Cavaletti

Cavaletti were invented by Federico Caprilli and designed to help a horse improve its balance, adjust its length of stride, and to loosen and strengthen its muscles.

Used at their lowest placement as ground rails or at a level no more than about 12 inches (30 cm) high, they can be set to encourage a proper length of stride.

Beginning at approximately 6 to 7 feet (1.8 to 2.1 m) apart, they encourage a slow canter or lope[2] and spaced at intervals of 9 to 12 feet (2.7 to 3.7 m), depending on the size and stride of the individual horse, they help regulate a horse's proper pace as it approaches or departs from a jumping obstacle.

[3] They are not only used as jumps or ground rails, but can also be used to define corridors for training exercises or in trail horse or driving classes.

The standards need to be designed to be a compromise that will be stable if lightly struck by a horse's leg or hoof, yet move or give way if tripped over or hit with force.

A single cavaletti or cavaletto, set to its intermediate height
Cavaletti – 3 possible height settings
Modern molded plastic cavaletti standards, placed at highest setting and used as a jump
Simple ground rails used as cavaletti
Cones used as cavaletti standards to define a corridor for a free jumping horse
A modern molded plastic standard for cavaletti or small jumps with multiple preset heights
Makeshift cavaletti of concrete blocks and a fence rail may present safety issues