Vaulting squad for Herning 2022

English Vaulting squad

The squad have been training together (with a few different vaulters) since the end of 2018. Despite living in various different locations across the country, they train together twice a week at their base in Warwickshire. The squad is no stranger to success, having been English and British champions since 2018. They've previously been selected for the FEI World Championships in 2018 and the European Championships in 2021, and now this year's World Championships in Herning.

For Herning, the squad will be performing their carnival theme – a happy and enthusiastic routine that includes some amazingly bright coloured catsuits (pictured).

Squad members

• Carys Morgan (29) is from South Wales and currently living in Warwickshire. She’s an equine vet and her hobbies include riding and dog-walking.

• Tayla Alexander (19) is originally from Wales but currently studying Criminology at the University of Gloucestershire. She’s part of the university equestrian club first team, and outside of vaulting loves to take part in regular strength and conditioning as well as dressage.

• Felix Moreton (19) is from Oxfordshire. He’ll be going to university to do sport and exercise science in September, and enjoys walking the dog and seeing his mates.

• Ursula Levett (17) is from Gloucestershire and currently coming up to her final year in school. She loves vaulting, spending time with her dogs, singing and art. Urssie has also been selected to represent Great Britain at the Young Vaulter Europeans in Hungary, just before the World Championships in Herning.

• Milly Jesset (14) is from Warwickshire and attends school. She enjoys riding and loves creating new cakes, which taste amazing. She's also been selected to represent Great Britain this year for the Junior Championships in Hungary, which she’ll be at just before the Worlds Championships in Herning.

• Evie Jesset (11) is from Warwickshire and will be starting secondary school in September. She loves riding her pony, Hiccup, and lots of vaulting.

Coaches and lungers

• Suzi Cusick is the squad's head coach and lunger. She's a mum of two little girls from Derbyshire, and she travels over 1 hour 30mins twice a week to get to training. She has been coaching within the English Vaulting Squad for over 15 years alongside the late Julie Newall. Away from vauilting, Suzi also works in a playgroup for three days a week, so she's super-busy.

• Lexi Day has started coaching in the last year instead of vaulting herself. She’s from Cambridgeshire and works as a Center Parcs instructor, which has includes teaching archery and other outdoor activities. She’s is currently learning to be an equine podiatrist and, if she ever has any spare time, she loves baking. She's the reserve lunger for the squad. 

Horses

• Demezza – known as 'Harry', he's a 16-year-old Hannovarian gelding and has been vaulting since 2016. This will be his fourth championships. Before his vaulting career, Harry was successful in working hunter classes, and now he does a little bit of dressage alongside his vaulting. At 18.2hh, he’s a gentle giant and loves nothing more than a fuss from his vaulters.

• River of Thyme – 'Ginge' is a 16-year-old Irish Sports Horse gelding who's been vaulting since 2013 and has been to four championships. Before vaulting, he did a little bit of dressage and jumping. At 17hh on his tiptoes, he’s the squad's smallest vaulting horse and is affectionately known as The Ginger Pony.

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Carys Morgan

• Age: 29
• Based in: Warwickshire

Carys has been vaulting internationally since 2015, both individually and as part of the English Vaulting Squad. Her first championship was the World Equestrian Games in Tryon in 2018, where she competed as part of the British squad. This was followed by a second call-up for the European Championship the following year in Ermelo. This year's World Championship in Herning will be the first time Carys competes as an individual at a championship as well as being part of the team. 

Away from vaulting, Carys works as an equine vet. She graduated from The University of Liverpool's vet school and started her career at an equine practice in Shropshire, before moving to Warwickshire.

Demezza

Known as 'Harry', Demezza is a 16-year-old Hannovarian gelding and has been vaulting since 2016. This will be his fourth championships. Before his vaulting career, Harry was successful in working hunter classes, and now he does a little bit of dressage alongside his vaulting. At 18.2hh, he’s a gentle giant and loves nothing more than a fuss from his vaulters.

Suzi Cusick (lunger)

Suzi is the English Vaulting Squad's head coach and lunger. She's a mum of two little girls from Derbyshire, and she travels over 1 hour 30mins twice a week to get to training. She has been coaching within the English Vaulting Squad for over 15 years alongside the late Julie Newall. Away from vauilting, Suzi also works in a playgroup for three days a week, so she's super-busy.

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Mhairi Hume

• Age: 19
• Based in: Stirling, Scotland

Mhairi has been vaulting for 12 years. She started as a happy hacker from the age of five and has been surrounded by horses all of her life. At the age of 12, she pledged to her mum that she would perform at a Vaulting World Championship of this level by 2022, a dream she's achieving at Herning. Mhairi has competed internationally since 2016, and previously competed at the Junior European Championship in 2018 in Kaposvár. 

Mhairi is currently studying Marine Biology at the University of Stirling, and enjoys cliff jumping, trekking with her Shetland pony, skipping, weightlifting, dancing, skateboarding, yoga, and Muay Thai boxing.

Christmas PS Z

Known as 'Chrissy'. Christmas PS Z is a nine-year-old gelding who competed for nations including the USA, Canada, Norway, and Finland. He was was originally bred for showjumping, but grew too big for those sharp turns, so now just does one big continuous turn in vaulting. Chrissy loves travelling and making new friends, and his favourite person is Nienke, who pampers him with daily massages.

Nienke De Wolff (lunger)

Nienke is described by Mhairis as nothing other than a powerhouse, developing her own business and caring for 15 horses, including Christmas. Having previously vaulted herself, she's now a lunger and coach. Away from vaulting, Nienke is studying psychology and has had some crazy experiences through various jobs, including driving diggers in full office attire in time-sensitive situations.