vaulting - American Vaulting Association

www.americanvaulting.org 1
Equestrian
Equestrian
Vaulting
Vaulting
Editor in Chief: Megan Benjamin, [email protected]
Copy Editor: Katharina Woodman
Photographers: Blake Dahlgren, Kelly McChesney, Lynne Owen, Kate Revell, VaultingPhotos.com,
Photo Fast, Sarah Miller/MacMillan Photography
Writers and Contributors: Carolyn Bland, Stacey Burnett, Suzanne Detol, Alicen Divita, Connie Geisler,
Elizabeth Ioannou, Isabelle Parker Emma Seely, Olivia Swan
Designer: Leah Kucharek, Red Hen Design
Equestrian Vaulting magazine is the official publication of the American Vaulting Association.
Comments/suggestions/questions are welcome to [email protected].
For information on advertising rates, how to submit editorial content and more go to
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magazine or wish to receive additional copies, contact the AVA National Office (ph. 323-654-0800
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or part without written permission. Copyright by American Vaulting Association 2013. Equestrian
Vaulting magazine is published three times a year.
AMERICAN VAULTING
ASSOCIATION
8149 Santa Monica Blvd. #288
West Hollywood, CA 90046-5912
323-654-0800
American Vaulting Association Directory
2012 AVA VOLUNTEER BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Executive Board Members
President: Connie Geisler, [email protected]
Executive VP: Kelley Holly, [email protected]
Treasurer: Jodi Rinard, [email protected]
Secretary: Jill Hobby, [email protected]
VP Competitions: Linda Bibbler, [email protected]
VP Development: Open
VP Education: Carolyn Conner, [email protected]
VP Membership: Sheri Benjamin, [email protected]
Board Members
Megan Benjamin, Carol Beutler, Carolyn Bland, Robin Bowman, Craig Coburn, Blake Dahlgren, Tammy Denault, Suzanne Detol,
Julie Divita, Priscilla G. Faulkner, Kenny Geisler, Rick Hawthrone, Kerry Noble, Peter Senn, Patti Skipton, Patrick Stevens, Allison Yeager
Regional Supervisors
Region I: Peggy Van Hook, [email protected] • Region II: Marianne Rose, [email protected]
Region III: Kathy Rynning, [email protected] • Region IV: Dena Madden, [email protected]
Region V: Beth Whillock, [email protected] • Region IX: Elizabeth Brigham, [email protected]
Region X: Jane Egger, [email protected]
VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE CHAIRS /SPECIAL PROGRAM DIRECTORS
Adaptive Vaulting: Peter Senn, [email protected]
Annual Convention 2013: Melanie Schaubhut, [email protected]
AVA Blast: Lynn Stevens, [email protected]
Awards: Carol Beutler, [email protected]
Barrel Initiative: Open
Competitions Secretary: Suzanne Detol, [email protected]
CompWeb: Tom Oakes, [email protected]
Constitution & Bylaws: Charlie Bittenbring, [email protected]
Equestrian Vaulting Magazine: Megan Benjamin, [email protected]
Give the Gift of
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Equestrian
Vaulting
Up to 60% Off!
Grants: Jan Garrod, [email protected]
Grievance: Bill Brown, [email protected]
Guys in Vaulting: Open
Historian: Open
Horses: Carolyn Bland, [email protected]
Horse/Lunger Training: Carolyn Bland, [email protected]
Horse Recognition: Julie Divita, [email protected]
Horsemanship Programs: Megan Grove, [email protected]
Insurance: Kelley Holly, [email protected]
Lunger Certification: Lynda Bender, [email protected]
Nationals 2013: Linda Bibbler, [email protected]
National High Point: Open
Pony Club Partnership: Beth Whillock, [email protected]
Publications: Laury Blakley, [email protected]
Safety : Open
Sponsorships: Peggy Van Hook, [email protected]
Technical Committee: Kelley Holly, [email protected]
Trade Shows: Jan Weber, [email protected]
Vaulter Fitness: Megan Benjamin, [email protected]
Volunteer Recognition: Kathy Smith, [email protected]
Website: Cindy Rohrer, [email protected]
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2
EquestrianVaultinG | Spring 2013
AVA NATIONAL OFFICE
Craig Coburn, National Office Manager
8149 Santa Monica Blvd., #288, West Hollywood, CA 90046
[email protected]
Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to noon PST • Ph: 323-654-0800, Fax: 323-654-4306
www.americanvaulting.org
FEI Vaulting Committee Chair: Emma Seely, [email protected]
USEF Board Members: Connie Geisler [email protected] and Linda Bibbler, [email protected]
USEF Board/Elected Athlete: Devon Maitozo, [email protected]
USEF Vaulting High Perf. Comm. Chair: Linda Bibbler, [email protected]
USEF Vaulting Technical Committee Co-Chairs: Craig Coburn, [email protected]; and Suzanne Detol, [email protected]
USEF Youth Council Member: Annalise VanVranken, [email protected]
Volume 45, Issue 1
Equestrian Vaulting Designed by: Red Hen Design, Howell, MI, [email protected]
Features
Equestrian
Vaulting
6
6
2012 USEF Youth Sportsman's Award Winner
7
2012 USEF Year End Award Winners
8
Celebrating Vaulting's Youngest Stars
14
Making the Leap: Deciding When a Vaulter is
Ready to Move from Trot to Canter
12
Emma Seely
16
Parts of the Vaulting Horse
22
Vaulting Games: Nine Games to Play at Practice
24
Vaulter Verbatim: How Old Were You When You
Started Vaulting?
26
What Coaching Kids Can Teach Elite Athletes:
How Coaching Can Improve Your Vaulting
Alicen Divita
30
24
Skip the Spandex: Five Tips for Teaching Young
Boys to Vault
Olivia Swan
Columns
22
26
4
From the President Connie Geisler
5
Regional Updates: Coast to Coast
12
Vaulter Fitness: It's All a Game; Keeping Fitness Fun
Stacey Burnett
18
Through the Eyes of the Judges: The Content
Score, Thoughts and Ideas from the 2012 Judges'
Training Sessions
Suzanne Detol
On our cover:
20
Hanna Parker of Woodside Vaulters
performs her freestyle with Isabella. Horse Smarts: The Senior Equine, How the Old
Help the Young
Carolyn Bland
22
Coaching Corner: Telling a Story with Your Freestyle
Isabelle Parker
Photo courtesy of Kate Revell/VaultingPhotos.com
31
Events Calendar
www.americanvaulting.org 3
From the President
WHY I VOLUNTEER
T
hirty years ago, when my daughter was six, we stumbled into
vaulting. She was immediately hooked, and I waited and watched
throughout the practices asking questions and trying to figure
out this incredible, complex, and foreign sport. There was quite a bit to
take in. When the coach had to get a "real job" and could not come to
practice until after 5:00, I was asked to lunge for the beginner and C team
practices, coached by the advanced vaulters. “Well,” I thought, “I was there
anyway...how hard could it be?”
Then, at our first National Championships, our family camped on-site, so
we volunteered to do the early morning feeding, late night horse check,
etc. If you just hang around enough, you get sucked in. Beginning as "just
a mom", as most of us have, I too was soon hooked. We had horses at
home, so we worked in some extra practice there. This is how many new
clubs get started—at least it was for ours. I have always been a volunteer
coach and lunger, as are many in the AVA.
At competitions, since my husband and I were both math teachers, we
volunteered by doing the scoring back when scores were computed by
hand with handwritten results. Each time you try a new job in vaulting a
completely new world of complexity opens up to you! After a year and
a half in the vaulting sport, I attended my first AVA Annual Meeting. I
realized that this was the place to discover what was going on in the sport
and the organization, to meet other coaches, to get a first glimpse at new
rules, to see what the competition schedule might be, and, of course, to
get involved by volunteering for a committee (or two).
Volunteering is offering one's services without pay for some undertaking
or purpose. We think of it as sacrificing or giving away something.
