Vaulting Visions to Hold Clinic and Perform at The American Gold Cup CSI4*-W

30. August 2013

North Salem, NY – August 30, 2013 – The 2012 U.S. National Championship Equestrian Vaulting Team, based out of Vaulting Visions in Swedesboro, NJ, will give a demonstration at the American Gold Cup before the $50,000 Hermes Classic on Saturday, Sept. 14 and the $200,000 American Gold Cup CSI4*-W, Presented by Suncast, on Sunday, Sept. 15. They will perform their National Championship Team routine. Several up-and-coming young members will also present their winning individual routines.

In addition, the well-regarded vaulting organization will offer a clinic from 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturday, September 14.

“The purpose of the clinic is to introduce people to the sport of vaulting and to help them understand that, while it looks extremely challenging and risky, it is actually a very safe and easy sport to get into at any level,” said Alison Gieschen, who founded the club twenty years ago and serves as its coach and horse trainer.

“Young children up to older adults can participate in the sport,” Gieschen said. “We teach people drills on a stationary barrel and then they can progress to the horse, if they have some riding or gymnastics background. Even people who have never been on a horse in their whole life can do these exercises, then immediately transfer to the horse.”

The clinic will be an opportunity for people of all ages and abilities to try vaulting. Clinic participants are encouraged to wear stretchy pants to allow for freedom of movement and soft-soled shoes. If they don’t have soft-soled shoes they may wear socks.

“It depends on their fear factor, however, participants are often able in one session to sit on a horse at a walk, trot and canter in all directions – facing forward, backwards, sideways and even up on their knees,” Gieschen said. “It depends on the person and their comfort level.”

Gieschen has done hundreds of clinics for different types of people, riding groups and non-riding groups, and has very safe teaching processes based on a person’s ability level.

“We just had a group of orphans from Philadelphia, children who have not been off the streets of Philadelphia,” she said. “By the end of the mini-clinic, they were doing things at the canter, and they had never been around horses.”

Gieschen’s 23-year-old daughter Katie has been vaulting since she was a small child. She is currently ranked 11th in the nation.

According to Gieschen, the horses are the most important team members of a vaulting squad. They have to love children, be accepting and have smooth gaits.

“They need three important qualities: temperament, temperament, temperament,” Gieschen said. “It doesn’t matter what size, shape, breed they are. They have to enjoy what they do. We probably try out nearly 50 horses for every one that becomes a vaulting horse.”

Gieschen explained that winning the national title was a major accomplishment for the Vaulting Visions troupe. “It was the first time an east coast team has won the national title in team,” she said. “We are a tiny club from New Jersey and we compete against California teams that do vaulting on a professional level. I’m a teacher and I do this part-time. My kids are not professional athletes, they just come out and work really hard at it.”

The Vaulting Visions clinic at the American Gold Cup is open to 10-15 participants. Vaulting Visions happily accepts donations from participants to keep the club operating. To register for the clinic, email Alison Gieschen at: alison_gieschen@yahoo.com and include your name, age, and contact information.

About the American Gold Cup

The American Gold Cup will feature world-class and Olympic athletes, such as current World Cup Show Jumping Champion Beezie Madden and Olympic Gold Medalist McLain Ward. Also confirmed to compete are show jumping mega-stars Reed Kessler, Kent Farrington, Margie Engle, Pan American Games Gold Medalist Christine McCrea and many more, all vying to secure their position at the 2014 FEI World Cup Finals in Lyon, France.

Highlights of the schedule include the $33,000 Don Little Memorial Welcome Stake on Thursday, the $100,000 American Gold Cup Qualifier presented by Double H Farm and Windsor Show Stables on Friday and the $50,000 Hermes Classic on Saturday. The featured event, the coveted $200,000 American Gold Cup, Presented by Suncast, will be held on Sunday, September 15, 2013

and broadcast on NBC Sports Network the following Sunday, September 22, 2013, at 4:30 p.m. EST.

The American Gold Cup will also feature a full array of jumper classes, including sections for Children and Adult Jumpers, Low and High Junior/Amateur Jumpers, plus Young Jumpers and Open Jumpers. New this year, the Zone 2 ASPCA Maclay Regional Championships will be held on Saturday in the Old Salem Farm indoor arena.

