Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: How does vaulting work?
A: The horse is controlled by a lunger who sends him in a circle around them on the end of a lunge line which is attached to the bridle the horse wears on his head. Vaulting horses are not saddled but they do wear a surcingle (or a roller) and a thick back pad. The surcingle has special handles that aid the vaulter in performing certain moves as well as leather loops called cossack stirrups. The horse wears a bridle and side reins.

Q: Is vaulting safe?
A: Vaulting has an excellent safety record. Studies have shown Vaulting to be one of the safest of all the equestrian disciplines. This is due to the nature of vaulting. The horse is controlled by an experienced lungerr and not by the vaulter. Vaulting is performed in a ring with soft footing and free of any obstacles. Vaulting horses are required to be of a gentle disposition, at least six years old and be a mare or gelding. Vaulters are trained in the proper techniques to fall and roll from the horse. Vaulters first learn vaulting exercises and movements on a stationary vaulting barrel, then practice them on the horse at the walk, trot and canter.

Q: What kind of horses are used for vaulting?
A: It takes a very special kind of horse to become a vaulting horse; good character and temperament being essential. Draft or draft crosses are popular types of horses for vaulting because of their size and personality. The athletic prowess and skills required of the vaulters can only be exhibited to their full potential if their exists a true complicity between vaulter, horse and lunger as the full expression of the vaulter's talent can only be achieved through the harmonious inter-action between all three.

Q: Why don't I need a helmet?
A: All of the experts, world wide, confer that the statistics of vaulting indicate that it is the safest equestrian sport. This along with its popularity has made it the most common introduction to equestrian sport in Germany.

The reason helmets are not considered to improve the safety of a vaulter is that in a proper vaulting lesson or competition there is nothing hard for the vaulters to hit their head on. In vaulting, the horse is on a circle, which causes falls to travel away from the horse and keeps the vaulter away from walls or other hard objects. Vaulting requires soft footing that easily offers more protection than what a helmet could provide. A proper vaulting coach/trainer always introduces vaulters to key safety skills starting in the first lesson. There are proper and common methods of approaching a vaulting horse, dismounting a vaulting horse, and safe ways to “bailout” when balance is lost.

The first reason helmets are considered to be a safety hazard in vaulting is that they are not designed for use with vaulting, nor could one be developed. Existing helmets on the market are two thick to safely allow a forward or backwards roll in soft footing; the helmet itself could get “jammed” and cause a sever neck injury during a bailout roll. Making the helmet less thick would eliminate the purpose of the helmet in the first place, since a helmet works by slowing down the head over a larger distance than if direct contact was made with a hard object. Further, as above, vaulting must be done on soft footing where the footing itself will offer as much absorption as the helmet would. The second reason helmets are not considered to be safe for vaulting is that the straps could get caught up on the vaulting equipment, or on other vaulters (more than one vaulter may be on the horse at the same time.) In the interest of keeping the helmet on the head, helmets are not designed for these straps to let go. Needless to say, the result of a helmet getting caught during a fall would be disastrous.

The final thing to consider, safety aside, is that much of the sport is simply not possible while wearing a helmet. Many exercises and skills require the head to be close to the horses’ side for balance, or to be rolled over in a variety of ways. Further, at the higher levels, any sort of dynamic exercise that requires a flip, spin and/or flight will be throne off by the extra weight of the helmet on the head. Although the weight of the helmet is very slight, it does affect the perceptual senses of the vaulter during a flip or spin. The decreased scope of vision is also a problem, as a vaulter often relies on this vision when judging distance and location of landing dismounts.

The Vaulting Academy offers the option of wearing a helmet only for specific exercises where a helmet does not interfere with vaulting.