Competitive equestrian vaulters team revived at Rawhide Ranch

During Patti Skipton’s previous tenure at Rawhide Ranch the facility had a competitive equestrian vaulting team. That team disbanded after Skipton moved to Watsonville in 1983 but, after her return to Rawhide Ranch in August, the Encore Equestrian Vaulters team was formed in September.

“This is kind of an encore of the competitive team,” Skipton said.

The Encore Equestrian Vaulters team has not yet had a competitive event, but an exhibition took place Nov. 22 at Rawhide Ranch and the equestrian unit also participated in the Dec. 6 Fallbrook Christmas Parade.

Equestrian vaulting involves activity related to dance and gymnastics albeit on horseback. The sport has its origins in ancient Greece and is popular in Europe but was not introduced to the United States until the early 1970s.

Skipton is originally from the Northern California town of Corning. She initially came to Rawhide Ranch in 1974, when it had a vocational college which attracted her. Skipton met her husband, Skip, while studying at Rawhide Ranch.

A circus performer who was teaching classes at Rawhide Ranch in the early 1970s brought vaulting there. Skipton observed a handful of campers practicing that activity and began teaching vaulting to other vocational college students. Vaulting became a popular camp activity and was soon being offered as an elective.

Skipton formed the Rawhide Ranch Vaulters competitive team in 1981. The team traveled to the national championships in 1983 before Skipton moved to Watsonville and the Rawhide Ranch Vaulters disbanded.

During her two decades in Watsonville, Skipton coached the Monte Vista Vaulters team and also represented the United States at the 1994 World Equestrian Games in The Netherlands. During the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Skipton coached an exhibition vaulting team.

Skipton and her husband moved to northern Washington from Watsonville. The 2010 World Equestrian Games were held in Lexington, Ky.; although Skipton did not coach in that competition a South African vaulter borrowed a horse from Skipton and she lunged for the South African team. The American Vaulting Association recognized Skipton as the Trainer of the Year in 2010 and the Mentor of the Year in 2011.

Skipton returned to Bonsall in August after the new management of Rawhide Ranch hired her husband. She had a plan to restore a vaulting team to Rawhide Ranch based on the camping classes which were still being taught. “There were a number of kids who vaulted in camp who were eager to take lessons,” she said.

The Encore Equestrian Vaulters team currently has nine vaulters. “It’s still growing,” Skipton said. “We’ll get more students as we grow.”

Because of the roots from the camp, the oldest members of Encore Equestrian Vaulters are currently college students while the youngest is in second grade, but there are no age restrictions on team members. “I would be open to adults,” Skipton said.

The Nov. 22 exhibition included three horses as well as the nine vaulters. “It was really good,” Skipton said.