Cavalletti for Dressage and Jumping E-Book

Ingrid Klimke

• Herausgeber: J A Allen
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2018

Beschreibung

Every horse, no matter in what discipline it is ridden, will benefit from working with cavalletti. For Olympic champion Ingrid Klimke, riding over cavalletti is key to success. Cavalletti training improves the horse's basic gaits, develops rhythm, suppleness and cadence and increases fitness and agility. This handbook describes how to work with cavalletti on the lunge, provides valuable new schooling ideas and inspiration for dressage work, as well as numerous layouts for gymnastic jumping. Since its first publication in 1969, Cavalletti has become a standard reference book. This fourth edition has been further revised with new photographs.

Leseprobe

CAVALLETTI

FOR DRESSAGE AND JUMPING

4TH EDITION

INGRID AND REINER KLIMKE

J. A. ALLEN

This fourth edition published in 2018 by

J. A. Allen

J. A. Allen is an imprint of The Crowood Presss, Ramsbury, Marlborough, Wiltshire SN8 2HR

www.crowood.com

This e-book first published in 2018

First published by J. A. Allen in 1969

Second edition published by J. A. Allen 2000

Third edition published by J.A.Allen 2014

ISBN 978-1-90880-981-0

Published simultaneously in the United States of America by

Trafalgar Square Books, North Promfret, VT 05053, USA

Copyright © 2018 Franckh-Kosmos Verlags – GmbH & Co. KG, Stuttgart, Germany

Original title: Klimke, Cavaletti – Dressur und Springen

English translation © 2018 J. A. Allen

All rights reserved. This e-book is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of thistext may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

English translation by Claire Lilley

Design by Paul Saunders

Diagrams by Cornelia Koller

Typesetting by Jean Cussons Typesetting, Diss, Norfolk

Photographic credits

130 colour photos were provided for this book by Horst Streitferdt/Kosmos. Further colour photos are from the Klimke archives and Julia Rau

Disclaimer of Liability

The author and publisher shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by the information contained in this book. While the book is as accurate as the author can make it, there may be errors, omissions, and inaccuracies.

CONTENTS

Foreword to the first edition, by Dr Reiner Klimke 1966

Traditional and New Experiences, by Ingrid Klimke 2018

1 The value of cavalletti work in basic training

Basic rules

Why is cavalletti work useful?

What does the rider learn?

2 Practical equipment

Safety is important

Different pole layouts

Using ground poles instead of cavalletti

Ground conditions

Equipment for the horse

3 Cavalletti work without the rider

Basic training in a natural outline

The advantages of groundwork

Free-schooling

On the lunge

4 Cavalletti work on straight lines with the rider

Basic rules

Various cavalletti layouts

Cavalletti work in walk

Cavalletti work in trot

5 Cavalletti work on circles

Preparation

Cavalletti work in canter

6 Gymnastic jumping – training for horse and rider

Introduction

Basic rules

Aim

Planning a schooling session

The basic elements of riding over fences

The jumping seat

Exercises in cantering over cavalletti

Jumping on a circle

The cross

Typical mistakes and their solutions

Schooling the horse

Grids for novice horses

Bounces

More layouts for grid work

Common problems and ways to correct them

7 Training programmes

Basic rules

Four- to six-week plan for basic training

Four- to six-week plan for a dressage horse

Four- to six-week plan for a jumping horse

Ideas for young riders

Leaving the best till last

Further reading

Index

FOREWORD TO THE FIRST EDITION

The modern jumping seat goes back to the Italian riding master, Federico Caprilli, whose introduction of ‘natural’ training methods brought about a dramatic change to jumping style at the turn of the twentieth century. Prior to this, jumping was done with the rider’s body leaning backwards and the horse’s neck raised. Caprilli worked out that the horse could jump in better balance over obstacles if the rider leaned forwards and at the same time moved their hands forwards. These days this ‘light’ or ‘forward’ seat is universally accepted. Caprilli’s programme included work over ground poles or ‘cavalletti’, which derives from Italian and means wooden poles raised off the ground with supports at each end. Caprilli used cavalletti to train the horse in different gaits, with and without the rider.

In Germany, the teachings of the Italian jumping school were slow to catch on. In the Kavallerieschule (Cavalry School) in Hanover, Oberst von Flotow was very interested in cavalletti work and through this made his mark in German riding history.

During the many years of my riding career, I have seen the importance of basic training. I was lucky enough to learn the value of cavalletti work at the Westfälischen Reit-und-Fahrschule (Westphalian Riding and Driving School) in Münster and from the various riding teachers I came to know at the Deutschen Olympiade-Komitees für Reiter (DOKR) in Warendorf. I learned more through putting this work into practice. I have had many high points during my lifetime: I have ridden event horses and dressage horses in competitions both nationally and internationally and I am sure that cavalletti work played a large part in my success.