However, in vaulting there is a benefit to the volunteer as well. Whether
you volunteer at the club level, in your region, or to the AVA, there is
always something new to learn and a new sense of connectedness to
gain. Volunteering gives us an opportunity to share the passion that we
have for the sport. For parents, it offers a great opportunity to share in
your child's passion. Vaulters naturally learn to volunteer because of the
shared responsibilities in team and horse care, and when a vaulter can
no longer participate in the sport as a vaulter, volunteering within their
club or the AVA is a way to stay connected to the sport. As vaulters go
off to college and find themselves in an area that has no vaulting, taking
on a small volunteer job with the AVA can help to bridge the gap. I am
sure that many of our most dedicated volunteers would agree that their
volunteering in the AVA has enriched their lives and enhanced their
passion for the sport...at least if you ask them on a day when no one has
complained about what they do.
I have now volunteered to be the AVA President, not for the power or
prestige, because there is not much of either, but because I have the time
available as well as the passion for and dedication to the sport. For many
years, I was working a full time job, running a vaulting club including
all the horse care, coaching, and lungeing, and trying to maintain our
household of five plus the "extra people" that my son, Kenny, insisted
needed to live with us. During this time, I learned not to volunteer for
something that, in reality, I would not get around to doing. Now that I am
retired and have a relatively empty household (aside from the ongoing
vaulting club with coaching, lungeing and care for eight horses), I have
the time to devote to the AVA. The AVA and the sport of vaulting have
enriched my life and my children’s lives so much that I would like to help
extend that experience to the next generation. I feel there is much to offer
at this time when all the virtues of vaulting—teamwork, cooperation,
commitment, communication and sharing—are so much needed in our
otherwise fast-paced, ever-changing world.
gPhotos.com
vell/Vaultin
sy of Kate Re
Photo courte
I invite all of you to step up and join me in this challenge of volunteering
with the AVA. The rewards are intangible but will give you a greater
sense of joy and passion than most things that you could be doing with
your time—at least that is how it has been for me and for many of my
"colleague volunteers"! We all have a collective responsibility to safeguard
that joy and passion and to appreciate each other's efforts.
4
Connie Geisler
Volunteer AVA President
[email protected]
951-861-1564
EquestrianVaultinG | Spring 2013
regionalupdates
REGION III
REGION V
REGION II
REGION X
REGION I
REGION IV
REGION IX
Region I:
Vaulting in Vegas this past
October attracted 100 vaulters,
24 horses, and 14 clubs from
three regions to Horseman's
Park in Las Vegas. Poway Valley
Vaulters, a young team from
San Diego, California, attended
the event with four vaulters.
Poway’s program has grown to over 30 vaulters aged 5-45, in adaptive,
beginner, tiny tot, living social, and advanced classes. Head coach
and trainer Bonnie Bruce, and advanced coach Sara Nicholson look
forward to a busy and fun year, kicking it off with their “Best of the
’60s”-themed Winter Recital on February 17th.
Region II:
At the 2012 Mt. Eden Halloween Fest
on October 28th, over 150 vaulters
enjoyed a very fun day in Saratoga,
California. Vaulters competed at all levels
both on the horse and on the barrel before
judges Adrienne Stang (USEF R), Kitchy
Burdette (AVA r), and AVA Apprentice
Judge Sue Smith. The costume classes
featured beginners, green horses, aliens, goblins, and new routines. This
Halloween, Garrod Farms was the happiest place on earth!
Region III:
Region III has had many events going on
during the winter. Harborview Vaulters
hosted their annual OctoberFest, which
was very successful and held in a new
venue. MountainWind Vaulters hosted
their 3rd Annual Winter Vaulting Festival.
Mt. Rainier held a barrel clinic in January
that featured judge and clinician Kendal
Edmunds. As we prepare for spring,
Redwing Vaulters are hosting a barrel
competition in March and Region III is
hosting its first ever USEF/AVA-recognized competition in April, the
Warm Beach Vaulters’ SpringFest. Our growing region loves to vault!
Region IV:
What do AVA and US Pony Club have in common? Annual meetings
in Region IV this year! Star Hughes arranged to have an introduction
to vaulting for the pony clubbers and leaders at the January Pony
Coast to Coast
Club meeting in Colorado. Members from four
local vaulting clubs helped teach the sessions.
We hope that this is just the start of a great
relationship between these organizations. On
the other end of our region, we hosted the
AVA Annual Meeting and Spirit of Vaulting
Conference in Texas.
Region V:
Region V hosted a canter vaulter clinic with
Devon Maitozo in November at Ablinger Dressage Stable in Minnesota.
Eight vaulters from five states spent the weekend learning mount
technique and compulsory drills. It was a good opportunity for vaulters
from all over the region
to work together. Thanks
to Deb DeVries from Blue
Sky and Kari Ablinger
from Northern Lakes for
lungeing the horses!
Region iX:
Region IX vaulters kept busy this
fall participating in demos, clinics,
and two fall competitions—Great
Falls/Topaz Fall Fest in September
and Vaulting Visions October
Fest. We started the 2013 season
with our Annual Spirit of Vaulting
Conference in February.
Region X:
Region X started its vaulting season at the Winter Exposé in Grand Rapids,
hosted by A Vaulting Connection. The event offered sessions with a ballet
dancer, an acro teacher, a Zumba instructor, and some of our region’s
upper level vaulters. This year’s competition season begins with the Great
Lakes Barrel Fest and includes three local AVA-recognized competitions—
The Funshine Fest in Plymouth, Michigan; The Cedar Lodge Fest in
Lawrence, Michigan; and
The Midwest Fall Fest, in
Gilberts, Illinois. The region
also kicked off a design
contest for a regional logo.
The Board of Directors will
select the winning entry.
www.americanvaulting.org 5
Feature
USEF Youth
Sportsman's Award Winner
G
eorge Joseph (Joey) Gadd has won the United States
Equestrian Federation’s most coveted youth honor: the USEF
Youth Sportsman’s Award.
This national award, chosen from among all of USEF’s youth, goes
to an equestrian under 18 years of age who best demonstrates
an ongoing commitment and dedication to the USEF—and their
affiliate—by being a role model and by actively promoting the horse.
In addition, the individual must be an accomplished horse person
and must exemplify positive sportsmanship.
As the AVA’s top pick for the award, Joey competed against youth
applicants from all breed affiliates and disciplines.
Joey is a high school senior who has shown great commitment to
the sport of vaulting and to horses in general. As a nine-year member
of the AVA and the Mt. Eden Vaulting Club, Joey is competing at the
Gold level and scored wins at the recent Chilliwack and Kentucky CVI
competitions.
competed at State Finals twice, and has won the Rookie of the Year
award. In the California State Horsemen’s Association he has won
at both the regional and state levels, and he has represented the
Association at many community events and parades.
Joey enjoys mentoring new and young vaulters and has made friends
throughout the world. He also volunteers his time bringing vaulting
horses to those who have physical and developmental disabilities,
allowing them to experience the joy of being on horseback.
Joey has a passion for the United States Air Force and is a Second
Lieutenant in the Civil Air Patrol, the auxiliary unit for youth ages
12 through 21. He was selected to attend the Cadet Officer’s
Basic School at Naval Station Lemoore, which requires the highest
academic standards.
He is a self-motivated student with a 3.95 GPA and hopes to study
meteorology at the University of Missouri and become a fighter pilot
in the United States Air Force.
Congratulations, Joey!
He was named the Individual Male alternate for the 2012 FEI World
Vaulting Championships in Le Mans, France, and his goal is to
compete in the 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy,
France.
