Ironically, an animal-inspired piece of gymnastics equipment, the pommel horse, is referred to as the pig. According to gymnasticszone.com, "pig" is not necessarily an affectionate slang term for the pommel horse, although the website does not explain why the pommel horse is called a pig. The pommel horse was an official event at the first modern Olympic Games in 1896.
History
Alexander the Great and other soldiers, including Romans, were known to practice mounting and dismounting on a wooden horse. According to gymmedia.com, knights and fencers practiced acrobatics on pommel horses. F. L. Jahn, the father of gymnastics, is credited with creating a wooden pommel horse that later was developed into the current apparatus.
Identification
The pommel horse is used only in male gymnastics. It was used in the vaulting event until 2001, when the vaulting horse was introduced. The pommel horse has a metal frame covered with foam and leather, and two handles are anchored on top. A male gymnast mounts the pommel horse and grabs both handles. He swings and rotates around the apparatus, alternating gripping and releasing the handles.
Specifications
The dimensions of the pommel horse are dictated by the International Gymnastics Federation, the international organization that oversees the competitive sport of gymnastics. The pommel horse is 160 cm long and 35 cm wide. The height from the floor to the top of the pommel horse is 115 cm, plus or minus 1 cm. Two handles are spaced equidistant from the ends of the apparatus. The handles can be adjusted to be between 40 and 45 cm apart.
Routines
During a pommel horse routine, the gymnast must use the entire length of the horse while swinging his legs. Double and single circles are performed alternately with various swing techniques. According to drillsandskills.com, you can never perform too many circles on a pommel horse. Some of the basic pommel horse skills include false scissors, front support swings, rear support swings and stride swings. Advanced skills include double scissors, front loops, flairs and double A circles.
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