The Mount Rainier Vaulters’s Trot Team won the National Championship at the United States Equestrian Federation/American Vaulting Association’s National Championships in July in Lexington, Ky.

“We are so proud of all of our vaulters’ accomplishments,” coach Bonnie Kuki said. “It was a memorable experience and to bring home a national championship makes it even more special for our club.”

The Buckley-based equestrian club, which was founded in 2002 with two horses and a handful of vaulters, had 11 members, who ranged in age from 8 to 18, competing as individuals and as teams of four and six at the national contest. In addition to the six-vaulter Trot Team’s title, Mount Rainier Vaulters’ four-vaulter Canter Team brought home red ribbons.

The team is comprised of athletes from Maple Valley, Renton, Sumner, Buckley and Puyallup. They practice on draft and warmblood horses at Kuki’s Phantom Creek Farm in Buckley. The sport of equine vaulting is defined as the combination of dance and gymnastics on the back of a moving horse.

The 11 vaulters first traveled to Denver, Colo., where they spent a week practicing with the Mile High Vaulters on horses they later borrowed for competition. At the end of that week, they performed a demonstration and followed it with a barbecue for family and friends in the Denver area. The team then travelled to the Kentucky Horse Park, American’s premier equestrian competition site and the location for the 2010 World Equestrian Games.

For most of the Mount Rainier Vaulters, it was the first opportunity to participate in such a large event. The entire club, some of whom remained at home, helped with fundraising and emotional support to make sure the experience was available to all club members able to participate.

Additional assistance was provided through donations from Magnabilities, Katie J’s Bar and Grill of Renton and the office of Dr. Jay Gusler.

The Mount Rainier Vaulters team includes nearly 20 vaulters and five horses who practice three times a week.

According to Kuki, vaulting is a sport that welcomes participants of all ages and abilities and requires no riding experience.

Vaulting is the most ancient of equestrian activities, dating back more than 2,000 years. Before saddles and stirrups, the Romans trained their cavalry to be better riders using the principles of harmony with the horse. It moved from the military world of men to circuses and exhibition riding.

Today equestrian vaulting is one of the seven Federation Equestre Internationale recognized disciplines, a sport with established criteria for performance and competition.

Vaulters first learn their moves on a piece of equipment called the vaulting barrel. Then they go on to the horse that walks, trots or canters in a circle, depending on the skill level of the vaulter. Team members share the same horse or horses and compete as individuals, pairs or entire six- to eight-person teams.

For more information, contact Kuki at 360-829-4298 or visit the Web site at www.mtrainiervaulters.org.