Monday, May 24, 2010

What are the best breeds for vaulting horses?


Answers:
Usually percherons are used, though I have seen plenty of mixed breeds (draftcrosses, mixed draft breeds, etc)
Basically you want a wide SMOOTH horse with a rhythmic canter and smooth trot. If you are just getting into vaulting, bring your trainer with you to pick out a good horse. Vaulting is not something you want to teach yourself- it is dangerous when not done correctly.
The question should be type not breed. Not all horses of one breed would be suitable.

Vaulting horses are generally drafts, draft cross or heavyweight hunters with a good smooth action and rhythm. Shires and shire cross might be good. They can do well at dressage.
I see a lot of Belgian Drafts, Clydesdales, and Percherons being used.

Most importantly you want a horse that is calm, quiet, and steady. Typically you can't have a riding horse switch back and forth between under saddle work and vaulting because the riding horse would respond to the leg pressure given by the vaulters rather than the commands of the person lunging.

And that's all I really know about vaulting.
We actually have two vaulting horse's at my NARHA facility.

A Clydesdale named Houdini and an Arabian named Sir Dar.

Drafts or cold tempered horses are the best. Sir Dar does great even though most people assume Arabians are all hot tempered.

Really any horse that is sound, quite, and an overall bombproof or "baby-sitter" type of horse can be used. Just be sure that the weight of the vaulter isn't going to injure or in anyway make the horse uncomfortable.
a large horse would be easy to stand on because of its broad back. it might be better to find a shorter one that has a broad back just so it would be easier to get on and off. draft horses mxed with another docile but shorter breed would be a good choice for temperament, size, and stability.

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