19/01/2026
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Cavaletti are where horses really learn about jumping because they teach the foundations of correct jumping without the stress or risk of big fences. Here’s why they’re so powerful:
1. They develop true jumping technique
Cavaletti encourage the horse to:
Lift the shoulders
Use the back (round through the topline)
Step under with the hind legs
This is the same body mechanics needed for jumping fences—just at a smaller, safer scale.
2. They teach the horse to think for itself
With a line of cavaletti, the horse has to:
Judge distances
Adjust stride length
Find balance
Instead of the rider “placing” the horse, the horse learns self-carriage and decision-making, which is critical for real jumping.
3. They build rhythm and consistency
Good jumping comes from rhythm. Cavaletti:
Create a metronome-like canter or trot
Penalize rushing or laziness naturally
Reward steady tempo
Horses learn that rhythm = comfort.
4. They strengthen the body safely
Because cavaletti are low:
Joints and tendons are protected
Muscles strengthen progressively
Young or green horses can train correctly
Strength comes before height.
5. They improve coordination and confidence
Cavaletti help horses learn:
Where their feet are
How to organize their body
That jumping doesn’t hurt
Confidence built here carries over to bigger fences.
6. They reveal—and fix—training holes
Cavaletti expose issues like:
Falling in or out
Crookedness
Uneven push from hind legs
And because everything is slow and small, these problems can be corrected without fear.
In short
Cavaletti teach the “how” of jumping, not just the “over.”
Big fences test jumping ability—but cavaletti create it.
