Interactive Vaulting Certification
Interactive vaulting, like carriage driving, is a fast-growing equestrian sport for both therapeutic and recreational purposes. Often equated to gymnastics on horseback, vaulting uses a surcingle to allow riders to perform seven standard movements (called compulsories) and many freestyle movements on the back of a horse on a lunge line. The therapeutic value of vaulting is immense, as it promotes strength, flexibility, balance and coordination through the physical moves; as well as confidence, trust, patience and critical thinking as participants must learn routines and develop the skills necessary to perform these on a moving horse. Traditionally, all three gaits are used, though the intensity of the speed and movements can be easily adjusted for therapeutic programs.
If you are interested in utilizing this exciting and unique discipline in your program and would like to become a NARHA Certified Vaulting Instructor, you may read the certification booklet below and attend a NARHA Interactive Vaulting Workshop to learn all the necessary skills and precautions. After participating in the NARHA Interactive Vaulting Workshop and practicing the skills taught, you may be ready for certification. You can sign up to attend a vaulting certification, which is conducted at a host site, once you have completed all the following prerequisites:
- Attend NARHA Interactive Vaulting Workshop within a two-year time frame Completion and documentation of 30 lungeing hours and 20 Interactive Vaulting Teaching hours
- Current certification as a NARHA Registered Level Instructor
- 21 years of age
- Application materials complete with fee paid
Once you have met these requirements, the Interactive Vaulting Certification process will consist of the following components:
- Lungeing test - Candidates will have 20 minutes to show their ability to warm up, work the horse in both directions in side reins at all three gaits, and cool down. Immediately following the practical component, candidates will be asked to evaluate their horse and their lungeing performance. As safe and correct lungeing is the basis for interactive vaulting, candidates who do not pass this portion will not be permitted to continue testing.
- Compulsories on the vaulting barrel - Candidates will have 15 minutes to teach the compulsory movements to an uneducated vaulter, with an emphasis on safety and empathy for the horse. The candidates will then perform the compulsory movements themselves on the barrel.
- Interactive vaulting lesson - Candidates will have 20 minutes to teach a lesson to three vaulters. All three gaits should be shown and use of the barrel is required. Focus should be on safety, consideration for the horse, teaching new skills and fostering interaction within the group. Candidates will receive profiles on the vaulters and the horse the evening before they are scheduled to teach. A lesson plan should be provided to the evaluators.
At the conclusion of the certification each candidate will be notified of results and given written and oral feedback from the evaluators in a one-on-one setting.
***Please refer to the NARHA interactive vaulting specialty standards in a current version of the NARHA Standards and Accreditation Manual. These very detailed standards address some of the most important safety concerns for interactive vaulting. In addition, they contain information about what is needed to start interactive vaulting program.
*NARHA acknowledges that both spellings "lungeing" and "longeing" are correct and used in the literature when discussing use of the horse on a circle. NARHA uses the spelling "lungeing" in all documents.
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