GB vaulting helped by FEI rule changes

Major rule changes to international equestrian vaulting, including the removal of the maximum age limit of 18 for the team contest, will help Britain field more international teams in future.

British Equestrian Vaulting (BEV) has already held two international qualifiers under the new rules. Both attracted competitors who had been too old for team vaulting for several years, such as double British champion Liz Watson, 23, her twin, Sarah, and Lucy Bell, 22, all of whom have represented Britain.

All three were on the winning English Vaulting Squad, along with three younger vaulters, at both qualifiers. They vaulted on Grateley Limelight and Bowler II, horses owned and trained by Julie McNally.

A spokesman for BEV says: “This will affect our own rules, although how many changes we need to make is still being discussed. But we will be able to field more teams, so it will help vaulting in this country.”

The FEI has also reduced the number of members in each team from eight to six and has changed the weighting in the scoring of the freestyle.

This story was first publishe in Horse & Hound (28 October ’04)

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