Cascade Vaulters

We submitted the following club report for publication with reports form other clubs in February edition of Vaulting World.

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Cascade Vaulters
Woodinville, WA

• Head Coach: Tom Sayles


• Club Manager: Therese Rogers


• Longeur & Sponsor Coordinator: Tami Howard

The Cascade Vaulters were formed October 2nd, 2004 by members of the Redwing Vaulters, when the Duppong Family, after many years of wonderful support, decided for reasons unrelated to vaulting, to take a few years off from the sport.

Highlights of 2004 included: Competing at DevonWood Harvest Fest; finding a new practice site at Cherry Creek Equestrian Center (near Duvall, WA); trying out new horses; and discovering an experienced vaulting horse, Auggie. We also successfully rushed together our non-profit status paperwork and got it submitted in only fourteen days.

Plans for 2005 include: New Vaulter Tryouts; New Sponsorships; Competitions; Demonstrations / Clinics; and even a Parade or two.

For more on what the Cascade Vaulters are up to, check out our frequently updated website at: http://www.soot-n-smoke.com/CascadeVaulters/

We resumed regular mounted practices on December 8th using CCEC's Auggie. We're currently working at walk on full compulsories to both the left and right. We are also working on walk freestyle routines to demonstrate at up coming "New Vaulter Tryouts", (probably in late January).



We have tentatively agreed to partially lease Auggie through our first vaulting competition at the end of April. We're also looking forward to the completion of a new footing project on CCEC's lower arena that will allow us to work on a full sized vaulting circle in good weather.

With help from Catherine we tried out a third horse at CCEC, Auggie last evening. Most horses, when introduced to vaulting, will tend to respond with some hesitation and trepidation as if to say "This is new! This is different! Is this really what we're supposed to be doing?" Auggie on the other hand reacted as if he were remembering some long lost training, as if he were saying "Ohhhh...... That was a long time ago. What am I supposed to do? Oh yah, I remember." We progressed through the basic introductory moves very quickly. We got though full compulsories at walk including scissors, stand and full flank. We also got some doubles moves in including a stand behind a sitting base and basic seat with seat on neck.

I believe I saw something in Auggie click when Sandy first swung up to box on the way to flag (a move that is distinctly vaulting not riding), as if Auggie figured out that we were vaulting. When asked to "go" from walk with a vaulter aboard, rather then speeding up to trot as most horses might, he went directly to canter in a very classic vaulting transition. He also responded correctly to the "click" and "brrrup" commands typically used on a vaulting circle. Talking with Catherine, I suspect that vaulting was likely part of his early German training. At this point I am quite certain that he has done vaulting in the past, though I can't say to what level. As soon as the lower arena is ready and we can run a full size vaulting circle, I'd like to borrow an upper level canter vaulter from one of the other clubs in our region and find out just how much Auggie knows.

I big thanks to Brandy and the CCEC staff for installing new lights in the hay loft at CCEC. We can now resume our weekday practice sessions. Probably on Wednesdays from 5-7 PM starting on 12/8.