| World championship level vaulting combines both | | | | their arms raised at ear level. The legs are wrapped |
| gymnastics and dance on a cantering horse. Done to | | | | around the barrel of the horse with soles facing |
| music, vaulting requires not only harmony between | | | | rearward. The rider's hands should be held palms |
| the horse and vaulter, but harmony between the | | | | down with closed fingers. This position must be held |
| horse and several vaulters. Vaulters may compete | | | | for four strides. |
| individually, as pairs (pas-de-deux), or as a team. | | | | - Flag - From astride the horse, the vaulter hops up |
| Vaulting was first recognized by the FEI in 1983. To | | | | to their knees and extends her right leg straight out |
| reach the world championship level, vaulters must | | | | behind and holds it slightly above her head and parallel |
| compete regionally, nationally and finally worldwide. | | | | with the horse's spine. The left arm is stretched |
| There are various components to the routines that | | | | straight forward at nearly the height of the leg. |
| the vaulters must perform. All competitions are held | | | | - Mill -From the astride position, the rider brings her |
| over two rounds. The first round requires that seven | | | | leg over the horse's neck and the left leg is then |
| designated exercises be performed by the vaulter | | | | brought over in a full arc over the horse's croup. This |
| and each exercise is scored by the judge. The | | | | movement requires that the rider ungrasp and |
| second round is freestyle in which the vaulters are | | | | regrasp the grips. This movement must be |
| able to choreograph their own performance. | | | | performed with each leg for four strides each or |
| Vaulting is judged based on: | | | | sixteen strides total. |
| - Form | | | | - Scissors - From astride the horse, the rider swings |
| - Difficulty | | | | into a handstand and then comes down so that she |
| - Technique | | | | is astride the horse facing backward. The maneuver |
| - Balance | | | | is then performed again so that the rider is astride |
| - Security | | | | the horse facing forward. |
| - Consideration of the horse | | | | - Stand - The stand requires the rider to move from |
| The horse, the vaulter and the longeur are all | | | | the astride position and stand on both feet. |
| considered a part of the team and are a competitive | | | | - Flank - From the astride position, the rider swings |
| unit. This is reflected in the final score. | | | | the legs forward to create momentum and rolls on |
| In order for the vaulters to perform well, they must | | | | the stomach in an arch with a full extension of the |
| have a trustworthy horse. The horse should be a | | | | legs, nearly reaching a handstand. The vaulter then |
| good athlete with an excellent disposition and | | | | jackknifes her body and turns to the inside and slides |
| temperament. The horse should also be well | | | | down into a side seat. The vaulter then moves from |
| balanced, as balance is 20% of the final score. The | | | | the side seat, brings her body over the back of the |
| horse is longed by a longeur who is responsible for | | | | horse and pushes off, landing outside the circle facing |
| ensuring the horse stays in a stead and true canter | | | | forward. |
| throughout the competition and that the circle | | | | Each of these movements are performed in this |
| maintained has a minimum diameter of 15 meters. | | | | order without dismounting or pausing. In team |
| There are seven compulsory movements required in | | | | competition, each vaulter must perform these |
| vaulting: | | | | movements following one another. |
| - Basic Seat - The vaulter sits astride the horse with | | | | |