How do you develop correct work over ground poles and cavaletti?

Ground poles and cavaletti — poles raised off the ground on small supports to a height of several inches — are among the most versatile and most productive training tools available for horses at every stage of development, and their benefits extend well beyond preparation for jumping. At the walk, ground poles encourage the horse to look at its footing, lift its feet, and develop the body awareness and careful placement of the feet that contribute to a sure-footed, careful horse. At the trot, poles set at distances appropriate to the horse's stride length encourage the horse to regulate its own pace, engage its hindquarters, and develop a rhythmic, ground-covering stride that transfers directly to the quality of the trot in flatwork. Cavaletti raised to a working height develop the horse's topline by encouraging it to round through its back and neck as it steps over each element, and they develop the horse's ability to maintain rhythm while managing multiple demands simultaneously — pace, footing, and body organization. The distances between poles must be appropriate to the horse's stride length and the gait being used, and measuring them correctly for each individual horse is essential because poles set at incorrect distances will cause the horse to chip or reach rather than maintain its natural rhythm. Work over ground poles and cavaletti should be introduced at the walk before the trot, with a single pole before a line of poles, and the complexity of the arrangement increased gradually as the horse demonstrates comfort and correctness. Used consistently throughout a horse's training, poles and cavaletti develop the physical and mental qualities that improve every other aspect of the horse's work.