current session is welcoming  five riders from China for the week. They’re in the US for a month, trying different activities, and it’s Knollwood week now!

Several of the campers have minimal English skills, and we’re super lucky to have three American students in camp who speak fluent Mandarin! It’s really a special week, campers from across the world exchanging info about their schools, families, and customs. Some of the helpers have even learned to write their names (somewhat) in Chinese characters!

Pattern Camps

Our academy show stars have already enjoyed three weeks of intensive camps. Students who have advanced to our academy show team enjoy a week of serious riding and lots of fun as well.

We’ve spent hours in the big outdoor ring, renamed ‘Patternland’ by the campers. It’s the perfect arena to practice just about any pattern known to man, and it’s also a great venue for water fights at the end of a long day of learning.

Next week, we’re hosting a special camp for our newest academy stars who will be making their show ring debuts at the ASAW Summer Showcase in Cedarburg on August 11.

We do have a few spots open in our special week for riders participating in the Knollwood Summer Show on August 24-25.  Riders showing that weekend can enjoy a camp session the week before, and learn all about horse showing.  Because it’s a private camp for Knollwood Kids, it’s not listed on the website, but you can give us a call at 262-367-2391 to claim one of the last spots!

Horse Shows

Summer is the best time for horse shows, and we’ve kept ourselves busy enjoying many. Our favorites are when our show riders and academy riders compete at the same shows.

There’s nothing like having access to the show riders experiences to help the academy riders. Plus, these bring ALL of Team Knollwood together to celebrate!

Reminder, entries for the Knollwood Summer Show are due on Thursday, July 25!!

How Is All This Possible?

Helpers and horses.

Our helpers are amazing.

They’re engaging, encouraging, and so much fun.  Whether they’re running with beginners,  teaching a rookie how to groom, or doing glamorous chores like throwing hay, they’re always having fun, and it’s infectious.

Our counselors are even a step up. 

These ‘best of the best’ helpers keep campers organized, assist the instructor during lessons, and keep the helper crews on task. We fully expect to be working for some of these characters one day.

The Knockout officers continue to amaze.

After a full session of camp last week, the officers hosted a helper training night last Friday, and an amazing, fun-filled Parents’ Night Out on Saturday.  We’re not sure where they find their endless energy, but we’re glad they do!

We are in awe.

Horses.

We have the best lesson horses in the world.

We think they like camp and horse shows. A lot.

They relish the attention and slow work of camp. Our newest member, Mac, is learning the ways of summer camp, and is really taking to it.  He now realizes that the header near his shoulder is there to help…

At shows all over the place, these grand souls take care of our least experienced academy riders, challenge those ready for it, and really appear to enjoy the trips.

We cannot possibly thank the grand gelding club enough for all they do for us and for the kids they’re introducing to horses. 

But we’ll try.

The great news is that even though all of our camp sessions are sell outs, we offer wonderful riding lessons throughout the year. We offer group and private lessons six days a week, and our heated barns and arena keep us going in all weather conditions.

Our next session is starting at the beginning of September, so be sure to check it out!

What’s Up Next?

The academy and ‘B’ horses are off to Roscoe, Illinois for the Mid-American Horse Show Association’s Signature Show. Held in the BIG outdoor ring at Ledges, it’s a wonderful show with lots of good competition and hospitality.

Many of our riders are looking forward to the annual water balloon fight after the academy session on Saturday!

The Knockouts are running the brat shack at the Piggly Wiggly in Hartland, and holding a car wash at the same time.

Please join us next Sunday, August 4 from 11 am to 3 pm!

You can sign up here!

The Knockouts and the American Saddlebred Association of Wisconsin are hosting the Summer Showcase Horse Show at the Ozaukee County Fairgrounds the following weekend on August 10 and 11.  We’re looking for volunteers to help us set up, tear down, and run the concession stand.

The Knockouts receive half of the show proceeds in exchange for providing the labor for the show, and you can sign up to help here.

The Knollwood Summer Show is coming up on August 24 and 25, and the concession stand would love your assistance.

  We'll have sign-ups available soon!

The show horses will be heading to the World Championship Horse Show in Louisville at the end of August. We’ll keep you posted with webcast info as it becomes available.  And don’t forget our Stake Night Party on Saturday night August 24 if you’d like to watch it on the big screen!

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