VAULTING
According to the Vault Canada website, “Vaulting is
best described as gymnastics on horseback. Vaulters
must vault (leap) onto a horse that is cantering on
a 20 meter (82’ diameter) circle (controlled by a
‘longer’), perform the required (gymnastic)
movements and then dismount or vault off the horse.”
The FEI (Fédération
Équestre
Internationale)
describes vaulting as “probably the most colourful
of all equestrian disciplines: young athletes in
artful leotards, jumping on and off horses, flying
through the air and dancing to music on and around
their horse with frenetic spectators cheering them
on.
“Vaulting has been around for centuries and was
originally designed as a means to train and perfect
both balance and complicity (communication) between
horse and rider.”
WHAT'S THE PLAN?
“These are our World Championships,” said Susan
Barron, Chef d’Équipe for Canada’s Vaulters. “The
base number of Vaulters in Canada is small, about
100, compared to 60,000 in countries like Germany.
The goal is for our competitors to have good, clean
performances.”
HOW IT'S SCORED
Vaulting competitions will take place in a covered
ring with sand footing. In 2005 new rules were
introduced for the sport including that there will
always be six judges for each event, three judging
only the horse, three judging only the Vaulters. The
age-limit (18 years old) has been removed.
DETERMINING THE FEI WORLD FEMALE AND MALE INDIVIDUAL
CHAMPIONSHIP
The competition will have two rounds. The first
round will include both a compulsory test and a
Freestyle. The second round will include a Technical
Test and a Freestyle. Only the 15 top Vaulters from
the first round may start in the second round.
The final marks and placings will be determined by
the average mark obtained in the two rounds
combined.
FEI Medals for 1st to 3rd
place will be awarded and
€
6,000 in prize money distributed.
DETERMINING THE FEI TEAM VAULTING CHAMPIONSHIP
The team competition consists of three tests in two
rounds. The Compulsory Test and the first Free Test
are the qualifying round. The best 12 teams after
the qualifying round are eligible to participate in
the final round which is the second Free Test.
The total marks for the three tests are added and
then averaged to determine the team placings. FEI
Medals for 1st to 3rd place
will be awarded and
€
8,000 in prize money distributed. Canada will not be
contesting the team competition, which requires
seven vaulters plus 1 horse and 1 longeur and a
spare horse and longeur.
For more information please see
www.vaultcanada.org
For details on the official rules governing this
competition, please see
www.horsesport.org/ “Rules & Regulations”.
