It’s no secret that adding pole work, cavalettis, and small jumps to your regular training routine can provide excellent cross-training and a change of pace for the dressage horse. Doing so by competing in a Prix Caprilli class can also add some fun to your next dressage show.

The concept isn’t new; jumping one or more obstacles was a routine part of many dressage tests up to the late 1970s. Today, the Prix Caprilli class is mainly seen at EC bronze competitions, schooling shows, Pony Club rallies, and other events including the prestigious Lendon Gray Youth Dressage Festival in Saugerties, NY. Perhaps it’s time for this all-around test of skills to make a comeback!

Don Barnes, a long-time EC senior silver dressage judge and Ontario chapter president of the Canadian Dressage Owners and Riders Association (CADORA), has judged many Prix Caprilli rides over his 35-plus years in the judge’s booth. He thinks they offer a good test for both horse and rider, while also adding an element of fun to this traditional sport. “The Prix Caprilli is designed to test the adaptability of the horse, whether it’s a dressage horse adapting to a basic jumping course, or a jumper negotiating a test with some dressage in it,” says Barnes. “I’ve always felt it’s a fun thing to do, and most of the dressage riders I’ve seen do have fun doing it.”

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