Vaulting was in the Olympic Games in 1920.

Today, another group is

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A Wild Ride: Equestrian Vaulting
By Colleen Messina
Horseback riding takes practice. So does
gymnastics. Dancers practice for years, too. What
if a sport was made up of all three? This sport is
called equestrian vaulting.
Equestrian vaulting is done on a moving horse.
The rider does moves on the horse. One move is a
handstand. Can you imagine doing that on a
moving horse?
Equestrian vaulting is done in an arena. The horse
runs in a 15-meter circle. A trainer stands in the
circle. He or she holds the line. This line goes to
the horse's bridle.
in charge of the world championships. The group is the FEI. During a
contest the rider does six moves. Later, the rider does a freestyle
contest. They use music during this part. The rider gets scores for the
moves. A ten is best. The horse also gets a score on its gait. The gait is
how the horse walks, trots, or canters. The United States won a bronze
medal in 2008.
People of all ages do this sport. They love it because they feel like
they are flying on their horses. This makes all the work worth it.
Equestrian vaulting is a wild ride for its athletes!
A Wild Ride: Equestrian Vaulting
Questions
1. What kind of animal was used in Crete for a similar sport?
A. bulls
B. cats
C. horses
D. dogs

Equestrian vaulting is not new. It has been around for over 2,000 2. Which group did a form of vaulting in ancient Greece?
years. Some people think that this sport has its roots in ancient Crete. A. soldiers
"Bull dancers" rode wild bulls. A picture of a bull dancer was on a B. teachers
palace wall. It showed the person grabbing a bull's horns. The person C. senators
did a somersault over the bull. Wheee! D. servants
Later in Greece, soldiers did equestrian vaulting. They used a lance. 3. Where is the line attached to the horse for modern equestrian
They poked it in the ground. Then, they flew up on the horse. The vaulting?
lance gave them a boost. Knights in the Middle Ages did this sport,
too. Many people have enjoyed it in lots of places. A. to the saddle
B. to the rider
The rider, the horse, and the trainer are a team. They must work C. to the saddle pad
together. The horses are special. They are calm. A good horse helps D. to the bridle
keep the rider safe. The horses seem to like this sport, too. Maybe it is
fun for the horse to have someone doing a handstand on its back! 4. What shape does the horse run in during equestrian vaulting?
A. a triangle
The riders take time to learn the moves. The riders must be strong. B. a square
They must be flexible. First they practice on the ground. Then they C. a circle
practice on a barrel. The barrel is as big as a horse! Then they try the D. a line
moves on a real horse. First, the horse walks. Then, the horse trots. At
last, the horse canters. It takes time and practice to learn vaulting.
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5. Where do riders try a move for the first time?

A. on a walking horse
B. on the ground
C. on a barrel
D. on a cantering horse

6. When was equestrian vaulting in the Olympic Games?

A. 1920
B. 2000
C. 1990
D. 1930

7. Which group is in charge of modern equestrian vaulting

championships?
A. the FEI
B. the CIA
C. the PTA
D. the NRA

8. Equestrian vaulting has been around for over 2,000 years.

A. True
B. False

Explain why a horse in this sport must be calm. How do you think
you can tell if a horse is calm?
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Do you think you would like to try this sport? Why, or why not? If
you would like to try it, what would be the move you would like to do
on the horse?