Competition requirements

This page is divided into a few main sections:

• Eligibility for competition
• Technical requirements
• Individuals
• Pairs
• Squad/Team
• Training ticklist
• What to pack
  

 

Eligibility for competition

In the UK, disabled vaulters can compete in RDA and/or BEV competitions. 

• RDA = Riding for the Disabled Association
• BEV = British Equestrian Vaulting

In order to compete in RDA events, the vaulter must be a member of an RDA Vaulting Group (NB not all RDA Groups offer vaulting). It is not enough to be a para vaulter within BEV - the vaulter must be affiliated to the RDA too. Theoretically, it is possible for a para vaulter training in a BEV club to represent an RDA Group as an Independent Participant, but the requirements and arrangements for this vary from Group to Group. In any event, the best way to explore this option would be to contact an RDA Vaulting Group. To find a list of vaulting Groups, contact RDA UK. 

In order to compete in BEV events, the vaulter must be a member of an official BEV club and a full member of BEV itself (an annual membership must be paid for). For a list of fully affiliated vaulting clubs, please check here. Please note that any other institution offering vaulting that is not listed there is NOT an official BEV club. This includes RDA Groups who are legitimate RDA Vaulting Groups - the two systems are separate even though vaulters, horses, lungers and coaches can be a part of both. 

Each RDA Group or BEV club will have its own approach to deciding which competitions to attend, and who may compete at each one. No responsible group or club would allow people or horses to compete if they aren't ready and, at certain events, it may not be possible for a group or club to take all their horses and/or vaulters. It is never a vaulter's 'right' to be able to compete, but if they are training steadily and successfully then a group or club does have something of a moral responsibility to support a disabled vaulter to compete if this is what they wish to do.

There is currently no requirement for a vaulter to be 'classified' or 'graded' in order to compete in either RDA or BEV vaulting.

Technical requirements

This varies for individuals, pairs and teams, and it can vary between RDA and BEV. Let's start with individuals!

Individuals

First of all, there are a few different levels at which individuals can compete. This can get a bit complicated, but stick with me. Individual vaulters perform two routines: compulsories and freestyle. Listed below are the classes available with 'Pre-Novice' level compulsories, which can be found on the 'Skills encyclopaedia' page. 

In the descriptions below, the first word describes the horse in compulsories, and the second word describes the horse in the freestyle.

• RDA
• Barrel/Barrel
• Walk/Walk
• Canter/Walk
• Canter/Canter
  
• BEV
• Walk/Walk
• Trot/Walk (unaffiliated)
  
• Trot/Trot (unaffiliated)
  
• Canter/Walk 

For beginners, starting at 'Barrel/Barrel' or 'Walk/Walk' is sensible. There aren't currently any barrel classes in BEV events, but some clubs run their own barrel competitions.

In BEV, para vaulters can also compete at Novice level and beyond into international (FEI) levels. In fact, they can compete at any level they like in a separate Para category - which is highly unusual in disability sport! The higher levels involve increasingly difficult compulsory routines. The following categories are available:

• BEV Novice
• Trot/Trot (unaffiliated)
  
• Canter/Canter
• FEI 1*, 2** and 3***
• Canter/Canter
• NB 3*** has an additional routine called the Technical Test - also completed in canter
  

Individuals are entered into the appropriate category by their coach. All RDA competitions use BEV Pre-Novice compulsories.

An individual freestyle routine - Louise Clark Photography

At all levels, the individual freestyle has a time limit of one minute. The timer starts as soon as the vaulter touches the horse or any part of the horse's tack (in other words, before they are actually on the horse). The vaulter is allowed to use any move apart from their compulsory ones. Strictly speaking, they are allowed to use compulsory moves from a higher level than the one they compete at, but in practice a lot of judges prefer vaulters to avoid them altogether. Fortunately, there is an enormous range of acceptable freestyle moves! 

Both routines should be performed with music, but it is very much a 'background' effect in the compulsories. The freestyle should, however, be built carefully on the music to 'tell a story'. I always try to choose very calm music for compulsories as it seems to help stop the vaulters from rushing!

For coaching points regarding compulsories and freestyles, please see the pages on 'Training and Conditioning' and 'Skills encyclopaedia'.

