Third Region IX Spirit of Vaulting Conference Announced
RELEASE: September 6, 2007
AUTHOR/ADMINISTRATOR: By Jan Weber
Crisp autumn days...perfect for vaulting! For the perfect blend of vaulting and autumn splendor attend the third Region IX Spirit of Vaulting Conference. This comprehensive program will be hosted October 5-7, 2007, at Advantage Ranch in Blacksburg, VA. Topics are designed to develop skills for the beginning coach and longeur. Non-members may audit only. Recreational and educational activities will be available to all ages, including parents and siblings of vaulters. Cost for the three-day conference is: Members $120.00; Non-Members $160.00; Family (3+) $250.00; Covers all concurrent sessions, Friday through Sunday. Daily registrations are available.
Clinic Highlights—Team Building with Steffi Brechter and Maria Kiefer—Team Freestyle development, consistent Compulsories, communication games, conditioning to prevent injuries, and improving presentation.
—The Vaulting Horse with Rainer Hilbt—Selecting and beginning the vaulting horse, the advanced vaulting horse, longeing technique, video studies on horse score and longeing for competition.
—Coaching Technique with Emma Garrod Seely—Correcting common vaulting faults, the technical test, preparing for international competition, and organizing your team.
—Competition Management with Jan Weber—Online competition registration and scoring program, keeping your competition profitable.
—Other topics will include: music selection and production on the computer, using the round pen, nutrition for athletes and dance.
Rainer Hilbt has been one of the most renowned longeurs in Germany for decades. He has trained many of the best longeurs there, and is a popular longeing clinician. He is a rider, a vaulting coach, and supervises multiple state teams in Germany. Hilbt has written many articles for equestrian magazines, as well as several books about longeing. Rainer has a website with information about longeing and an online shop for longeing tack at
www.longieren.de.
Steffi Brechter was an active vaulter until 2004. She was a member of the gold team that won the Swabian Championships several times. Her team also competed on the national and international level. Brechter has been a vaulting coach since 1999, and has similar achievements as a coach. She is currently coaching a gold, silver and a beginner's team. Brechter attended numerous clinics over the years and has several certifications in vaulting, coaching and longeing.
Maria Kiefer has been an active vaulter for 11 years. She is the captain of the gold team in Memmingen Vaulting Club in Germany. She won the Swabian Championships several times and participated on a national and an international level. Kiefer has also been coaching for over six years. Her current team is competing at silver level. She has attended numerous clinics over the years and has several certifications in vaulting, coaching and longeing. Brechter and Kiefer both come from Voltigier- und Reitverein Memmingen (
www.vrv-memmingen.de).
Emma Seely began vaulting at the age of 11. She was the National Gold Freestyle Champion by 1975. In 1992, she coached the U.S. team selected to represent the U.S. in the World Championships. She is world-renowned for her coaching and has coached the most successful American vaulters, including Kerith Lemon, Devon Maitozo and reigning World Champion Megan Benjamin. Her experience includes coaching and longeing in international competition. Her horses have earned many American Vaulting Association (AVA) Horse of the Year Awards and Osierlea Awards. She has served the vaulting community in every aspect during her career. She understands vaulting from the perspective of a vaulter, coach, longeur, judge, chef d'equipe and board member. In 2005, she was honored as the AVA Mentor of the Year and most recently she was name