SALT RIVER VAULTERS

Equestrian vaulting is a combination of gymnastics, acrobatics, and dance on top of a horse that moves in a circle, controlled by a lunger standing in the middle. Vaulters will train on the barrel (a fake horse) to perfect their moves. Once ground rules have been established, the vaulter may start vaulting on the horse at the standstill or the walk. As the vaulter improves, they may go at the trot and then at the canter.

Vaulting is both an individual and a team sport, depending on what the vaulter prefers. In both cases, vaulters can compete in compulsories and/or freestyle. Compulsories consist of a set of moves that must be done by everyone, no matter what level. Depending on the vaulter's skill set, they may compete at different levels of compulsory moves. Individual freestyle is a personalized choreographed routine that lasts one minute. Team freestyle consists of one to three vaulters on the horse at a time and lasts four minutes.