EQUESTRIAN WWW.AMERICANVAULTING.ORG
SPECIAL 2018 FEI WORLD EQUESTRIAN GAMESTM EDITION!
VAULTING Official Publication of the American Vaulting Association
MEET TEAM USA
LEARN ABOUT VAULTING IN THE US SPECTATORS’ GUIDE TO VAULTING
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A 50-YEAR HISTORY OF GRACE AND PRECISION
V
aulting can be considered one of the oldest known forms of equestrian sport. Often described as gymnastics/dance performed on horseback, vaulting’s origins can be traced back to Roman games, which included acrobatic displays performed on cantering horses. Historical references are made to vaulting in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance; it was during this time that the practice of La Voltige (drill riding and agility exercises performed on horseback by knights and noblemen) gave the sport its present name. Modern vaulting developed in postwar Germany as a means to introduce children to equestrian sport, and it remains a popular training and competitive endeavor across Europe. Conversely, modern competitive vaulting is relatively new to the United States. Vaulting did not make its way to the U.S. until the late 1950s and the first official competition did not take place until 1969. —US Equestrian
WANT TO LEARN MORE?
Find a club in your area. Contact the American Vaulting Association at www.americanvaulting.org info@americanvaulting.org
COURTESY USDF
ABOUT VAULTING IN THE UNITED STATES
Vaulting in America and the American Vaulting Association American vaulting can be traced to 1956, when Elizabeth Searle first saw the sport during a visit to Europe. Seeing a potential application for her pony club in California’s Santa Cruz County, she obtained a 16mm film of the basic exercises, and took it back to America. In 2018, the American Vaulting Association celebrates its 50th anniversary. Elizabeth Searle (pictured above) and J. Ashton Moore founded the association in 1968, and it held the first official AVA competition at the Santa Cruz County fairgrounds in Watsonville, California. In 1974, U.S. vaulters participated in the first international exchange in Stuttgart, Germany. AVA members demonstrated vaulting at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, and again at the Atlanta Olympic games in 1996.
Today the AVA has more than 1,300 members and over 130 AVA clubs and affiliates from Hawaii to Massachusetts, and Washington to Florida. American vaulters are competitive on the world
circuit and have won multiple medals at FEI World Equestrian Games and FEI World Championships. The AVA today has pro-
grams for all types of vaulters, from recreational and pony club vaulters to therapeutic vaulters, and from beginner to elite international levels.
ON OUR COVER PHOTOGRAPHER JERRY YANG CAPTURES PAS DE DEUX PAIR KATHRYN KEVILLE AND FLORENCE RUBINGER. AMERICANVAULTING.ORG
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THE ROLE OF THE LUNGER The lunger is responsible for ensuring that the horse performs his best for the competitors, and earns a high horse score. While it may look easy, correct lunging takes time, training and discipline.
J
udges evaluate competitors based on their abilities to smoothly execute compulsory movements demonstrating strength, flexibility, balance, and harmony with the horse. Judges also score them on the technical difficulty and artistic expression associated with freestyle routines. Additionally, a portion of every overall score is secured by considering the horse’s quality and consistency of gait. Individuals compete in four different tests for a combined score: compulsory, during which they are judged on the quality of eight prescribed movements as well as a horse score; the freestyle (technically called the Free Test), during which they are judged on technique (difficulty of movements, performance), artistic merit and the horse. The 15 best vaulters continue to the final round 2
EQUESTRIANVAULTING | WEG 2018
WHERE ARE THE JUDGES? COMPULSORY TEST Judges A & E evaluate the horse Judges B, C, D, F, G, H evaluate the exercises
FREE TEST & TECHNICAL TEST Judges A & E evaluate the horse Judges B, D, F, H evaluate technique (Performance and Degree of Difficulty) Judges C, G evaluate artistic elements
and perform the technical test, which consists of five technical exercises, additional freestyle exercises chosen by the vaulter, and a horse score. Technical exercises may be shown in any order in a one-minute freestyle. The fourth and final score is a second performance of the freestyle. In the Pas de Deux (“two steps” in French), two vaulters work as a team to perform two free tests. In the Squad test, a team of six vaulters completes a compulsory and two free tests. There are eight judges—two evaluating the horse and six evaluating the exercises and artistic elements. Each movement is scored on a 10-point system, with 10 being an “excellent” score. At the end of the competition, the scores from all tests are added together then divided by the number of tests, for a final, overall score.