A 4-H member, Joey also competes at high school rodeos in
cutting with his American Quarter Horse gelding Tapatime. The pair
Photo courtesy of Sara
h
of
Photo courtesy
6
EquestrianVaultinG | Spring 2013
Photo Fast
Miller/MacMillan Phot
ography
2012 USEF Team
Horse of the Year
Photo courtesy of Kate Revell/VaultingPhotos.com
Photo courtesy of Lynne Owen/VaultingPhotos.com
2012 USEF Awards
2012 USEF Individual
Horse of the Year
Palatine
Sydney Frankel, Owner
Pacific Coast Vaulting Club
Leonardo
Megan Benjamin, Owner
Mt. Eden Vaulting Club
Photo courtesy of Lynne Owen/VaultingPhotos.com
Photo courtesy of Lynne Owen/VaultingPhotos.com
Urfreund Rosengaard
Jan Garrod, Owner
Mt. Eden Vaulting Club
2012 USEF Pas de Deux
Horse of the Year
2012 USEF Vaulter &
Coach of the Year
Geoffrey Woolson &
Blake Dahlgren
Los Angeles Equestrian Vaulting Club
www.americanvaulting.org 7
8
EquestrianVaultinG | Spring 2013
Photos courtesy of Lynne Owen & Kate Revell/VaultingPhotos.com
www.americanvaulting.org 9
Coachingcorner
Telling a Story with Your
Free
style
10
W
hen it comes to writing a great freestyle, it
often helps to start with a story in mind. By
building your freestyle around a common
theme and treating your routine like a well-written
book or film, you will give the audience an easy and
fun way to connect with your vaulting.
For those vaulters out there working to build a
new freestyle, this article is for you. It’s also for
those of you who are working to find great music,
choreograph your routine, and put finishing touches
on a nearly finalized freestyle.
But first, what makes a great story? Stories I enjoy
have the following:
4A theme
4An interesting and intriguing opening, a
suspenseful middle, and a memorable ending
4Great transitions from one part of the story to the
next
4Changes in pace—excitement and calmness
4Creativity
4Consistency in style
Keep this in mind when writing your freestyle. If your
freestyle were a movie, would you keep watching or
would you ditch the theater? If your freestyle were
a book, would you keep reading or put down the
book and walk away? Is it interesting or is it just like
every other book on the shelf? What makes your
freestyle stand out from all of the others and do you
think the audience can understand the story?
Photo courtesy of Kate Revell/VaultingPhotos.com
About the Author: Isabelle
Parker has coached Woodside
Vaulters for over twenty years.
She has worked with every level
of team and individual, sending
top level vaulters to nearly every
World Championships since
1996. An AVA r judge, technical
committee member, and an
FEI steward, Isabelle holds her
gold medal and competed
internationally for the United
States. Isabelle is also the Chief
Financial Officer of Summit Public
Schools. By Isabelle Parker
EquestrianVaultinG | Spring 2013
When writing your freestyle, there are many things to
consider. Below are a series of questions I like to ask
my vaulters when they write their freestyles. Instead
of letting these questions overwhelm you, let them
inspire you! Try working with your moves and music
to create a story you will love to tell for the rest of the
season.
Left: Choose a costume that suits your music and your
theme. Matilda Hickman-Smith wears skulls and crossbones
for her Pirates of the Caribbean-themed freestyle. Do you have something in your
freestyle that makes you stand
out? Show off your greatest
attributes with unique moves.
• Is there a logical flow from one move to the next?
• Does every move have a meaning? If you are scrambling to the
neck for just one move, you might want to do something along the
way to tie the story together a little better.
• Do the transitions make it easy for you to perform well? Always
vault to your level. If the transitions are too difficult and you can’t
perform them well, the story will be lost in your scramble.
Photos courte
sy of
Kate Revell/Vau
ltingPhotos.co
m
Changes in Pace
• Does your freestyle change pace? A great freestyle has both fast
moments and slow moments. With a proper pace, sometimes the
audience can revel in the details and other times they can enjoy the
overall picture of your freestyle.
• Do these changes of pace make your freestyle easy for the
audience to watch? (Or, is it so fast that they are confused or so
slow that they are bored?)
• Does the pace of your freestyle match your music? Your horse?
If your music is slow and steady, your freestyle should mostly be
slow and steady also, punctuated with quick movements for variety.
Racing through a routine is never a great idea.
• Does it all make sense?
Learning & training
techniques to improve
compulsories and
encourage creativity
in freestyles.
2
01
Vaulting
Camps
©2
• Do your facial expressions reflect your theme? A serious face
probably doesn’t go so well with happy music… and vice versa.
Warm Beach Camp presents:
Va u l ti n g P h o t o s . c o m
• Does your uniform interpret the music? When you hear your music,
close your eyes and try to see what colors go best with that piece. The
design of your uniform should also match your music and theme.
After you have a good draft of your freestyle, ask your coach, a parent,
or an older vaulter to look at your freestyle with some of these
questions in mind. If the story is well written, anyone will get it!
en •
• Do your arm/body movements interpret the music? Arm
movements should never be random or repetitive. Try to create
choreography that enhances the music.
• Is this freestyle unique? Do you do something that makes you
different from everyone else vaulting at your level? If not, what can
you do to change that?
eO
w
• Is there one underlying theme to your freestyle? Can an
outsider recognize and understand it?
• What makes you different? Show it off in your freestyle. Cookie
cutter routines aren’t nearly as fun to watch as ones that show off
personal strengths.
nn
Theme and Consistency in Style
Creativity
Ly
Tarra Samak honors
her heritage with
this Persian-themed
freestyle and costume.
All of her choreography
ties back to her theme
and embodies her
music. Construction
All levels invited.
• Does your freestyle have an opening that immediately draws
the audience in? Is your mount powerful? Does your first move
show off your flexibility/strength/power?
Instructor:
Patti Skipton, WBC Vaulting Coach and 2010 AVA Mentor of the Year
• Is there a reason to keep watching? Is the middle of your freestyle
interesting? Suspenseful? Tricky? Exciting?
• Does your freestyle build up to the ending? Is the final move and
final dismount something the audience will remember?
Camp Dates:
Register Today!
March 31-April 5, 2013 (ages 10-18) ............................ $398
April 19-21, 2013 (ages 7-18) ...................................... $198
June 30-July 6, 2013 (ages 10-18) ............................... $598
Transitions
• Do your transitions make sense? Transitions should be as clean as
possible, even when they are tricky. Transitions should never look like
a scramble.
800-228-6724  www.WarmBeachVaulters.com
www.americanvaulting.org 11
Vaulter fitness
It’s All a Game
Keeping youngsters’ attention during serious fitness can be
a challenge. And let’s face it, sometimes older vaulters need
a change of pace too. Give your vaulters a break from the
monotony. Play games and make fitness fun!
Obstacle Courses
Plyometrics (between obstacles):
Relay Races
Choose several obstacles to incorporate into your course.
The barrel, a folded mat, or a hay bale will work gloriously.
Set each obstacle at least ten yards apart and assign
specific movements for each obstacle. Assign plyometric
or coordination drills to travel the distance between
obstacles.
Crab walks- With the belly facing up, crawl on all fours.
Bunny hops- Hop on two feet.
Skip the obstacles and just do the plyometrics… relay
style! Create teams of two or more. Draw start and finish
lines, usually about 20 yards apart. Make sure the first
vaulter completes the entire movement to each finish line
before tagging their partner. The fastest team wins!
Single leg hops- Hop on one foot.
Conditioning Contests
Race individually, in pairs, or as teams. Position vaulters at
different starting points throughout the obstacle course or
time each vaulter as they move through the course oneby-one. Racing makes it fun!
Long jumps- Using a powerful arm swing, jump long
and low. Try to go as far as possible with each jump.
Vaulters love a good competition—especially when honor
(or prizes!) are on the line. Add a little spice to the normal
conditioning routine by making it a competition.
Obstacles:
Barrel- Jump on/jump off with
or without a trampoline. Always
practice proper landing techniques
upon dismounting.
Panel mat- Perform cartwheels,
handstand walks, somersaults, or
other gymnastics exercises down the
length of the mat.
Hay bale- Do 10-25 single or doublelegged box jumps (on and off in a
row), jumps to handstand, or power
skips to get heart rates up.
Jump rope- Do 25-50 single leg,
double leg, double unders, skips or
double hops.
12
EquestrianVaultinG | Spring 2013
Bear crawls- Keeping both legs straight, crawl on all
fours with the hips at the highest point.
Power skips- Using the arms for propulsion, skip as high
as possible.
