We must never forget how important it is to regulate the other aspects of working a horse. Some riders have difficulty identifying when a horse is put under too much pressure during ridden work and overexertion is not always obvious. Frisky and nervous horses can appear to be alert straight away but it takes time to loosen them up and finally ride them with driving aids. They can frequently spook. Some time after riding such horses we should visit them in the stable to check and reassure them. If they are standing listlessly they may be tired, in which case the training should be adjusted accordingly. Also, if a horse is still out of sorts an hour after being ridden, his temperature should be taken.
Posted in Ridden work is the most difficult part of cavalletti exercises. Everything so far has been preparatory work for further training and lays the foundation for responding to the rider’s aids in the saddle.
Different cavalletti layouts
Before every training session it is important to work out the exercises to be included and how to set out the cavalletti. There are many different cavalletti layouts that can be used for straight line work. The simplest is to place the cavalletti in a line alongside the wall on the long side of the arena, or out in the open parallel to the track. The horse should be able to stay straight over the cavalletti without easily running out and the rider needs to prevent any tendency to do this by riding correctly. If horse and rider are both inexperienced at cavalletti work, then ground-poles should be used first. Going over cavalletti set on the inside of the track is more difficult as a correct turn must be made in order to approach them straight. To make it easier, wings can be used on each side. By way of variety, the cavalletti can be set out on the centre line of the arena, which makes it easier to change direction and to work on both reins.
We find that studying theory complements practical training. Many difficulties in training are overcome when one does not rely just on ‘feel’ as a rider but also learns theoretically what to do before embarking on training a horse.
The rider is responsible for the well-being of the horse. Only a healthy horse, whose muscles and condition are carefully monitored, can perform well over time. Horse and rider should be partners but this partnership cannot survive without the rider being ultimately responsible for it.
Once work in walk is established, going over cavalletti in trot is not much more difficult using the layout shown. One or two should be used to start with, increasing to four. They should be set a distance of 1.20-1.30 m and at the lowest height. The rider should lean forwards slightly, taking some weight off the horse’s back and into the stirrups through the thighs and knees. The hands should remain low and quiet either side of the horse’s neck below the crest. The knees should be kept firm to give a secure lower leg. The stirrup leathers should be one or two holes shorter than pure dressage length. Only working trot should be used when training the horse over cavalletti. In working trot the hind feet should step into the prints of the forefeet. The horse should be mentally relaxed, working powerfully forwards and in rhythm. It is important that the back swings and that the horse works from behind and without going on the forehand. The back muscles are strengthened further by the powerful diagonal steps of the trot. For this reason it is important that the horse is ridden in rising trot with a low neck. The deeper the horse stretches, the better the back muscles work.