The Good Stuff Is Now On Sale.

 

Gift certificates for riding lessons are 10% off through January 1, 2018! 

Knollwood will be celebrating its 40^th anniversary this year, and we have lessons for everyone on your list.

Knollwood offers riding education on more than 25 lesson horses, and can take you from your first lesson to wherever you’d like to go.

Knollwood has produced many national and world title holders, and we've instructed two winners of the triple crown of saddle seat equitation.  Our horses are professionals, many of them having been with us for most of their lives. 

From Willy, Dudley and Sparky, our perfect beginner mounts, to our academy lesson horses like CH Callaway’s Don’t Panic and A Champagne Toast, we love teaching and watching our riders progress to meet their goals.

 

Private lessons make a great gift.

For new customers, these lessons offer terrific one on one instruction from the very beginning.  Riders will progress quickly as they enjoy their instructor’s complete attention for half an hour.  Private lessons are also a great way to start if you’ve been away from the sport for a while and would like to renew your education.  We offer private lessons seven days a week and welcome new students at any time.

 

Private lesson gift certificates make wonderful presents for riders currently enrolled in our group lesson program.  These individual lessons allow the rider and instructor to work on specific skills such as diagonals or canter starts, to refine body position, to work on bridle work, or to work with a specific lesson horse.

Group lessons are a great way to start or step up.

Many of our riders start in group lessons.  These four or eight week sessions offer plenty of time to repeat the many skills learned at the beginning of a riding career.  With 45 minutes of riding per session, students build their skills and strength riding different horses and learning new skills weekly.

We offer group lessons six days a week, and can help you find the perfect group for the rider in your home.  We even offer an ‘adults only’ group on Thursday nights.

 

Our more experienced riders can benefit from group lessons as well.  These 45 minute sessions are perfect for ‘legging up,’ especially when riders use bareback pads or choose a saddle with the stirrups removed.

 

Tiny Tot Lessons Make The Perfect Gift

For our horse lovers between the ages of three and six, we offer our Tiny Tot program.  Our smallest riders team up with a select group of our lesson horses and work one on one with instructors in fun lessons.  These 30 minute lessons help the youngest riders gain confidence as they learn to walk and trot while having fun with their horses.

 

Summer Camp is a Tradition

You can be the star in your house with a gift certificate for Knollwood's summer riding school.  These week long sessions offer plenty of ‘hands on’ time with our wonderful lesson horses.  Riders take care of their mounts for the week as they learn to ride and care for them. Throw in crafts, a demonstration and cook out on the last day, and you have the perfect week of horsemanship and making new friends!

Our more experienced riders can enjoy special weeks of camp just for them.  Knollwood Kids participating in our summer show can enjoy a week of camp designed to help them prepare for show weekend.  Our academy show riders can attend specialty camps created to help them progress in the show ring.  Please talk to an instructor to see what’s right for your rider!

 

We even offer three special Tiny Tot Camp sessions!  Our youngest riders come for three hours, three days a week and enjoy riding, games, snacks, and plenty of time with their horses.  Each camper enjoys the services of a 'personal assistant' each day while they learn all about horses.

 

We'd love to tell you more about our programs, or schedule a tour of the historic Knollwood Farm.  Please contact Nancy or Ann at 262-367-2391 for more information, or to join us for a tour.  We welcome visitors at any time, but we recommend scheduling an appointment if you'd like a dedicated tour guide.

If you'd like to purchase gift cards online, use promo code HOLIDAY2017FB to receive your 10% discount.

 

 

Tradition.Honor.Passion.

 

 

Members of Team Knollwood traveled to Illinois on Sunday to enjoy the first awards banquet of the season.  We gathered with our friends from the Illinois American Pleasure Horse Association and enjoyed brunch, awards, and a great raffle.

We are fortunate to have several local horse show organizations that support the academy division.  Because of all the shows offering competitive academy classes, two of our academy stars made grand entrances to the show horse world this season with both Hanna and Richie winning reserve national championships their first year out.

