A Tribute to Caprilli
Very few people change the world. It takes genius to see in a different light what everyone can see, and then to say what no one has said. Such a man was Federico Caprilli (1868-1907), arguably the most transformative rider to ever throw his leg over a horse. I have read about and learned from fabulous horsemen who improved my technique and deepened my appreciation for the training and riding of horses. I hope that you revere William Steinkraus, Jack Le Goff, Bert de Némethy and Col. Harry D. Chamberlin—those giants of our sporting world—as I do. Regardless of the respect I feel for them, Caprilli stands head and shoulders above them all.
Beginning in the late 1890s, after centuries of studied and purposeful abuse of horses by mankind, Caprilli invented a system of training that was humane in every aspect. Certainly, the revolutionary new riding technique he developed is one we utilize to this day. However, the relief from suffering that he brought horses is the true key to his greatness.
A Simple but Revolutionary Idea
Before Caprilli, the horse, while jumping, was forced to conform to the actions of the rider—no
