No horse saddles necessary for the brave and balanced equine vaulters

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With specially designed handles on surcingles for grip instead of horse saddles, vaulting is an awe-inspiring discipline that can be simply defined as gymnastics on horse back. It can either be performed as a solo act, with just one vaulter with a horse and lunger, or in pairs or teams of six, with one reserve and one horse under the control of a lunger.

The precise history of horse vaulting remains unknown, however, pictures of people standing on horseback have been found dating back to 1500BC. It was a part of the Classical Olympics in Greece and was often part of Roman games.

During Baroque times, the sport was more of a means of expressing personal wealth and good taste as it was part of the education of knights and noblemen.

Today, vaulting is accessible to everyone and is one of the main types of riding available from Riding for the Disabled groups due to the fantastic range of health benefits it offers. As well as boosting the rider's self-esteem and developing fitness, vaulting also increases motor skills due to the high level of co-ordination and balance needed to perform the stunts. It also promotes teamwork and discipline.

Riders begin out of the riding saddle, learning different positions on top of a static vault before moving on to a real, moving horse. Although beginners start off at a walk, most competitions take place at a canter. The horse will be kept in a steady canter rhythm by the lunger, who keeps the horse on a 15m circle, while the vaulters perform their displays.

Surprisingly, regardless of the size of the vaulters, larger horses are preferred over ponies as, despite there being further to fall, their strides are much smoother and easier to balance to than the choppy and bouncy strides of ponies.

Vaulting is a recognised discipline and international competitions regularly take place across the world; vaulting events were even included in the 1920 Olympics.

Without a horse saddle to cling to, vaulting is certainly not for the fainthearted. There are a number of groups across the country that offer lessons, so if you're brave enough to get on some horses without any horse saddles, then why not give it a go?