Flying over a horse: how Pskov vaulters become the best in the North-West

How vaulting came to Pskov

So, what is vaulting? The name of the sport comes from the French voltiger – to flutter, to soar. And indeed, looking at the performance of the fragile girls, you are amazed at how deftly and weightlessly the athletes flutter, performing tricks on the back of a moving horse (first, just try to stay in the saddle, and then try such tricks!).

However, vaulting became an independent sport relatively recently. Previously, it was one of the subdisciplines of show jumping. This is the way coach Nadezhda Antonova began with another type of equestrian sport.

“I myself, being an athlete, was involved in show jumping and competed in eventing competitions. At that time, vaulting in Russia was not an independent discipline, but it was practiced in all sections as one of the stages of training riders. Vaulting develops balance, physical strength and gives confidence in further training on a horse.”– said trainer.

The fact that vaulting has become an independent discipline, and even competitions are held in it, Nadezhda Antonova I found out in 2004. Then she became interested in the development of this direction and began to understand the nuances. This turned out to be not so easy due to the abundance of acrobatic elements that the athletes began to perform, the teacher recalls.

Then a great contribution to the development of Pskov vaulting was made by the master of sports in artistic gymnastics, coach Vladimir Boytsov. Under his leadership, athletes began to master acrobatic elements. The Pskovites were able to show the first results of their training already in 2005.

“This was our first major vaulting competition – the Moscow Cup. Our girls took 1st and 2nd places in that competition. Probably from that time on, vaulting came to Pskov.”– added Nadezhda Antonova.

After this, athletes from the Nadezhda Olympic Reserve School regularly competed in competitions at various levels, becoming winners and prize-winners of the Russian Championship and the Northwestern Federal District Championship. And in 2011, two athletes from Pskov, as part of the Russian national team, went to the European Championships, where they also showed good results.

Unfortunately, on this high note Nadezhda Antonova left the sport. Other coaches could not support this direction. They taught other sports – show jumping and dressage. Vladimir Boytsov continued to teach athletes acrobatics in the gym; it was impossible to find a live horse for training. Then vaulting in Pskov began to fade away.

To sports Nadezhda Antonova returned in 2020. Since 2021, she began to train students alone: ​​unfortunately, Vladimir Boytsov passed away.

From a “model horse” to a live horse

Usually, to the Olympic Reserve School The most ordinary children come to get acquainted with horses and vaulting, the teacher said. Over time, they become stronger, more flexible, more collected and balanced – all these qualities are necessary for a vaulter.

First, during training, the guys improve their general physical fitness, begin to practice elements and tricks on the floor, and then move on to training on a special moving simulator (it is a “model of a horse” and imitates its movements during a step). Only after this can you go out to the arena, to see a live horse.

Training always goes from simple to complex – and it’s not just about adding difficult lifts and elements to the program. It complicates the execution of elements and the pace of movement of the horse. In vaulting, a horse can walk, trot, or gallop. The group in which the athletes perform depends on this.

“On a horse, the guys first practice at a walk for a long time, then we begin to gradually introduce a trot. And only the most experienced begin to master galloping exercises. This is a long process. When we watch vaulting competitions, it seems to us that it’s all very easy and beautiful. But behind every performance there is a lot of work by the athletes, as in any sport.”– emphasized Nadezhda AntonovA.

Athletes can compete individually, in pairs and in groups (when 2 or even 3 vaulters fit on one horse). Each athlete in the program must demonstrate the ability to perform elements from all structural groups. And in a pair performance, the jury additionally monitors the synchronicity of the program.

“We select couples taking into account the wishes of the children, but there are also certain criteria. For example, participants in a pair should be approximately the same age and height. By the way, in children’s pairs only lifts are allowed in which both athletes are in contact with the horse or herd. High supports are prohibited”– explained Nadezhda Antonova.

We take our horse with us

Of course, competition is an integral part of any sport. And Pskov vaulters do not miss the opportunity to prove themselves in competitions.

“This year the guys traveled several times to St. Petersburg and to international competitions in Moscow. In addition, we hold the City and Regional Championships in Pskov. The latest competitions in which we took part were the Championship of the Northwestern Federal District and the Championship of Ladoga, which took place in St. Petersburg. Everyone performed very successfully. Of course, the issue of participation in competitions is associated with expenses, so not all competitions are possible to take part in,” said Nadezhda Antonova and added that philanthropists help to travel to competitions.

Among the patrons who support the voltigeurs are the deputy of the Pskov Regional Assembly Pyotr Alekseenko, the Ecopolis company, the Pokrovsky hotel and others.

Participation in competitions is complicated by the need to transport your horse over such long distances.

“Of course, the athlete gets used to his horse, and his performance on a rented one will most likely be worse. That’s why we try to take our horse out. We haven’t performed at the rented ones for a long time. To get used to a new horse, you need quite a long time, which simply doesn’t exist in competition conditions.”– explained trainer.

Open to everyone!

For those who are eager to take their child to the vaulting section, good news: additional enrollment for classes is taking place right now. Children are accepted to the Olympic reserve school from the age of 6, but older children are also accepted, the teacher assured.

“Vaulting in addition to developing physical qualities such as flexibility, strength, endurance, balance. It also develops human qualities: caring for one’s neighbor, for a younger comrade, the ability to work in a team, love for animals. To be honest, we have a very friendly team, everyone is ready to help. Vaulting probably helps with this!” – Nadezhda Antonova summed up.