Newspaper Article

News

Belton, Brian

1997

Overview

MARILYN MCCALL - HORSE AND RIDER - Riders vault into limelight via Otter Point Farm class Motorists travelling Otter Point Road are often distracted by the sight of young riders running beside a trotting horse and vaulting on to its back, or standing up on the back of a cantering horse or facing backwards on a horse as it canters around the ring. Frequently cars pull over to the side of the road to watch the students of Jaye Fardella practice vaulting. Jaye first got into vaulting after a workshop on vaulting offered at the B.C. Horse Industry short course in Abbotsford caught her eye.She had taught her students the basics of trail riding, cross country and games, and she wanted to do something different. When she approached the kids, they were keen, but the parents were a little reluctant. Vaulters begin at a walk, and when they can do seven moves in 60 seconds, they qualify for a walk badge. A vaulter may sit sideways, or move onto the neck and sit backwards, holding each move for three seconds or three beats of the horse. For the trot badge, the vaulter again performs the seven moves, but this time doing an unassisted mount while the horse is trotting, and also standing on the back of the jogging horse. Jaye says that some riders do their canter badge before the trot badge, finding it easier to vault during the smoother canter gait than it is during the bouncy trot.

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