Manestream Vaulters - Victoria, BC
All vaulters learn the compulsory moves and move up through the various levels of difficulty. These moves can be performed at the walk, trot, or canter.
Vaulting freestyles are performed to a vaulter's choice of music and can be performed individually, in pairs, or as a team. Click here to take a look at the Photogallery page to see some of our freestyle moves.
Compulsary Moves
Mount
Approach in stride with the horse, from the center of the circle. Take hold of the grips with both hands, facing forward. Using a powerful jump, keep your head down, and swing the right leg up, landing softly astride the horse. Usually at the walk, the mounts are assisted.
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Basic Seat
Sitting astride the horse, facing forward with legs wrapped around the horse's barrel, toes pointing down. The hands rest on the thighs or are held out horzontally at eye level.
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Flag
First the vaulter swings up into a bench position (hands and knees). Then the right leg is extended out and held straight with toe pointed. This may be followed by extension of the left arm, which is held out stright in front of the vaulter.
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Mill
This move is dynamic, nicknamed "around the world". Frist bring the right leg, held straight with toe pointed, over the horse's neck so that the vaulter is sitting facing the longeur (inside seat). Second, the left leg is passed over to face backwards. Thirdly, the right leg is...
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Heel Click
Lift both legs forward then quickly swing the legs back and up above the horse's rump. The toes are touched together lightly and then the vaulter returns to sitting forward on the horse's back.
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Scissors
The scissors begin exactly the same as the heel click, but at the moment of highest height, the vaulter turns towards the longeur, and in doing so, causes the inside leg to cross over and above the outside leg. The vaulter lands gently on the horse's back with legs now on opposite sides of the...
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Reverse Click
Sitting in reverse seat, swing legs up in front of the body, and touch the toes together at the point of greatest height. Return to reverse seat, softly on the horse's back.
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Reverse Scissors
The reverse scissors begins the same way as the reverse click, but at the point of highest height, turn towards the longeur, which crosses the legs, allowing the vaulter to softly land on the horse's back facing forward. Then switch hands to hold the grips the same way as in basic seat.
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Kneel
With knees kept close to the surcingle, the vaulter lets go of the grips, lifts their body up vertically, and holds their arms out "like an airplane".
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Stand
Swing up from seat to knees, then gently hop up to feet. Slowly let go of the grips, and extend body up to standing position. The knees should remain bent to absorb the horse's movement. The hands can either be rested on the thighs or help out horizontally as in the basic seat.
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