Alethea - A Performer in the Making: Twelve Years to the Big Top

I remember that it was so cold I could see my breath, My hands were stiff, covered by two layers of oversized gloves that made it impossible to grasp or hold. We played leap frog on Paddington's croup, and I tried moves on a horse I never thought possible. These first wonderous moves on a Belgian in Christiansburg, Virginia brought me into the vaulting community and ignited a desire to do more.

My first vaulting clinic at the Mt Tabor barn in Blacksburg, Virginia was with Nancy Stevens-Brown. She amazed me then and continues to be my heroine. It was at this clinic that I met Del and Doris Dyer, the amazing couple who became my family and biggest supporters. Through six years of vaulting with the Mt Tabor team, attending regional and national competitions, and working with the USA Friendship Team, I learned collaboration skills, practiced teamwork, and had the privilege of seeing the highest level vaulters perform. This gave me something to work for - to excel in a sport I loved and spend time with the greatest creatures in the world, horses. I found that even when I was in the worst mood, I could go to vaulting, practice hard, connect with the horse, and feel lighter. The world still takes on a new perspective that rubs off on me and through me each time I vault.

Through all of the years in vaulting, I appreciated the discipline of the sport, but enjoyed it most when I was able to perform spontaneously in front of a crowd. The one vaulting performer who stood out, pushing the envelope and taking people out of their comfort zone through creative performance was Erik Martonovich. Erik was my favorite performer to watch, and I knew that if I wanted to take vaulting in the direction of on-the-edge creativity, he was the perfect coach. In June, 2000 I moved to Colorado and became a member of Golden Gate Vaulters and Big Horse Productions, Erik's new performing business. After 2000 Nationals I became the team coach for Golden Gate vaulters and began a great relationship with the Martonovich family. They taught me that winners aren't just born - but are grown through persistence and hard work. They taught me the true meaning of success while modeling the highest level of horsemanship every day in their training and coaching. I feel fortunate to have been able to work so closely with them and their horses.

During the few years that Erik and I performed in shows together, our goal was a career in vaulting performance. Although I had doubts that a full time career in this field was possible, Erik never doubted. He always told me that we were going to make it - be in the right place at the right time. We created a website and continued doing shows, including Equitana, Del Mar, National Western Stock Show, rodeos, Pat Parelli's Savvy Conference, state fairs, and occasional circus performances. We made costumes, choreographed routines, and stretched our goals into a vision that became real, one show at a time.


Eric Martonovich and Alethea in Montreal Canada

In January, 2003, we received an email from a company in Montreal, Quebec. Founding members of Cirque du Soleil were starting a new show about man's relationship with horse. They found our website and asked for a video. They asked if we were doing any live shows that they could check out. It was right before the National Western Stock Show for which we had put together a martial arts routine with live drummers. The producer of show, Normand Latourelle, flew from Montreal to Denver to watch us. We met with him after the show, and he shared his vision for the show, blueprints of the tent, and videos of the horse trainers. We were definitely interested. After a period of negotiation, contracts were sent and signed. We were ready to begin a new direction in our career.

Comet, Erik's 18 hand Belgian, was shipped to Montreal. We followed a week later. Our practice site was two hours from Montreal in a small town called Shawinigan. The tent for the stables was set up when we got there; we got the tour and were reunited with Comet who seemed happy and ready to work. We also met our equestrian trainers, Frederic Pignon, his wife Magali Delgado, and their beautiful Lucitanian stallions flown in from France.

As the troop arrived, we met other artists, musicians, tech crew, and administrative staff from all over the world. Life together in Quebec took some getting used to: a diverse group of people immersed in a community of French culture and language. Immediately we were thrown into practices that lasted ten to twelve hours a day with excellent trainers and coaches: acting, dance, acrobatics, trick riding, dressage, and aerial arts. There were times when I would have given ANYTHING to be in ANY part of the United States for just an hour or so for some English relief. But there were also times when I would be trying things that I would otherwise NEVER get to do. I remember one day we were playing around in the bungees: I was strapped in and Erik was cantering around on Comet. He would gallop away and let go of me. I would slingshot across the arena! It was the craziest feeling, and I remember thinking, "THIS is my JOB." No matter how stressed I got about it, I had such an overwhelming feeling of happiness and gratefulness. I knew I was in my right place and wasn't going anywhere.

