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Addie Manning

www.yakimaherald.com

Addie, 21, fulfills her vaulting ambitions

Addie ManningSome might say you can’t do anything like starting a business until you reach a certain age.

Don’t tell that to Addie Manning. One passion of the 21-year-old has led her to start a horse training business and vaulting club in the Yakima Valley.

Growing up in Canada, Manning lived on a farm and rode horses with her family.

“My parents tell me I learned to ride before I walked,” Manning says.

For nine years, Manning participated in 4-H. Alongside her older sisters, she competed in horse shows and barrel racing. In sixth grade, Manning also pursued vaulting.

She completed her training in Langley and Vancouver, British Columbia.

Vaulting is a combination of horseback riding, gymnastics and dance done in a controlled environment. The horse is controlled by a lunger who stands in the center of an arena holding a long rope. The rope is connected to the horse as it walks, trots and canters on a 50-foot circle. Meanwhile, the rider does gymnastic and dance moves from basics to elaborate on horseback.

“I was competing at the local fair and watched the Mt. Arrowsmith Vaulting Team doing a demonstration,” Manning says. “It looked like a lot of fun, so my mom talked to the coach. I joined the team the following week.

“Vaulting was a great experience for me. It gave me confidence, showmanship, and helped me find rhythm in a horse. I did this for six years.”

Manning’s parents not only have a passion for riding, they also have their own business in Canada called Tiger Lily Farm, which has trail riding and a petting zoo. Since her move to the U.S., Manning decided to follow her family’s footsteps and start her own business.

After high school graduation in 2009, Manning moved to Yakima for two months to complete an apprenticeship with a well-known horseman, Steve Rother. Following that, she started her business here.

To Manning, it was like taking a “piece of home” with her, she says.

Addie ManningTiger Lily Horsemanship started in 2009 as a horse training business on her property in Moxee. Manning had a lot of financial help from her parents, using their property and facility to practice before moving. Now, a lot of her financial support comes from her husband, Jesse, whom she married in 2010, and his family in Yakima. Meanwhile, Rother helped Manning get her first two clients and start horse training.

“When I train a horse, I’ll take the horse for a minimum of 30 days,” Manning says. “Then I’ll teach them how to be manageable on the ground. They also learn to be saddled if they have never been. Then, they have to know how to take direction under a person on saddle with the reins.”

The business progressed into horseback riding lessons. Each lesson lasts an hour and a half.

“If the kids don’t have their own horses, then I have them ride my horses: Max, Fiona, and Isla,” Manning says. “They’re all well-trained and great with people of all ages. The kids learn how to saddle up and groom their horses. They also get to know the safety of the horse. Then, the kids will learn to ride, as well.

“Wherever they want to go, whether it’s English or Western saddle, barrel racing and showing, I am willing to teach it all.”

As the horse training and riding lessons prospered, Manning decided to take Tiger Lily Horsemanship to the next level. Last summer, she ran a vaulting camp. This provided kids of all ages with the opportunity to learn the art of vaulting. From this summer camp, she started the High Hopes Vaulting Team.

The High Hopes Vaulting Team practices at fellow businesswoman Jayne Beebe’s Spirit of Hope facility four miles north of Selah. With sessions that run once a week for four weeks, between two and eight kids will come out for an hour and a half of vaulting. They practice on a stationary barrel that was made by Jesse. The barrel has legs to situate it to a horse’s height, and has handles to help the kids balance themselves.

“The barrel allows the kids to safely learn new vaulting moves and warm up before they ride the horses,” Manning says.

Before the kids get to vault, Manning trains them on safety.

“One of the first things the riders learn is to fall correctly. They will know how to tuck their arms and chin into their chest, roll into a little ball, and move away from the horse,” she says.

But they don’t wear helmets, for good reason.

“The kids don’t wear helmets because it is a safety issue,” says Manning. “It could get caught on horse equipment and make it difficult to do certain moves due to the weight on their heads. Not wearing helmets makes the correct falling procedure or emergency dismount important.”

The horses used for vaulting get trained for the sport by going through a series of tests to make sure that the horse won’t spook if a rider is unevenly aligned on the saddle. Manning also trains the horses to listen to both a rider and an experienced horse person simultaneously.

The students learn various moves. One of them is the flag, where they go on their knees and kick one leg back.

Also, there’s the swing, where the kids are at seated position and then swing their legs back in midair. The kids get to do their moves while the horses walk, trot or lope.

Manning keeps the team open to everyone and is happy to have new members.

“Anyone can join. Normally, the kids have to be over 5 years old, but if we have anybody that’s younger, they can practice on the barrel with an adult’s help.”

No prior dance, gymnastics or riding experience is required.

However, Manning does mention that vaulting will take those with experience beyond the level they started.

“Vaulting is an active sport that is both mentally and physically challenging. The kids learn teamwork, balance, confidence, rhythm and showmanship. It can also help overcome stage fright. It benefits me as well, because I learn something from the kids each time they practice. I like helping others being the best they can be, and it brings back good memories from the past,” Manning says.

Two big fans of vaulting are home-schooled sisters, 11-year-old Kaerli and 9-year-old Saemira Gray of Selah.

“It’s very helpful. I have a horse at home and it helps me get a better seat. I ride English saddle and dressage. In dressage, you really have to have a good seat,” Kaerli says.

“I’ve been riding for two years, but vaulting helps me get stronger and in better physical shape,” Saemira adds.

The High Hopes Vaulting Team is turning out to be another success. However, that doesn’t mean Manning has left Tiger Lily Horsemanship behind.

“For High Hopes Vaulting Team, I would like to see some of the kids go to competitions and show people what we can do,” she says. “For Tiger Lily Horsemanship, I’d like to expand my training and riding lessons throughout Yakima and also around the Oregon area one day.”

Interview sourced from www.yakimaherald.com