Vaulting - It's Not Just For The Circus “The kids learn to help each other and they get to work together as a team." by Nancy Brannon Ila Handy is a believer in teaching vaulting because “it is a good way to introduce people, especially youngsters, to riding, and it’s fun! Vaulting gives riders balance, confidence, and helps develop balanced seats,” she said. Vaulting is a new program at the Mid-South Dressage Academy. “This is about the fifth week of instruction,” said Handy. She has mostly young students, ages 7 to 14, but some adults are learning to vault, too. Handy said she first got interested in vaulting when she worked at a stable in Newcastle Massachusetts. “I worked with NARHA (North American Riding for Handicapped Association) instructor Gisela Rhodes, who had a vaulting group. I was impressed with the results she got when she incorporated vaulting exercises and use of the surcingle in lessons. Since then, I’ve had a dream to have a vaulting group. I have found Elizabeth [Rice] very supporting of starting one here.” Vaulting is an effective introductory and supplemental riding aid, plus “It’s an equestrian sport in and of itself,” Handy said. “It’s the best way to introduce people to riding, the help them learn balance and independence of leg and seat. Riders don’t have to steer the horse, so it’s good as a supplement [to regular riding]. I’ve also used it with kids who had fear issues with horses. Once you sit on a horse backwards at canter, everything else is easy!” Vaulting also provides positive group dynamics. “The kids learn to help each other and they get to work together as a team. I like the group effort that vaulting encourages.” Handy grew up riding her family’s horses in Northern California and New England, trying a variety of disciplines, including western pleasure, jumping, and 4-H activities. She was a working student and assistant trainer for Sue Roberto. She later rode with Christopher Hickey, Volker Bromman and Tom Noone. She graduated suma cum laude from Fitchburg State College. She has performed with the “World Famous Lipizzaner Stallions” and with “Cavalia.” She is also a practicing Yoga enthusiast, and advocates Yoga techniques with breath, awareness and balance for her students. She and her husband Nick are both instructors at Mid-South Dressage Academy and both are USDF Bronze and Silver Medalists. Handy gives vaulting instruction every Saturday morning from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. She hosted Lily Ray-Davis, a Silver Medalist vaulter, for a vaulting clinic December 17 and 18. She will come back to Mid-South Dressage Academy for another clinic on January 17 and 18, 2009. Handy calls her “a mentor to my program. I have worked with her and her horses, and she gave me many teaching tools to use with my vaulting students.” For more information about interactive vaulting and vaulting games, visit these web pages: http://www.fairtidefarm.com/vaulting/index.htm and http://www.fairtidefarm.com/hello_bob.htm