ARND BRONKHORST
SPECTATORS’ GUIDE TO VAULTING
SQUAD
INDIVIDUALS (separate male and female competitions)
What is Individual? One vaulter and one horse
PAS DE DEUX
First Round: Compulsories and Free Test
What is Pas de Deux? Two vaulters on one horse
The 15 best individuals continue to final round.
Two rounds of free test (two minutes)
Second Round: Technical Test and Free Test (one minute each)
The 12 best Pas de Deux pairs continue to final.
What is Squad? Six vaulters and one horse. Up to three vaulters can be on the horse at any one time. One round of compulsories, two rounds of freestyle Free Test is four minutes. Twelve best Squads continue to final round.
HORSE SCORE In all tests, the judging of the horse begins with the entrance into the arena and ends with the final dismount. If more than one individual vaulter or Pas de Deux enter together to vault on the same horse, the score for the entry, salute and trot round will be taken into account for all vaulters on that horse. The training scale is the most important guideline for trainers, vaulters, lungers and judges. The horse score is comprised of five separate scores: Pace (Rhythm, Suppleness, Contact) – 30 percent Impulsion (Impulsion, Straightness, Collection) – 25 percent Submission (Submissiveness, Regularity, Circling) – 25 percent Lunging – 15 percent Entry, Salute and Trot round – 5 percent
DANIEL KAISER
AMERICANVAULTING.ORG
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COMPULSORY TEST Judged On • Horse score • Compulsory exercises (eight exercises) MOUNT Height and position of center of gravity; harmony with the horse 10.0: A handstand position with a straight axis of the body which nearly reaches the vertical. Legs are split with right leg on the vertical line and left leg down. Hips and shoulders are parallel to the shoulder axis of the horse. FLAG Balance and suppleness (particularly shoulder and hip); harmony with the horse. 10.0: Elevation without broken arc of topline; totally absorbing the canter in the joints.
MILL Seat, posture, suppleness, scope and timing; harmony with the horse. 10.0: Upper body and leg at nearly vertical SCISSORS FORWARD Coordination of the scissor movement and height; harmony with the horse. 10.0: Pelvis is turned by a full quarter turn by the point of maximum elevation and nearly a handstand position. SCISSORS BACKWARDS Coordination of the scissor movement and height; harmony with the horse.
STAND Balance and posture; harmony with the horse. 10.0: Erect upper body forming a vertical line thorough shoulders, hips and ankle with knees in optimum extension. FLANK, FIRST PART Height and position of center of gravity; harmony with the horse 10.0: Straight axis from arms to closed legs with an angle of nearly 90 degrees to the horizontal line of the horse. With maximum arm extension; soft and correct landing to the sideways seat.
FLANK, SECOND PART (dismount) [Individual Compulsories only] Height and position of center of gravity; harmony with the horse 10.0: Straight axis from arms to closed legs with an angle of nearly 90 degrees to the horizontal line of the horse, with additional elevation in the flight phase. SWING OFF FROM SEAT ASTRIDE TO OUTSIDE (dismount) [Squad Compulsories only] Height and position of center of gravity; harmony with the horse 10.0: Straight axis from arms to closed legs with an angle of nearly 90 degrees to the horizontal line of the horse with additional elevation in the flight phase; soft and correct landing outside.
10.0: Angle of vertical line to upper body around 90 degrees and with an angle of legs to upper body less than 90 degrees.
FREE TEST
INDIVIDUAL TECHNICAL TEST
The most exciting portion of the competition is undoubtedly the “free test” or freestyle. Vaulters choreograph a series of movements in a gymnastic dance on horseback. The heart of a freestyle is presence, poise, a variety of positions, harmony with the horse, engagement with the music, originality, static and dynamic exercises, technical precision and difficulty of exercises.
Consists of five technical exercises and additional freestyle exercises, chosen by the vaulter. Technical exercises may be shown in any order in a one-minute freestyle. • Shoot Up Mount tests jump force. • Kneeling Forward to Stand Backwards tests balance. • Backwards Stand Split tests suppleness. • Roll Forward From Croup to Seat Forward on Neck tests coordination. • Push Up Backward tests strength.
