Scott and Carol left Wednesday morning for the UPHA Convention on beautiful Amelia Island in Florida.  They’ll enjoy a retreat, warm weather and meetings with the best and the brightest of the saddlebred world. We’re sure many interesting, animated discussions will ensue as important issues within the show horse industry are considered.

 

 

 

Meanwhile, at the home office, our school horses are looking forward to a rather relaxed weekend.  With Scott and Carol gone, the lesson count will go down, and the best lesson horses in the world are planning how to enjoy their extra free time.

 

Willy is looking forward to a stress free weekend without Scott in the arena.  In case you don’t know, Willy has an irrational fear of Scott, even though he’s never touched him except to shoe him.  Actually, Scott can’t touch him because Willy runs away when Scott tries. So, Willy will work on his bravery skills this weekend as he teaches tiny tot lessons as only he can.

 

 

Fred wouldn’t wake up to tell us his weekend plans, but we’re guessing they won’t change from the usual napping/playing dead whenever he has the chance.

 

Panic is looking forward to a restful weekend, and is thinking of taking a break from showing off his patented ‘Yippy Yahoo’ canter starts on his patterns. 

If you're riding him early next week, be ready for a rejuvenated Panic.

Be very ready.

 

 

Brinkley is very sad that Carol is gone, because she can’t resist his big blinking eyes as he begs for peppermints.

 

 

Baxter is bummed that Panic is taking it easy this weekend, because he enjoys trotting races down the rail with his friend.  He’ll also miss Carol’s generosity with mints, but he’ll be sure to make eye contact with the other instructors.

 

Heist is quite relieved that Scott is away for a few days, and will rest his ear muscles in his absence.  Scott always demands that Heist keep his ears in the forward position, and Heist finds it MOST challenging.

 

Klem will miss teaching his advanced riders and playing Morgan tricks on them.

 

Sadie and Maddie are looking forward to a ladies spa day while Scott and Carol are enjoying the resort life.

 

 

 

 

Frank the Pony will get a self esteem boost even though he doesn’t need one. He'll enjoy a weekend  without Scott in the arena discussing his distaste of ponies of all sorts.

 

Big Frank doesn’t know who Scott and Carol are, and doesn’t know what relaxation means.  Blissfully unaware, Frank will be engaged in his usual activity, walking around his stall.

 

Team Knollwood may be enjoying a quiet weekend, but there's still plenty coming up!

Don't forget to submit your banquet RSVP's soon!  Saturday is your last chance, and you won't want to miss this great event.

The February Knockout meeting is coming up on Saturday, February 24th.  We're hosting a parents meeting right after the club meeting, too.  

 

Our used clothing sale is coming up on Saturday, March 3rd.  From 11 am to 3 pm you'll be able to shop our collection of used academy show clothes of all sizes. Experienced 'horse show moms' will be on hand to help create the perfect look for the upcoming Knollwood spring show.

If you have clothes that you've outgrown, please consider donating them to the sale by February 24th.  All proceeds will benefit our retired school horse fund.

The Knollwood Spring Show is coming up fast on

March 24th and 25th. 

We can hardly wait!

 

 

See you at the barn!

 

 

 

The Spring Excitement is Building!

We may still be in January enjoying the rain, thunder, snow and some subzero conditions to keep it interesting, but Team Knollwood is already looking forward to spring.  Spring means horse show season to us, and we can hardly wait for the 2018 campaign to start. We have some great events coming up to both look back at 2017 and to get ready to jump into 2018.  We hope you can join us for all the excitement!

 

Academy Showing Seminar

We’re kicking off academy show season this Saturday at 6:00 PM with our show seminar. Riders new to showing as well as our current show riders are encouraged to attend this fun and entertaining event. We’ll offer an informative session about our schedule which includes 3 in-barn and 12 shows away from home this season.  With shows from small academy venues offering classes for the newest show ring stars to the ‘big time’ A shows at which academy riders compete in the same arena as the show horses, we have shows appropriate for all levels of showing.