Grapevine shuffle- Crisscross forward and back while
facing the same direction the
entire time.
Side shuffle- Staying in a
low squat and facing the same
direction the entire time, shuffle
sideways.
Handstand Contest
Set the rules ahead of time. Whoever stays on their hands
the longest wins!
Straight handstand- Legs remain together,
and no walking is allowed.
Walking handstand- Legs remain together,
and walking is allowed.
Frog jumps- Squat all the way
down and touch the ground.
Spring up and reach for the sky.
Freestyle handstand- Legs can be spit,
stagged, or anything in between. Walking is
allowed.
Mat/hay bale hops- Hop on
and off or over folded mats on
two legs or one.
Back-to-wall handstand- Legs remain
together with the back against a wall. (For
beginners.)
Sprint to the finish- Go!
Go! Go!
Belly-to-wall handstand- Legs remain
together with the belly against a wall. (For
advanced beginners.)
By Stacey Burnett
ren
Photos courtesy of Blake Dahlg
Keeping Fitness Fun
Push-Up Contest
Wall Sit Contest
Splits Contest
Push-ups for time- How many push-ups can your
vaulters do in 30 seconds? 45 seconds? A minute?
Wall sit for time- How long can your vaulters perform
a wall sit without taking a break? Their backs must be
flat against the wall with their upper legs parallel to the
ground the entire time.
Who can go the lowest? If everyone’s down in regular
splits, try oversplits on a raised panel mat with either the
front or back leg lifted.
Push-ups max- How many push-ups can your vaulters
do without resting?
Pull-Up Contest
V-Up Contest
Pull-ups for time- How many pull-ups can your vaulters
do in 30 seconds? 45 seconds? A minute? Dropping from
the bar is allowed!
V-Ups for time- How many V-ups can your vaulters
perform in 30 seconds? 45 seconds? A minute? V-ups only
count went the vaulter returns to full hollow body or flat
body position between V-ups. Fingers must touch toes
at the top of the V-up. Try tuck-ups (with bent legs) with
more beginner vaulters.
Pull-ups max- How many pull-ups can your vaulters do
without dropping from the bar?
Any fitness activity can be made into a friendly
competition. Just remember to make it fun, positive,
and rewarding. A little inner-squad competition is
great for team building and encourages each team
member to do his or her best while striving for
improvement. When it comes to fitness, sometimes
vaulters just need a good challenge!
About the Author: Stacey Burnett is a Certified Personal Trainer based in the San Francisco
Bay Area. She has been training vaulters and riders of varying fitness levels since 2005 and is a
member of the AVA Vaulter Fitness Committee.
www.americanvaulting.org 13
Feature
By Emma Seely
Making the
Leap
Deciding When a
Vaulter is Ready to Move From Trot to Canter
D
eciding when a vaulter is ready to move from trot to canter
is admittedly based a bit on gut feeling—either they’re
ready or they’re not. But there’s more to the decision than
a coach’s intuition. When it comes down to it, there are a handful of
things that matter most in determining whether or not a vaulter is
ready for canter. If a vaulter fits the bill, it’s time to move on up!
Age and mental maturity. As a general rule, most vaulters
need to be about nine years old in order to vault at the canter. At
this age, vaulters are usually old enough to pay attention, follow
directions, and focus. They also have a strong desire to move forward
in vaulting and succeed. I have had eight-year-olds who are mentally
mature enough to move to canter and I have had eleven-year-olds
who weren’t. Readiness depends more on mental maturity than
chronological age.
Focus and listening skills. The ability to listen to and follow
directions is absolutely paramount. If the vaulter is too nervous or
distracted to be able to focus on or listen to their coach, they are
not ready for canter. The vaulter must be able to hear and process
coaching directions while in action on the horse. For example, while
they are mounting, they must be able to hear me say “look down”
and actually do it (to some degree).
Horse awareness. Basic horsemanship is a must for all vaulters
wanting to move up to canter. A vaulter must be able to tie, groom,
and lead a horse safely. They must also understand acceptable
behavior around horses.
14
EquestrianVaultinG | Spring 2013
Coordination, strength, and body awareness. A fit
body is important for vaulters wishing to move up to canter. Can
the vaulter perform basic gymnastics exercises like cartwheels and
somersaults? Can they hold themselves in a handstand against a
wall or by themselves? Can they do a push up? It’s also important
that they have basic body awareness. If you ask them to suck in their
belly, lift their chin or lower their arms, they need to be able to figure
out how to do these things without looking in a mirror.
Experience. Before moving to canter, vaulters need at least one
full year of trot experience, and many need two to three years of
experience. Trot team experience is ideal, since it teaches team
building, basing, and flying skills, but if individuals or doubles is all
your club offers, that also works.
Drive. Does the vaulter want to vault at canter? Are they motivated
to succeed?
Form. Before moving to canter, a vaulter must be able to point
their toes and have straight legs when they’re focusing on them. This
basic form must be learned at trot, when there is less going on.
Height. To move to canter, vaulters need to be big enough to keep
up with the horse while running out at the canter and be able to
reach the handles for mount. This part depends on the size of your
canter horse.
Physical ability. Some vaulters are just super talented, especially
ones with a previous background in gymnastics or dance. If they are
mature enough, tall enough, and have good listening skills, they
might be ready for canter regardless of experience or age.
About the Author: Emma Seely is the head coach at Mt. Eden Vaulting Club, where she
works with vaulters of all levels. Emma has coached vaulters earning gold, silver, and bronze
medals at the Vaulting World Championships and World Equestrian Games. She is also an
AVA r judge and chair of the FEI Vaulting Technical Committee.
Photos courtesy of Kate Revell/VaultingPhotos.com
If a vaulter meets the qualities above and your coaching intuition
says it’s time—they’re ready to take the leap from trot to canter
vaulting. Young canter vaulters can be wild, but their enthusiasm
is contagious. There’s nothing quite like the excitement of a
vaulter who has stood at the canter for the first time to fuel a
coach’s passion and dedication to the sport!
www.americanvaulting.org 15
Crest
Ear
Mane
Poll
Withers
Forelock
Cheek/Jaw
Throttle
Forehead
Neck
Jowl
Shoulder
Bars of Jaw
Nostril
Muzzle
Point of Shoulder
Chin
Girth
Chest or Brisket
Forearm
Knee
Parts of the Vaulting Horse
Photo courtesy of K. McChesney Photography
Hoof
Forehand
16
EquestrianVaultinG | Spring 2013
Back
Loin
Croup
Point of Hip
Dock
Flank
Barrel
Thigh
Tail
Stifle
Elbow
Chestnut
Gaskin
Hock
Cannon Bone
Fetlock
Coronet
Pastern
Hindquarters
www.americanvaulting.org 17
THROUGH THE EYES
of the judges
By Suzanne Detol
The Content Score:
Thoughts and Ideas from the 2012 Judges’
M
any of the AVA’s youngest vaulters
rely on the content score to assess
their routines. When the AVA Rules
and Guidelines were written, the definition of
“content” varied from event to event. This was
an intentional attempt to emphasize certain
aspects of a routine, based on the vaulter’s
capabilities, development, and experience. For
example, it was thought that at the beginning
levels, the vaulter should concentrate on
learning to use and express his/her music,
should show a variety of exercises, should use
the entire space (whether it be on the horse or
on the barrel), should attempt to show some
originality, and should use the entire time
allowed for the routine. The content score for
beginners did not include (nor did we want
to see it include) degree of difficulty, since the
routines were meant to be executable. On
the other hand, in some events, such as Open
Descriptors
or Preliminary Barrel, when the description
of the event inferred a greater level of
expertise, degree of difficulty was an expected
component of the routine.
The expectation was that a beginning level
vaulter would learn the fundamentals of a
well-written routine and would be rewarded
accordingly. As that vaulter progressed
and became more capable, the additional
components of degree of difficulty, complication
of movement, height and number/security of
holding points would be added into the mix.