 

'A' Division

Equitation 13 and Under

  Champion, Hanna

 Last season's academy 10 and under walk trot champion has started her show horse career off with a bang.  Hanna finished reserve in all three junior pleasure equitation finals in her first season, and we're looking forward to watching her progress in her 12 year old year!

 

'B' Division

Laura and Heist

Champions, Country Pleasure 18 and over

Reserve Champions, Show Pleasure 18 and Over

Laura and Heist enjoyed a year of great progress, and great fun. Always in the ribbons, this pair enjoys the horse show experience wherever it takes them!

 

Academy Awards

Denise

Champion WTC Horsemanship 18 and Over

                 WTC Equitation 18 and Over

 Reserve Champion, WTC Pattern

After watching her daughter's lessons, Denise decided to take up riding herself.  Now that Jordan is in college, Denise is enjoying her chance to show, and is having a blast doing it!

 

 

 

Megan

Reserve Champion WTC Horsemanship 18 and Over

Busy, busy Megan somehow finds the time to ride when she's not working as a police officer. She grew up at Knollwood, and never had the chance to show academy as a kid, and she'd enjoying the fun of it now!

 

McKailey

Reserve Champion WTC Equitation 14-17

Leader of the Sunday helpers, McKailey had a great time this season, showing some new horses and making her mark in the tough 14-17 academy division.

 

 

Heather

Champion WTC Horsemanship 13 and Under

Champion WTC Equitation 13 and Under

Yes, she's only 13.  Heather is often questioned about her age after people notice her height, and the length of her legs on her horse.  She's enjoyed a wonderful 2017 show season, riding some of the more advanced lesson horses including Sadie pictured above.

 

Maddie

Reserve Champion WTC Horsemanship 13 and Under

Reserve Champion WTC Equitation 13 and Under

Maddie's made a mark in the WTC under division in only her first year showing out of walk and trot.  She even had the chance to show Sharky, loaned to us by our friends at Lance Hayes Stables, after we were short a horse at the Fall IASPHA show!

 

Lauren S

Champion WTC Pattern

Lauren loves all horses, and animals for that matter.  She always wanted to show Forest, and she did a great job with him at the Fall IASPHA show.  Next time you see her, be sure to ask about Mabel, the family goat!

 

Lauren B

Champion WT Horsemanship 11 and Over

Champion WT Pattern

Reserve Champion WT Equitation 11 and Over

Lauren enjoyed great success in her first full year of academy showing.  Another member of our 'long leg club,'  she's made great progress in a short time frame!

 

Sofia

Champion WT Equitation 11 and Over     

Reserve Champion WT Pattern

Sofia travels from Oshkosh to ride with Team Knollwood, and her dedication has paid off. She's worked had all season to be scrappy, and had a really successful late season as it showed!

 

Richie

Champion WT Horsemanship 9-10

Champion WT Equitation 9-10

It's hard to believe that Richie's first show was in August of 2016 when he won the Maiden championship at the ASAW Summer Showcase.  He was lucky enough to show 12 times this season, counting the Knollwood in-barn shows.  All his riding and showing has really paid off, as he's now the Reserve National Champion in the UPHA Challenge Cup National Final on his own horse, Miss Mheirry Mack!

 

Maiya 

Champion WT Horsemanship 8 and Under

Reserve Champion WT Equitation 8 and Under

A second generation Knollwood Kid, Maiya is as scrappy as they come.  She loves all horses, has a real soft spot for the one and only Klem pictured above, and enjoys riding every horse or pony she has the chance to try.

 

Juliet

Reserve Champion WT Horsemanship 8 and Under   

Seven year old Juliet is one of the younger riders in her division, but always rides like she owns the ring. She's looking forward to being one of the older kids in her classes next season!

 

 

 

In addition, Mary and Lauren B earned awards for Junior/Amateur judging during the season.

Richie and Hanna were also honored with 'Welcome To The Big Time' awards for their graduation to the show horse world.

The banquet was a great way to end the holiday weekend.  We're so proud of all of our hard working riders, and we can't wait to watch their adventures in 2018!   

