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Le Cércle Hippique du Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo had asked Riba Vaulting Club for help as they wanted to start a vaulting club. They had made a practice barrel, and were ready to begin, so, on the weekend of 8-9 September, Jasyn Gertenbach went to start them off.
They had two riding school horses that they thought might make good vaulting horses, and one of them, a 16.1h chestnut, was a good size and seemed to have a suitable temperament.
Jasyn ran three training sessions for interested vaulters over the weekend: there were about eight riders aged 12 t0 16 who were keen to vault. Since they could already ride, they were familiar with horses and had good balance.
In their first session Jasyn and the aspiring vaulters worked on the barrel and introduced vaulters and horse to work at the walk. By the end of the session everyone had gone through the E-grade compulsories.
On the Saturday afternoon they had another session with the horse. Jasyn was impressed by the vaulters’ enthusiasm and courage: they were prepared to try everything, and by the end of Saturday’s work everyone had managed to stand at the walk.
On the Sunday they had a final long session, on the barrel and then on the horse. This time they tried a little canter work as well. The horse proved to be a good choice, and allowed Jasyn stand on him at the canter and dismount by back-flip without a fuss. The Congo vaulters all managed to perform a half-flag at the canter, so everyone ended the weekend with a feeling of achievement.
The vaulters in Lubumbashi will now continue with their stretching exercises, barrel-work and practicing their compulsories. They want Riba to come again soon, and have asked them to go back in October. It is hoped that they will advance fast enough to be ready to enter the Inter-Africa Cup Vaulting (which is going to be a bigger competition than ever before) next year.