Regardless of the intent of those original AVA
Rules and Guidelines, the differences in the
definition of “content,” have created confusion
amongst the membership as to what exactly
the judges are looking for when assessing
the content score. Beginning in September
of 2012, the AVA judges and apprentice
Trot
Barrel•
x
Canter
Barrel
x
2-Phase
Originality
x
Use of Static/Dynamic/Stretch/
Balance/Strength Exercises
judges have been working on a proposal to
revise the AVA Rules and Guidelines to make
the description of content more consistent
between events. Two separate trainings
were devoted to the subject, as well as three
working groups that contributed to the
project. In the end, we developed a new
methodology for assessing each routine
and coming up with the score while also
organizing descriptors and separating them
into distinct categories. PROPOSAL: The descriptors for all events that
include content in our AVA Rules and Guidelines
should be as close to each other as possible.
The following graph depicts this intent and
identifies the events where they apply:
Using the below graph, the only differences
in the description of content is for Copper,
Trot or lower level barrel and/or horse
x
Trot
Horse
x
Copper
Horse
x
Pas De
Deux
x
# of
Occurences
6
x
x
x
x
x
6
X
X
X
X
X
X
6
Time Used
X
X
X
X
X
X
6
Use of Space (Horse/Barrel)
X
X
X
X
X
X
6
Music Interpretation
X
X
X
X
X
X
6
Continuity/Timing
X
X
X
X
X
X
6
Development/Pace
X
X
X
X
X
X
6
Artistic Merit
X
X
X
X
X
X
6
X
X
X
3
Variety
Difficulty
Appropriateness of Exercises
X
X
X
X
X
X
6
Consideration of Horse/Barrel
X
X
X
X
X
X
6
*The descriptors for Trot Barrel would also apply to Preliminary Trot, Trot Pairs, Novice Barrel Pairs, Walk, etc.
18
EquestrianVaultinG | Spring 2013
events, where the components of difficulty,
complication of movement, height, and
number and security of holding points are not
part of the content score (nor would they be
expected or rewarded by the judge).
Assuming that these changes can
be implemented and the descriptors
standardized between events, the Content
score should be more easily understood. A
proposed methodology that the judges have
been practicing considers the following
categories in assessing Content:
Photo courtesy of Lynne Owen/VaultingPhotos.com
Training Sessions
Use of Space and Direction
On the neck, back, croup, ground jumps
and leaps (where applicable); facing forward,
backward, inside, outside, upside down,
etc., and height off the horse/barrel (where
applicable).
Variety
Use of various structure groups: sitting,
kneeling, standing, rolls, lying, etc.; use of static
and dynamic exercises; continuity/timing of the
moves; use of stretch, strength, and balance
exercises; and number/security of holding
points and difficulty (where applicable).
Artistic Merit
Originality; complication of movements,
demands on suppleness (where applicable);
development in sequence of the exercises,
fluid transitions, pace; expression of music,
charisma, punctuation, movements and
presentation; music and lyrics appropriate
to vaulter and horse; uniform appropriate to
vaulter, music, and horse. Consideration of Horse/Barrel
Harmony with the horse (where applicable);
soft landings; transitions and dynamic
exercises performed smoothly with balanced
movement; exercises appropriate to vaulter
and horse (where applicable).
Using this proposed methodology, each of
the above categories would receive a score.
Each score would be worth 25 percent of
of
Photo courtesy
s.com
VaultingPhoto
Lynne Owen/
the total score for Content. In addition,
deductions would be made from the
total Content score if the competitor
did not use the full time allotted for
his/her routine. For example:
Time Used
Deduct up to 1 point for short routines.
6 seconds short = 0.3 off
9 seconds short = 0.5 off
12 or more seconds short = 1 point off of total Content Score
CAVEAT: The reader should note that this article
is for information only. The Rules and Guidelines
language will need to be revised for some of the
ideas to occur. The members of the AVA Judges
Program who helped to develop the graph and
Photo courtesy
of
Kate Revell/Vau
ltingPhotos.co
m
proposed new methodology for scoring Content
did so in an attempt to both simplify and clarify
the rules and expectations for the Content score
at all levels.
Happy Vaulting!
About the Author: Suzanne Detol is an AVA, USEF and FEI judge.
She is also the 2012 AVA Trainer of the Year and Volunteer of the
Year.
www.americanvaulting.org 19
horsesmarts
A
fter years of faithful service as a high
performance vaulting horse, carrying
gold vaulters to national championship
wins and even earning the coveted Osierlea
award, these days Prinz Pilot finds himself
mentoring new and young vaulters with his
steady canter and even calmer disposition.
Modern veterinary science and technology
have led to improved care for horses, and
subsequently, many are living longer and
continuing to work well into their senior years.
With diligent, vigilant, and thoughtful care, some
horses can work well into their twenties and live
happily in retirement for many years after that.
The routine care that all horses require
becomes increasingly important for the older
horse. This includes the usual farrier visits,
dental care, worming, annual vet checks, and
vaccinations. Additionally, you may need to
alter diet, healthcare, blanketing, and exercise
routines as your horse ages. Plenty of space
to move about and rest, clean water, exercise,
appropriate shelter, good company, and lots
of love can help keep your horse in top shape.
the
By Carolyn Bland
senior
equine
How the Old Help the YOung
Photos courtesy of Lynne Owen/VaultingPhotos.com
Giving an older horse better care can extend
their working lives, which allows them to
bring confidence to a younger generation
of vaulters. Many horses can continue in
a vaulting career well into their late 20s, if
realistic expectations are considered. These
experienced older horses can give immense
assurance to the beginning young vaulter.
When vaulters think back to their favorite horse
as a young vaulter, it’s often an older one who
gave them the confidence to learn new, “scary”
skills without ever wavering beneath them.
Older vaulting horses have several key
advantages over younger horses when
working with beginning vaulters.
•Experience: Older horses are usually
experienced and have been there and done
that, making them quiet and reliable.
• Predictability: After many years in the ring,
you know their tricks and they know yours.
Older horses are less likely to surprise you or
your young vaulter.
• Trustworthiness: Older horses are
trustworthier underfoot, but they’re also
trustworthier on the ground. Older horses
usually have better ground manners and are
20
EquestrianVaultinG | Spring 2013
Mozart helped F.A.M.E. qualify for the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen as a 21-year-old and even
carried the 2008 National Championship A Team at age 23!
less prone to spooking than younger horses.
Older horses are great for young and
beginning vaulters, but they take very special
care to remain in top vaulting condition.
•Eating and Diet: Carefully monitor eating,
behavior and health changes. Overweight
senior horses tend to develop tendon and
bone problems more easily. Underweight
senior horses have a harder time building
muscle and maintaining body condition.
Supplements can help with joint health
and can extend the working life of an
older vaulting horse. Many senior equines
are serviceably sound—not quite sound
enough to pass a pre-purchase exam, but
not uncomfortable in work either. These horses
benefit greatly from proper diet and supplements.
•Condition: Baring cases of injury, always maintain
a basic level of conditioning with your senior horse.
Older horses can lose condition quickly, and it takes
longer for them to regain it.
Proper Exercise:
• Warm up and cool down slowly. The older horse
more likely has decreased range of motion, so
walking briskly for a longer period of time in
warm-up is often beneficial.
• Don’t overload with weighted exercise. Older
horses tend to lose spine-supporting back muscle
(they often have a very dipped back), which
makes their backs weak. Light vaulters are fine,
but adult vaulters might be too heavy for some
older horses to support safely. To help an older
horse gain back muscle without bearing down on
already weak tendons and joints, consider lowimpact exercise options, like aquatread therapy
(underwater treadmill) or swimming.
Photos courtesy of Lynne Owen/VaultingPhotos.com
• Lunge on a big circle (and avoid circles whenever
possible). Lungeing on a small circle is more
stressful on the joints, so make sure to keep your
horse off the circle as much as possible. Lunge in
straight lines or ride on the trails for warm-up.
Sir Anthony Van Dyck carried Mary McCormick at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Kentucky
at age 19.
• Stress Reduction: Work to reduce physical and
emotional stress on your older horse whenever
possible. At competitions specifically, remember
that although every little vaulter feels most
comfortable on your older horse, you must be
realistic and not overload the horse at competitions.