 

 

Are you having trouble thinking of the perfect gift idea for the Knollwood Kid on your list?  (And trust us when we say that Knollwood Kids come in all ages from 3 up to some very experienced ages!)

We have some great gift ideas that are sure to please!

 

Your Own Helmet

We recommend that a helmet be the first purchase each rider makes when they realize that horses are not 'just a phase.'  This will make sure that the helmet is fitted for you, and it's comfortable for you.

We love the helmets with the dial in the back so you can get an exact comfortable fit, and we like the cut of this Ovation helmet which has clean lines that will take a rider from lessons at home to the academy show ring.

You can purchase this one at Dover Saddlery.

 

Note Cards

Your Knollwood Kid will look forward to writing Thank You notes with these cool portraits of famous Saddlebreds of the past.  Plus, your purchase will help support the American Saddlebred Museum!  You can purchase them here.

 

Saddle Rental

Think your Knollwood Kid is pretty serious about this horse thing, but they're still growing?

We offer saddle rental for our academy riders who want to ride in a saddle that's nicer than our daily use saddles.  We have a nice selection of 20, 21', and 22' saddles available for only $250 a year.  It means that your rider gets to take all their lessons and ride their show classes in a premium saddle.  Please contact either Nancy or Ann if you're interested!

 

Saddle Cleaning

If you've taken the plunge and purchased your own saddle, Hanna's saddle cleaning service is offering special prices on gift certificates for the holiday season. (We wonder where she got that idea?)

Your purchase of saddle cleaning and conditioning will help support Hanna's horse show adventures.  This year, she was reserve national champion in the Saddle and Bridle Pleasure Equitation Junior Medallion and in the UPHA Junior Pleasure Challenge Cup and was the Silver medalist in the Junior division of the Pleasure Olympics.

She does a mean clean and condition on saddles as well!  You can talk to Hanna or her mom Abbie at the barn to get your certificate.

 

Stirrups and Leathers

 

Wouldn't it great to get on your horse and not adjust stirrups?  We recommend that our academy riders who rent saddles purchase their own stirrups and leathers to save time, and make sure they have the right size.

We use these great stirrups from Winner's Circle.  The leathers never stretch, and will last forever.  Please talk to your instructor before you purchase so they can help you with the correct sizes.

 

Some great jods!

Let's face it, good jods are hard to find.  Here are some great suggestions on jods that can go from the barn to the academy show ring.

 

The TJC Elite Show Jods are stretchy, and have some terrific features like snaps to cuff up the bottom of your jods while you're not riding. 

They also come in kids sizes, and the models are pretty great, too!

 

If you're looking for some super long academy show jods, we stand behind Lucky brand jods available from Hartmeyers. They're great for our long legged riders, with a three inch hem for future lengthening, and the fabric makes for a nice appearance for academy showing. Kids sizes are also available!

 

 

Knollwood Gift Certificates are on Sale!

Of course, the best gift of all is a Knollwood gift certificate, and they're 10% off through December 31.

New customers can try riding with group lessons, private lessons, or even summer riding school.

Our established Knollwood Kids can use gift certificates for all those lessons plus they can purchase in-barn show entry fees, camps, or even apply gift certificates to academy shows away from home. (You'll still have to pay full price for show fees such as class entries and office fees.)

You can use discount code HOLIDAY2017FB to purchase on our website, www.knollwoodfarmLTD.com.  Of course, we'd be happy to help customers design a certificate for whatever they'd like, too! 

Please contact either Ann or Nancy at 262-367-2391 to create a gift certificate tailored for the rider in your house.

 

 

See you at the barn!

 

 

 

 

 

Knollwood is quiet today, with horses, dogs, and cats enjoying a day off along with the humans who take care of them.  Except, of course, for the fortunate souls who get to enjoy feeding on a silent day in the barn.

On this day of thanks, we'd like to express our gratitude to many.

We are thankful for our wonderful customers.

From our tiny tot riders to our world and national champions, we are grateful that you trust us with your riding education and so much more. 

 

 

We are grateful for the beautiful, talented horses we have the privilege of training for the show ring.  Thank you to our show barn customers for trusting us with these breathtaking animals.

