For the American vaulters who represented the United States at the World Equestrian Games...
the spotlight came to life as they brought home the only medals for the US from Rome. All
from California, Devon Maitozo of Cupertino is the men's World Champion, Kerith Lemon
(Soquel) the women's Silver Medalist and the Extension Team from Woodside captured the
Bronze Team medal. The result of many years of training paid off in October for the
American Vaulters!
Right. That's great. But for many Americans, vaulting is not a household word. It's
a horse sport, right? but what really is it? Where does it come from? What good is it?
It's gymnastics on horseback, figure skating without the ice, dancing with the wind
and with your horse. It is harmony, courage, flexibility, and creativity and history.
It is also one of the safest of all the equestrian disciplines. While the above description
comes slightly short of sounding safe, vaulting has been a basic skill from the first time
a man saw the useful possibility that presented itself when one could ride a horse instead
of chase it and eat it.
Almost every form of cavalry had games on horseback to increase the riding skills of
its horsemen. Even in the early history of this country, it was the Native Americans,
particularly the Plains people, who were greatly admired for their skill on horseback.
This skill, in part, comes from play, from giving up the reins and taking up the
challenge of getting the true feel of a horse in motion from all sorts of positions,
without the benefit of a mounting block, without the horse even standing still,
without the distractions of having to "go" in some direction. When the Roman armies
switched from chariots to riding, vaulting became important in their training.
Following World War II the German parents saw vaulting as a way to get their children back
into the equestrian arena despite the fact that there were so very few horses remaining
standing on all four feet in their country.
The Germans formed their club system and every beginning child was encouraged to
begin his or her equestrian career on the back of a vaulting horse. Teams were the thing
with up to three people on the horse at once doing lifts and arabesques, jumping off,
only to jump right back on the horse all within one stride of their animal. It is
interesting to note that it is still the Germans who dominate many of the equestrian
disciplines. Hmmm.
And why not? If you take regular horseback riding lessons, they will teach you
how to stay on the horse and how to feel the elastic motion of the horse's back, it's
relation to the stride and the importance of your harmony with that motion below the
ribs and staying straight and in alignment with the spine while you learn to keep your
heels down, hands still, stay with the motion, squeeze with your legs, that's squeeze,
not kick, not lean forward, keep your legs back, sit up, heels down and steer... in the
first lesson. In vaulting, the first thing you learn is how to feel the horse. Your
horse is on a longe line, you get a leg up at first and you ride at all the gaits. It's
exhilarating. Then one of the first lessons is how to get on and off safely while the horse
is moving. Practice makes perfect. A good thing to know right from the start!
There are advantages for the riding academy as well. A solid horse, lounged
correctly can teach more than one child balance, the feel of the horse and confidence
while not pulling on the horse's mouth to accomplish all those skills. A vaulting
club requires very little equipment to start up. One vaulting surcingle, a good kind
horse with steady gaits, some mats for stretching and warm up, a practice barrel,
longe line and whip will get your foot in the door. With some help from the parent
organization, the American Vaulting Association, you can get books, videos, information,
help from local clubs, clinicians, and a chance to become part of a rapidly growing
sport before it gets too big.
As an integral part of a riding program, vaulting has many benefits and while
adults may not necessarily do a hand stand on a cantering horse, it is the entry
level that starts the beginner on a road to better horsemanship. For those who become
interested in vaulting for its own value, there are local, statewide, regional, national
and international competition. It is a competition where children can excel. One does not
have to start vaulting with riding experience, gymnastic background, or dance training.
Even the two year old can, at his or her first lesson... let go with one hand, feel the
trot... It's magic.
As one of the six FEI (Federation Equestre Internationale-the governing body of
international equestrian competition) vaulting has been somewhat of the stepchild
in America. Devon's win internationally is a combination of an incredible 17 years
of hard work (he started at age six, and is now 23), talent and perseverance. There
are approximately 600 vaulters in the United States and more than 50,000 vaulters
in Germany alone. That's not counting the Swedish, Danish, Austrian, Polish, French,
Hungarian and other European countries. There are vaulting clubs in Argentina, Canada,
Brazil with interest in Australia, South Africa, Scotland and Mexico. And those are
just the ones this writer has heard about.
Vaulting, like any other equestrian sport, doesn't start at the international level.
It starts at home. In the next months, Horsequest will, starting with this little essay
about vaulting, begin a series to hopefully enlighten and educate their website visitors
about this incredible sport. We invite your questions. If the answer isn't readily
available, we'll find it. Next month: a more specific description of the beginning level.
The author: Carole Dwinell is an artist, writer, as well as coach and longuer for the
Black Point Vaulters of Martinez, California. Owner of four horses at the moment, an
Appaloosa/Belgian X, an Appaloosa/Percheron X, a registered Percheron and an Arabian/POA X.
Saw and experienced some adult vaulting as part of her riding lessons and was hooked forever.
She is editor of Vaulting World, the official newsletter of the American Vaulting
Association. Club members have won National Championships and gone on to vault
Internationally.
Carole Dwinell
Email: horse123@aol.com
