Team Knollwood is proud to announce that all four of our riders who submitted applications to try out for the 2018 Saddle Seat World Cup Team have been invited to the selection trials. Held December 1 and 2 at William Woods University, the trials will showcase the best young saddle seat riders in the country all vying for a chance to represent the United States.  The 2018 edition of World Cup will be held in the US next July, and will feature competition against several other countries.

For the 5 gaited team, Knollwood is sending Ainsley and Haley.

Ainsley has been riding at Knollwood since she was four when she came to watch her older sister's lessons.  After several years of academy showing, she had the opportunity to take over the reins of the one and only Cartman, officially known as CH-EQ Oh What A Feeling, and won her first national championship as a 10 year old showing in the walk and trot division.

She went on to many equitation victories including the Reserve World Grand Championship on Cartman in 2015.

Ainsley has a new teammate in Millie, officially known as Ashlyn's Only Charm.  This dynamic duo have been making a name for themselves in the Junior Exhibitor 5 Gaited division, and have won several championships already this year.  Their greatest moment this year may have been their great 8th place ribbon in their championship in Louisville.  The class was one for the ages, so the ribbon was quite an accomplishment.

Haley has been a member of Team Knollwood since she was 7, and all of her experience shows.  She also came up through our academy program and has had the opportunity to show several horses through the last few years.

As a 13 and under rider, she finished at or near the top of all the junior finals, and has made quite an impression in the senior division in her first two years there.  This year, she's already earned a bronze medal in the Pleasure equitation Olympics, and finished third in the UPHA Pleasure Challenge Cup final. She's currently the reserve world champion 15 year old equitation rider, and rode to a great seventh place finish in the Senior World Grand Championship.

For the three gaited team, Knollwood is sending Lora and Frannie to trials.

Lora and her beautiful equitation partner Sophie, officially known as Royal Tryst, are having quite a season. Lora travels to Knollwood from Iowa to train, and enjoys spending long days at the farm riding four lessons a day. She's currently enjoying a gap year before she heads off to college, and is currently devoting her time and energy into preparing for the fall equitation finals, and the trials. She often stays at the Hotel Berget for a week at a time, and all her hard work is really paying off.

Lora has been at the top of some great classes this season, including a reserve championship in the equitation championship at the Lexington Junior League Show in July.

Frannie needs no introduction to the equitation world.  Last year's World Champion in the 17 year old division has enjoyed a great career in both the Morgan and Saddlebred worlds.

Frannie was the reserve champion of the UPHA Senior Pleasure Challenge Cup finals in 2016, and enjoyed several top 10 finishes in other finals.

After enjoying a gap year in 2016, Frannie is currently studying at Lawrence University and making it to Knollwood whenever she can.

We wish these riders the best of luck as they compete against the best for the chance to represent the United States in 2018.