Vaulters also have to do a 'run in' and 'run out', which is how they enter and exit the arena. This is done on foot with the horse and lunger running in as well. It is done to music, and the vaulters and lunger should salute to the judge each time. In both RDA and BEV competitions, it is perfectly acceptable for this process to be adapted to suit the vaulter, e.g. to allow a vaulter to walk instead of run, or to use a wheelchair.

RDA National Championships 2017

Pairs

• RDA
• Freestyle on the barrel
• Freestyle on the horse in walk
• BEV 
• Freestyle on the horse in walk
• BEV competitions also run FEI level Pas de Deux classes
  

In Pair or Pas de Deux events (the terms are interchangeable) two vaulters perform a freestyle routine together lasting a maximum of 90 seconds (at Senior international level the freestyle is 2 minutes). Broadly speaking, both members of the pair should be on the horse at the same time, unlike in a team event where vaulters can jump down and remount later. There is no compulsory routine for Pas de Deux events (except at 1* level, which randomly does include compulsories!). 

As with the individual classes, vaulters need to show a 'run in' and 'run out', saluting to the judge. Again, these can be adapted to suit the disability. Pair moves can include lifts and 'built up' elements, e.g. one vaulter standing on another, as well as mirrored or complementary individual moves.

In both RDA and BEV events, both members of the Pair must have a disability. 

Training for a para pairs routine

Squad or Team

Again, the terms 'squad' and 'team' are pretty much interchangeable. There are some differences between RDA and BEV:

• RDA
• 6 members of the team
• A maximum of 2 team members can be registered able-bodied volunteers. Alternatively, a team can comprise solely disabled vaulters.
• A team can be made up of vaulters from multiple different RDA Groups
• BEV - 2 levels of competition:
  
• Walk Squad - 4-8 vaulters, all of whom must have a disability
• Pre-Novice Squad - 6 vaulters, all of whom must have a disability

An RDA Vaulting Team saluting the judge after performing their freestyle - Louise Clark Photography

 The requirements for team competitions are as follows:

• RDA
• No compulsories
  
• 4 minute (maximum) freestyle routine on the barrel or on the horse in walk
  
• A maximum of two vaulters may be on the horse/barrel at any one time.
• BEV Walk Squad
• No compulsories
• 4 minute (maximum) freestyle routine in walk
  
• A maximum of three vaulters may be on the horse at any one time
  
• BEV Pre-Novice Squad
• All vaulters must perform Pre-Novice compulsories in canter, one after the other
  
• 4 minute (maximum) freestyle routine in walk
  
• A maximum of three vaulters may be on the horse at any one time

RDA team on the barrel. The girl in black is a non-disabled volunteer.

Training ticklist - what do vaulters need to be able to do?

Please note that necessary assistance is permitted at all levels and in all aspects of RDA competition, and at Pre-Novice and Novice levels in BEV competition. This could take the form of physical assistance, reassurance, prompting, etc.

 To compete on the barrel or on the horse in RDA competitions:

• Able to mount
• If entering individual: able to perform Pre-Novice compulsories (not required for Pair or Team events)
• Able to perform 7-10 freestyle moves 
  
• Have the stamina to perform for the required time period for freestyle (60 seconds for individuals, 90 seconds for pairs, and a contribution towards the 4 minutes for teams which may be made up of much shorter time periods if appropriate)
• Able to dismount

Ideally, the chosen freestyle moves will be quite varied to open up a higher artistic score. However, for a beginner (or someone new to competing in trot or canter) it is acceptable to have less variety. We all have to start somewhere! 

As a guide, I would expect my non-disabled vaulters to be able to attempt each of the following moves without holding on (where applicable) before starting to compete, even if they aren't quite ready to include in a routine - e.g. I'd like them to be trying to stand in training, even if they don't compete with a stand to begin with. As always, remember that para/RDA vaulters can perform with assistance from the ground.

For VI folk/screen readers: creating alt text for this and the table below is going to be very complex as it's a screen shot of a quite complicated table listing vaulting moves, directions and positions on the horse. If you would like a copy, please comment or contact me and I'd be happy to email the original file!

For vaulters wanting to move their routines on, either for a more complicated freestyle in Walk Only events or to compete at Pre-Novice Canter/Walk, there are some suggestions of moves to try below. The green ticks indicate easier moves; the orange stars are medium difficulty and the red exclamation marks indicate trickier moves.

