Mill Spring, N.C. – Last weekend, the Tryon International Equestrian Center, host of the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 (WEG), welcomed top vaulters from the U.S. and abroad for the CVI3*, CVI2*, CVI1*, and CVIJ2* competitions from April 6-8. The CVI3* served as the official WEG Vaulting Test Event, allowing athletes an opportunity to become better acquainted with the venue, arena, and various facilities on the grounds.

Vaulting is scheduled for the second week of WEG from September 18-22. Competition will be held in the newly renovated indoor arena, complete with 5,000 seats for spectators and central air to best serve the vaulters and reiners who will compete there. The indoor arena will be expanded to include two warm up arenas, and an attached barn is being built.

Emma Seely, Chef d’Equipe for the U.S. Vaulting Team, is enthusiastic about the vaulting arena and facilities, “The barns are perfect. The stalls are big enough, we’re in the adjoining barn which is very convenient. There feels like there will be plenty of warm-up and everyone will be able to get what they need to get in for riding, lunging, and vaulting. From my perspective, the future looks bright and really good. I’m super glad we came and got to meet some staff and see how it’s set up. It has the potential to be an awesome venue for us!”

Lighting, sound and speakers, and footing are all essential to supporting a vaulting test. “We don’t want it too deep, we don’t want it too hard. We want surface that the horses can go through easily and that the vaulters can land on and have some give but they don’t sink in and disappear,” elaborated Seely on the importance of quality footing. “This is good standard footing for us.”

Selection trials for the U.S. Vaulting Team started on April 6 with the CVI3* WEG Vaulting Test Event and six more events will be used as qualifying events for the WEG team. Learn more about the selection criteria for individual, pas-de-deux, and squad divisions for WEG. Additional information relevant to WEG vaulting can be accessed here.

“Right now, it’s about going through the selection trials and starting to see where everybody is sorting out,” said Seely. “Our selection is based on scores. As Chef, I’m observing… how’s it going for them? How did their horses do? What is their prep for competition? So I have a better feel for what they’ll need when they are here.”

Complete results from the vaulting test event can be found here.

Stay up to date on news and information about USEF’s vaulting programs and teams by following USA Vaulting on Facebook and use #USAVaulting.

The USEF International High Performance Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, USOC, and USEF Sponsors and Members.

Photo: Taylor Pence/US Equestrian