Sundance Vaulters Rocked! Memories of Vaulting in the USA

Thank You, Phoebe H Cooke, for your dedication and tireless advocacy on behalf of the children and horses of the equestrian sport of vaulting.

Mari Inouye was named USEF/AVA 2004 Vaulter of the Year at the Annual Meeting in Kentucky on January 15, 2005. Slovakian Martin Vavacek, vaulting coach and longeur was invited to coach at Sundance several times through the years. He is pictured here with Mrs. Cooke's horse, Scarletto, and Mari at the conclusion of her 4th Place Finish at the 2003 European Championships in Saumur, France. The web page pictured to the left was designed and posted by a horse vet in Massachusetts who admired Mrs. Cooke's knowledge of and dedication to horses and to the sport of vaulting in the USA.

Sundance Vaulting Club Was the USA's Largest Competitive Horse Vaulting Club

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL - U.S. Sundance Vaulting Club in Woodside, California - Vaulter Mari Inouye competed and walked away with first place trophies at the CVI** in Nitra, Slovakia 2 years in a row. American Vaulting Association's (AVA) National Women’s Champion competed as an individual at the CVI** in Nitra, Slovakia in April of 2003 and in August of 2004. She also competed at the 2003 European Championships in Saumur, France where she placed 4th in the Womans Division. Frank Lloyd, United States Equestrian Team (USET) Chairman of the Board, had this to say in March of 2003 in support of not only Mari, but all equestrian athletes. “This is great opportunity for Mari. As with all our equestrian disciplines, it’s very important for individual vaulters to travel overseas to compete internationally. Mari has shown herself to be one of this country’s best, and this European experience is sure to be of great benefit to her." -"Equiworld" The children of Sundance Vaulters, were fortunate. They were envied for experiences and privileges that not many vaulters were able to enjoy because of the expense involved. Mrs. Cooke arranged for the vaulters to take, on average, three trips to European vaulting competitions a year. France, Austria, Switzerland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Holland and of course Germany are some of the countries that Sundance visited several times. Everyone got a chance to travel. Sundance was more about team than individual vaulting, so all of the kids were invited at one time or another to go abroad to enjoy different sights and to make new friends from all over the world.

Sundance Vaulters, Horses and Longeurs Deserved More Respect

L to Rt. Faustus, Ines Rudolph, German horse trainer and longeur. Newly named 2001 National Womens Vaulting Champion Mari Inouye, Michelle Cunningham, 2nd, Silver division Faustus was one of the gentlest of Mrs. Cooke's vaulting horses. Everyone wanted a chance to vault on this dependable partner. A vaulter never can claim an honor on his or her own. In vaulting, the horse plays a crucial role because the horse is also being put to the test. The judges are required to give the vaulter's horse a score. Often the horse score determine the final placings. Faustus was the "2001 HORSE OF THE YEAR" He had the most points that year and we were all proud that he won. All Sundance vaulters and longeurs everywhere love you Faustus and you will never be forgotten. Here's to our beloved Sundance vaulting horse, FAUSTUS. May your memory always live on in our hearts.