Generally speaking, one can recognize a rider who has worked their horse over poles and cavalletti to develop sound basic training. The simplest exercises can really improve the individual gaits of the horse, lengthening the stride, when using the right layout, set at the optimum distance. Precise training is a means to success.

This subject is vast: cavalletti work can be a means to recovery from injury, but there are so many more uses. With systematic cavalletti work, the training possibilities are endless.

Dr Reiner Klimke 1966

TRADITIONAL AND NEW EXPERIENCES

The origins of cavalletti work are in the ‘natural’ training methods and go hand-in-hand with the principles of classical riding, which my father followed and passed on to me. Cavalletti work is extremely valuable in developing the horse’s athleticism and strength, while at the same time maintaining its health and wellbeing. Through training many, very different, horses for eventing at a high level and by following my father’s training regime, I have fine-tuned these methods to suit today’s ‘sport horse’. This edition of the book includes many exercises and tips that are easy to incorporate into daily training. I hope you enjoy this book, and especially working with cavalletti!

Due to the popularity of cavalletti work amongst readers, there is always something new to bring to this book. It has been over fifty years since the first edition was printed. Many horse-lovers are skeptical about working over ground poles: under the impression that there is a lot of work involved setting them up and that they are a thing of the past. In contrast, it is proven that the training benefits of cavalletti are invaluable for improving progress in dressage as well as grid-work for show jumping.

Ingrid Klimke 2018

CHAPTER 1

THE VALUE OF CAVALLETTI WORK IN BASIC TRAINING

Basic rules

The basic training of the horse can be developed by using horse-friendly gymnastic exercises. The strength of the horse is improved and the joints become more supple. Cavalletti work is a valuable tool in building muscle.

I am not a fan of long theoretical explanations: I always find it difficult to discuss questions about basic training with people who know everything, but who have never sat on a horse. Nor am I a fan of riders who have no knowledge of basic training. However, there are riders – mainly in jumping – who rely on their natural talent, and do well despite having no basic training. Surely following systematic training will bring out the best in these riders? In other words, in my opinion, theoretical knowledge is essential for putting basic training skills into practice.

Many training problems can be solved far more easily if you do not rely solely on riding experience, but have a plan for how to go about the training before you start it. It goes without saying that it is imperative that every rider must have acquired a fundamental knowledge and an understanding of how to use precise aids before training can commence. In addition, you must take responsibility for the wellbeing of your horse. Only a healthy horse, whose condition and musculature have been carefully developed, can reach his full potential. Only a happy and motivated horse will work in harmony with its rider. The old riding masters always viewed their horses as their partners, not as ‘sports equipment’.

Cavalletti work is a valuable stepping-stone in the basic training for the young horse.

It must also be recognised that there is a difference between the locomotion of the horse and riding as an art. Freiherr von Langen, one of the first competitors in equestrian sport after the First World War, was a great believer in the idea that when a horse truly knows and has affection for his rider he develops ‘self confidence and respect for his creator’. Langen’s achievements were not only as a result of his equestrian knowledge, but also because of his demeanour and attitude. (In 1928, he won a gold medal in dressage with his legendary equine partner, Draufgänger.)

So, what does working with cavalletti bring to the training of horse and rider? What are they useful for? How can they be used for the best results?

Why is cavalletti work useful?

When training a riding horse, the aim is to introduce natural gymnastic work. This is the way to ensure that his joints become more supple and his stamina and muscle tone improve.

The horse’s way of going is totally dependent on his muscles and the contraction and relaxation of the different muscle groups is essential for strengthening them. Cavalletti work is very useful for this because it develops strength in particular muscles by asking the horse to move in a specific and controlled way. For example, the horse becomes more sure-footed as a result of lifting his feet high to go over the cavalletti and placing them back on the ground between the poles.

Cavalletti allow more demands to be made on the legs without compromising the quality of the gaits, namely walk, trot and canter. However, from the beginning of training, work on a horse’s physical growth must go hand-in-hand with his psychological development.

Cavalletti work must be systematic and gradually increase in difficulty. There is a risk of injury if cavalletti are over-used or if the layout of the poles interferes with the natural rhythm of the horse’s gaits, so they must be placed carefully and work must be incremental. This is important because if a horse is encouraged to work when he is tense or in a forced outline, muscle growth can be affected, with the wrong muscles developing and others becoming fatigued or losing strength (atrophy). This can result in swelling, or can affect muscle growth and cause muscle fatigue. From the beginning of training, physical growth goes hand in hand with psychological development. Only systematic cavalletti work that gradually increases in difficulty is beneficial to the muscular development of the horse.

