Vaulting requires a specific set of equipment for both the horse and the vaulter. The horse wears a vaulting surcingle rather than a saddle — a padded device that fits around the horse's barrel and provides two handles at the withers area that vaulters grip for mounts, dismounts, and many skills. The surcingle must be correctly fitted to avoid pressure points.
On the horse's back beneath the surcingle goes a thick pad that provides cushioning and protects the horse's spine. The horse is also fitted with a vaulting lunge cavesson or bridle and a lunge line of appropriate length, along with protective boots on all four legs.
Vaulters wear fitted athletic clothing — typically unitards or two-piece gymnastic-style outfits for practice, with elaborate costumes for competition freestyles. Soft-soled shoes with a thin grippy sole are standard, and protective helmets are required at most levels. The barrel is an essential piece of off-horse training equipment that every serious vaulting program maintains.