Why Vaulting?

Presley, our equine trainer, vaulting backwards at the canter.

Did you know Justin’s Place is currently working to start a vaulting program?! Vaulting has been described as dance or gymnastics on the back of a horse. After learning more at a regional PATH conference about adaptive vaulting, we knew it would be a great addition to the existing programs at Justin’s Place. Three of our staff traveled to Michigan for two days of training on starting up a vaulting program! We learned so much and even got to vault some ourselves! Here is a short list of reasons WHY Justin’s Place is starting a vaulting program:

• Vaulting teaches teamwork. Vaulting classes typically use small groups of individuals to assist getting onto and doing positions on the horse. You learn skills off the horse first as a team including strength building and stretching.

• Vaulting is an efficient use of resources. In therapeutic riding, we can serve ONE child with a horse, staff member and 1-2 volunteers. In vaulting, we can serve SIX children with one horse, 1 staff, and 2 volunteers.

• Vaulting promotes connection with the horse, confidence and strength building in ways traditional riding cannot.

• A trained horseman/woman controls the horse on a lunge line, which allows the rider/vaulter to not have to worry about controlling the horse, but rather just an awareness of themselves and their balance.