Today we’d like to introduce you to Donna Hensley.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
In 2015 I decided to learn to ride horses. The lady I was training with moved away and I was left trying to find a new trainer. A friend had me meet her at Valley View Vaulters where I meet Rick and Virginia Hawthorne the Co-Founders of Valley View Vaulters. I asked Rick if he could teach me to ride and he said only if I would learn from the ground up! During the past eight years, I have learned to ground train horses, ride them, care for them, treat them when they are ill and help them over the rainbow. In 2019 Virginia passed away and Rick needed someone to help him with the lunging of the horse during classes so I stepped up. From there Covid happened and we had to work through the obstacles of what was happening. Vaulting has helped me become a better rider and to learn the feel of the horse. Not only is vaulting good for becoming a good rider it works muscles that we don’t use in everyday life so, you can use it as a form of exercise too. In 2021 at 57 years old, I competed at my first competition and I have been hooked ever since. At my age it’s not about winning ribbons it’s about striving to become better as I age gracefully. Through the years I have moved from just learning to teaching as head coach and I have a team of 5 youth vaulters ranging from 9 to 13 years old and 4 adults. We are getting ready to start a tiny tots class and running a summer camp! I will always strive to be my best not only as a coach but as a competitor.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Death of one of the Co-Founders, Money, Covid, the sell of our barn and moving to a new place. Finding a new horse
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Valley View Vaulters is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1980, which teaches the sport of equestrian vaulting in a safe and inclusive environment.
VAULTING IS A WORLD-CLASS SPORT COMBINING GYMNASTICS, DANCE AND THE SKILL OF HORSEBACK RIDING.
At Valley View Vaulters, all our students learn to vault together in classes that include all ages, abilities and/or disabilities of the same level. By vaulting together, we build teamwork, physical strength, coordination, discipline and self-confidence.
At Valley View Vaulters we make use of the horse as a learning tool which helps develop the best in our students. With our concept of working together, we take pride in teaching vaulting to people of all ages and abilities to walk, talk, think, make friends, increase self-esteem and lead more independent and productive lives. Most importantly, we have fun the entire time!
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
The weather. The commute.
Pricing:
- $300.00
Contact Info:
- Website: www.valleyviewvaulters.com
- Instagram: Valley View Vaulters https://www.instagram.com/valleyviewvaulters/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valleyviewvaulters?_rdr=p
Image Credits
Zach Veilleux https://zachveilleux.com
