Competitive vaulting
Freestyle team vaulting
In competitive vaulting, vaulters compete as individuals, pairs or pas-de-deux,
and teams. Beginning vaulters will compete at the walk (and in the US at the trot)
but copper-, bronze-, silver-, and gold-medal level vaulters perform on the horse
at a canter. The vaulting horse, which has been carefully trained, moves in a 15-
metre circle and is controlled by a lunger Vaulting competitions consist of
compulsory exercises and choreographed freestyle exercises done to music.
There are six compulsories exercises—basic seat, flag, mill, scissors, stand, and
flank, in addition to the mount and dismount. Each exercise is scored on a scale
from 0-10. Horses also receive a score and are judged on the quality of their gait.
Vaulters also compete in freestyle (previously known as Kur). The components
of a freestyle vaulting routine MAY include mounts and dismounts, handstands,
kneeling and standing and aerial moves such flips. Teams will also carry, lift, and
even toss another vaulter in the air. Judging is based on technique, performance,
form, difficulty, balance, security, and consideration of the horse—the horse as
well as the vaulter earns a score.
Individual vaulting
Vaulting horses are not saddled, but they do wear a surcingle (or a roller) and
a thick back pad. The surcingle has special handles which aid the vaulter in
performing certain moves as well as leather loops called cossack stirrups. The
horse wears a bridle and side reins. The lunge line is usually attached to the
inside bit ring.
Vaulting horses typically move on the left rein (counterclockwise), but in certain
kinds of competitions the horse will canter in the other direction. Two-phase
classes of competition also work the horse to the right. While many European
teams do not work to the right, many American vaulting clubs work to the right
believing this benefits the horse and the vaulter.
The premier Vaulting competitions are the biannual World and Continental
Championships and the World Equestrian Games (WEG) held every four years. In
the United States, the American Vaulting Association organizes and sponsors
national, regional and local events every year, such as Falconwood Springfest in
Covington, Georgia.
Freestyle team vaulting
In competitive vaulting, vaulters compete as individuals, pairs or pas-de-deux,
and teams. Beginning vaulters will compete at the walk (and in the US at the trot)
but copper-, bronze-, silver-, and gold-medal level vaulters perform on the horse
at a canter. The vaulting horse, which has been carefully trained, moves in a 15-
metre circle and is controlled by a lunger Vaulting competitions consist of
compulsory exercises and choreographed freestyle exercises done to music.
There are six compulsories exercises—basic seat, flag, mill, scissors, stand, and
flank, in addition to the mount and dismount. Each exercise is scored on a scale
from 0-10. Horses also receive a score and are judged on the quality of their gait.
Vaulters also compete in freestyle (previously known as Kur). The components
of a freestyle vaulting routine MAY include mounts and dismounts, handstands,
kneeling and standing and aerial moves such flips. Teams will also carry, lift, and
even toss another vaulter in the air. Judging is based on technique, performance,
form, difficulty, balance, security, and consideration of the horse—the horse as
well as the vaulter earns a score.
Individual vaulting
Vaulting horses are not saddled, but they do wear a surcingle (or a roller) and
a thick back pad. The surcingle has special handles which aid the vaulter in
performing certain moves as well as leather loops called cossack stirrups. The
horse wears a bridle and side reins. The lunge line is usually attached to the
inside bit ring.
Vaulting horses typically move on the left rein (counterclockwise), but in certain
kinds of competitions the horse will canter in the other direction. Two-phase
classes of competition also work the horse to the right. While many European
teams do not work to the right, many American vaulting clubs work to the right
believing this benefits the horse and the vaulter.
The premier Vaulting competitions are the biannual World and Continental
Championships and the World Equestrian Games (WEG) held every four years. In
the United States, the American Vaulting Association organizes and sponsors
national, regional and local events every year, such as Falconwood Springfest in
Covington, Georgia.
