does anyone know if the teams shipped in their own horses for vaulting?or did they compete on borrowed horses from here?
The horse is a major component of the score and the team. They brought their own horses.
U.S. vaulters shipped in their own horses and some vaulters from other nations borrowed them. If you have a vaulting program, look at the horse Lanson 16. He was used by both a U.S. vaulter and a Czech vaulter (Petr Eim). I believe he’s owned by the Mt. Eden Vaultiing Club iin Saratoga, CA. Emma Seely, the coach at Mt. Eden, was his lunger.
[QUOTE=khp vol;5156878]
U.S. vaulters shipped in their own horses and some vaulters from other nations borrowed them. If you have a vaulting program, look at the horse Lanson 16. He was used by both a U.S. vaulter and a Czech vaulter (Petr Eim). I believe he’s owned by the Mt. Eden Vaultiing Club iin Saratoga, CA. Emma Seely, the coach at Mt. Eden, was his lunger.[/QUOTE]
Sir James was another horse from Mt. Eden that was used by Argentina. That was the first time I watched vaulting and it was amazing. I would imagine using a horse you are not familiar with would be a great disadvantage.
[QUOTE=khp vol;5156878]
U.S. vaulters shipped in their own horses and some vaulters from other nations borrowed them. If you have a vaulting program, look at the horse Lanson 16. He was used by both a U.S. vaulter and a Czech vaulter (Petr Eim). I believe he’s owned by the Mt. Eden Vaultiing Club iin Saratoga, CA. Emma Seely, the coach at Mt. Eden, was his lunger.[/QUOTE]
And he stayed at our farm (along with 5 or 6 other horses for the US and Argentian individuals) =)
These vaulters were also out at our farm for several weeks before to practice with their leased horses so while using an unfamilar horse could be a disadvange, them seem to put their time in getting used to their borrowed mounts (not just vaulting, but hand walking and grazing etc)
[QUOTE=The Manure Pile;5157764]
Sir James was another horse from Mt. Eden that was used by Argentina. That was the first time I watched vaulting and it was amazing. I would imagine using a horse you are not familiar with would be a great disadvantage.[/QUOTE]
I thought Sir James was the South African’s horse (the one that was a bit naughty)?
I met a Hungarian at my hotel whose girlfriend was the coach or one of the coaches for the Hungarian team (and a former vaulting champion herself I was told). They could not afford to ship THEIR horse and actually did have to lease a horse - which they said made it quite difficult for them.
I had wonderful conversations with them as I do not know much about vaulting!
I have a question about the vaulting horses. What else do they do with those horses to keep them fit and supple? It seemed to me that just vaulting with them would be hard on them (going always in the same direction). Do they usually get ridden as well? This was the first time I had ever seen vaulting and I really enjoyed it!
[QUOTE=dressagerose;5158606]
I have a question about the vaulting horses. What else do they do with those horses to keep them fit and supple? It seemed to me that just vaulting with them would be hard on them (going always in the same direction). Do they usually get ridden as well? This was the first time I had ever seen vaulting and I really enjoyed it![/QUOTE]
I cant speak for anyone but Emma’s group and what they did while here (they stayed with us this year and last year for the test event) but the horses are handwalked, lunged the other way and hacked like normal horses.
[QUOTE=dressagerose;5158606]
I have a question about the vaulting horses. What else do they do with those horses to keep them fit and supple? It seemed to me that just vaulting with them would be hard on them (going always in the same direction). Do they usually get ridden as well? This was the first time I had ever seen vaulting and I really enjoyed it![/QUOTE]
A lot of the horses do dressage work as well.
Woodside (CA) Vaulters brought their own horses. Ecuador leased their horse Pepper Jack for the games & my friend (from the US) was the longeur. I can’t remember the name of the other horse they brought at this time. I think it was Giovanni.
They make sure to ride the horses as well as the vaulting work they do.
[QUOTE=Jersey Fresh;5158459]
I thought Sir James was the South African’s horse (the one that was a bit naughty)?[/QUOTE]
According to the results for Friday’s freestyle, which is the one I watched, Prize was South Africa’s horse and he did have a case of stage fright.
I took a ton of photos and have just started to go through them. Here are my vaulting photos so far: http://www.flickr.com/photos/martinavannelli/sets/72157625033666741/with/5078918757/
I met a few of the US vaulters at WEG and asked the same question. I was told that the horses are ridden regularly and many of them have competed in dressage, up to the second or third level (can’t remember which). Most of the vaulters also ride at that level, too.
