Equine Vaulters Perform at National Competition
Asbury University impressed judges with the quality of its young Equine Vaulting program at the American Vaulting National Championships held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky.
Four vaulters — Ruthann Goodrich ’13, Laurel Lagan ‘11, Nathan Brashear ’14 and Taylor Dececca — joined with the Meadow Lake Vaulting Program and the Unbridled Vaulting Club from Life Adventure Center to place third in the Trot Team division. Also, Lagan and Dececca competed in the Women’s Individual Trot division, placing ninth and 36th, respectively, out of 55.
With vaulting teams from across the nation at the event, the competition was strong — and the high-quality performances from Asbury’s three-year-old program surprised some veterans, said Cathrin Walker ’11.
“Furthermore, our vaulters were a light to the vaulting world by praying before each start, using Christian music for their performances, and sharing their faith openly,” said Walker, an alumna who helped found the program at Asbury. “We have always put a great emphasis on coaching and practicing vaulting as a form of worship, to emphasize God in the center of our program and not the sport, vaulter or horse. This became visible as we watched our vaulters being ambassadors for Christ on a national stage. All in all, our achievements are a sign of God's grace who brought us this far and who will continue to do great things in and through our program by changing lives through the sport of vaulting.”
Vaulting, often described as gymnastics and dance on horseback, is one of seven equine disciplines recognized by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports. To find out more about Asbury’s Equine Studies program, visit: asbury.edu/academics/departments/hper/equine-center
