 The
Vaulting Barrel
The vaulting
barrel is an invaluable training aid
and surrogate horse. The use of a vaulting
barrel saves the real horse from unnecessary
discomfort and fatigue and makes practice
indoors and at home both feasible and
productive. American vaulters differ
from their European counterparts by
competing on the barrel.
The basic skills
in vaulting, namely balance, strong
jump and soft landing, can all be practiced
on the barrel. All exercises are performed
first on the barrel before being performed
on horseback. Spatial orientation,
arm control, accurate timing, and correct
technique are all practiced and explained
on the barrel. The safety dismount
is trained regularly on the barrel.
 Beginners
will go through all the compulsory
exercises on the barrel before being
tried on the horse. The more advanced
vaulters will go through their compulsory
moves and a set of warmup exercises
before proceeding to exercises on horseback.
Freestyle/Kür moves are practiced
on the barrel prior to being performed
on the horse. The coordination of several
vaulters and their individual timing
as partners within a group exercise,
and their communication with each other
while in the exercise, is a crucial
part of the barrel training.
The barrel gives
vaulters confidence in working above
the ground and practice in jumping
and landing safely from a height. It
accustoms them to the shape of the
horse. It is much more difficult than
working on a level floor or gymnastic
horse. The vaulting barrel allows vaulters
to learn and perfect techniques without
the added difficulty of a moving horse.
 The
vaulting barrel gives coaches the opportunity
to teach correct technique by moving
a limb to the correct position. Every
vaulter learns differently. Some have
to have verbal directions: "lift
the arm" "straighten the
leg". Others need the arm or leg
physically placed in the correct position
so they know what it feels like. Then
they can reproduce the shape. This
is possible using the barrel.
Finally, the flow of
a complete performance can be trained
on the barrel.
Directions
for building a vaulting barrel are
available from the American Vaulting
Association.
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