Carolyn Hoekstra Biography



Carolyn Hoekstra, M.D., a USDF Bronze and Silver Medalist, began her horse career as a Warmblood breeder. She started Knollwood Farm in 1988 with the purchase of the approved Dutch Warmblood stallion PATRICK, and three imported youngsters as breeding stock. Over the next sixteen years, Carolyn added two more approved stallions: Kevekko, who she imported as a foal, and Noteworthy, an impressive stallion that was bred by Carolyn with frozen semen. She also bred and imported many premium mares, paying close attention to bloodlines, temperament, conformation, and performance. During this time, Carolyn, who is an OB/GYN physician, studied Horse Management at Michigan State University, took breeding classes at MSU and at Texas A & M, as well as several courses through the North American Dutch Warmblood Association. In addition, she participated in two USDF Breeding Judges' Forums. She became proficient in biomechanics of the horse as well as conformation analysis. Carolyn has won innumerable year-end awards for breeding, including being 5th place in the USDF's National list of Top Breeders in the U.S. Noteworthy, bred by Carolyn, was in the top 3 Stallions in the US many years in a row. One of his offspring, Excalibur (also bred by Carolyn) was the National Champion Oldenburg, and 3rd place USDF Horse of the Year for all three-year-olds in the country. Starting in the late 1990's, Carolyn decided to become more active in Dressage competition and began to phase out her breeding endeavors. In 2004, Carolyn turned Knollwood Farm over to her daughter, Colleen, and decided to stop breeding altogether in order to devote more time to riding. Currently, Carolyn is riding and competing two horses: Promenade, a Dutch mare who was imported by Carolyn as a one year old, and was converted from a broodmare to a performance horse at the age of 7 in 2004. Promenade's impressive show record includes 1st place Nationally for the USDF's All-Breeds Awards for Dutch Warmbloods at First Level, 1st place First Level Vintage Cup, a 3rd place finish at the 2005 Region 2 Finals at First Level AA out of Association's Year-End awards, two Adult Amateur Dover Medal wins in 2006 at Second Level, and several High Point and Percentage end-of-show championships. Promenade is a class of over 30, Reserve Champion First Level at the 2005 Midwest Dressage currently ranked 16th Nationally at 2nd Level. Carolyn has been fortunate enough to have had three different schoolmasters from which to learn her FEI skills. Armed with this knowledge, she has trained Promenade to successfully show to 4th level, and plans to show her Prix St. Georges next season! Carolyn has studied Dressage with renowned competitors including Michelle Gibson, Charlotte Bayley, George Williams, Tom Dvorak, and others.