Vaulting Surcingles

Uses in Hippotherapy
A vaulting surcingle is a large C-shaped riding strap made out of leather or fabric used for
horse training, bareback riding and therapeutic riding. Similarly to a saddle, the surcingle
buckles around the horse’s girth near the horse’s withers.

In therapeutic riding, surcingles are used in “vaulting” exercises. The term is used loosely
here because equestrian vaulting (gymnastics and dance on horseback) is a commonly known
term in riding. The vaulting exercises in therapeutic riding, although not unlike those in
equestrian vaulting, have a different purpose for the disabled rider. The goal of a surcingle is
to have the rider complete a series of complex vaulting exercises conducive to their
therapeutic riding session.

The surcingle depicted here

is located at the horse’s
withers, on a bareback pad,
and fastened by the leather
girth straps. In this instance,
the surcingle helps maintain
the disable rider’s balance.

A rider may be asked to turn

the weight of their body
around the horse and use the
surcingle’s handles to help
them complete this task.
Instructors who wish to
“[With regards to the rider’s balance], it’s
easier [with a surcingle] to feel the middle of
the horse without the saddle.”- Patricia McGill
increase the rider’s reflexes and motor skills may work with a surcingle first then gradually
work the rider up to use horse reins with a halter, then to a bridle until finally, a saddle.

Figure 1. Dandy the Chestnut-coloured Morgan gelding dons a leather surcingle

Source: McGill, Patricia. Therapeutic riding instructor. Hinchinbrooke Farm in Nova Scotia.

Figure 2. Hincinbrooke Farm’s vaulting surcingle on a black saddle rack.

Surcingles enable riders to be

more flexible in their movements
versus a saddle.
 Source: McGill, Patricia. Therapeutic riding instructor. Hinchinbrooke Farm in Nova Scotia.

Gary Meregilliano writes about the benefits of Hippotherapy in his article found in Physical
Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America: “Complementary and Alternative
Medicine”. Hippotherapy serves as complementary treatment for people with autism,
cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, and people suffering from ADHD, depression, and anxiety.

The horse’s movements help with improving motor function and sensory perception.
Therefore, if Hippotherapy borrows from horseback riding for non-disabled peers, it’s no
wonder that vaulting exercises would be one of those borrowed ideas. Meregilliano
highlights three types of therapeutic riding: “vaulting”, “riding therapy” and “medicine”
(843). We will only be looking at the vaulting segment.

The vaulting exercises will

vary from one client to the
next. If the therapeutic
riding instructor wants the
client to move their head
from side-to-side,
sidewalkers will attempt to
get the rider’s attention to
focus on them (see Fig. 2).

It is by reinforcing the
client’s behaviour during
the session with
encouragement that will
increase their motivation
thereby giving the
intended result.
Figure 3. Vaulting exercises on horseback Source: McGill, Patricia. Therapeutic
riding instructor. Hinchinbrooke Farm in Nova Scotia.
 Therapeutic Vaulting Exercises

Vaulting exercises include:

 Basic seat position

 Roundabout
 High Fives

at a walk or standstill.

For more information regarding

therapeutic riding or to locate a
centre near you please visit:
http://www.cantra.ca/

*Please note the terms Hippotherapy

and Therapeutic Riding are used
interchangeably.

Vaulting exercises are known for their

complex gymnastic routines on horseback,
but what we require from disabled riders is
far different from their non-disabled peers.
It’s nonetheless a great feat for the disabled
rider to make those movements.