Local equestrians gain national acclaim
(As I always told my students at the University of North Carolina that community journalism was the way of the future, putting my money where my mouth is with this Hidden Valley article for The Acorn.)Riding team from Hidden Valley wins American Vaulting Association title
PONY
UP—Free Artists Creative Equestrian (FACE) owner and creator Devon
Maitozo of Calabasas, bottom row second from left, with his winning team
from El Campeon Ranch in Hidden Valley. The team consists of 13
members—10 humans and three horses. They recently gained national
recognition by winning the American Vaulting Association championship in
Utah.
Who’d a thunk it? Even members of the Free Artists Creative Equestrian (FACE) team from El Campeon Ranch in Hidden Valley describe themselves as “little known.” But the team’s 13 members—10 humans and three horses—have won national acclaim by capturing the American Vaulting Association championship last month.
HIGH
FLYERS—The Free Artists Creative Equestrians A-Team from Hidden Hills
are on top of the world after winning the USA National Vaulting
Championship in late August.
“ Game of Thrones” fans know about vaulting, which originated during the Middle Ages as a graceful form of riding, wrestling, acrobatics, dancing and fencing. Eliminate the combat and you get vaulting with performers called flyers, who compete internationally.
FACE owner and creator Devon Maitozo, 42, of Calabasas, who started vaulting at the age of 6, has coached since his teens and created FACE in 1998 after graduating from college. He’s competed in every world game and even coached one in 2014.
The FACE team also includes vaulter Madeline Lamphard, 16, of Topanga, Calif.; vaulter/coach Kalin Noah, 29, of Calabasas; vaulters Shaina Hammond, 16, Alyssa Stoddard, 17, and Alena Hammond, 12, of Provo, Utah; vaulter Luke Overton, 18, of Stanwood, Wash.; vaulter Paige Canning, 15, of Lewiston, Idaho; coach Shannyn Poer, 31, of Venice, Calif.; and horse trainer Talesia Dobin, 27, of Somis, Calif.
Overton said Maitozo’s years of training and international expertise not only persuaded the owners of the elite El Campeon Ranch horse-training facility to allow him to train there, but also helped to draw students like himself from all over the country.
“His repertoire is impressive,” Overton said. “A lot of coaches have never reached the competitive level of vaulting that Devon has.”
Overton, who started vaulting in 2006 as a way to have fun with his three vaulting sisters, plans to compete in an upcoming event in North Carolina—and continue training so he can represent the U.S. both here and abroad.
“When you’re in Europe with (Maitozo) competing abroad,” Overton said, “I know that I have a coach who has been there and seen it.”
Having that international knowledge is an advantage when it comes to choosing proper horses. Maitoza said he prefers warmbloods, who have both strength and manageable energy.
Maximillian is an Irish Draught horse. Lincolm is an older but wiser Hanoverian gelding, and Zimbasso is a Wurttemburger German warmblood that Maitozo calls “the future our club.”
Vaulting is known for enhancing communication skills—person to person as well as person to animal—which can be valuable in any profession.
“Vaulting has definitely boosted my trust level,” Lamphard said after returning week from the Utah nationals. “Not only are you trusting your teammates, you’re trusting your horse and lunger (the center ring director).”
“ Also,” Lamphard said, “since the vaulting community is so close, it has taught me how to be more social. I feel without vaulting, I would not be as brave as I am now.”
That courage lead Lamphard to compete in Utah at the A-Team level, American Vaulting Association’s highest level.
FACE will present a vaulting exhibition from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sat., Sept. 30 at El Campeon Ranch, 2012 Potrero Road, Thousand Oaks. For more information, visit www.facevaulting.com.
