Equestrian VaultingBy Kelsey Smith

Vaulting is a performance sport in which I participate. It originates from Roman times and is best described as “gymnastics and dance on horseback”. Vaulters perform a routine to music on a moving horse at either walk, trot or canter. This is a fun sport for all ages and skill levels which promotes co-ordination, balance, physical health, self esteem and the ability to work within a team

environment.

About

http://equestrianvaulting.com.au/home

There are two main categories of performance:

Compulsories are a set of moves that all vaulters must complete at competitions before continuing with their individual, partner or team freestyle routines. There are many different levels to suit different skill levels, the main ones include A, B, C, D, and E. (A being a very skilled competition vaulter, through to E being a beginner)

Freestyle is a sequence of creative dynamic dance/gymnastics moves that vaulters put together themselves to present as a routine.

Here is a photo of me and my team practising some vaulting.

Basics

Training and exercising, not only on the horse but also on the floor is an essential part in keeping fit for this intense and physically demanding sport.

Fitness exercises may include physical activities such as: Building stamina (running, exercise circuits) Building muscle strength (sit ups, push ups, squats etc.) Stretching to be more flexible

Training - Fitness

Horse Heaven (RDA) – Strength and balance training

Improving skills in vaulting can be achieved using

equipment such as a ‘barrel’. This piece of equipment enables vaulters to practise routines before performing new moves on the horse. It is a safe way to train and it allows for more creative and complicated ideas to be executed safely before moving on to the horse.

Training - Skills

Vaulting Barrel

Vaulting horses are a key aspect of the sport. They have to have a good nature, are keen to learn, are calm and don’t mind everything that’s happening around them. This includes desensitising them to loud crowds, vaulters constantly moving (gently) over their backs and other distractions. It takes years of training to get a horse fully prepared for competition level vaulting.

Horses must keep an even pace when cantering on the lunge so that vaulters can stay balanced and safe. The horse, lunger and vaulters must all be in harmony with one another so that routines can be performed smoothly.

Horses

Horse Equipment

Vaulting roller Pad Bridle Lunge Rope

Here is a picture of what a fully equipped vaulting horse will look like

We use special equipment for vaulting. A soft pad is placed over the horses back so that when we stand and do other moves, it’s gentle on the horse. We also use a ‘Vaulting Roller’ to hold on to and execute particular moves .

Presentation is essential in impressing the judges, especially in high level competition. Vaulters wear custom made unitards and must be well presented on competition day. Horses are also groomed and braided up (tail and mane) as part of team representation.

Competition - Presentation

My team taking a bow in front of the judges before performing our routine

Vaulters must wear specially designed vaulting shoes, that have soft soles which provide grip and are gentle on the horse’s back.

In competitive vaulting everyone must be graded and judged in their skill level category. Top level vaulters compete as a team and then as individuals representing their team (and country).

Individuals, pairs and teams are judged on degree of difficulty,

teamwork, rhythm with the horse, music and leotards (presentation).

Most of the high level competition vaulting takes place over in the Eastern states of Australia where there are more clubs and facilities.

Click on the link below to watch the Australian Vaulting Team (FACE) training for competion

Competition - Judging

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzdhSjFcPWg

Vaulting in Western Australia is mainly performed through RDA centres (Riding for the Disabled Association). RDA provides the opportunity for children with disabilities to take part in a therapeutic sport where they will improve on hand-eye coordination as well as learning from the horses and sharing a common interest with their vaulting peers.

There are integrated teams that include abled and disabled bodied vaulters competing together. These teams are usually at lower skill levels of vaulting and are mostly just for fun.

Vaulting in Western Australia

http://www.rdawa.org.au/