We’ll also have a session with Mary Kay consultant  Dawn Emanuele who will help the riders with appropriate make up for the ring and their age group.  Knollwood instructor Laura will be on hand to teach the tricks of the perfect horse show bun, too!

 

Some of our academy stars from past and present will be riding demonstrations in the arena, too.  You’ll learn all about clothing and turn out for the show ring, including proper fit and accessories. The riders will also show what judges are looking for, and will be available for questions as well.

Please let us know if you’re attending so we can be sure to have enough information folders available.  You can talk to your instructor, or sign up in the school barn lounge. 

We can hardly wait!

 

 

 

 

 

Banquet RSVP’s Due February 3

Remember to get your banquet reservations and payment in to the school barn by February 3.  You can also pay your 2018 dues using a membership envelope. 

The annual banquet is always a sellout, so be sure to have your response in by the 3^rd.   

 

 

 

 

Knockouts Award Banquet February 17

 

We all love the event where we get together to celebrate the previous show season and look forward to the upcoming one. 2017 was a fabulous season with a record number of academy show riders at all different stages of their journey.  From our rookies who started out in the maiden division at Cedarburg to our academy riders who are moving to the “A’ division, we’re proud of all the progress 2017 offered. Our show barn riders made terrific impressions this season, too. Our equitation riders rocked in the finals, with Finn and Hanna dominating the 13 and under pleasure equitation division while our senior riders rode at the top of in incredibly strong field. Our performance riders and horses were always in top contention with a western national championship for Kerri and Sir Don Juan, and many other teams rising to the top of their divisions.

 

You’ll want to join us as we celebrate everyone’s accomplishments and offer awards to our academy riders for both in barn and out of barn competitions. We’ll also recognize riders who earned academy awards from the American Saddlebred Horse Association, and show barn riders who offered their assistance and support to our academy riders.

Of course, we’ll also enjoy Susan’s Treasurer report,  the annual slide show, and Scott’s ‘State of Knollwood’ speech.

 

Used Clothing Sale March 3

We’re holding our annual used academy clothing sale on Saturday, March 3 from 11-3. If you have clothes that you’ve outgrown, please bring them in for the sale by February 24 so we can offer them to our up and coming show stars. All proceeds from the used clothing sale will benefit our school horse retirement fund.

Jodi will have bling and ties on hand as well to accessorize your show ring look.  We’ll even have professional ‘horse show moms’ at the 'store' to help you get show ready!

 

Knollwood Spring Show March 24-25

Show season will kick off for real on Saturday, March 24 at 1:00 with the start of the Knollwood spring show. Our walk, trot, and canter riders, and all of our adult riders  will show on Saturday, while our walk trot and leadline stars will take over Sunday at noon.  We offer a maiden division for our first time show riders, and are looking forward to an impressive turnout of new riders ready to hit the ring.

All Knockout members are required to preform at least 2 hours of club service, and the show is a great chance to work in the concession stand. You can work a shift and then watch the show to cheer on your friends all in one day. Sign up sheets will be available soon.

 

IASPHA Show April 14-15

We’ll be traveling to Gurnee for our first out of barn show for 2018. The Illinois American Saddlebred Pleasure Association puts on a great event, all under one heated roof, with exhibitor parties every night, junior judging competitions, and a great show ring with plenty of deep competition.

 

 

 

 

Team Knollwood has plenty of spring adventures planned, and we hope you can join us!

 

Tradition.Honor. Passion.

 

 

 

 

 

As we’re approaching the 2018 show season, we’ve been reflecting on our academy show adventures  from years past.  We believe the academy division is an invaluable tool to help our riders become better competitors, better horsemen and women, and  better sports.

Fortunately, we’re located in an area where the academy division is very strong.  It actually started in the Chicago area, and the vision of the founders remains to this day.  The horse show associations in Wisconsin and Illinois recognize the importance of academy showing as well, and offer classes at big shows and offer entire dedicated performances at many of the smaller area shows. In 2017, our academy team consisting of 48 riders competed in 13 different shows away from home!

