March 2010

Jumps West Tops Our Cavaletti Trial

Construction gives them the edge.

By John Strassburger

More than half a century ago, Bertalan de Nemethy, the legendary former coach of the U.S. show jumping team, introduced cavaletti to the U.S. system of training jumping horses. For decades they were hard to find, but today’s riders can chose between more than a dozen different kinds or make their own.

Cavaletti should be light enough to easily carry and move around the ring, and they should have three quickly adjustable heights. They must also be extremely durable, able to withstand horses stepping on them. We tested nine different products, looking for the best choice for a professional stable and one that’s extremely cost-effective for anyone (including professionals). …