“It’s one thing to sit on a horse, but it’s a whole other thing to stand on one — or two.
“They can definitely sense your fear or calmness; they will react to how you react,” said Heidi Wenzel, a Duanesburg High School senior set to graduate this month. “When you are calm and concentrated, they learn to be the same way.”
Wenzel, who has been riding horses since she was 5 years old, took up equestrian vaulting last fall and has been hooked ever since. In vaulting, riders perform dance-like moves while riding on a horse. The equestrian discipline, recognized by the International Federation of Equestrian Sports, also has ties to trick-riding in the circus.
“It’s like gymnastics on horseback,” she said. “It’s natural for me to just ride, but this is definitely a new thing — standing on a horse.”
She works with JD Winslow, who owns a horse farm in Esperance where he and Wenzel train for horse shows and other performances.
On Winslow’s draft horses, Wenzel practices Roman Riding — standing with each leg on a different horse.”
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Matson, Zachary. Schenectady Gazette 21 June 2016.