Here at Knollwood, we believe the academy division is the entry point for our riders to discover the adventures of showing horses without having to own one.  We are proud of our many National and World Champion riders, and also proud to say that most of them started in our academy program.

Our group of academy horses that travel with us love it as much as we do, too.

Here’s why horses and riders alike love it so much:

 

Academy Showing Builds Riding Skills.

Our riders learn in both private and group settings at home, and many choose to enter competitions at the in-barn shows held at Knollwood.  Those events offer a great challenge to our new riders as the arena looks and sounds very different on show day.  Our lesson horses are ‘old hands’ at showing at Knollwood shows, and offer little reaction to the ‘spiffed up’ arena and the audience.  These old pros give the rider time to think and react to the crowd, the announcer, and the music in the arena while they do their jobs.  In short, they build confidence for the riders.

For riders who move on to academy riding away from home, they’ll learn to ride in different arenas in different show atmospheres, gaining confidence all along the way.  The starter academy shows take place in smallish, quiet arenas with minimal distractions where riders can easily hear their instructor’s voice for guidance. New riders will also start on our academy professionals who will help the rider if they get caught up in the excitement. Our starter academy horses have been with us for years, and know the ropes.

 

 

 

 

Academy Showing Builds Resilience

As in life, things in the show ring don’t always go your way.  They just don’t.

Our sport involves a judging process, not a numerical score.  We’re asking a hard working judge who’s trying their best to rank a class of riders in a short amount of time.  They judge what they see in front of them, and they make their best decision. 

  Successful riders quickly learn to respect the judges decision, and to move on. Instructors are happy to share their insights, and always do.  Then we prepare the plan for the next class.

Team Knollwood is known far and wide for their good sportsmanship.  We cheer each other on, congratulate the winner and all the other riders in the class as well.

Good sportsmanship is required, and bad sportsmanship is not tolerated. Fortunately, we have an unbelievably great group of parents who believe the same.   

 

 

 

Academy Showing Builds Confidence

It’s amazing to see how quickly riders become confident after a couple of shows. The experience of taking a horse through a class and having a blast doing it lets a rider know they can do this.  Confident riders progress to pushing their horses a little more, making their position a little stronger, and looking around the arena to get great ring position. We love watching the progress of our riders!

 

Academy Showing Builds Teamwork

While horse showing is not by definition a team sport, our riders become a team of support. Team Knollwood riders cheer each other on, congratulate each other, build each other up, and have a great time together.  We have the best parents, too.  They build up all the riders, and our families often stay in the same hotels at shows for pool time and dinner excursions.

 

Riders also form teams with the horses they show. Horse and rider combinations spend hours at home together before a show, and get to know each other. Time spent in the stall lets a rider really get to know their 'show horse' and the bond is formed. Our academy horses are really personable, so we're not sure who enjoys this time the most, horse or rider.

 

 

 

Academy Showing Means New Friends

Riders get the chance to meet riders who ride on different days of the week at Knollwood, and they also meet riders from other lesson programs. Horse showing brings joins riders together with the love of horses in common.  Many of these friendships last a lifetime.

 

         Academy Showing Means Fun

Many of the shows we attend offer activities beyond the show ring.  Riders can participate in Junior Judging where they stand in center ring with the judge and try to match their opinion. The judge then discusses the class with the participants, offering a useful education of the judge’s perspective.

Some shows offer events such as craft activities, exhibitor parties, and even water balloon fights.

 

 

 

Academy Showing Introduces You to The Nicest Horses

Our academy show horses are special. Reserved for riders who compete away from home, this unbelievable group of grand horses really enjoys traveling to shows. Eddie, Hooper, and Klem take care of our newest show ring stars, and the sky’s the limit with where riders can go with this. We have academy horses who compete on the ‘B’ show circuit, and even have some that live in the show barn and are used for lessons with our show barn staff.

This group of horses is the best.

