 Freestyle team vaulting | |
| Highest governing body | International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) |
|---|---|
| Nicknames | Vaulting |
| Characteristics | |
| Contact | no |
| Team members | individual and teams of varying numbers |
| Mixed-sex | yes |
| Type | indoor or outdoor |
| Equipment | horse, surcingle, longeing equipment |
| Venue | Generally indoor arena with dirt or similar footing suitable for the horse |
| Presence | |
| Olympic | 1920 Antwerp only |
| World Games | 1993 (invitational) |
Equestrian vaulting, or simply vaulting,[1] is most often described as gymnastics and dance on horseback, which can be practiced both competitively or non-competitively.[2] Vaulting has a history as an equestrian act at circuses,[3][4] but its origins stretch back at least two-thousand years. It is open to both men and women and is one of ten equestrian disciplines recognized by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (Fédération Équestre Internationale or FEI).[5] Therapeutic or interactive vaulting is also used as an activity for children and adults who may have balance, attention, gross motor skill or social deficits.
Vaulting's enthusiasts are concentrated in Europe and other parts of the Western world. It is especially well established in Germany and Switzerland. Vaulting was first introduced in the United States in the 1950s and 60s but was limited only to California and other areas of the west coast.[6] As of 2010, it was beginning to gain popularity in the northeast United States.[7]
- ^ "The Voltiging Federation of Ontario". Horses of the Sun, Canada. Archived from the original on 17 October 2011.
- ^ "Equestrian Vaulting Australia". equestrian-vaulting.
- ^ Loxton, Howard (1997). The golden age of the circus. New York, NY: Smithmark. p. 38. ISBN 978-0-7651-9909-6.
- ^ The New Encyclopædia Britannica ([New ed.]. ed.). Chicago, Ill.: Encyclopædia Britannica Inc. 2003. p. 419, volume 16. ISBN 978-0-85229-961-6.
- ^ "About us – standards". Fédération Équestre Internationale.
- ^ "Alumni Only - American Vaulting Association". www.americanvaulting.org.
- ^ La Gorce, Tammy (25 March 2010). "Equestrian Vaulting Gains Fans in the Northeast". The New York Times.