Equestrian Vaulting at the 1920 Summer Olympics

An event loosely called figure riding or vaulting (l’epreuve de voltige = the acrobatic event) was held for the only time in Olympic history. It was contested by Army officers from Sweden, Belgium, and France and consisted of a strange combination of figure riding, along with acrobatic jumping on and off the horses.

Equestrian vaulting is usually described as gymnastics or dance on horseback. Vaulting began as an equestrian act at circuses, but the only time it has been contested at the Olympics was at Antwerpen in 1920. Both an individual and team competition were contested and the events were loosely translated as “Figure Riding”. The equestrian competitions were held in and around the Beerschot Stadium.