Riding over cavalletti builds muscle.

Cavalletti work is also very useful for loosening muscles and relieving stiffness, especially with horses who have been badly ridden. For example, riding a horse over cavalletti with his neck lowered and stretching forwards and downwards will help specific back muscles to contract and relax, effectively loosening any tightness. The horse will quickly regain his natural rhythm. After only a short time he will take more weight on his haunches and become lighter in his forehand. His back will start to swing and the rider can just sit quietly in the saddle. The way to loosen tight back muscles is to work with the neck lowered, stretching forwards and downwards, but using cavalletti is a simple and effective way to ensure the horse can move freely through the whole body, in exactly the right way.

Rhythm and relaxation encourage the horse to swing through his back.

The young horse in trot in a light contact with the nose slightly in front of the vertical.

Cavalletti work opens many possibilities for improving the horse’s suppleness and strength. It can be used to improve fitness since slowly increasing the amount and difficulty of the work increases the efficiency of the heart and lungs. Using cavalletti in conditioning work is particularly advantageous when you are developing a precise fitness regime.

Work over low poles also helps early schooling. One of the first challenges a young horse has is learning to balance with a rider on his back. By teaching him how to deal with this problem in a riding arena, you can prepare him for hacking out and jumping. As mentioned before, the training can be done in stages. Horses who have been ridden over poles become very sure-footed and quickly develop the confidence to jump over them. This work teaches them how to maintain their centre of gravity and develop a good sense of balance, which helps them to grow in confidence when they are ridden over uneven ground. Be aware that placing the feet precisely between poles takes concentration and is quite hard work.

Cavalletti work enables the rider to understand the psyche of the horse and learn how to bring out the best in him; it can even be used to train his intelligence. It can bring out the character and temperament of the horse – does he remain calm or become excited? Altering the layout and using different exercises that suit the specific horse can make a difference in his behaviour.

In dressage training, cavalletti improve the quality of the walk and trot in particular. Evenly placed poles can be used to work on the rhythm and regularity of movement, while having to step higher improves impulsion and cadence, which is a useful stepping-stone to training for passage.

Cantering over cavalletti is a way to develop collection.

The usefulness of cavalletti work can be summed up as follows: it is important for the basic training of all riding horses. Cavalletti offer a wide range of training options and enable specific difficulties in any of the disciplines to be overcome quickly and easily.

What does the rider learn?

Cavalletti work is invaluable for training the rider. Every sporting activity is done for pleasure, and that includes riding. If you want to ride well, you must have passion and proper training. It should go without saying that the passion needs to be nurtured for it to be long lasting, and often the nurturing comes from having a good riding teacher who explains why and how things should be done. For example, it is vital that each lesson has something new to inspire the students, and cavalletti work, with its huge range of possibilities, is often a good choice. There is nothing worse than going to lessons and repeating the same exercises week after week, without understanding why you are doing them.

I have seen a vast improvement in young riders who are given simple exercises over cavalletti. These are so much fun that all stiffness and tension disappear, and the rider learns to ride in harmony with the horse in a very short space of time.

Philippa really enjoys cavalletti work.

For example, negotiating cavalletti teaches the rider to sit quietly so as not to interfere with the movement if the horse stumbles or has any other balance problem. This is the exact opposite to what is learnt by almost every beginner, which is to lean back and pull back. In fact the hands must move forwards and the rider must go with the movement of the horse to allow him to use his neck to regain his balance. Suddenly sitting back in the saddle blocks the movement of the horse’s back instead of freeing it.

When you ride over cavalletti it quickly becomes clear that to remain in balance with the horse, you must maintain a secure lower leg position by keeping the knees and lower legs securely against his sides. Maintaining balance by using a close contact with the knees cannot be practised too often and should be learnt from the start.

When cantering over low poles, the spring of the horse’s canter stride is not as pronounced as it is when jumping over fences, so it is an ideal way to learn the basics of jumping. It also is a good way to acquire the feel of the horse swinging though his back, which is also of great benefit to the dressage rider.

More advanced riders can ride over low poles to perfect their seat; show jumping riders can improve their ‘eye for a stride’.

Greta glances in the direction of the next cavalletti.

To summarise: cavalletti work is fun and a useful addition to the training of all riders. It improves the seat and the rider’s ‘feel’ for the horse.