What to pack - the vaulter's packing list

(The lunger/coach's packing list will be longer!) Here are the basics:

• Trainers for warming up and getting around the venue
• Vaulting shoes
• For RDA competitions: one outfit is usually worn for both compulsories and freestyle - a freestyle outfit which should match the theme of the vaulter's free routine.
  
• For BEV competitions: it is common to wear a different outfit for compulsories and freestyle (compulsories is more of a 'uniform' that represents the club, and the freestyle outfit is individual and matches the vaulter's freestyle theme). However, this isn't obligatory and in some cases the compulsories and freestyle are competed directly after each other, so then the vaulter would just wear their freestyle outfit.
• Layers to go over the top for warmth and for keeping clean! 
• Everything required to keep hair neat and tidy: hairbrush, pins, bun net, bun doughnut, clips, hair spray, scrunchies, etc. RDA vaulters have to wear a hat so their hair doesn't have to be quite as immaculate as it would be for BEV vaulters. 
• RDA vaulters: a helmet meeting the appropriate safety standards (BEV vaulters can opt to wear a helmet).
• Water and some snacks

Depending on the individual, here are some other useful bits to pack:

• Splints, wraps, joint supports, etc.
• Warming up gubbins, e.g. a yoga mat, foam roller, resistance bands, etc. (write your name on them)
  
• Pills/tablets for medical conditions
• A camera 
• A named kit bag
  
• A spare pair of vaulting shoes and a spare pair of leggings!
• Clothing to wear for the prizegiving - ask your club/Group what they normally do for this.
  
• It is possible to buy plastic 'over shoes' which are designed to help keep trainers waterproof but can go over vaulting shoes too. These can be handy if the weather isn't great and the arena is getting mucky, particularly if the vaulter becomes separated from their regular shoes...which seems to happen very easily! 
• Sturdy boots if you intend to be around the horses in between classes
• An extra set of layers and/or a blanket - difficult to write in a heatwave, but vaulting venues can get extremely chilly for most of the year!

Competition etiquette

tl;dr

1. Be positive, enthusiastic and supportive of everyone at the event
2. Stay away from the horses except when you are actually vaulting, unless expressly asked to help with something 
3. Pay attention to what's going on around you - don't be a liability!
4. Be prepared to help out
   

• Everyone supports everyone else. Bad sportsmanship is extremely rare in vaulting because it is so heavily looked down upon! We all really cheer for our close friends, but we also support everyone from other clubs. 
• Look after your horse as you would at home - consider their wellbeing above everything else. 
• Do NOT approach or touch any horse or pony belonging to any other club or Group. We have an absolute blanket ban on this in my club - when horses are in their stables they are resting (and don't want to be poked by strangers!) and when they aren't they're working. If invited by a coach of the other club, it is OK to approach their horse(s), but otherwise leave well alone.
• Do NOT feed ANYTHING to any horse, including horses from your own club, even if you might normally give them a treat at home. In new surroundings, any horse can behave differently so it isn't safe for you even if you know the horse. More importantly, you could make the horse ill - you don't know the feeding pattern, what they can and can't eat safely, etc. You could also put horses at risk of failing anti-doping checks. 
• Usually at competitions I have a rule of 'no vaulters allowed in the stables'. This makes it easier for you not to approach or feed horses when you shouldn't. It keeps you out of the way of people from other clubs, it keeps you safe, and it helps the horses to get some time to relax. Competitions are busy times for them and they need their rest time.
  
• Everyone must attend the prizegiving (if you don't, you don't get your rosette). Vaulters and their parents should clap enthusiastically throughout, even if it's been going on a while and your arms ache. The last vaulter to receive a rosette is no less important or deserving of praise and appreciation than the first, so work on your clapping stamina! 
• At competitions, you MUST be listening to your coaches very carefully. They are experienced and will spot dangers or potential problems far quicker than you. If you are asked to do something (or not to do something!) you need to do as you're asked straight away.
• You also need to listen to coaches from other clubs. They might ask you to stay still while they're warming up a horse, or to move back because you're in the way. It's all about safety and about maintaining good relationships between clubs. 
• Vaulters are expected to help out with the horse at clubs, e.g. grooming, tacking up, mucking out, packing the lorry, etc. - whatever is an appropriate task for the vaulter in question. Parents should also expect to get involved. At BEV events, there is a time slot in each day for certain clubs to provide helpers such as score sheet collectors/runners and poo pickers. Usually this gets done by a combination of vaulters who aren't competing in that slot and parents from the club.