A Passion for Vaulting

Marlia (Marly) Stewart certainly embodies the title of this article. We recently met Marly at the National Vaulting Championships held at Sydney International Equestrian Centre and were so impressed by her enthusiasm for and dedication to Vaulting. It was a joy to watch Marly, who will soon turn 14, compete on her lovely new horse Rapha and chat with her about this sport that she clearly loves and has a talent for.

1) Tell us about how you first became involved in Vaulting 
I've been around horses practically my whole life, it started with equine therapy at 3 years old, then onto casual riding lessons and just out in the paddocks having fun with friends. But because I could never sit still on a horse, always putting a leg behind my head or trying to bend into a split somehow, my coach at the time Donna suggested my Mum take me to see a lady Karen Mitchell in Oakville. My Mum made the appointment, I didn't really ask any questions and turned up to a sport we had never heard of before.

I remember being blown away, I was in awe of all the older girls in the club and all the movements they could do on a horse.

2) What do you love most about this sport? 
I love everything about Vaulting but two things that stand out is the Vaulting community and the amazing horses.

In no other sport have I witnessed teams offering their horses to compete when your horse is lame on game day. I've seen it several times, it's stressful but it happens and it happened to me at Nationals this year and I ended up with 3 clubs offering a ride on their horses. I chose to compete on the South Australian horse Matavia Rosenkrantz lunged by Kirsty Barrowcliffe and with only a short practice run we placed 4th. The other thing is the horses, we have some of the most beautiful gentle horses in Vaulting. They get treated like royalty but they give us everything they've got and they love what they do especially with all the love and attention they get during a competition.

3) What are the elements of the sport you find most challenging?
In Australia, Vaulting is a small and growing sport and we have limited resources. We are blessed to have had some incredible World Champion Vaulters visit Australia for clinics which has been awesome. But as an example we drive over 4+ hrs round trip twice per week to get access to my coach Ginger Kennett from Wellington Park, and to use their Movie (vaulting simulator) which I'm sure is one of only two in NSW.

4) Who have been your vaulting role models? Anthony Bro Petit, Lambert Leclezio and in particular Georgie and Ginger Kennett. Watching them has taught me, to think outside the box and seek coaching and clinics where you can find them, and it's the work you do in the dark or behind closed doors that really counts. They make me feel that no goal is too big and to go after my dreams with everything I've got.

Above: Marly Stewart and Ginger Kennett

5) What have been your biggest achievements to date?
In Vaulting, we are very lucky that we don't need to own our own horses as we use the Club horse coached and trained by the owner/lunger. I have been blessed and feel incredibly grateful to have competed on Bailey from Capriole Vaulting for 5 years where I have scored well and have earned many blue ribbons on him. However we purchased a beautiful 6 year old Thoroughbred Rapha from Wellington Park that has been the light of my life and my greatest accomplishment. He is young and new to the sport but already has competed at State and Nationals and is progressing with incredible horse scores. He is a big part of my family and I am very proud to be learning all of the skills associated with developing a vaulting horse.

6) What are your short term and longer term goals
My short term goal is to continue to work with Rapha and to progress his vaulting education to higher levels and potentially buy a second horse. My family is relocating to the Gold Coast and my mum and I are looking forward to starting our own Vaulting Club on the Gold Coast which we are excited to launch in 2024. Gold Coast Vaulting is coming soon @goldcoastvaulting and I am looking forward to forming new Vaulting friends with Vaulting Queensland.

I would love to go to Europe for a Vaulting Clinic in 2024 and watch the World Championships in Switzerland.

My long term goal is to compete at the Junior World Championships in Europe in 2027 when I am 17. 

7) What would you say to anyone thinking about trying out vaulting?
Just do it, it's so much fun and it's such a welcoming community.

We thank Marly for her time and look foward to seeing what the future holds for this promising young athlete.