CHAPTER 2

PRACTICAL EQUIPMENT

Safety is important

There are some ground rules to note regarding the horse’s health and safety. This covers the construction of the cavalletti, the correct layouts and distances, and the appropriate tack.

Different pole layouts

Cavalletti are poles made from wood or synthetic material. Both the ends of the pole are raised off the ground by supports. The poles should be thick, round and hard enough for the horse to take care when going over them. They should not split if they get knocked. The optimum length of the poles is around 2.5–3.5m. The longer the poles, the harder it is to keep the horse straight when riding over them.

Three Cavalletti Heights

Low: 20cm

Medium: 30cm

High: 40cm

The white middle of the cavalletti makes it easier for the rider to find the best starting point.

Cavalletti at three different heights, suitable for work at any pace.

There are three common types of end support: rectangular, square or a cross. Generally speaking, rectangular supports are not ideal. Square and cross supports have the advantage that they can be set at three different heights and I prefer these latter two forms.

It is also important that the cavalletti are heavy so that they do not move very easily. I am not a fan of aluminium ones as they make a loud noise if the horse knocks them. This can be very alarming for a young horse, and even older horses tend to rush forwards at the sound.

The main advantage of plastic block supports is that they reduce the risk of injury. A young horse running out at cross-ended cavalletti could scrape a leg on them. Blocks are also easier to use when lungeing, as there is no chance of catching the lunge line on a cross end.

The lowest height of most cavalletti is 15–20cm. This is best for work in walk and trot. The highest setting is generally 50cm, which is ideal for canter because it encourages the horse to take care when going over them.

Using ground poles instead of cavalletti

If you do not have cavalletti, you can simply use ground poles. Their drawbacks are that they are not at the ideal height of 15–20cm where the horse takes care over them and they can move if the horse knocks them. In addition it can be dangerous if a horse manages to stand on one that rolls, because it could jar the fetlock joint or damage a tendon.

You need between four and six ground poles or cavalletti. Young horses may benefit from jump wings or poles used as such. This will help to keep them straight when going over a sequence of cavalletti.

An arena with a surface that is not too deep is optimal for cavalletti work.

Ground conditions

One of the most important things to consider is the condition of the riding surface – this is so often overlooked. In order to work the horse properly, the conditions underfoot must be good. Deep ground can strain tendons and ligaments, while ground that is too hard has no cushioning for the joints and there is a risk of injury or jarring if the horse stumbles. The best surface is sand that is not too deep.

Cavalletti with poles used as wings.

If you have a choice between sand or grass, sand is better as there is less chance of slipping. It is important to set cavalletti on even ground without holes, so the horse can concentrate solely on going over the poles as this is the way to ensure he gains confidence and relaxes in his work.

Equipment for the horse

I use bandages or boots to protect my horse’s legs. Leg protection avoids the possibility of splints forming because of knocking injuries. I also use overreach boots if the horse is likely to overreach.

I do not use a different bridle or saddle for cavalletti work. However, it is important to use side reins when lungeing the horse to ensure a correctly rounded outline that will help to develop the right muscles.

CHAPTER 3

CAVALLETTI WORK WITHOUT THE RIDER

Basic training in a natural outline (unconstrained)

Now, the real training can begin. The first chapter has emphasized the importance of training horse and rider together. It is undeniably important to train the horse and rider together as a partnership: on the one hand, it helps the rider to develop a secure seat, which is fundamental for riding; on the other, it focuses on training the horse. In both cases, horse and rider learn to work in harmony with each other, developing trust and forming a true partnership.

The advantages of groundwork

However, it is liberating for a horse to work over cavalletti without a rider. Without the rider’s weight disturbing his balance, the horse will feel freer and more relaxed through his back; there is no danger of the rider touching him with a spur at the wrong moment or of their hands pulling him back.

What other reasons are there for working a horse without a rider? For a start, taking time over basic training and repeating simple exercises over and over again is the only way to progress, even if it seems tedious. It is also a chance to observe the horse. This enables you to get to know your horse’s true character and disposition. You can watch his tail carriage, how his muscles work, and his movement in all three gaits – things you cannot see from the saddle. (Unfortunately, young riders rarely have the patience to spend time on this basic training. Maybe it is because they do not understand the importance of observation from the ground and how beneficial it is to ridden work.)

Free-schooling

It is particularly beneficial to free-school horses over poles. Once a horse understands what is expected of him, he will enjoy it a great deal – and so should you.

To prepare a horse for any session of cavalletti work, lead him in hand in walk for about ten minutes, or ride him for ten minutes in walk. This is important for joint lubrication and to prevent strains or injury to the joints.