46 SIDELINES JULY 2014
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
As I became more fit, I was able to
execute my moves more smoothly
and hold my poses longer, though it
seemed I’d never regain the effortless
balance I had as a youngster. Despite
the fact that I couldn’t walk for several
days after each lesson, I once again
found myself completely addicted to
the sport.
I’ve taken part in two National
Championships in Denver, Colorado,
in 2011 and 2013. Both times were
filled with great vaulting experiences.
In 2011, I participated in the individual
classes and in 2013 I did a Pair
Freestyle with one of my students.
Unfortunately, no ribbons as of yet
sincemy classes have always been filled
with the many flexible wunderkinds, but
there’s a definite satisfaction in having
made it through competing and a thrill
as many wonderful vaulting memories
of my youth came flooding back.
I’ve developed a new program,
“Vaulting for Equestrians,” built around
carefully selected entry-level exercises
that can teach riders to improve their
overall performance. My mission is
to roll out the program to any barn
interested in starting a club.
At the 2013 Pomona Horse Expo, I did
a clinic that involved identifying vaulting
prospects at random, right there at the
show, and engaging those suitable in
vaulting exercises with riders who were
new to the sport. The idea was to show
that just as any rider can benefit from
the postures and discipline of the sport,
there are horses in any barn that can
adapt to vaulting. Flexibility, balance
and poise are skills that are beneficial
to riders of all disciplines, and the
excitement of stretching outside one’s
comfort zone, well, that doesn’t hurt
either!
For more information on vaulting,
starting a vaulting club or evaluating
your horse as a vaulting prospect,
visit
.
About the writer: Bree Krebel grew up in a
German sport horse family and specialized in
Pony Club, show jumping, dressage, vaulting and
foxhunting. Bree has taught vaulting for 16 years
and has been a flyer vaulter for the canter team in
Germany and as is currently actively competing in
vaulting. She is a member of the California Jockey
Club, American Vaulting Association, USEF and
FN (German Riding Federation). She holds a
USEF Vaulting TD License, a Risk Management
and Safety Certificate and has been an Executive
Director for a horse nonprofit for 10 years.
Bree riding her new horse Trinity Blues.
Bree in 1982 as the flyer of canter vaulting team, Waldshut-Tiengen, Germany
