Supporting Riders & Horses
Across New Zealand
Cowan Cavalletti is a New Zealand-made equestrian training equipment brand based on the North Shore of Auckland. We handcraft cavalletti and training tools designed to be durable, practical, and easy to use—whether you’re schooling at home, training for competition, or building confidence in the arena.
Our products are made with quality materials and finished with care, so they look great and stand up to regular use. We’re proud to support riders and horses across New Zealand with equipment that helps training feel safer, smoother, and more enjoyable.
Our mission is to design and handcraft durable, practical, and visually appealing cavalletti and training tools that riders can depend on.
We are committed to:
• Delivering high-quality, New Zealand-made products
• Prioritising safety, functionality, and longevity
• Supporting effective and correct training methods
• Providing friendly, dependable customer service
Every product we create is built with real riders and real training needs in mind.
Crafted in the heart of Auckland, New Zealand, our wooden poles and stands embody the essence of meticulous craftsmanship. Each piece is handcrafted from premium H4 and H5 treated pine, sourced with care and precision.
At the heart of our craftsmanship lies a dedication to the authenticity and natural beauty of real wood. We start by cutting our poles and wood to length, ensuring each piece meets our exacting standards. To prepare the wood for its transformation, we apply Resene’s undercoat for trade professionals, providing a solid foundation for the layers to come. Defects in the wood are filled then coated with a second undercoat, guaranteeing durability and longevity. Finally we apply two coats of Premium New Zealand made Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel paint to enhance the wood’s natural beauty while providing exceptional protection. Most of our poles have stripes which are meticulously marked out with tape using our specially crafted stencils. Each wiggly line, following the wood grain, is then hand-painted into a straight line, adding a touch of artistry and individuality to every piece. We believe in creating products that not only look good but feel good to handle and are built to last.
By providing the perfect platform for training, Cowan Cavalletti empowers riders to reach their full potential, setting the stage for tackling world-class heights with confidence and precision. The versatility of our product allows for an infinite array of jump combinations, keeping horses engaged and mentally stimulated while fostering a deepening bond of trust between horse and rider. What sets Cowan Cavalletti apart is its modular design, allowing riders to start with a few pieces and expand their collection as their skills progress. With a length of 2570mm, our Cavalletti are conveniently portable, fitting seamlessly into horse trailers and easily maneuverable around arenas and paddocks. At Cowan Cavalletti, we’re not just selling equipment; we’re revolutionizing the way riders train and bond with their horses. With our commitment to innovation, quality, and safety, we’re proud to be a trusted companion on every equestrian journey, helping riders and their equine partners reach new heights together.
Our overarching goal is to create quality products that endure the test of time while treading lightly on our planet. Through thoughtful design, responsible sourcing, and eco-conscious practices, we strive to make a positive impact on the environment, one Cavalletti at a time. Join us in our journey towards a greener, more sustainable future.
At Cowan Cavalletti, we take immense pride in supporting passionate individuals who share our love for equestrian pursuits and beyond. Since our inception in April 2016, we’ve had the privilege of standing behind a diverse array of riders and ventures, each embodying the spirit of dedication and determination. We proudly support is Jenika Phipps (nee Cowan), the daughter of our founder, who features prominently in our training videos. Event Stars Ltd, an organization dedicated to rehoming thoroughbreds post-racing for the horse sport market. Their tireless efforts in providing these magnificent animals with fulfilling second careers. From the South Island, we’ve followed the journey of the pony dressage rider Meila Picard to her move onto the adult circuit. On the international stage, we stand behind renowned Eventer Lizzie Green (also known as Lizzie Brown), who has represented New Zealand with distinction. Her commitment to maintaining her jump training program over Cowan Cavalletti underscores the effectiveness and versatility of our products. Expanding our support beyond the equestrian realm, Cowan Cavalletti proudly holds the naming rights for the Cowan Motorsport New Zealand race team cars. Owned by the founder’s sons, Andre and Yuri Cowan, and driven by a talented team exemplifies our commitment to championing excellence in all forms of horsepower. At Cowan Cavalletti, we’re more than just a brand—we’re a community united by our passion for excellence and our unwavering support for those who dare to dream big. Join us as we continue to empower and celebrate the remarkable individuals who make our journey truly extraordinary.
