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Small town gymnastic center gets big results at national level

One of the best kept secrets in small town USA is nestled in a plain metal building just outside of Holdrege, NE. Inside the former home of Walco Animal Health, Horizon Gymnastics hosts classes for over 170 kids. They are busy learning the routines, apparatus and discipline necessary to become a good — or even great — gymnast.

Tara Horner is the owner and operator of Horizon Gymnastics — a gymnast herself with plenty of experience in competitive gymnastics, including college at UNK. She’s been coaching in college and other school levels for over eight years.

Starting Horizon Gymnastics several years ago, she’s steadily built it by word of mouth and reputation throughout the region — she now has students from throughout south central Nebraska and as far away as Glade, KS.

Students range in age from three to high school seniors. Both boys and girls train at the school. Many of the kids participate in the AMERIKIDS program, an AAU-sponsored program that is accessible to all. It’s designed to allow all kids to be competitive at their own level of training.

Horner is proud that her students have won state championships the last two years and will compete again in April of 2008. Thirty one Horizon Gymnasts participated in the National Championships in Kansas City in June and earned several top honors, with eight National Champions in the AMERIKIDS program, including four All-Around Champions and four Individual Event Championships — despite the challenge of competing against over 500 participants nationwide!

“Competitions are tough work. It takes a structured, disciplined approach to training if you’re going to compete well against other clubs,” Horner said. She said in the AMERIKIDS program, there’s no differentiation in levels based on the size or location of the clubs. Each club must compete against schools big and small, from rural areas and big cities.

Horner said a place like hers couldn’t exist without lots of parental support.
“Our new facility has been a work in progress for the past year,” she said, “but whatever the need, parents volunteered their time, talent and even materials to make it a better place for their kids. Everyone rolled up their sleeves and helped.”

Tara has a staff of four instructor/coaches to assist in the training of gymnasts, which includes teaching classes of both boys and girls at a variety of ages and skill levels. Almost a third of the students are boys, something she’s happy to see.

“It’s sometimes tough to attract boys into gymnastics, but we’ve had a program for them for over two years.”

In her “spare time”, Horner also teaches cheerleader classes. “We do programs for budding cheerleaders, especially ‘mini-camps’ in the summer.”

Another program finding favor with parents is hosting gymnastic themed birthday parties. “We can provide a party room for kids, give them a quality gymnastic experience and make it a really fun time for all!”

Tara also has a full family life — she and husband Travis, a Phelps County Deputy Sheriff, have two small children and very busy schedules.

Recent travels of Horizon Gymnastics Academy students have included a summer camp at world famous Olympic level instructor Bela Karolyi’s Gymnastics Ranch.

“What a thrill it was for all of us to have a chance to see the National Gymnastics Center and work out with a variety of top gymnasts and instructors, as well as meeting Mr. Karolyi.” (His signed photo addressed to the school hangs in a place of honor.)

As you might imagine, starting a business dedicated to teaching gymnastics skills is a tough sell when it comes to funding. Tara found it difficult at first to get financing, but persistence and careful following of her business plan eventually helped find the funding to purchase their building. “It helped that we surpassed our business plan projections with student enrollments our first year, and our growth continues right on track.”

The one problem she’s having already with their new facility is outgrowing the available wall space for all of the trophies being accumulated by her students. “We’re going to have to build more shelves on the other side of the front entrance,” she said, pointing to an empty alcove. “We already have many more trophies that aren’t on our wall of fame.”

Who To Contact...

Horizon Gymnastics
Tara Horner
horizongymnast@hotmail.com

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