Older horses tire quickly and don’t recover as fast.
•Companionship: An older horse does better
with lots of love. Bring him out to demonstrate
horsemanship skills, grooming, and more. Some
senior equines may act cranky now and then, but
they love the attention.
About the Author: Carolyn Bland is a renowned vaulting and dressage trainer.
She lunged Palatine and Team USA to an historic victory at the 2010 World
Equestrian Games, where she earned a gold medal. Carolyn was the 2006 AVA
Trainer of the Year for her extraordinary work with Mozart and F.A.M.E. and has
continued to turn out exceptional vaulting horses since she joined the sport in 1996.
Photos courtesy of Lynne Owen/VaultingPhotos.com
Seasoned vaulting horses are worth their weight in
gold, and with the best care, your horse can continue
to mentor young vaulters well into their old age. Prinz
Pilot did, and I’m sure there are hundreds of stories of
horses just like him all throughout the world.
Prinz, now 21, mentors young vaulters as they learn the basics at the walk and beginning canter. www.americanvaulting.org 21
1
)
(All levels
e
m
a
G
d
n
a
t
S
e
h
T
, trot,
At the walk
.
n
o
im
S
t
u
e
Says witho
ds when th
e like Simon
he game en
T
m
a
r.
g
e
lt
d
u
n
a
a
v
st
g
the
ndin
y: Think of
s for the sta
How To Pla ut different challenge
n
a
. Have
eir h ds.
row o
or shoulders
pad with th
r
s,
o
ip
or canter th
h
le
,
g
d
in
a
e
rc
or twist
ir h
ches the su
rn sideways
ands on the
tu
h
ir
to
e
m
th
vaulter tou
e
h
th
it
to stand w
allenge, ask
rs, ask them
sky. For a ch
e
th
to
ch
a
For beginne
nd re
ndles. Try
their toes a
into the ha
r
.
them touch
e
o
d
p
si
to
to
n
o
e
neck, back,
step
from sid
ding on the
ask them to
n
,
a
rs
at the torso
st
e
y
lt
u
Tr
.
a
e
v
rs
dvanced
ide, or reve
diate and a
inside, outs
ce
fa
to
For interme
s
rn
half jump tu
ing goes!
quarter and
way!
ingle. Anyth
rc
su
e
th
every which
n
d
o
n
a
st
to
w
croup, or
o
s Them: H
(All levels)
lly Teache
a
e
R
It
t
a
Wh
How To Play:Vaulters perform indi
vidual, pas de deux, or team free
style with their eyes
closed on the barrel or at the wal
k.
Lights Out
2
The Ding Game (All levels)
What It Really Teaches Them:
How
How To Play: Ask for pe
rfection. When the vaulte
r falters, ding them (like
“wrong answer” buzzer bu
a game show
t nicer) and have them res
tart their routine from the
beginning.
For beginners, ask them
to perform their freestyle
on the barrel or at the wa
legs and pointed toes. If
lk with straight
they have floppy feet or loo
se knees when they should
or straight, ding ‘em! Vault
be pointed
ers perform their routine
as many times as it takes
without mistakes.
to get through
For intermediate and advan
ced vaulters, ask for absol
ute perfection from start
misstep, lack of performan
to finish. A
ce, hard landings, and for
m faults are all worthy of
a
ding.
What It Really Teache
s Them: How to focus on
the details from start to fin
ish.
to feel their vaulting and hone bod
y awareness.
3
Fast Forward (All levels)
4
How To Play: Vaulters pe
rform their planned freest
yle, performing the transi
the usual speed. Static mo
tions at twice
ves should still be held as
usual.
What It Really Teache
s Them: How to create
sharp, precise movements
extra movements.
while avoiding
22
EquestrianVaultinG | Spring 2013
Vaulting Games
Nine Fun Games to Play at Practice
Because sometimes, playing teaches best!
5
6
Team Frees
tyle Switch U
p
(Intermed
iate, Adva
How To Pla
nced)
y: On the b
arr
el, two vau
the other v
lters switch
aulter’s part
roles in the
. Ask both v
For lots of la
team freest
a
u
lters to teach
ughter and
yle so each
each other
g
ig
gles, assign
With everyo
performs
h
ow to do th
each vaulte
ne trying so
e part corre
r a teamma
mething ne
communica
ctly.
te’s role in th
w, this is a ch
tion for inte
e freestyle.
allenge enco
rmediate an
uraging tea
d advanced
What It R
mwork and
teams.
eally Teac
hes Them
and teach th
:
H
o
w to perform
eir own part
any part of
in the freest
their differe
the freestyle
yle. How to
nt roles in th
. How to ex
empathize
e freestyle.
plain
with teamm
ates in
7
)
(All levels
b
o
l
B
The
lob-like
morphous b
a
n
a
rm
fo
With great
lters
mfortably.
r more, vau
o
co
e
e
v
re
o
th
m
f
o
to
p
er
e to the
y: In a grou
een each oth
gins to mov
e
tw
b
e
b
b
lo
b
ce
n
e
How To Pla
lter
dista
of th
leading vau
at the front
ing enough
e
r
p
e
e
th
e
lt
s
k
u
A
,
a
.
e
v
p
ts
e
a
n
e
sh
uide, th
ovement
r her movem
e vaulters’ g
iates the m
mirror his o
it
d
in
in
music as th
d
h
n
e
a
b
s
rs
e
erg
from the
the vaulte
ep forward
w leader em
st
e
n
n
a
ca
,
r
music while
ft
e
le
d
r
a
o
ers to use
ew le
or her right
urage vault
groups, a n
co
ig
n
b
E
r
.
d
Fo
a
turns to his
s.
le
ow
a chance to
one else foll
one has had
while every
ry
e
the blob.
v
e
l
ti
n
u
as they lead
e blog
th
s—
f
o
rm
a
le
d
ir
e
id
m
st th
ography by
dy—not ju
nique chore
o
u
b
te
re
a
e
ti
n
cr
e
to
ir
the
hem: How
Teaches T
y
ll
a
e
R
It
What
tting go.
music and le
feeling the
Slow Motion(All levels)
How To Play:Vaulters pe
rform their planned freest
yle in
slow motion, moving at ha
lf the speed that they usu
ally
do.
The full freestyle should
take twice as long.
What It Really Teache
s Them: How to make eac
h
movement count while avo
iding extra movements.
8
The Freestyle Add-On
Memory Game
(Beginner, Intermed
iate)
How To Play: In a group
of three or more at the wa
lk or on the barrel, the firs
mounts and performs a fre
t vaulter
estyle exercise. The secon
d
vaulter performs the first
exercise plus one addition
vaulter’s
al exercise, and so on. Th
e more unique the moves
the more difficult the fre
an
d transitions,
estyle becomes to remem
ber. Vaulters are eliminated
the freestyle (it can get lon
if they forget
g!) or perform the wrong
freestyle.
What It Really Teache
s Them: How to create an
d perform interesting mo
transitions.
ves and new
Raanmdom Music
G
e (Beginner)
How To Play: Vaulters perform
their normal freestyle to
random music.
9
What It Really Teaches Them:
How to go with the flow
and perform differently to differen
t music.
www.americanvaulting.org 23
Isabella Davie
Beau Soleil Vaulters
I was seven!
Francesca Foley
Lone Star Vaulters
I was ten years old.
vaulter verbatim
Elizabeth Brigham
Great Falls Vaulters
I started vaulting when
I was nine years old. In
this photo I’m at my first
vaulting competition
with Murphy.
Malu Foley
Vaulters del Sol
Kylie Zaechelein
Mt. Eden Vaulting Club
I was seven!
24
EquestrianVaultinG | Spring 2013
Julia Robinson
Piedmont
Vaulting Club
I started
vaulting when
I was five. This
picture is with
the lovely Ben
from Woodside
Vaulters.
Katie Gieschen
Vaulting Visions
I was three!
Sarah Whillock
Northern Lakes Vaulters
I was eleven years old!