Judged On • Technique (performance and degree of difficulty) • Artistic - Variety of exercises - Variety of position - Unity of composition - Music interpretation - Creativity and originality • Horse score • Timing - Individual: one minute - Pas de Deux (two vaulters): two minutes - Squad (six vaulters): four minutes
Judged On • Each technical exercise receives a score based on very specific criteria • Performance of additional exercises • Artistic score - Selection of elements, sequences, transitions - Unity of composition - Music interpretation • Horse score
PHOTO CREDITS FACING PAGE: TOP ROW (L-R) PRIMO PONIES, JERRY YANG, PRIMO PONIES; SECOND ROW: DANIEL KAISER (2), JERRY YANG; CENTER: DANIEL KAISER; BOTTOM ROW: PRIMO PONIES (2), TIM SUTHERLAND
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EQUESTRIANVAULTING | WEG 2018
MOUNT
FLAG
FRONT SCISSORS
MILL BACK SCISSORS
STAND
STAND SPLIT FLANK PUSH UP
KNEES TO FEET AMERICANVAULTING.ORG
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MEET THE TEAM Meet the United States Vaulting Team
TIM SUTHERLAND
DANIEL KAISER
MARY MCCORMICK
ELIZABETH OSBORN
HOMETOWN: Sonoma, California AGE: 35 YEARS VAULTING: 24
HOMETOWN: Menlo Park, California
WEG EXPERIENCE: 2006, 2010, and 2014
AGE: 28
HORSE: Paris, 16 hh, 14-year-old Percheron
YEARS VAULTING: 2000–2008 and 2015–2018 WEG EXPERIENCE: 2006 WEG competition as a Female Individual
LUNGER: Christian Ramos
HORSE: Atterupgaards Sting, 17.3 hh, 12-year-old Oldenburg LUNGER: Krista Mack
DANIEL KAISER
TIM SUTHERLAND
INDIVIDUAL FEMALE
TESSA DIVITA HOMETOWN: Portola Valley, California
EMILY ROSE-STEFFENS Alternate AGE: 24 HORSE: Diva 506, 18.1 hh, 14-year-old Oldenburg LUNGER: Carolyn Bland
AGE: 20 YEARS VAULTING: 15 WEG EXPERIENCE: Member of the 2014 WEG Squad HORSE: Pino del Rio, 18hh, 14-year-old Westfalen LUNGER: Julie Divita AMERICANVAULTING.ORG
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DANIEL KAISER
DANIEL KAISER
KRISTIAN ROBERTS HOMETOWN: Moss Beach, California AGE: 25 YEARS VAULTING: 12 HORSE: Charly, 17.1 hh, 13-year-old Hannoverian LUNGER: Carolyn Bland
DANIEL JANES HOMETOWN: Monroe, Washington AGE: 22 YEARS VAULTING: 7 HORSE: Sir Charles, 17.1 hh, 13-year-old Hanoverian LUNGER: Carolyn Bland
TIM SUTHERLAND
TIM SUTHERLAND
INDIVIDUAL MALE
COLTON PALMER HOMETOWN: Half Moon Bay, California AGE: 20 YEARS VAULTING: 15 HORSE: Zygo, 17.3 hh, 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood LUNGER: Maurits deVries 8
EQUESTRIANVAULTING | WEG 2018
GEOFFREY WOOLSON Alternate HOMETOWN: Tujunga, California AGE: 21 YEARS VAULTING: 12 HORSE: Maximillion, 17 hh, 11-year-old Irish Draft LUNGER: Devon Maitozo
PAS DE DEUX HORSE: Palatine, 17 hh, 20-year-old Westfalen
DANIEL JANES HOMETOWN: Monroe, Washington
LUNGER: Carolyn Bland
AGE: 22 YEARS VAULTING: 7
HALEY SMITH
DANIEL KAISER
JERRY YANG
SQUAD
PACIFIC COAST VAULTERS, THE SEASONS AUDREY KIERNAN DANIEL JANES EMILY ROSE
HOMETOWN: Parker, Colorado
HALEY SMITH KRISTIAN ROBERTS
AGE: 17
MAGGIE LONG
YEARS VAULTING: 7
Alternates: CAMERON BROWN GABE ANIELLO
SQUAD HORSE: Diva 506, 18.1 hh, 14-year-old Oldenburg
PAS DE DEUX
LUNGER: Mary McCormick
TIM SUTHERLAND
PAS DE DEUX HORSE: Revlon, 17hh, 20-year-old Hanoverian
LUNGER: Carolyn Bland
KATHRYN KEVILLE HOMETOWN: Cotati, California AGE: 27 YEARS VAULTING: 24
HOMETOWN: Santa Rosa, California AGE: 31 YEARS VAULTING: 26
US EQUESTRIAN
FLORENCE RUBINGER
CHEF D’EQUIPE
EMMA SEELY COACH/LUNGER: 2006 WEG “FAME” squad, silver medal; 2006 Megan Benjamin, gold medal; 2015 Junior World Championships, Pas de Deux, gold medal.