| tion_start --> | | | | imaginary letter X in the centre. |
| Every horse riding exercise is based on the circle | | | | A 15m circle should take you five metres inside of X. It |
| exercise. Circles help the horse to be able to bend | | | | is a tighter circle, and will ask for more bend from your |
| equally in each direction, and this also helps the horse | | | | horse. |
| maintain straightness. | | | | The smaller circle is the 10m, which will use up one |
| Circles are a very important part of any dressage test | | | | quarter of the arena. |
| - a dressage test at all levels will include combinations | | | | The circle exercises can be performed anywhere in |
| of circles of varying sizes, at different paces and in | | | | the school - you may be asked for a 20m from A, C, |
| different parts of the arena. | | | | E or B. 20m circles from B or E will take you from one |
| When a horse walks a circle he bends his body to | | | | side of the school to the other. |
| match the curvature of the circle - this is called the | | | | In beginner lessons riders will usually ride a circle as a |
| correct degree of bend. It is important when asking for | | | | group, or the instructor will tell you which letter to start |
| a circle that the rider imagines a circle drawn on the | | | | from. In more advanced lessons riders may be |
| ground, and tries to follow it. The horse must not lean | | | | working in open file, and the instructor will ask all riders |
| to the outside and make the circle too wide, or drift in, | | | | to work a circle wherever they choose. In these |
| and make the circle smaller. By practicing these bends | | | | lessons it is important to remember your school |
| the horse becomes more supple. | | | | etiquette, and if you are going large (riding round the |
| Most horses find one direction of bend easier than the | | | | outside of the arena) you should 'give way' to the |
| other. These horse riding exercises are a great way | | | | horse and rider completing a circle, and let them back |
| to even up the horses muscles. | | | | onto the track in front of you. |
| The first circle exercise you will be asked to do is a | | | | In your first lessons you will walk or trot circle horse |
| 20m circle. This basically splits the 40m arena into 2, | | | | riding exercises. Later on you will perform canter |
| with the start of the circle at letter A or C, as below, | | | | circles. This is an excellent way of improving your |
| and the mid point of the circle crossing through the | | | | balance. |