Equestrian vaulting
Gymnastics and dance on horseback, practiced competitively or recreationally.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Equestrian vaulting, often described as gymnastics and dance on horseback, is a discipline that can be practiced competitively or non-competitively. It differs from circus or trick riding in that the horse is highly trained and controlled by a Longeur (or lunger in English), who in competition is also part of the athletic team. Vaulting is a specific discipline within equestrian sports, with origins in military training stretching back at least two thousand years, and is one of seven equestrian disciplines recognized by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) as of the 2020s.
- field
- Equestrian sport and art
- known_for
- Gymnastics and dance on horseback; recognized by the FEI; safest equestrian discipline; open to both men and women
- origins
- Ancient Roman games or ancient Crete, at least 2,000 years old
- modern_development
- Post-war Germany
- FEI_recognition
- 1983
- first_world_championship
- 1986 in Bulle, Switzerland
Lore & Background
The origins of vaulting are uncertain, with some tracing it to ancient Roman games where acrobats performed on cantering horses, while others believe it began in ancient Crete with bull-leaping. The present name comes from the French 'la voltige,' acquired during the Renaissance when it was a form of riding drill for cavalry riders. Modern vaulting developed in post-war Germany as an initiative to introduce children to equestrian sports. Vaulting was first introduced in the United States in the 1950s and 60s but was limited to California and other areas of the west coast; as of 2010, it was gaining popularity in the northeast United States.
Reader's Guide
Equestrian vaulting holds significance as both a competitive sport and a therapeutic activity. It is the safest of all equestrian disciplines, despite helmets not being allowed in competition. Vaulting is foundational to all forms of riding, with roots in military training over two thousand years old. The FEI recognized vaulting in 1983, and European championships were first held in 1984, followed by the first World Vaulting Championship in 1986. Vaulting was included in the World Equestrian Games starting in 1990 and demonstrated at the 1984 and 1996 Olympic Games. Therapeutic vaulting aids children and adults with balance, attention, gross motor skill, or social deficits. The sport's enthusiasts are concentrated in Europe, especially Germany and Switzerland, and it continues to grow in the United States. Competitive vaulting includes individual, pair (pas-de-deux), and squad events, with horses and vaulters judged on harmony, rhythm, and consideration of the horse.
Did You Know?
- Vaulting is the safest of all equestrian disciplines, and helmets are required in FEI competition for safety.
- The horse's score accounts for approximately 25% of the total score in competition.
- Vaulting was demonstrated as an art during the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
- The first World Cup Vaulting competition was held in Leipzig on 29–30 April 2011.
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