Cavaletti can be a fantastic training tool when working with horses both on the ground and under saddle. It is important when introducing your horse to cavaletti that you space them appropriately for their striding.
The distance between the center of the poles should be as follows:
Walk – 3 ft
Trot – 4 ft
Canter – 10 ft
It is important to remember that these measurements are working on the average horse, and you may need to adjust them to your horse’s size, stride, and the exercise you are wanting to perform.
It is important to remember that these measurements are taken at the center of the obstacle where the horse will be crossing. This is especially important when working on curves and circle formations to ensure that you allow appropriate space for your horse’s movement.
For precise spacing we suggest using a measuring wheel, which can be found at most hardware stores.
Safety tips to remember when working with cavaletti:
- Remember to introduce cavaletti slowly, with one on a straight line.
- Start on the lowest setting, and work your way up through the heights at a pace suited to horse and rider.
- Don’t up the difficulty with multiple cavaletti, or curved lines until the horse and rider are accustomed to a single cavaletti.
- Never stack cavaletti, they are unstable and not intended to make higher fences. If stacked they offer an extreme risk of injury to both horse and rider as the horse could become caught and entrapped.