Simone Biles has been taking over the internet with visuals from her horseback riding lessons near her $3M Texas mansion. The ‘Queen of Flips’ has been documenting her lessons with visible joy, showing fans a different side of her athletic spirit. And that has raised a few questions among her fanbase. During one of her recent horseback riding sessions, one such question caught her by surprise. 

In a video shared by US Equestrian on Instagram, we can see the 11-time Olympic medalist walking the fans through her latest horseback riding lesson. But first, she showed off the riding pants she received from the US Equestrian Team and playfully warned the fans not to come at her in the comments for not wearing appropriate gear. Biles’ playful nature shone through as she brought Jonas, her one-eyed horse, out of the stable with a hilarious giggle. But when she began the session, the gripes came pouring in. “It’s tiring. I feel like it’s a Mustang, and then I watch it, and it’s definitely not,” she confessed. Well, Mustangs are pretty fast wild horses. Still, with a wide grin on her face, she shouted, “I feel like he’s going so fast,” but her horse was just sauntering. And then came the question from behind the camera.

“What do you think of vaulting?” Ever since Biles took up learning the new sport, the netizens have been asking her to take up equestrian vaulting. But now, she finally has the answer. And it was definitely not pleasing for those who wanted to see Biles perform her gymnastics routine on horseback. Of course, Biles was caught off guard with that question. She confirmed whether the videographer actually meant vaulting on horseback. Following a verbal confirmation of the intent, Biles sternly said, “Absolutely not!” Simone Biles was flabbergasted with even the suggestion, “It’s too dangerous, because you can’t control the horse.“ She stopped midway and refused to reason further. The topic ended with her saying, “No. Just no. Hell no.” 

Soon after that, the video turned to a moment when Simone Biles was getting off her horse which hilariously further cemented her stance against equestrian vaulting – she got stuck getting off the horse. Can you imagine? The ‘Queen of Flips’, known for her flexibility, getting stuck on an equine? No doubt she has a long way to go before even thinking of vaulting on horseback. But the videographer did admit that she was ready to canter. And the joy in the gymnast’s voice was crystal clear when she chimed, “Okay,” after getting to know that canter means going fast. However, the fun ended there.

Biles recalled a moment from the past, featuring Jonathan Owens, where Biles and her husband rode on horseback through the beaches of South Africa. But it came out as a hilarious slip of the tongue as she said, “We rode beaches on the horse.” A goofy chuck, and she did correct herself. She admitted that Owens had a lot of fun back then. But for Biles, the story was a bit different. “I tried one-two times and I almost peed myself, and I said I’m over,” she confessed.

Needless to say, the spoof revealed that Biles is on a learning curve. Following the ride, she took the horse back to the stable for grooming, and forgot what that part of the lesson was called. Yet, the 28-year-old stuck to the training regimen because of one thing. She said, “My goal for horseback riding is to learn how to jumps.” And then, the horse and rider pair went for a graze. Pointing and admiring other riders, Biles wondered if she was going that fast, and she shut herself down pretty fast with a disappointing “no.” Finally, at the barn, she rated the lesson 8/10 (it did bounce up from a 7.5). And she signed off with a thank-you note for the viewers who came with her to the lesson. 

Now, let’s bring our focus back to equestrian vaulting. Biles considered that a dangerous sport. But does that align with reality?

How safe is equestrian vaulting, and can Simone Biles get seriously injured in it?

Well, here’s the truth bomb. While equestrian vaulting may seem pretty dangerous with gymnastics routines being performed on horseback, it’s a relatively safer sport. In a study in 2019, people found out that the frequency of injury in the sport was only “2.15 injuries per 1000 training hours.” And most injuries were recorded at the lower and upper extremities. Nevertheless, Biles was already reeled in to horseback riding. But not vaulting on the animal. 

On the other hand, the rate of injury in gymnastics is way too high. A recent comprehensive epidemiological study on team gymnastics revealed that “estimated injury incidence of 14.7 per 1000 h of gymnastics exposure.” The study was done over a 10-month period, and the researchers noted “three-quarters of injuries being non-time-loss, and nearly two-thirds caused by overuse. Over half of all injuries affected the feet, knees, and lower back.” But then again, Biles’ vaulting days are almost nearing their end. And vaulting on horseback might lead to injuries that she might never heal from.

It’s clear that Simone Biles might not engage in the competitive side of the sport. For her, the next big thing in her career is most likely the upcoming 2028 LA Olympics. And her goal of jumping on a horse theoretically aligns with her goal as a gymnast. After all, horseback riding and jumping are tests of balance, timing, and courage. The skills that have defined her career as an artistic gymnast will probably continue to do so.

But what do you think of Simone Biles’ inclination toward equestrian sports? Do you think she can be convinced to try vaulting on horseback?