MDA's Vaulting Program Where acrobatics and horsemanship meet! The MDA has a vaulting program in addition to our dressage focus. Vaulting is an equestrian sport which is often described as dance or gymnastics on horseback. Vaulting is well established in Europe where people often learn to vault before learning to ride. Ila Handy and Anna Speer are the vaulting instructors. Ila has been interested in the sport since teaching at a stable in New England that had a vaulting program. She saw it as a great way to introduce people to being on a horse's back: it builds balance, coordination, and confidence and can be pursued as a sport in itself or it can greatly improve riding skills. Anna is getting her first exposure to this demanding sport here at MDA and is loving every minute of it! - Vaulting is statistically the safest of all the equestrian sports, and is documented safer than riding bicycles, playing soccer, even playing on playground equipment! Helmets are optional for vaulters since in many of the positions, helmets would interfere with the vaulter's balance. Anna practicing her "full-flag"	This is Lily Wray-Davis (wow!), she is a Silver Medal Vaulter from Nashville and is our group's mentor. Lily comes regularly for clinics. Group Vaulting Lessons Saturdays from 10:00-12:00 (limited space avail., so call to reserve a spot) 2 hr. session includes: stretching & warm-up (incorporating yoga & pilates) barrel practice & vaulting on a safe horse Carpooling from Memphis is possible Contacts: Ila Handy -  901.831.8314/ ilahandy@gmail.com  Anna Speer - 901 361 7676 / anna@midsouthdressageacademy.org
Ila guiding a student through the "free-stand"	Teamwork skills are important in vaulting!! An MDA student demonstrating an impressive "shoulder stand"
Ben loves the trampoline!