Crumpet the horse, Steel City Vaulters equestrian team relocate to Gilpin

An equestrian team — and its 2,000-pound, 16-year-old star — is coming home to the Alle-Kiski Valley.

The Steel City Vaulters is one of 406 competitive equestrian teams nationwide that participate as part of the American Vaulting Association.

And Crumpet, a Registered American Shire mare ridden by the team, is a vaulting horse nationally recognized by the association.

Until now, Crumpet was a boarder at Keystone Equestrian Center in Derry Township, which also has been the home of the Steel City Vaulters.

But now the team and Crumpet are headquartered at Chestnut Farms in Gilpin. That’s the home of team manager Beth Talarico and her daughters, team members Emily and Essie Talarico.

Crumpet made the trek Monday from New Alexandria to her new home.

Beth Talarico said the move from Keystone Equestrian Center was simply a matter of logistics.

“Most of our team lives in the Alle-Kiski Valley, and we were driving 45 minutes to Keystone,” she said.

Equestrian vaulting is the combination of dance and gymnastics performed on horseback to choreographed routines.

Its origins date to Roman times, and it gained popularity here when modern vaulting began in Germany during the 1950s.

Vaulters typically perform 60-second routines on a stationary barrel and on horseback, in a circle attached to a lunge line.

The Steel City Vaulters have nine members and are the only vaulting team in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

Members compete on Crumpet in three categories, according to Crumpet’s gait — walk, trot or canter — and each routine features compulsory and freestyle routines.

Nicknamed Crummy by her team, Crumpet stands at 18.2 hands (5 feet 10 inches tall).

She will spend her days in a large pasture while her new stall is being built.

Crumpet’s standard daily diet consists of 6 to 8 pounds of grain and hay. But Essie Talarico said Crumpet loves to munch on peppermints and apples.

Everyone on the team touts Crumpet’s kind nature.

“She is by far the sweetest and best-tempered horse you will ever meet,” Talarico said.

Crumpet requires extra care for one of her legs, and now that she’s at home, the Talarico family can tend to her needs daily instead of just twice a week.

The Talaricos plan to team Crumpet with one of their other horses, Hawkeye, for vaulting training.

“My arena is not totally finished yet, but we have Crumpet home. We need 66 tons of sand yet, but we’re hoping to be able to start practicing again next week.”

Crumpet is well traveled. She accompanies the team to regional competitions in Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

She was originally trained in 2011 by Steel City Vaulters’ founder and coach, Lynda Fox, who died in 2015.

Talarico said Fox adored Crumpet.

“She’d always say, “There’s just something about that horse,” Talarico said.

The co-ed team welcomes new members of any skill level, and experience with horses is not required.

“Any age, from toddlers to adults. We’ll take anyone as long as you’re potty trained and willing to be coached,” said member Alexandra DeRusha, 20, a 10-year vaulting competitor.

Those interested in joining the team, which costs $35 per class or $120 per month, is asked to inquire via messenger on the Steel City Vaulters’ Facebook page.