Longeur and Team Manager - Julie
Julie came to vaulting late in life when her daughter fell in love with the sport. A former “B” level Pony Club member and eventer, she applied her lifelong love and experience with horses to this unique equestrian discipline. She quickly began to lunge and train team horses – finding and training our two current horses - the wonderful Benjamin’s Bright Idea and Rosemary.
Coach Elise
Coach Elise has been vaulting since the age of 8. She is a bronze level vaulter. Her and her pairs partner are the 2022 National 1* preliminary pas de deux champions. She enjoys sharing her love of vaulting with aspiring vaulters and helping to develop their skills.
Coach Ainsley
Coach Ainsley is a bronze level vaulter. She joined the team in 2018 and has enjoyed coaching her athletes ever since. Ainsley has gone on to win titles and compete nationally, and she hopes continue to develop her same love for the sport in her vaulters.
Coach Kayleigh
Coach Kayleigh joined Topaz in 2016. She is a new Canter vaulter who placed in the top 5 at the 2022 National Championships in Trot individual. She and her partner are the 2022 National 1* Trot Pas De Deux Champions. Kayleigh enjoys helping vaulters improve their compulsory skills and providing them with flexibility exercises.
Topaz Founder and Former Coach Chris
Chris was introduced to vaulting in 1978, and her horse, Topaz, was a trained vaulting horse. In 1979 Topaz Vaulters, named for our founding horse, was founded. The photo is of Chris and Topaz in 2001. Topaz competed actively to the amazing age of 39.
Chris is thankful for her many years with the team and the fantastic coaches, longeurs, vaulters and parents that have graced the team in the past and who are with the team now. As we all know -- "It takes a village." No one person can claim the success of the Topaz team over all these years -- we celebrate 40 years in 2020.