Kyalami boasts exceptional equestrian vaulters as they compete in international tournament
KYALAMI – Two local equestrian vaulters return from Belgium with medals.
Standing, jumping and swinging on top of a moving horse are stunts even the most experienced vaulter would shy away from, but for two 11-year-old girls, equestrian vaulting is tackled head-on.
Erin Muller and Asea Pozniakow of Riba Stables Vaulting Club in Kyalami have taken this sport in their stride and recently competed against Europe’s finest in their first-ever international tournament. Muller and Pozniakow walked away with gold and silver medals respectively after competing in the Competition Vaulting International One Star tournament, which was held in Belgium in May.
Photo: Nicholas Zaal
Now back on home soil, the pair are already twirling and twisting on horseback under the guidance of club owner, Barbie Gertenbach.
“Europe has been doing vaulting for the last 50 years, whereas South Africa only started in the 2000s and does not have the same expertise. For these two to go and compete against six of the best riders in Europe and beat them is excellent,” Gertenbach said.
She explained that equestrian vaulting involves a vaulter, or a team of up to three members, who perform gymnastics on the back of a horse while it circles an area under the guidance of a lunger.
In the tournament in Belgium, each girl had to perform a compulsory routine as well as a freestyle routine of their choosing. “My routine was The Huntsman: Winter’s War,” said Muller. During her routine, Muller had to put her whole heart into it and stay in character even between the stunts.
Pozniakow enacted The Jungle Book and said that when riders vault, they need to trust their horses completely. “Even when you think they [horses] will misbehave, you must still trust them,” Pozniakow said. Also supporting the girls in Belgium were Jasyn Gertenbach, their coach, and Ines Nawroth, the lunger.
