www.vaultingpro.com: FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I bring & wear for the tryouts?

All minor vaulters must bring a parent or guardian to their first tryout / practice to help fill out release and application forms including Hold Harmless agreements.

Most of our practices are outside, so it may be hot or cold depending on the weather. Vaulters should dress in layers. As your levels of activities rise and fall you will want to shed outer layers to keep from getting too hot and put them back on as you get cooler. Your outer layers need to be loose enough and the inner layers stretchy enough to allow a wide range of motion of all limbs. Sweatshirt and athletic warm-up pants over tee shirt and spandex tights work best in cool weather. Add a loose jacket, knit hat and gloves or mittens if it is cold outside. Vaulters should also bring a full water bottle, especially in warmer weather. If you have close fitting soft shoes with a rubbery sole, like aqua-socks, bring them too, otherwise bring a pair of thick socks that can get dirty. As the weather warms up and the outdoor arenas dry out, we may shift some of our activity outdoors, so also bring sunscreen if the forecast is for sunshine and bug spray.

Parents, guardians and other observers are always welcome and should dress for an outdoor spectator activity. You might wish to bring a folding chair and if it is cold, a blanket. Spectators may also wish to bring a hot or cold drink depending on the weather.

When do you accept new members?

We allow perspective vaulters to join us during regularly scheduled practices until we reach our target membership levels. If or when we exceed our recruiting goals, we will maintain a waiting list of perspective vaulters to fill any available vacancies.

Can I cancel my contract?

After the trial period of eight weeks, we ask you to make a three-month commitment to the Vaulting team. Since each group is seen as a team, works, trains and competes as one, we have to have a signed agreement of the vaulter and parents to stay in the team for a certain period of time. If the agreement is broken (except long-term illness or relocation), only 50% of the pre-paid money is subject to refund. Club and sign up fees are non-refundable.

Is the “Spirit” a new vaulting club?

The “Spirit” is a new club here in Hamilton County, Indiana, our mission is to form at least 5 new clubs in Indiana. If you are interested to start your own, please feel free to contact our coach. We have a “start up” package and with a small consulting fee, we will get you going.

Develop physical fitness, body awareness and control

Promote music appreciation and interpretation

Balance, Strength and Goal Oriented Achievements

Teach and practice good horsemanship

Do perspective members need experience in vaulting or gymnastics before trying-out?

No previous experience or specific level of physical fitness is required to join the “Spirit” vaulters. We are happy to have some gymnastics children on our team, we would like to have boys as well as girls. Vaulting can be the first step into a great love of an equestrian sport.

Size, age and heritage does not matter. Our motto is: The only limitation we have is ourselves.

Is vaulting a safe sport?

Yes, vaulting is not only the safest of the equestrian sports, it is documented safer than riding bicycles, playing on playground equipment, and even playing soccer. For more info on vaulting safety visit the American Vaulting Association website.

Through the first eight weeks of training we focus on the ground work. On the barrel horse, the vaulters will learn to fall down and to perform/practice better balance and focus before getting on the horse. The horse is handled by an experienced person and at all times on the lunge. Stretching and warming up will be a permanent activity throughout the training. Can we guarantee that nothing will happen? No, most of the injuries that happen are sore body parts and in extreme cases broken bones. As we said before, it is safer as riding a bike.

What are the age requirements for Vaulting?

There are no set upper or lower age limits for vaulting. Most vaulters are between that ages of seven and twenty five. The world champions tend to be in their early twenties. Vaulters as young as three years old are often able to compete/perform in "Tiny Tot" classes offered at many fests (competitions). The club member will evaluate younger perspective members on a case by case basis. We are mostly looking for commitment and maturity from our youngest competitive members. We are more flexible when evaluating recreational and drop-in members.

Is there any weight limit?

In the AVA rules, there used to be a 400-pound weight limit for combinations of two and three vaulters in the Team Freestyle competition. However, the current rules for Team Freestyle place much more emphasis on the ability of the specific horse and read: "Over weighting or overloading the horse will be penalized". In individual competition, the rules do not explicitly address weight.

Because much of vaulting involves moving and supporting your own body, vaulters who are over weight or obese have to work much harder than more physically fit vaulters. In the past we had success with weight loss in our dressage classes. If you have more questions please feel free to contact us.

Let's Vault.