We are thankful for our hard working staff who take such care of our horses and riders.  We are also fortunate to have a wonderful support staff of vets and farriers who keep our horses happy and healthy while they perform many different jobs at many different stages of their lives. 

 

We are grateful for the strong horse industry in our own backyard. 

Thanks to our local organizations, The American Saddlebred Association of Wisconsin(ASAW), The Illinois American Saddlebred Pleasure Horse Association(IASPHA), and the Mid America Horse Show Association(MAHSA), we took our academy riders to 13 shows this season.  These groups share our vision that it you want to get better at something, you should do it as often as you can so you can learn, learn, learn.

They provide academy divisions in a number of different atmospheres to allow riders of all levels to participate in the show process. Because of their dedication to the division, two of our riders went directly from the academy world in 2016 to the top of 2017 National Championships in the show horse world.

We are grateful for their vision and investment in the industry's future.

We are grateful to our unbelievable lesson horses. 

They have taught countless riders not only how to ride, but how to respect and care for them as well.  They've started many world champions and life long riders and horse lovers, too.

We hope you all enjoy a day filled with gratitude with family and friends today.

See you soon at the barn!

 

 

Last weekend was a big one for Team Knollwood as we finished two very successful show seasons for 2017.  Our show horses were in Kansas City competing against the best in the country at the UPHA National Championship American Royal Horse Show.

Meanwhile, back at the home office, our academy riders were finishing their 16th show of their 2017 campaign at the Knollwood Fall show.

In many ways, these two shows celebrate the same things. Our riders of all levels have shown tremendous progress since the first shows of the season. The more you ride and the more you show, the better you get.  This was so evident with several of our riders, and we'll get to their stories later.

Respect for our equine partners was evident at both shows. Academy riders and national champion riders were both hugging and patting their mounts after classes, and spending time with them back in the barn.  

Sportsmanship abounds. Horse shows don't have an obvious scoring system, and we rely on the experience, knowledge and opinion of judges for each event. Judges are human, and can only judge what they can see from their vantage point in the ring.

It's a hard, often thankless job, and they are trying to do their best. We ask their opinion as we enter the ring, and accept it as we leave the arena.

How do we deal when we don't see things the same way? We congratulate the winners and reflect on our performances.  Instructors and trainers are excellent sources of critiques and usually dispense it freely.  If they're happy, life is good.

 

We had a blast both in Kansas City and Hartland, and here are some of our favorite stories of the week.

 

 

The Young and The Eternally Young

Our Knollwood finale showcases riding as a sport everyone can enjoy for life.  From our 4 year old leadline riders to our grown ups competing in both walk trot and walk trot canter classes, a good time was had by all.

Our adult walk trot canter championship on Saturday featured a champion and reserve champion whose age difference spanned more than 25 years. Not many sports can match that!

 

 

 

 

Lora 

Earlier we said that the more you ride and the more you show, the better you get at this.  Lora is a shining example of our mantra, having amassed the most loyalty points in history at the Hotel Berget.

You see, Lora lives 7 hours away in Iowa, and has taken a gap year to finish her last year of equitation finals before she heads off to the University of Virginia.

Lora practically lived at Knollwood this summer, except when she was traveling to shows. 

Her hard work has really paid off in her final season, as she finished in the  Top 10 of all of the Big Three equitation finals, the UPHA Challenge Cup, The Good Hands, and the USEF Saddle Seat Medal.

We congratulate her on her great success with her beautiful partner, Sophie.

 

 

Isabella's New Horse

Kansas City is a famous horse shopping destination, as it's the last show of the season and many riders are aging out, changing divisions, or looking for something new.

Scott and Carol have been looking for a horse for Bella for a few months.  She has enjoyed success the last 2 seasons leasing and showing Tura Lura Lura, known in the barn as Maddie.

Bella's grandparents purchased Far Away Garfield at the show from Elisabeth Goth with Neil Visser as her agent.  Scott and Carol represented the Kingsburys.

This cool young horse won his Country Pleasure qualifier at the Royal with former Knollwood Kid Michelle Krentz catch riding.  We can't wait to watch Isabella's upcoming adventures with her new partner!