 

 

 

If you think you’d like to learn more about the fun of academy showing, please join us at our academy seminar on Saturday, January 27 at 6:00 PM.

We’ll share information about our 2018 schedule, and about clothing requirements. We’ll offer demos of how to make the perfect horse show bun, make up for the show ring with a Mary Kay rep, and we’ll showcase some of our current academy stars in the arena.

Of course, we’ll also provide snacks as well!

 

Whether you're collecting information, already thinking of  attending a couple of shows, or if you'd like to fast track to the show horse world, we'd love to help you discover the possibilities.

Please come with your questions about the process we love so much. We know you’ll feel the same way!

 

 

 

2018 is upon us, and the school horses have made their resolutions for the new year. 

We already have some amendments, however.

Thomas has decided to stay in his stall while being bridled instead of trying to back into the aisle, and  Hooper resolves to  get over his fear of pullover blankets. Again.

 

Status report so far? 

It’s January 10, and Willy has offered ZERO free cantering lessons.  Hooper, Klem and Eddie are still performing patterns as they know they should be, but they’re trying to listen to their riders instead of being the pattern gurus that they are.

 

Now it’s your turn.

It’s time to look ahead to the new year and decide what you’re aiming for with your riding skills.  Team Knollwood members ride for lots of reasons, so resolutions will be varied as well. Goals help riders develop a plan to get better, and the feeling of meeting your goal just can’t be beat.

 

Just starting your riding adventures? 

You might want to strive to keep your reins a good length, or work on crop switching on the reverse while keeping your reins intact.  Maybe your goal is to master those pesky diagonals, or two point at the trot for a longer time.

 

Maybe you’d like to ride in your first in-barn show here at Knollwood.  If you’ve already shown at home, maybe you can strive to start pattern work to show in a pattern class this year.

 

The learning never stops.

For our advanced beginner riders, the most popular resolution is probably to learn to canter. 

You could resolve to do more bareback riding or graduate to riding in a saddle without the stirrups to increase your core and leg strength. Or maybe the goal is to identify canter leads, or learn lead changes.

Maybe you’d like to ride in your first out of barn show, or work on your showing skills at our in-barn shows. For those riders who have already enjoyed traveling to shows, perhaps you’d like to show at a particular show, work hard to make the workout in championships, or work on your showmanship skills.

 

For our more experienced riders, perhaps you’d like to perfect your leg position or work on more difficult patterns.  Maybe you have a particular horse you’d like to aim for, or a particular big show you’d like to compete in.  Perhaps you’d like to achieve ‘counselor’ status at summer riding school, or spend more time at the barn by offering to pick up extra helping days.

 

For our riders on the 'A' circuit, maybe your goal is to qualify for equitation finals, or to perform all 5 gaits in one class to Scott's satisfaction, or to master the 'Good Hands' pattern. You might resolve to  perfect your transitions or to keep your horse relaxed and walking straight or to make great passes in the arena.

 

The best way to achieve your riding resolution is to ride. 

Ride any horse you can whenever you can.

  Show whatever horse your can at whatever show you can.

Team Knollwood is beyond fortunate to have a complete library  of lesson horses. Each one of them has important lessons to teach, so resolve to become acquainted with all of them you can.

The Knollwood shows are a great opportunity to show some horses you usually don't, and  these 'library books' have great  hidden lessons to teach.   They can all help achieve your resolution, whatever it is.

We have a bulletin board set up in the school barn for your 2018 Riding Resolutions.  Please join your fellow riders and share your resolution with everyone. If you’re not sure of a plan, your instructor would be happy to talk about it and develop a plan for you.

Whatever your riding goals, we want to help you meet them!

 

Tradition. Honor. Passion.

 

Happy New Year from the Knollwood lesson horses!

During the recent holiday cold snap, the boys have enjoyed some off time, and plenty of hot meals.  While enjoying their bran mash relaxation, the Master of the Pasture, Sundance, had each of the fellows submit their New Year's Resolutions for 2018.

