Vaulting--Gymnastics on horseback

[shoegirl]

Are there any equestrian vaulters out there? Back when I was younger I did gymnastics and equestrian but never together. Now this sport seems to be picking up. It certianly looks fun. Has anyone tryed it?

[Chris B]

no never. I have never heard of vaulting on horse back and never want to try it it sounds way too dangerous

[Vaulting Horse]

I know this is an old thread but I have only recently found and joined this forum and as an Equestrian Vaulter, I had to reply!
Equestrian Vaulting is no more dangerous than any other sport.
If you are still interested I am happy to answer any questions about Vaulting.

[Sanchara]

Hey, I'm an international level vaulter and I coach begginer - to intermediate vaulting.

Vaulting is not only not dangerous it is statistically one of the world's safest sports.

we take safety training VERY seriously. the very first thing you learn on your first day is how to fall safely. :D I don't even let my students get on the horse untill they have mastered what we call Bail outs (any time I get gymnasts or cheerleaders they get these pretty much on the first try)

Just like regular gymnastics it progresses very incrementally. Just like you wouldn't do an olimpic level bar routein in your first year. :) We start out on a fake horse called a barrel (the ancestor of the vault and the pommel horse - your history lesson for the day ;) )

Once you do get on the horse it is only walking, and usually very slowly. Typically it takes at least two full years to get to the first level at a canter (the 'running' pace that you see at the international level) and then if you complete one whole level per year annother three to get to the first international level. Most people however take two or three years at each level.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-I6zjUUXRQ this is from CVI*/** Chilliwack Canada 2010 (a CVI is an international competition and the stars denote that it had both levels of interntaion competition one star is the first international division two star is the highest division)


Most clubs let you try it out free the first time if you're in canada click here
http://www.vaultcanada.org/

if you are in the USA click here
http://www.americanvaulting.org/