Old Salem Farm, located an hour north of New York City, boasts a state-of-the-art stabling facility, an historic pristine grass Grand Prix field and outstanding competition and schooling arenas, all of which are surrounded by one of the world’s most quaint and picturesque competition venue settings. For the past two years, the Old Salem Farm competitions have been recognized by the North American Riders Group (NARG) on their NARG Top 25 List. For more information on Old Salem Farm, including its year-long competition schedule, prize lists, clinics, boarding, lessons and training, visit www.oldsalemfarm.net.

For further information, visit: www.stadiumjumping.com and http://www.theamericangoldcup.com/.
43^rd Annual American Gold Cup Fast Facts

What: The $200,000 American Gold Cup, Presented by Suncast, an FEI World Cup Qualifying Competition CSI4*-W

When: September 11-15, 2013

Where: Old Salem Farm, 190 June Road, North Salem, NY

Hours: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Wednesday – Saturday with the ASPCA Regional Championships on Saturday afternoon

Sunday: Gates open at 11 a.m. with family activities with the The $200,000 American Gold Cup, Presented by Suncast, an FEI World Cup Qualifying Competition CSI4*-W at 2 p.m.

Prize List and Entries: Click here to download your copy of the prize list. Go to www.stadiumjumping.com and www.TheAmericanGoldCup.com for the schedule, entry form and Region 2 East ASPCA/NHSAA Maclay Regional Championship information and entry form.

Facility: Old Salem Farm is New York State’s Westchester County’s premier equestrian facility, offering 26 annual competitions, boarding, top-level training and sales. It offers state-of-the-art facilities surrounded by 120 gorgeous acres.

Stabling:

Stalls are 10 x 10 and housed under canvas. The FEI stalls are 10 x 12 and stabling area will be secured by fencing with 24/7 security. FEI horses will be scheduled to school separately from non-FEI horses. Schedules will be posted and riders will be given notification of times during the horse inspection.

Parking:

Available on the grounds

Directions:

From Interstate 84 or Interstate 287: Take Interstate 684 to exit 8 (Hardscrabble Road), turn right. Old Salem Farm is on the right.

Information:

Before Show – before 9/6/13 (941) 744-5465, (800) 237-8924

During Show – (914) 669-5610 ext 201

Stable Office – (941) 744-5465

Prize List Advertising – (941) 744-5465

Trade Fair – Matt Morrissey (941) 915-3457

Website -

http://www.theamericangoldcup.com/

Televised Broadcast: The 2013 American Gold Cup, Presented by Suncast will be broadcast on NBC Sports Sunday, September 22 at 4:30 p.m. EST.

Tickets:

Weekdays: Admission is free to the public

Saturday and Sunday: Admission is $15 per person, $10 per child 4-12 years and seniors 65+, children 3 and under are free.

Gates open at:

Wednesday – Saturday: 8 a.m.

Sunday: 11 a.m.

Tickets are available at the gate and online at www.theamericangoldcup.com

Jockey Club

The Jockey Club offers full service gourmet cuisine and beverages for tables of six and eight. Click here to reserve your Jockey Club table. New this year, The American Gold Cup is adding luxury suites for parties of 10 or more on the second floor of the Jockey Club. For more information and to reserve your American Gold Cup luxury suite, contact Matt Morrissey at: matt.morrissey@stadiumjumping.com.

Charity Partners:

JustWorld International

http://www.justworldinternational.org/

ASPCA

http://www.aspca.org/

Sponsorship Opportunities:

April Wehle

561.459.9259

aprilw@stadiumjumping.com

Connie Sawyer

518.461.6288

sawyer.equestrianevents@gmail.com

Advertising Opportunities:

Mary Silcox 800-237-8924

mary.silcox@stadiumjumping.com

Ring dimensions and footing:

Grand Prix Field 350′x450′, footing bluegrass mix turf. Grand Prix Annex 200′x250′, Schooling 130′x170′. Jumper Annex 146′x307′, Schooling 155′x173′. Indoor 115′x195′, Schooling 74′x135′. Hunter 138′x243′, Schooling 108′x158′. Footing in all arenas is all- weather German-designed fiber and sand.

Hotels:

Official Hotel of the American Gold Cup

Danbury Crown Plaza

http://danburyplaza-px.trvlclick.com/

(877) 270 1393

Ridgefield, NY

West Lane Inn (203) 438-7323

Brewster, NY 5-10 min

Heidi’s Motel (845) 279-8011

Mt. Kisco, NY 5-10 min

Holiday Inn (914) 241-2600

Danbury, CT 10-20 min from grounds