Cavalletti 2

What a good topic! Lots to say about the use of this wonderful tool. Cavalletti does so much for balance, coordination and suspension in the horse and the rider. And they allow us to do slow easy work that is very effective and has long term benefits, meaning basics that last over a lifetime for the horse. 

Wood Cavalletti used for training

I use the wood cavalletti that has the crosses at each end so you can adjust height. My own preference is the wood (and I know it's a bit heavy) because if your horse makes an error he will find that the wood does not move and makes them more careful and aware. PVC (to me) is always problematic and does not school the horse to be careful and conscious with their feet. They move too easily and the horses can get tangled up in them and panic or stumble which defeats the work that the cavalletti can teach, especially when you are getting a horse ready to jump. 

When I write these exercises I start as if the horse has not been introduced to the task at hand. You as the rider/trainer can decide where to start within the framework here. 

1. Set up one cavalletti at the lowest setting and walk your horse over it. This gets them used to the pole which is stationary and they begin to look and place their feet correctly. This also gets the horse thinking about all four legs functioning independently. Again, this is basic, but very important to development. You then progress to using two cavalletti (now placed 3’ apart, shorter if you have a pony that is learning or a horse that struggles with suspension. This exercise is done until your horse can easily and comfortably do the cavalletti in a relaxed manner. You can do it daily if you desire. I use it all the time with young and old horses alike as a review and strength building. After two cavalletti are accomplished, go to three, then four. When your horse becomes comfortable with four cavalletti you can raise the poles to the next height. 

Now that your horse has learned how to handle the cavalletti here are some exercises to use with them in place. 

First set up a line of four cavalletti: They can be anywhere in the arena or grass field areas. Make sure that you can do a 20 meter circle using the cavalletti on the circle track. I know we often have jumps set up in the arena so wherever you can use the cavalleti is fine. 

Start by walking the cavalletti and then do a circle track right and return to the cavalletti to walk through again. I like to do this about 3 times each direction. Then proceed to walk the cavalletti and then trot the circle, walk, then through the cavalletti. This is good for balance on a circle and combines transition work too. You can then proceed to walk the cavalletti and then canter the circle, return to walk, cavalleti, etc. Doing this in both directions tells you where your horse's balance and weaknesses are and you can do more in the weaker direction to build strength. 

More advanced exercise would be to walk the cavalletti, then canter some jumps (however many you would like to do). Keep in mind you may want to do cavalletti, one jump, then cavalletti to begin with, then advance to more when the horse does that comfortably. 

Another set up I like to use is the three jump poles at the trot to a jump. Trot poles are 4’ apart and then 6’ take off before the jump. Again, young and old horses should be able to do this one. It should become rhythmic, steady and relaxed. It helps older horses who have developed rushing habits and young ones develop the feel and rhythm with a jump. 

These are just a few ideas that I like to use. There are many more out there. Study methods you like that are effective and use them regularly. It's all basic which every horse needs to stay on a good training/conditioning path. 

Sign up and share your ideas here. 

Contact Us

John R. Abbott

Boys On Hill, LLC

Phone: 770-309-2210

Email: JRABWF@gmail.com

Website: www.boysonhill.com