  In alphabetical order, here's the plan for the upcoming year!

Amos resolves to contain his enthusiasm when trotting with the wee riders.

 

 

Baxter Would like to land a modeling contract.

 

 

Big Frank will take better care of his clothes.

 

Helper favorite Bo will attempt to bring it down a notch and join the advanced beginner group of horses.

 

Brinkley enjoyed the holiday break a bit too much this year, and has resolved to watch his weight in 2018. He has to stay in shape for cantering lessons!

 

 

Cashew will continue his relaxation and enjoyment of pattern work.

 

 

Dexter resolves to be as friendly to his stall neighbors as he is to his little girls.

 

 

 

Dudley will continue to advance in his recovery from the bad haircut of 2017.

 

Duke resolves to resist the urge to bend in the middle when he doesn’t want to do something.

 

 

 

Eddie will listen to his riders when performing patterns.  This may result in some 'mistakes' as he listens to the information presented to him.

 

Forest submitted many, many resolutions, many of them repeats from previous years.

Sundance suggested that Forest embace the low carb lifestyle in 2018.

 

 

Fred will try to work more, nap less, and work on that expanding waistline.

 

 

 

Heist will try to keep his opinions to himself, and his ears in the forward position during lessons.

 

 

 

Hooper, our pattern master to the up and comers, will copy Eddie's resolution and 'make mistakes' on patterns by doing what his riders request instead of what he really knows the pattern to be.

 

 

Hugo resolves to stop filling neighbor Picasso's feed tub every day.

 

 

 

JD resolves to practice niceness and good manners in his stall.

 

 

 

Joey resolves to take deep breaths to slow down and enjoy group lessons.

 

 

 

Klem will attempt to contain his glee when making victory passes with the walk and trot riders. 

Ask Maiya for clarification.

 

 

Lil' Frank will try to be present in his classes, and not stop to take mental breaks.

 

 

Mark resolves to work on his vocabulary skills until he know what a resolution is.

 

Murphy will practice mindfulness to stay in the moment, not ahead of it.

 

Panic resolves to keep his stall cleaner. 

Eat more, dunk less.

 

 

Picasso will increase his petition attempts for a new stall.

His tag line?

'Anywhere BUT next to Hugo.'

 

Sparky resolves to help Thomas make more friends at the round bale.

 

Sundance will try to maintain a friendly workplace for all members of his herd.

 

 

Thomas resolves expand his circle of friends in the pasture.

 

 

Tony will try to stop using every day pasture items as tools in his attempts to haze new herd members.

 

 

Willy resolves to  act his age more often and stop offering free cantering lessons.

 

There you have it, the school horses are ready for the challenges of 2018. Are you?  The bulletin board in the lounge is ready for everyone's riding resolutions for the new year.  Please add yours to the board!

 

Don'r forget our upcoming events!

This Friday Team Knollwood has a special shopping session from 8-10 PM with Midwest Saddleseat Consignment.  Please join us at the Hilton Garden Inn on Pabst Circle in Oconomowoc for a friendly shopping session with your barn friends.  The shopping is open to the public starting on Saturday morning, too!

 

Carla from The GIlded Lily will be at Knollwood On Saturday, January 13 to measure for academy vests.  Please talk to Nancy or Ann to arrange an appointment to get outfitted for the new show season!

Our academy seminar is coming up fast on Saturday, January 27.  Join us at 6 for an evening all about why we love academy showing.  You'll learn a lot, meet new friends, and enjoy some laughs as you watch demos and talk schedules, clothing, and all the hows and whys.  Please sign up in the school barn lounge so we have plenty of info folders ready.

 

The Knockouts awards banquet is coming up on Saturday, February 17.  Invitations will be going out shortly to all club members to gather at the Legends of Bristlecone for an evening of food, fun, awards, and dancing.  If you're not a member, we always welcome new ones, and your instructor can get you all set up to join the fun.

 

Happy New Year!!

See you at the barn soon.