Mary McCormick
Pacific Coast Vaulters
Clementine Cimetiere
Beau Soleil Vaulters
I started vaulting with Cascade
Vaulters when I was eight.
I started vaulting when I was nine
years old. I am eleven in this picture,
competing at Nationals in Watsonville on
the horse Teresa with Kelley Holly!
How old were you when you
started vaulting?
Haley Smith
Golden Gate Vaulters
I was ten years old when I started vaulting!
Miranda Marcantuno
Vaulting Visions
I started vaulting when I was six!
www.americanvaulting.org 25
feature
By Alicen Divita
What
coaching
Kids
can teach
Elite Athletes
How Coaching Can Improve Your Vaulting
T
he vast majority of elite vaulters are
also coaches. Whether running local
club programs or teaching clinics
around the world, coaching is a great way
for vaulters to give back to the sport—but
it’s also a great way to improve a high-level
vaulter’s skills. This article is for high-level
vaulters looking to make the leap to great.
It’s about how coaching can improve your
vaulting and how coaching young kids
in particular has inspired elite athletes in
unexpected ways. Here, some of the top
vaulters from around the world share what
they have learned by becoming coaches
themselves. Their advice is nothing short of
inspirational.
“One nice thing in vaulting is that our teams
always have both younger and older vaulters
together. I like to watch how they act together
and try to find the best harmony—that’s just the
same for life too!” -Patrick Looser, Switzerland, 2010 World Champion
Think Young; Get Creative!
It is fairly unique to vaulting that an eleven-year-old and a twenty-six-year-old
can compete together on the same team. This fusion of ages is like pairing the
simplicity and freedom of a colorful finger painting with a detailed architectural
drawing. Stefan Csandl of Austria, who recently won CHIO Aachen, speaks about
this creativity, saying: “Children have a much easier way of doing things. They
are not copying anyone, because they sometimes just create a move that came
to their mind. This brings us back to basics, because it's not always difficulty
which gets you a medal; it's creativity and being unique.”
Kids get that.
In any situation, a person with a fresh, clear view can always bring new motivation.
Older athletes can become easily frustrated, sometimes even losing inspiration.
Working with kids can be inspiring. Gero Meyer of Germany, explains this very well:
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EquestrianVaultinG | Spring 2013
“Kids are not thinking about the repercussions of their actions as
much as grown-ups do, and that is a huge advantage when trying
new moves. They are able to be lifted up high without thinking of
the distance to the ground or do a flip and have trust in themselves.
Since they haven’t collected many bad experiences in their lives so
far, they are freer in their minds. Bad memories are often blocking
an athlete’s mind. An elite athlete has learned to handle it; a kid
does not have any and so has no problem with it.”
Harnessing the simplicity of the way children go about creating and
learning new skills can teach seasoned vaulters how to bring more
creative expression into their own vaulting. They learn that the freedom
of an uninhibited mind can transform poses into art.
Coach to Visualize
Many of us already know that visualization is an important tool for elite
performance, and coaching helps vaulters hone this skill. Coaching
engages both your brain and body, helping coaches not only feel how
exactly to do the move correctly, but also to see others attempting
the move with a variety of approaches. As Sofie Regnell, a vaulter and
coach from Sweden says: “By coaching kids you learn how to use
your body language to express and teach. Kids need to use eyes,
body, and ears to learn. Everyone is different. Coaches strive to find
different ways of making any exercise as easy as possible.”
“So often you see a small child trying something,
putting so much effort into something, and have
them sit back confused as to why it hasn’t worked.
Whatever is right or wrong may be magnified in
a beginning vaulter, so while an elite vaulter may
be able to execute a pose without focusing on its
essence, a kid may not even be able to do the move
at all. When kids are given the right skills to be able
to achieve the core of the movement effortlessly,
you can truly see what [the essence] is.”
A coach has to turn the language of movement into words, which is
yet another way to relate to vaulting. When we engage with something
from many different angles, our brain makes more connections and our
understanding of the subject is stronger. Every kid has a different way of
learning. Some like visual aids, others just need you to put them through
the motions. Discovering the many ways that young vaulters learn can
help coaches understand how to approach their own vaulting, focusing
on the style that works best for you and also trying out new ways to
engage with vaulting. Becoming a coach can help you grow your own
vaulting to the next level.
“Kids can open
your eyes to the
simple things
in life."
–Mari Inouye, USA,
2010 WEG Gold Medalist
The Essence is True
Watching kids attempt vaulting poses can remind an elite athlete about
the importance of what may be considered basic, or the essence of the
move. Krystle Lander of Australia credits beginners with helping her
discover the very basics in a move:
www.americanvaulting.org 27
“As an elite athlete one of my
favorite things to do is coach.
I love to see the younger
generations’ pure determination
and motivation to copy those
they count as role models. I
always come away so much
more motivated to improve the
way I vault.”
–Ross Foreman, Scotland, National Champion
When you see a trotter literally bouncing four inches off the pad
as they attempt riding seat, it becomes clear that the essence of
harmony with the horse is not optional. Elite athletes seeing this
happen in other bodies are reminded of the importance of these
basics. As World Champion Megan Benjamin says: “Teaching forces
me to break things down to their very simplest part, and often
that’s all there is to it. Flight is about heel drive. Flag is about
core and balance. Stand is about alignment and core. Using
those principles as reminders has helped my own vaulting
tremendously.”
“Teaching kids
always reminds me
that focusing on the
basics is important in
all levels of vaulting.
By emphasizing good
basics (posture,
pointed toes, etc)
while teaching, I’m
reemphasizing them to
myself as well.”
-Mary McCormick, US National Champion
While the essence makes it
possible for a new vaulter merely
to attempt a pose, it shows up
in an elite athlete as a subtle
polish making the move appear
effortless and beautiful.
Remembering the Love
of the Sport
When younger and older vaulters
work together, we are reminded
of the reason we started vaulting
in the first place. If you look to
any vaulter who has achieved
an elite level, most of them have
gotten there through giving back
in some way. I’ll let these elite
athletes speak for themselves.
“What does coaching younger vaulters teach me? To remember to see the joy in
our unique sport. To be reminded that mounting is a feat we should (and often did)
celebrate and that standing on a horse is an incredibly special opportunity.”
–Krystle Lander, Australia, National Champion
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“Little kids do not think about
the next day. As long as they
have fun with the training or
game they go and give it
all. It doesn’t matter if there
is an important competition
next morning. An ‘important
competition’… what is that
anyway? Isn’t it all about
having fun?And then, why
should one kind of fun be more
important than the other?”
– Gero Meyer, Germany, WEG Silver Medalist
Get Coaching!
So for all the would-be coaches out there, make sure you
consider the benefits that coaching can bring to your own
vaulting performance. Coaching is a great form of mental
training. By learning to explain detailed and creative vaulting
movements and feelings to others, you can solidify the concepts
in your mind for your own vaulting. Coaching also encourages
you to take ownership of your vaulting in a more mature way.
Learning about yourself as a coach can give you a valuable
perspective on your strengths and challenges as a vaulter and
help you think critically about the components of a successful
training program. About the Author: Alicen Divita is a certified yoga teacher and a graduate of the University of
California Berkeley. Alicen is currently studying to become a doctor of osteopathic medicine. She is
a two time Gold Women’s National Champion and placed eleventh at the recent Vaulting World
Championships in Le Mans, France.
“The most important thing for
the kids is that they never lose
the fun about their sport and
the horse. Even if there are
some bad days, there will be
better days soon.”
–Patrick Looser, Switzerland, 2010 WEG Gold Medalist
Perhaps most importantly, coaching kids is a great way to tap
into the sense of fun and freedom that always underpins the
more competitive and challenging aspects of our sport. Next
time you are in a vaulting slump, try to imagine yourself as
a wide-eyed little kid looking up in amazement at the older
competitors and wondering how on earth they can do those
back handsprings and clicks to handstand. Merely remembering
the feeling that got you addicted to the sport in the first place
may be just the motivation you need. If you are a kid yourself,
while you may be hoping to compete at the international level
one day, remember that many of those very elite vaulters that
you look up to now, are actually inspired by you.
www.americanvaulting.org 29
Skip the
Spandex
By Olivia Swan
Five Tips for Teaching Young Boys to Vault
Photos courtesy of Kate Revell/VaultingPhotos.com
W
e’ve all heard it—we need more men in vaulting! Well, the trick to
getting men involved in vaulting is to hook ‘em while their young.