An Idea to Reality
Tammy Cowan founded Cowan Cavalletti with a ‘can do’ attitude. She needed some easier type of jump for her Grand Prix show jumping daughter to train over and had just been refused the hire of a local jumping arena. So she decided to make the jump that was described in a book she found in an antique store called, “Modern Riding”.
Severyn Kulesza, a Polish cavalry officer first used this type of stackable Cavalletti in his basic training in the 1930’s. Tammy Cowan developed this concept for the modern rider. The cavalletti had to be stable, easy to move about and built specifically for purpose. Cowan Cavalletti solves the rolling problem of the old style Cavalletti with the pointy crosses that got horse and riders tangled in them. Exercises can be assembled easily to give the rider an opportunity to correctly balance and position themselves in all of the horses paces. At the same time, the horse learns where to put their legs while carrying the rider and builds muscle. The jump described in the book by Severyn Kulesza, became the Original Cowan Cavalletti.
Jenika Phipps, Tammy’s daughter tested the Cowan Cavalletti in the beginning. She loved them! So many different jump combinations can be assembled and they were easy to move about. It keeps the horse thinking with the new combinations and the trust between horse and rider can be developed without over-facing them.
Requests for something much lower were made by a friend of Tammy’s, Fiona Davies-Payne. This led to the development of the Mini Cowan Cavalletti at about 180mm high, essentially a raised trot pole. A grid of mini Cowan Cavalletti can be easily moved to change the striding of a horse because the stands are bolted to the pole where a small recess has been made.
Sue Pennington who takes the popular gymnastic exercises for horses over poles and cavalletti needed a cavalletti higher than the Mini but lower than the Original stackable. This led to developing what is called the Versatile Cowan Cavalletti, at 250mm high. The Versatile and the Original Cowan Cavalletti are both stackable. Sue found that some people were not ready to jump their horses over a 95cm jump (that is 3 original Cowan Cavalletti stacked). So she would use two original’s and one versatile to make a jump just under 85cm. To bring it up to the 95cm she just needed to place a pole on top of the versatile Cavalletti. This Cavalletti can also be turned on it side and used as a raised trot pole.
When Lizzie Green returned to New Zealand from the UK she brought her European training traditions with her. Cavalletti are used every day by Lizzie and she was so pleased she found Cowan Cavalletti to train over. Lizzie was missing a skinny jump to introduce her young horses to and to practice cross country combinations, so Cowan Cavalletti designed one for her. It is just over 1.2m wide and is painted in green and white, as it was Lizzie ‘Green’ that needed it. The Skinny range is popular for people wanting a cavalletti for their dressage arena that is not going to take much space Cowan Cavalletti initially had a very traditional cavalletti pole colour, but Lizzie wanted more choice so more options appeared.
The Skinny Mini, a skinny version of a raised trot pole was a natural development and complimented the Skinny Lizzie. The Skinny range is popular for people wanting a cavalletti for their dressage arena that is not going to take much space
Lizzie Green requested a taller Cavalletti to train her horses over. She needed one that was Knee High, so Tammy made one for her naming it the “Knee-high”
The Jump Cowan Cavalletti replaced the Original and Knee-high Cowan Cavalletti. The Jump is the same height as the Original and if a pole is added to its cradle it becomes as high as the Knee-high, and its stackable. One of the real advantages is the easy assembly with just the two bolts needed to hold the Jump together. Sometimes the stands do not sit squarely on the ground for the Original and Knee-high Cowan Cavalletti and need adjustments, but the Jump is self adjusting to the contours of the ground.
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