Vaulting for Vets
To find out more about vaulting and/or make an appointment, call the farm at 315-363-6124
Malkier representing the riderless horse, honoring all fallen veterans, at the head of the Memorial Day parade in Oneida: May 28, 2010
This day also marked the start of Root Farm's new programs for veterans
Now that's pride!
During the Middle Ages, vaulting was part of the education of knights and noblemen and was regarded as a means of expressing personal wealth and good taste. The present name of the sport comes from the French "La Voltige" during this period.
Later in history, the cavalry regarded vaulting as an esssential to advanced military training for maneuvers on horseback. A real horse was used for the exercises, and eventually, with the advent of a mechanized military,the discipline evolved into gymnastics on a "wooden horse."
Vaulting was included as "Artistic Riding" by cavalry officers in the Olympic Games, 1920 in Antwerpen. The team gold medal that year was won by Belgium, followed by France and Sweden.
Vaulting as a competitive sport was introduced in the United States in California in the 1960's, and The American Vaulting Association was organized in 1968. In the 1980's, the first World Equestrian Game Championships were held. Today, the horse is lunged on a circle as vaulters perform, and a "vaulting barrel" is used to practise the movements that will later be performed on the horse.
Vaulting can put veterans in touch with a respected miltary traditioon, and it is no less beneficial to the body and spirit today than it was in the days of knights and cavalry soldiers.