Young boys need a very different learning environment than young
girls. The best way to keep boys engaged in vaulting is to create an all-boys
class where they are free to be themselves and learn their own way.
Here are the top five things I’ve learned over the years
from teaching young boys to vault:
1
Let boys be boys.
Boys, especially those under the
age of twelve, are loud and full
of energy. They play aggressively
and are constantly on the
move. While a group of young
girls can easily stand still and listen patiently
while you explain the compulsories, boys just
want to get up there and do them—or make
interesting noises while you speak. The key to
a successful all-boys program is to encourage
the best aspects of their behavior by creating
a fun, playful atmosphere. It might take more
energy out of you as the coach, but the boys
sure have a great time!
2
Set strict
boundaries
with actionable
consequences.
Speaking of letting boys
be boys, safety is still the number one
priority. Screaming and running and horses
are never a great combination. Make sure
the boys understand when it’s okay to
be rambunctious and when it is never
acceptable. (For example, when the A-Team
is practicing their new triple one circle over,
the boys probably need to sit still and “play
the quiet game”.) Fighting is also something
that is never acceptable at vaulting practice.
Make sure they understand the strict
30
EquestrianVaultinG | Spring 2013
Colton Lambert shows off his moves on Noah at Mt. Eden Vaulting Club.
consequences if they fail to obey the rules.
Threatening to take away the opportunity
to vault on the horse (or any other aspect of
practice they especially love) tends to work
most of the time. Always have the option to
cancel practice and send one or all of the
boys home if things get too out of hand. Make
sure the parents are on board with these
consequences so you can follow through if it’s
ever necessary.
3
Keep it fun.
Boys just want to have a good
time and be able to brag to
their friends about the cool
stuff they can do. Instead of
giving them choreographed freestyles, give
them a cool routine of “tricks” they can show
off. Think of vaulting as an extreme sport
like skateboarding or motocross. A freestyle
routine full of cool moves will keep them
interested and engaged more easily than
one that’s exactly like the girls’ routines! (Tip:
Calling the same move something manly
often does the trick.) Games are also very
important in an all-boys class. For example, to
teach them to stand up tall at the walk, trot, or
canter, have them practice “strong man arms”
(arms flexed like Popeye). Instead of running
for conditioning, try a race. Making things
into a game or competition helps boys stay
focused.
4
Keep them busy.
Set up workstations to keep
the boys busy while they wait
for their turn on the horse or
barrel. If you have the luxury
of an assistant, have that
person work with the boys on the side. If not,
create workstations the boys can easily do on
their own. Have them do handstand holds
against the wall, “manly exercises” like pushups
or ninja squats, barrel routines or anything
else you can imagine to keep them busy. Idle
boys are not your friend!
5
Don’t require
spandex.
Flexible clothing and vaulting
shoes will suffice just fine.
Crazy young boys are the future of our sport.
If you can handle their antics, you’re already
halfway there to creating a future champion.
Just follow these tips, stay sane, and have a
great time!
About the Author: Olivia Swan is a coach at Mt. Eden Vaulting Club
where she teaches an all-boys team of 8 to 12-year-olds. She currently
teaches first grade, holds a Bachelor of Education, and is pursuing her
Masters of Education with an emphasis in Special Education. Olivia was
most recently the lunger for Leonardo, who helped carry Blake Dahlgren
and Megan Benjamin to an AVA/USEF Selection Trials Pas de Deux victory.
2013 eventscalendar
March 16
Valley View Vaulters Barrel Competition
Lake Terrace, CA
Rick Hawthorne: [email protected]
April 27-28
Mozart Memorial Competition
Somis, CA
Patty Littman: [email protected]
June 15-16
Region III Championships
Grant County Fairgrounds: Moses Lake, WA
Kathy Rynning: [email protected]
July 12-14
Pacific Cup CVI
Gilroy, CA
Linda Bibbler: [email protected]
March 16-17
Mt. Rainier Winter Warm Up Fest
Location TBD
Bonnie Kuki: [email protected]
April 27-28
North Eastern Washington Mountain Fest
Spokane, WA
Tammy Denault: [email protected]
July 19-21
Region II Championships
Grass Valley, CA
Marianne Rose: [email protected]
March 23
Great Lakes Barrel Fest
Southwestern Michigan
Jane Egger: [email protected]
April 28
Mt. Eden Benefit, Vaulting at the Vineyard
Saratoga, CA
Marianne Rose: [email protected]
June 21-23
CVIO*** Aachen
Aachen, Germany
Laureen Johnson: [email protected]
June 22-23
AVA Region IV Championships
Albuquerque, NM
Dena Madden: [email protected]
March 31 -April 5
Warm Beach Spring Break Vaulting Camp
Stanwood, WA
Patti Skipton: [email protected]
April 6-7
Vaulting Clinic at Root Farm
Verona, NY
Root Farm: [email protected]
May 4
May Fest
Fort Lupton, CO
Jodi Rinard: [email protected]
May 11-12
Great Falls/Topaz Spring Fest
Frying Pan Park: Herndon, VA
Jen Williams: [email protected]
April 13
Pacific Coast Barrel Fest
Woodside, CA
Susan Frankel: [email protected]
April 13
Southern Sunshine Spring Fest
Wingate, NC
Carol Land: [email protected]
April 13-14
Warm Beach Vault into Spring Competition
Northwest Washington Fairgrounds: Lynden, WA
Patti Skipton: [email protected]
April 19-21
Warm Beach Vaulting Weekend Camp
Stanwood, WA
Patti Skipton: [email protected]
May 18-19
Garrod’s Spring Classic
Saratoga, CA
Marianne Rose: [email protected]
May 25-27
Mountain Wind Rendezvous Clinic
Kettle Falls, WA
Tammy Denault: [email protected]
June 8-9
Woodside Vaulters’ Spring Fest
Portola Valley, CA
Linda Bibbler: [email protected]
June 15-16
Sunshine Vaulters Funshine Fest
Plymouth, MI
[email protected]
June 27-30
CVI* Lexington VA
Lexington, VA
Laureen Johnson: [email protected]
June 28-29
U-Vault Invitational
Saratoga Springs, UT
Cambry Kaylor: [email protected]
June 29-30
Region IX Championships
Virginia Horse Center: Lexington, VA
Jen Williams: [email protected]
June 30-July 6
Warm Beach Summer Vaulting Camp
Stanwood, WA
Patti Skipton: [email protected]
July 8-12
E V X Vaulting Camp
Whittier, CA
Andrea Brown: [email protected]
July 9-13
Mountain Wind Jamboree
Kettle Falls, WA
Tammy Denault: [email protected]
July 29-August 2
E V X Vaulting Camp II
Whittier, CA
Andrea Brown: [email protected]
August 7
AVA Board of Directors Meeting
Denver, CO
Connie Geisler: [email protected]
August 7-11
AVA/USEF National Championships
Denver, CO
Linda Bibbler: [email protected]
Important Note: These
events were gathered
directly from the AVA
website calendar. If you
are a member you can
add your club’s events/
competitions to the
AVA website calendar
yourself by logging
into the members-only
website, going to
the calendar section,
choosing the year, and
then clicking on “add an
entry to the calendar” at
the top of them calendar
section.
October 6
Morning Star/Willow Tree Fest
Novato, CA
Carolyn Conner: [email protected]
October 11-13
Octoberfest
Castle Rock, CO
Robin Bowman: [email protected]"
October 27
Mt. Eden’s Halloween Fest
Saratoga, CA
Marianne Rose: [email protected]
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or call
(801) 592-6230
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• Available in a variety of colors
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www.americanvaulting.org 31
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EquestrianVaultinG | Spring 2013