Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What to wear and bring to class
Vaulters should wear the following to class:
- Vaulting shoes for vaulting (the child may wear water shoes, ballet, tennis, or other soft shoes for the first few classes)
- Tennis shoes for tacking and untacking the horse
- Form-fitting t-shirt, leggings or sweat pants, leotards
- Hair should be pulled away from the face. Long hair should be in a ponytail or bun.
Vaulters should also consider bringing the following to class:
- Warm sweatshirt or jacket
- Bottle of water (A drinking fountain is available as well.)
- Snack
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
Facility Rules
To keep the Horse Park a safe environment for everyone who uses the property (including other boarders and competitors at the Horse Park), please follow these safety rules:
All dogs must be on a leash.
When parking at the Horse Park, please park as close to the Woodside Vaulters barn as possible. Many of those that we share the property with require space on the left to maneuver horse trailers.
Unless given permission by their coaches, all vaulters must be supervised by their parent or guardian outside the arenas before and after their class times. When bringing your child to class, please walk your child to the coach – do not drop them in the parking lot. Similarly, please personally collect your child at the end of class. For the safety of your child, we ask that you don’t expect them to meet you at your car in the parking lot. The lot is sometimes very busy, and not a safe place for our youngest vaulters.
Only vaulters are allowed in the arenas during class.
We want to keep the horses, the vaulters on them, and those on the barrel as safe as possible. To do this, we try to minimize the number of people moving around the horses. This also helps keep the classes running smoothly, without distractions or interruption. There are benches and picnic tables located all around the outside of the arena. All the spectators are welcome to watch from the benches, including friends.
Only vaulters registered with Woodside Vaulters may use the barrels, mats, and other vaulter/gymnastic equipment.
Running is not permitted anywhere on the property except in the vaulting arena.
For more on vaulting safety, please see Equestrian Vaulting USA.
Please let us know you’re interested in a free trial class. Contact us at enrollment@woodsidevaulters.org with your inquiry and we’ll get in touch.
Vaulters do not need any horse experience to begin the class.
Four years is a great time to begin vaulting! Vaulting will provide an excellent introduction to horses and equestrian skills for your child.
All sorts of horses make great vaulting horses. We choose our horses primarily for their temperament. We identify calm horses who are comfortable around children and do not react to distractions around the arena. We own horses of all sizes, and do our best to match the size of the horse to the level (and size) of the vaulters on the horses.
Our horses are trained on the longe line and under saddle in the arena. Typically, horses receive six months to a year of training in vaulting before they are put in classes. All of our horses are ridden four days a week and trained in dressage. Our longeurs have received training from some of the best vaulting longeurs in the world.
Woodside Vaulters is pleased to offer the opportunity to allow children to vault through our recreational Introductory Program. If your child becomes passionate about vaulting and you are interested in the additional commitment of competing, we are also pleased to offer the opportunity to continue onto our competitive Development and then High Performance Team Programs. If we feel your child is ready for our competitive programs, we will contact you. However, like all sports, we respect that the decision to commit both the additional time and finances to progress to a competitive level is a personal family decision.
Woodside Vaulters offers Introductory classes most days of the week. If you join and transition into the competitive Development Team Program, there will be one to three competitions during the year that may have events scheduled on Sundays.
The monthly dues for our Introductory Program are used for operational expenses, including feeding our horses. Introductory vaulters may incur additional costs for optional items such as t-shirts and shorts or other Woodside Vaulter clothing.
Like all sports, as you move into competitive programs and increase in skill level, expenses increase. Within the Development and Competitive Programs, Woodside Vaulters supports a variety of participation and experience levels, from team-only vaulters who compete locally, to elite-level individual vaulters who compete at local, national and international events. Expenses vary depending on the number and level of events a vaulter chooses to enter each season. Woodside Vaulters works with each family to determine an individual event plan that suits the interest and skill level of the vaulter, as well as the financial capacity of the family. We map out the costs by event for each family before the competitive season begins, and the family can choose to add or increase participation. Details on various expenses are available on the Members website.
For expenses beyond standard operating expenses, such as capital improvements and purchases, we raise funds separately. As needs arise, we hope you will consider contributing, to support the ongoing safe and successful operation of the club.
We are more than happy to answer your questions about vaulting and our organization, so please ask! Prior to your trial class, please contact us at enrollment@woodsidevaulters.org. At the trial class, there will be a minimum of two staff members who can also answer your questions.