Finding one’s happy place upside down on a moving horse

Springford resident Juliet Steen performs a move during her equestrian vaulting performance at the recent Friesian Horse Show, north of Norwich. (Jeff Tribe Photo)

Jeff Tribe, Post Correspondent

Taken as a whole, equestrian vaulting is a thing of flowing, artistic interpretation.

But when you freeze a frame, one might come to the realization one’s daughter is upside down on a moving horse, courageously hanging tight only to grips on a specialized ‘aerobatic’ saddle.

“She loves it, she’s fearless,” said Juliet Steen’s mother Annika. “That age, they’re not too scared of things yet.”

Equestrian vaulting originated in Europe says Steen, and is popular in countries including Holland and Europe.

“It’s big there, not as big here.”

But there are opportunities for those interested in a unique sport combining gymnastics, acrobatics and dance on the back of a moving horse. Juliet trains under Gerda Renkema at Hopes and Dreams Stables in Dereham Centre says Annika, relatively close to their Springford home. Juliet is following in the hoof prints - or handgrips - of elder sister Jasmine.

“I like how it has to do with horses but they can do their own thing too,” Annika explained. “It gives them good balance and they can be really artistic too.”

In basic terms, the human half of what is very much a team effort, performs a routine as their equine partner moves in a circle around a human ‘lunger’. Annika was called into action in that capacity for an exhibition at the Friesian Horse Show north of Norwich, due to the fact Renkema was not available on the day, and also ownership and affinity with Leo, a mixed Friesian/Warmblood.

“He’s really focussed and really takes care of the kids,” said Annika, noting how well Leo had performed in a strange location, in front of hundreds of spectators and after a year’s break from his last event. “It was quite amazing he was as calm as he was.”

Juliet competes in three or four shows a year against other Ontario-based clubs, but there is also potential to go further, with practice and training.

Juliet's cousin Aria Markvoort was also drawn into the sport by Jasmine Steen, and has been training for five years.

“I love the connection with the horses and the connections I make with the vaulters,” said Markvoort, whose family also lives in the Springford area.

Although finding the sport ‘very fun’, it can also be challenging when she is getting onto the horse, maintaining balance or trying and perfecting new moves, ‘the needle’ (one leg up, one down) being her favourite. Markvoort competes three times a year, all three 2026 events in Clinton although she has gone as far afield as Ottawa. There are usually around 50 vaulters says Aria, who enjoys meeting new like-minded people as well as the competition itself.

“I like seeing how much I have improved since last time.”

Her friends all think what she does is ‘cool’, however when trying to explain the sport to others, Aria finds some repetition necessary.

“I have to re-tell them.”

Seventeen-year-old Springfield-area resident Nick Vandenbroeck began equestrian vaulting four years ago, his coach noticing he was ‘fooling around’ with the stationary practice ‘horse’ while his sister Alissa was riding.

“She introduced me to the sport,” he said. “Ever since I’ve been doing it.”

Vandenbroeck currently trains six days a week in preparation for his first international event, Nov. 11 in Langley, B.C. He expects to mainly face North American competitors, preparing with a combination of ground training, muscle flexibility work and gymnastics. He also travels to Alberta four times a year for two weeks of intensified sessions with mechanical and live horses.

Routines are scored on a combination of performance and difficulty of included elements, says Vandenbroeck, along with a 25 per cent component based on the horse.

“You have to have a really good connection with the horse,” he emphasized. “If you’re not working with the horse, things can look really bad, really quickly.”

And while everyone’s happy place might not be upside down on a moving horse, Vandebroeck has found a feeling of exhilarating freedom within the sport.

“The idea of standing on a running horse was very scary,” he concluded. “But when you are up there, it feels like you are unstoppable, can conquer the world and are flying.

“I love it very much.”