A perfect circle on horseback is almost impossible, but sloppy circles can mean poor training practices as well as poor performance in the show ring. Many equestrian sports, from dressage to reining, require riding even circles on horseback.
Step One: Choose Markers
In order to ride a circle, it is important to choose circle markers that the rider wants to hit on the circle. These markers can be cones, fence posts, dressage letters or even clumps of dirt, so long as the rider knows where they are.
The purpose of markers when riding even circles on horseback is to keep the circle as rounded and symmetrical as possible. Therefore, the markers should be evenly spaced and represent the four "corners" of the circle.
In dressage, for example, the horse's shoulder should "touch" the letter when passing by. Riders can use the horse's nose if they prefer, but using the shoulder usually helps create the appropriate bend to ride a circle.
Step Two: Work on Corners
It is impossible to ride an even circle on horseback if the horse is not capable of executing proper corners. This is where bend is most important; the horse should follow his nose with his shoulders, hips and tail around the corner without bending too far inward and without trying to turn on a straight trajectory.
The rider accomplishes this by stepping lightly into his outside stirrup, maintaining contact with both calves, bringing the inside shoulder back slightly and pointing the navel in the direction of the turn. Once this is accomplished, the rider is ready to execute an even circle.
Step Three: Engage the Hind End
In order to ride an even circle on horseback, the rider should have engaged the hind end of the horse to generate impulsion. This means that the horse is powered by his hind end around the circle even while bending toward the inside.
Riders should focus keeping the horse light in the mouth and balanced both on the corners and the straight-aways of the arena. The horse's withers should fall directly between the rider's hands; it is not necessary to pull the reins to the side to ride an even circle.
Step Four: Begin the Circle
When the horse's shoulder touches the first marker, the rider begins the circle by increasing pressure with the outside leg. It might be necessary at first to slightly increase pressure with the inside rein, but this should lessen as the rider perfects his technique.
As soon as the rider begins the circle, his eyes should find the second marker because this is where he wants to go. Maintain the bend by balancing the horse with the outside leg.
Step Five: Complete the Circle
To ride an even circle on horseback, each quadrant of the circle should be executed the same as the previous quadrant. In other words, the rider should avoid creating an oval shape or stretching one side of the circle farther than the other.
Ideally, on an even circle, the horse's shoulder will hit that first marker at the same place as when beginning the circle.
A Few Tips
- Move Your Eyes. When trying to ride an even circle on horseback, the rider's eyes should automatically move to the next marker on the circle.
- Start Big.Start with a 20-meter circle until technique is perfected. Keep moving down until a 10-meter circle is accomplished with precision and fluidity.
- Spiral In. Try a technique called "spiraling" if the horse has trouble getting the right bend. This involves riding a 20- or 30-meter circle, and spiraling down with each rotation to a 10- or 15-meter circle. Then spiral out.
- Hands Off. Avoid using the reins to ride an even circle on horseback. The reins can be supplemental aids, but using them too much will result in a heavy-handed ride.
Riding a circle is not difficult, but it does take practice. Work on circling both ways on horseback, trying different sizes, and ask a professional to watch if the rider or the horse is having trouble. A circle can be ridden at the walk, trot or canter/lope, but start with the walk to build a quality foundation.
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