Set up 6 cavaletti (or raised poles) at 4.5-foot spacing, raised 6-8 inches.
Approach at the posting canter on a straight line.
The raised height encourages the horse to round its back and engage its core muscles.
Look ahead, not down. Let the horse find the rhythm over the cavaletti.
After the cavaletti, continue canterting for 6-8 strides before turning.
Repeat 4-6 times from each direction.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Cavaletti set too high, causing the horse to jump rather than trot over them.
Spacing incorrect for the horse's stride, causing scrambling.
The horse rushing through in anticipation.
Not approaching on a straight line.
Variations & Progressions
Set cavaletti on a circle for bending cavaletti work.
Alternate heights: low-high-low-high for varied engagement.
Follow cavaletti with a small fence for a gymnastic sequence.
Tip: Cavaletti work builds topline muscle more effectively than any other exercise. 10 minutes of cavaletti equals 30 minutes of flat trot work for strength building.
