Looking for a simple way to spice up your schooling at home? Try cavalletti work. Regardless of your discipline or level, riding over and between poles can improve:
• your horse’s strength, balance, rhythm, tempo and connection
• your accuracy on circles, turns and straightaways
• simple changes
• transitions and more.
In this article, I’ll share several exercises that will work toward all of these goals. Be sure you understand each entire “course” or pattern before you start. Once you’ve gotten the hang of them, focus on your position as you practice the exercises. Go through a mental checklist over and over: How is my position and alignment, where are my elbows, spine, seat bones, legs, weight?
Don’t worry if your horse makes mistakes. Just stop, take a deep…