Voltige is a line of equine sports where the emphasis is on the man rather than on the horse. As a matter of fact, it's like practicing gymanstics on a live horse.
The horse or pony walks attached to a lungeing rein and has a surcingle with handles. The rider is performing gymnastics while the pony is walking or gallopping in circles. There is a variety of gymnastic exercises: jumping on the pony while it is moving around, standing on top of the pony, seated backwards and than turning to front in smooth movements. Making figures with more gymnasts is also a possibility.

It seems that the rider is doing all the work, but obviously this can only succeed when the pony is running around in a steady pace, when it is not confused by limbs swirling around and when it has smooth movements. The Connemara appears to be very well fit to do this.

Easter Daisy during voltige	Easter Shadow with his team

Voltige is being performed on different levels. On the pony club as a part of the common training to improve the correct seat and having fun with the pony. But there are alo compe-titions. this cann be done individually or in a group of eight riders. Not only the achievements of the voltigeur are evaluated, but also the movements and the behaviour of the pony. Naturally the capability of the one handling the lungeing reins is very important too. He or she is responsible for maintaining the right tempo.

Such a contest is quite a happening: there is music, there are stands for the public, yells are being shouted before and after the exercise, which is another reasonwhy you need a pony that is not easily distracted.

Only as part of basic horse riding and only with beginning teams a pony can be used for voltige. The advanced teams usually are made up of 15 to16 year old children and the exercises are being done by three voltigeurs simultaneously. Soon this will be too much for the poor pony's back. There isn't much space and the load will be too heavy. Also because the pony has to run around for about 12 minutes. For this reason horses are used by the advanced teams.