The summer consisted of working and playing, determining strengths and weaknesses of artists, and trying out new things for the show. A family was formed. We did commercials, met with the Prime Minister of Canada, and prepared for the opening shows in Shawinigan. The breathtaking site of the Big Top emerged and the 1800 seats were sold out for each of the six performances before the show opened. We added shows that were sold out in hours after announcement. Sixteen shows later, we were ready for a short break and the first city performance in Toronto under our show's name, "Cavalia." At the edge of the historic Distillery District with masts over 100 feet high, the Big Top merged equine excellence and artistic expression. Once again the audiences experienced the circus refined, a perfect illustration of the bond that unites horses and humans.

The greatest part for me was hearing what people said after the show. They were touched and even cried. The show will tour Montreal and then the states and Mexico. I encourage all vaulters to experience the show. Although I am light years away from where I started on that cold day when I was 11, vaulting is still my passion and brings richness to my world. Erik and I are proof that you can take your sport to heights never imagined. By never giving up and resetting goals, life turns and twists and rewards you for your persistence.

- Alethea

It's Vaulting! Gymnastics on Horseback!

An introduction by Star Hughes, coach of EqueStarz Vaulters
Vaulting, gymnastics on horseback, is an ideal group sport for kids and teens, combining skills and thrills while encouraging strict safety standards. In a progressive program of stretches, strength training, and moves mastery, vaulting brings together the lyric grace of dance, the flexibility of gymnastics, and the tensile strength of the true athlete. Horse ownership and riding experience is not a prerequisite to this equestrian lifestyle.

Vaulting differs in a big way from ordinary athletics, gymnastics and dance because the prime motivator, the premier partner, best friend, favorite teacher, and most popular coach, is a horse! One vaulting horse is mount and mentor to several kids. Patience, persistence, strength, skill, grace of movement, and the rhythm of riding are imparted
by the educated vaulting horse to the human students.

Vaulting is a sport suitable for both girls and boys, even very young ones, because it plays to individual styles and strengths. Practiced as a group activity, the sport showcases each individual rider. Everyone discovers a specialty within his or her personal expertise. Though students are encouraged to aspire to a high standard, vaulting can be fun and rewarding from the very beginning and at every level. There is no time crunch to successful learning.

Seven compulsory, individual moves are practiced by each vaulter, at each session. These static and dynamic exercises provide a base for expansion into a more complicated or challenging routine, put to music, called a kur. Each vaulter can choose from many moves in his choreography and add music to suit an individual style. Using a variety of music, from classics to hip-hop, vaulters can create kurs exciting to watch and fun to do, for teammates, competitions, and/or special performances. Imagination has no limits!

A full team includes eight or more vaulters, one or two horses, a lungeur, and a coach. As a team, vaulters ride as partners, for performances. Each team member also performs solo. The camaraderie of a common cause and shared spirit naturally creates strong support among team members for one another and for their essential partner, the team horse. The vaulter develops a keen sense of responsibility for self and others. Friendly competition is the rule, rather than the exception, in vaulting, whether at home practice or performing at the Nationals.

Good safety practices are taught and enforced, both on the ground and while working on and around the horses. Vaulting is documented as the safest equestrian sport, and that is no accident! Fewer strains and sprains result from equestrian vaulting activities than do from standard gymnastics. Vaulting moves are first tried out on the stationary “barrel horse” before riders attempt them on the real horse. This saves wear and tear on everyone involved. A useful session can be spent just working out moves on the barrel horse.