 

 

Rudi

As you may know,  Susan lost her beloved western horse In The Zone last spring.  She and Carol have been searching high and low for a new partner, and Susan purchased Sir Don Juan as a western prospect.

Susan's daughter Kerry is known far and wide for her riding ability and her uncanny skill of finding great spots in the show ring.  She's currently showing her charismatic and sometimes quirky park mare Brookhill's Passion Punch, known to all in the barn as Leila.

Susan's new western prospect needed some ring time, so Kerry started working with Carol on western riding, and she showed Rudi at Mane Event to great success. Team Rudi headed to KC where they won the ladies western qualifier and then went on to win the national championship.

Congrats to Kerry and Susan.  Is there anything Kerry can't ride?

 

 

 

Equitation Girls

Team Knollwood went to Kansas City with 5 equitation ladies who have  been competing very successfully all season.  

 

Our two junior riders, Hanna and Finn enjoyed a great time at the Royal.  Hanna finished 4th in the Junior Challenge Cup National Final, 3rd in the National Championship for Junior Equitation Riders, and made the first cut in the Medal Final.  This is her first year out of academy, and she was showing walk trot academy last season!

Finn and her beautiful mare Nuttin But a Lady finished 5th in the Junior Challenge Cup National Final, and 7th in the Junior National Championship.  She also had the opportunity to catch ride a country pleasure horse, and won both her qualifier and a national championship!

 

Our senior riders were in deep, deep competition.  In a year where 12 riders will be aging out as they reach the end of their 17 year old year, the competition was beyond fierce.

All three of our riders made the first cut in the UPHA Senior Challenge Cup Final, and Lora went on to finish in the Top 10.

15 year old Haley finished 4th in the Senior National Championship, and Madison turned in some flawless workouts to finish her Junior Exhibitor career.

 

 

Finals of the Knollwood Challenge

In an effort to introduce the equitation final concept to our up and coming academy riders, we started the Knollwood Challenge about 10 years ago.  Our most experienced academy stars in both walk/trot/canter and walk and trot compete in qualifying classes at our three shows, and the riders who finish first or second qualify to ride in the final at the November show. Qualifying classes include railwork and a pre-set pattern for all riders.

Riders compete on the rail in November and then get to perform a difficult pattern in the arena by themselves before all the finalists return to the arena for the awards ceremony.

 

The Challenge winner receives a custom show shirt from deRegnaucourt and a traveling bronze trophy.

Competition was strong again this year, and the patterns were pretty spot on.

Maddie won the walk trot and canter division after winning the walk and trot division last year.  She becomes only the second rider to win both divisions with Emma being the first.

Emma won the walk and trot division in only her first attempt at winning the final.

Congratulations to all the competitors on a job very well done!

 

 

Richie

Remember when we said that the more you ride and show, the faster you progress? Richie could have written that himself.

Richie started his academy show career in 2016 at the ASAW Summer Showcase, winning the maiden division on Klem.  He fell in love with the sport and has been with us for almost every show we attend.  He helps at the barn to earn extra saddle no stirrup time and often rides 4 times a week.

He was fortunate to become the new partner of the one and only Miss Mheirry Mack when his parents purchased the equitation superstar last spring. Richie and Carol have been working tirelessly getting the team together, and they made their debut at IASPHA at the end of October.

All that hard work has paid off with Richie traveling to KC for his second show where he finished Reserve National Champion in the UPHA Challenge Cup Walk and Trot National Final.  To top it off, he qualified for the 2018 final by winning a qualifying class the following day.

Richie is a student of horses.  He appreciates every horse he rides, and takes care of them as if they were his own.  He was particularly close to Chip who passed away this spring, and wears Chip's halter name tag around his neck when he shows.

He stays after rides to help Marin with Tink, and has learned much from this once in a lifetime caretaker. He can now bandage almost as well as his caretaker mentor Marin! 

 

It's been a great show season, and we're grateful to everyone who came along for the ride.

 

 

 

Tradition

Honor

Passion