The capriole is one of the most spectacular movements in classical equestrian art — a controlled leap in which the horse launches itself into the air, tucks its front legs beneath its chest, and then delivers a powerful, horizontal kick with its hind legs at the height of the jump before landing cleanly on all four feet. It is the pinnacle of the haute école (high school) movements, requiring exceptional strength, collection, and training in both horse and rider. When executed perfectly, the horse appears momentarily suspended mid-air, defying gravity through a combination of physical power and exquisite balance.
Origins and Historical Context
The capriole’s origins are military. In the era of mounted cavalry, the highly trained warhorse needed weapons beyond speed — and the ability to leap and kick was one of them. A horse capable of a powerful capriole could clear a circle around itself during close combat, unseating or injuring enemy soldiers on foot. The movement was deliberately cultivated and refined by the great Renaissance riding masters, including Federico Grisone and later Antoine de Pluvinel, who trained horses for both war and royal spectacle.
Today, the capriole survives almost exclusively within the traditions of the classical riding schools. The Spanish Riding School in Vienna is the most famous institution still training horses and riders to perform the movement, using Lipizzaner stallions whose bloodlines have been bred for this work for centuries. Performances by the Spanish Riding School remain one of the most impressive demonstrations of classical equestrian art in the world.
How the Capriole Is Performed
The capriole begins from a highly collected canter or halt. The horse first executes a courbette — or similar preparatory movement — to shift its weight back onto the deeply engaged hindquarters. From this position of extreme collection, the horse launches upward from all four feet simultaneously. At the apex of the jump, with its fore and hind legs both elevated, the horse kicks backwards and outwards with both hind legs in a single, powerful strike. The horse then lands cleanly on all four feet and returns immediately to collection.
The timing of the kick is critical — too early and the horse has not fully cleared the ground; too late and the kick misses the moment of suspension. The entire movement lasts a fraction of a second, but within that fraction every element must be perfectly coordinated. Riding a capriole requires the rider to follow the horse’s movement with complete suppleness while maintaining the precise balance needed to support and direct the horse throughout.
Training for the Capriole
Training a horse for the capriole is a multi-year process that builds progressively through the classical training scale. The horse must first develop exceptional collection and strength — pirouettes, piaffe, and passage are prerequisites, not side projects. The horse must also be physically mature, as the demands placed on the hindquarters and back are extreme. Most horses trained for classical high school work do not begin serious preparation for the capriole until they are well into their training career, often seven to ten years into their education.
The movements leading to the capriole — the croupade (kick without the horizontal extension) and levade (rear with full collection) — are used to build the relevant strength and coordination before the full movement is asked for. A horse pushed too quickly to the capriole risks injury and loss of the collection that makes the movement possible. The classical approach is patient and systematic.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the capriole different from a courbette or levade?
These are all classical airs above the ground (haute école movements), but they are distinct. The levade is a controlled rear where the horse balances on its deeply bent hind legs with the forehand lifted at around 45 degrees — it is a moment of extreme collection and balance but not a jump. The courbette is a series of controlled hops on the hind legs while maintaining the levade position. The capriole is the most advanced: a full jump with the distinctive horizontal kick at the peak, requiring the horse to be completely airborne. Each movement builds the strength required for the next.
Can any horse learn the capriole horse movement?
Theoretically any horse could learn elements of the classical work, but in practice the capriole demands a specific combination of physical conformation and temperament. The horse needs exceptional hindquarter strength and flexibility, a naturally uphill balance, a willingness to work in extreme collection, and the physical robustness to withstand years of progressive training. Baroque breeds — Lusitanos, Lipizzaners, Andalusians — have been specifically developed for this work and remain the dominant breeds in classical high school. Most modern sport horse breeds are not well suited to the extreme collection required.
Is the capriole performed in modern dressage competitions?
No. The capriole does not appear in modern FEI competition dressage — not even at Grand Prix level. The competition dressage movements (piaffe, passage, pirouettes, tempi changes) are derived from the classical tradition but the airs above the ground remain the exclusive preserve of the classical schools. They are performed in exhibitions and demonstrations rather than competitive sport. This distinction between classical and competitive dressage is sometimes a source of debate within the equestrian community, but both traditions continue to thrive on their own terms.