Staff size varies; ideally, one coach supervises stretching and barrel work, while another directs vaulters riding the horse, allowing the lungeur to concentrate on the horse. In between turns on the horse, vaulters go back to practice on the barrel or watch and help other vaulters. For small groups, the coach may also serve as the longeur, while an experienced vaulter assists with other duties. All of the kids on the team share the responsibility of caring for the vaulting horse and the equipment.

The vaulting horse travels in a circle about 18 meters in circumference, at the end of a lunge line, controlled by the lungeur, who stands in the center. The horse and lungeur agree to a set of signals to determine the gait and speed suitable for each level vaulter and appropriate to the exercise involved. The rider is free to concentrate on his security, body control and position without the concern of steering and cuing the horse. This naturally develops the ideal “independent seat” so necessary for all types of successful riding. Moves can be first performed at a walk or trot, progressing, later, to a canter.

Contrary to expectations, the ability to vault on is not a requirement for beginners. Rather, the beginners, or small students, get a boost from an adult helper or a taller, more experienced vaulter. As skills and strength increase, kids learn how to “punch” and jump up and on, unassisted. However, ways to make a safe dismount are taught from the very first ride. Beginners are “spotted” during their moves until they feel confident on their own. It usually doesn’t take long for even the shyest child to begin enjoying chances to show off!

Equipment for vaulting requires a specially designed surcingle (bellyband) fitted snugly around the horse’s girth, over a comfortable pad, with two reinforced handles at the top for the rider to hold onto. The horse wears a snaffle bridle with sidereins attached to the surcingle. The lunge line is attached to the bit. The lungeur, wearing gloves, directs the horse by means of the long whip in one hand and the line in the other.

The rider’s basic practice equipment includes comfortable athletic clothes, simple gymnastic shoes, and for beginners-- always-- a safety helmet! Advanced vaulters, also for reasons of safety, do not wear helmets. By the time a vaulter is capable of doing headstands on a moving horse, he has no more need of a helmet that may unbalance the head or limit vision, having acquired the necessary body control to mount, perform, and dismount, safely.

An appropriate area for vaulting practice includes mats on soft ground for stretching and to put a vaulting barrel, an enclosed arena with footing cushioned enough for the vaulting horse to work on and for vaulters to dismount safely, and bathroom facilities. An indoor arena, with a warm room to do barrel practice, is wonderful during winter work. Even in less than ideal conditions, often, much can be accomplished, as long as safety is not compromised.

The benefits of vaulting for kids are many. Improved physical abilities include strength, balance, suppleness, timing, and rhythm. Mental ability to reason, imagine, plan, prepare, and control keep pace with physical development. Emotional issues respond to self-discipline, self-esteem grows with a willing boldness. Socially appropriate behavior becomes second nature. Of course, it takes time, effort, dedication, and a system to accomplish set goals. Vaulting is ideal as a sport practiced all year round. Its philosophy can become a lifetime model.

Opportunities to demonstrate vaulting skills include special exhibitions and demonstrations provided at horse shows, rodeos, schools, and the like. Vaulting can be practiced as a sport and end, in itself, or as a base or complement to other styles of riding. It can be for private entertainment and recreation, only, or performed for competitions. Most of all, at every level, it’s a fun, exciting, and unique sport available to those who dream of a chance to ride horses and team up with good friends.

For more information on vaulting, please visit the national website:
www.americanvaulting.org

Colorado director for vaulting education is Noel Martonovich of Golden Gate Vaulters. She may be reached by phone: # 303-277-0356 or email: Nmartonovi@aol.com

Douglas/Elbert County area vaulting information: Star Hughes, EqueStarz Vaulters. Phone: #720-851-4925 or email: equestar@rkymtnhi.com

About the author:
Star Hughes is a riding instructor and horse trainer of many years experience. Having grown up showing saddleseat horses, hunters, and barrel racing, she appreciates many different styles of riding and breeds of horses. She is certified by the American Riding Instructor’s Association in dressage and recreational riding, and by the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association, in physical and mental disabilities. She is an active member of the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association, and a Tellington-Touch Equine Awareness Practioner. Star promotes vaulting for children and adults as an ideal way to develop capable, confident riders.