Vaulting is an equestrian discipline that combines gymnastics and acrobatics performed on the back of a moving horse. It is one of the oldest equestrian activities, with roots in Roman cavalry training, and is now a fully recognised competitive sport governed internationally by the FEI (Fédération Equestre Internationale). Competitors perform a sequence of movements — mounts, dismounts, balances, and dynamic elements — on a horse moving on a circle at a consistent trot or canter.
The Three Competitive Formats
FEI vaulting competition takes three forms:
Individual. A single vaulter performs on a horse, executing a prescribed compulsory test followed by a free programme of their own design. The vaulter is judged on technique, balance, harmony with the horse’s movement, and the difficulty and creativity of their programme.
Pas de deux. Two vaulters perform together on a single horse, creating synchronised and partner-assisted movements. Timing and mutual balance are critical — a slight mistiming at canter can upset both vaulters and the horse beneath them simultaneously.
Squad. Teams of up to six vaulters take turns performing on the horse, with up to three vaulters on the horse at any one time at the highest levels. Squad vaulting is the most visually spectacular format, requiring precision choreography and absolute mutual trust between team members and the horse.
The Role of the Horse and Longeur
Vaulting horses work differently from any other equestrian discipline. The horse is driven on a 15-metre circle by a longeur — a specialist handler standing in the centre who uses a lunging whip and long reins to maintain a consistent, balanced tempo. The horse wears a cavesson, a roller (a padded girth-like band around the barrel with handles for the vaulters to grip), and specific vaulting tack rather than a conventional saddle.
The horse’s consistency is paramount. An unpredictable change in speed or bend throws off any movement in progress and can unseat a vaulter at height. Vaulting horses are therefore highly trained, calm, and selected for rhythmic, balanced gaits — usually a smooth, ground-covering canter with reliable tempo. The relationship between longeur and horse is close and specialised; a good vaulting horse and longeur combination is as much a partnership as any ridden pair.
Physical and Technical Demands on the Vaulter
Vaulting sits at the intersection of gymnastics, dance, and equitation. At basic level, movements include the standard seat (sitting upright astride on the moving horse), the flag (lying flat along the horse’s back), and the stand (standing on the horse’s back at walk or trot). At elite level, the movements include handstands, partner lifts, dynamic throws and catches, and sustained balances at full canter that require exceptional core strength, spatial awareness, and confidence.
Vaulters train extensively on a vaulting barrel — a padded barrel on a frame that can be adjusted to different heights and tilts — before progressing to the horse. Most elite vaulters also train in gymnastics disciplines to develop the body strength, flexibility, and proprioception required for advanced movements.
Vaulting in the UK
In the UK, vaulting is administered under the British Horse Society equestrian umbrella and the British Vaulting Association. The sport has a small but dedicated following and is accessible to all ages — children as young as five can start on a stationary barrel, and some of the UK’s best vaulters have represented Great Britain at the World Equestrian Games and European Championships.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is vaulting safe for the horse?
When practised correctly with well-trained, appropriately conditioned horses, vaulting causes no more strain than other equestrian disciplines. The movements performed on the horse are distributed across its back, and the roller spreads weight more evenly than a conventional saddle. The key risk factor is an unfit or undertrained horse being asked to work for too long on a small circle — repeated tight circles at canter place loading on the inside limbs, so vaulting horses are conditioned gradually and worked for regulated periods. BEVA guidelines on equine welfare in vaulting mirror those for any athletic discipline: progressive conditioning, regular veterinary monitoring, and rest periods are non-negotiable.
Do you need riding experience to start vaulting?
No — in fact, vaulting is one of the most accessible entry points into equestrian sport for non-riders. Beginners start on the barrel rather than a live horse, building the strength and body awareness needed before mounting. The controlled environment (horse on a circle, longeur controlling tempo) is safer for a nervous beginner than being on a horse independently. Many vaulting clubs actively recruit children with gymnastics backgrounds who have no prior horse experience.
How is vaulting scored?
In FEI competition, the horse and longeur are scored separately from the vaulter or squad. The horse receives marks for rhythm, suppleness, and the quality of its gait under the influence of the vaulter’s movements. Vaulters are scored on technique, balance, security, harmony with the horse’s movement, and — in the free programme — difficulty and creativity. Scores from the compulsory exercises and free programme are combined to determine the final placing.