Brazilian bred Lusitano horse in the WEG 2006

The brazilian champion vaulter Thais Paes, has elected to ride the Lusitano (Brazilian bred) Nugral Itapuã at the Aachen World Equestrian Games in August.

Vaulting is one of the six equestrian disciplines recognized by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) for international competition, and is most easily described as gymnastics performed on the back (or other parts) of a moving horse. As in many other forms of athletic competition (figure skating for example), participants are judged on both a set of compulsory moves, and in freestyle competition called (in German) a Kür.

Equestrian Vaulting is the performance of gymnastic and dance-like movements to music on a moving horse. The horse is controlled by a lunger who sends him in a circle around them on the end of a lunge line. Vaulters begin working in walk and progress, with training, to be able to execute fantastic freestyle performances in the canter. Spectators can expect to see vaulters stand on a cantering horse, jump to the ground then back on, perform moves like shoulder stands, bridges and headstands, and cart wheel off.