Old Dominion Vaulters, located
in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in southwest Virginia,
formed in 2005. ODV is a family recreational vaulting club. For six
years prior to forming ODV,
we were members of another club and competed and performed
demonstrations for clinics and charity functions both nationally and
locally. We now support the American Vaulting Association as members,
while participating recreationally in the sport at home.
"The sport of
equestrian vaulting is
defined as gymnastics and dance on a moving horse. The history of vaulting goes
back to before horses, but rather wild bulls and other animals were
used. It evolved to horses and was how one general in Ancient Greece
trained horses. He even wrote a book called The Act of Horsemanship.
His men were expected to "vault" up using their lances to mount their
horse (much like a pole vaulter). Later vaulting was used to train
soldiers, since they needed to have their hands and arms free to hold
and use weapons. Vaulting was first done in a straight line, but much
later it was realized that the horse and rider had better balance if
the horse moved in a circle. Today the horse is lunged in a circle as
the vaulters perform. In
the 1900's it became a popular
children's sport in Germany and throughout Europe, and in the 1960's it
was introduced in the United States in California. The American
Vaulting Association was organized in 1968. And in the 1980's the first
world Championships was held."
Excerpt
written
by Taylor
Website
developed and maintained by Sam
Pob Web Design.
|