Keeping the horse fit and happy seem to be top priorities.
On my way to the arena to watch the individual freestyle I noticed what I thought were some dressage riders practicing in the outdoor ring. One was going very nicely, it was the neatly marked bay/paint with the white slash down the hind leg. When he came in to the vaulting I was “OMG, that’s that gorgeous dressage horse!” 
I coach a vaulting team in Michigan and recognized some of the horses used in the vaulting competition. The South Africans used a horse from Warm Beach Vaulters in WA and I believe they practiced on him for about a month before traveling to KY.
Borrowing horses is common due to the cost of transportation overseas, of course. This is the first WEG that all the US vaulters have been able to use their own horses. The shoe was finally on the other foot! I saw that the Germans brought their own horses as did Great Britain and some other countries. Canadians also used US horses. Even at vaulting competitions in the US vaulters borrow other US teams’ horses rather than trailer a horse 10-12 hours away for just one or two vaulters. Yes, it does put them at a disadvantage but they might also borrow a horse that is steadier and better gaited than their own vaulting horse.
Yes, many vaulting horses are ridden dressage. Vaulters, however, aren’t necessarily riders. Usually it’s the loungers that train and ride the horses. Carolyn Bland, lounger of Palatine, the US team’s horse, is a dressage trainer. It’s my understanding that Blake Dalgren of the FACE team owns a horse but has someone else train and ride it and he just vaults on it. New vaulters don’t need previous equestrian experience. It’s helpful when some do ride as they can then exercise the horse under saddle. You are correct that always lunging the horse to the left isn’t good for the horse. Some vaulting classes require the vaulter to perform the compulsory exercises on the horse being lunged to the right. It’s recommended that horses only be used for vaulting or lunged 2-3 times a week and the other times should be ridden dressage or other discipline or on the trail. I remember one vaulting horse that was trained to do piaffe but no tempi changes! He is an 18+hh Belgian gelding owned by Golden Gate Vaulters in CO.
Those vaulting horses that are used in the upper levels of vaulting do have a dressage background as the horse score has its basis in that discipline. Most of those are warmbloods as the judges prefer them to the drafts and draft-crosses. Lower level horses for beginners in walk, trot and lower level canter need to be consistent in their gait and have a good disposition, no spookiness. This builds confidence in the vaulter. A plus for the vaulters, who usually don’t own a horse, is that they learn about horses (including safety) and one horse can be used by many vaulters. That’s also a plus for a riding program/equestian center that have children as clients. Usually there is a very safe and tolerant horse that will be suitable for vaulting and the children learn to be sensitive and soft on the horse. Before they actually get on the horse they learn on the practice vaulting barrel where they can make mistakes without hurting the horse accidentally.
Sorry to go on and on. Vaulting is a discipline I love (but I like others, too). I’ve been in it since 1984 and I still enjoy seeing the harmony between horse and vaulter.
I know one of the owners and trainers of a german horse Airbus (huuuuge chestnut with belly spot). They brought him over for Germany (A girl and a boy did the singles on him). I know this 19 yo horse for a long time. Vaulting is only up once a week, twice before big events. Walk part always the other way round. He is ridden daily in dressage work, she hacks, she is jumping over little things. This horse needs things that are routine ! So she tries to give him as much options as possible. He gets turnout in fields aswell. Was fun to meet her in Lexington where we had not seen each other in a while even though she is only 4 miles away here.
I met also during walking the 3 day course at Lexington two ladies from Germany who brought their horse over for the brasilian vaulting team. The brasilians even came over to germany for a while to look at different horses and test. the second horse of my friend was also supposed to come over, but got injured and is now retired.
The mentioned Airbus was the mount for the brasilians at WEG in 2006 in Aachen and they were quite good - place seven at that time ! 20% of the score is the horse !
Sahsarona-
Yes Blake does own a horse - Callao - fittingly a rather tall WB - at Valley View Vaulters in Los Angeles, CA where Blake coaches the canter team. When Carolyn was in SoCal the horse used to be in training with her at the FACE facility, but has been at VVV for the last year or 2. Blake does ride sometimes, but I think I’ve had Callao undersaddle more often in the last year than he has.
