Circles, Circles, Circles... Why You Should Ride Them!

It doesn't matter what discipline you ride, circles are good for every horse and rider! In certain competitions like western dressage tests or reining patterns, the horse must complete a circle. Riding a perfectly round circle is much harder than one might imagine. The horse cannot drift in or out and must have the right curvature through their body. It's a good idea to practice!

Why Ride Circles

A circle requires the horse to bend and become supple through their body. Riders should perform circles in both directions, which will ultimately allow the horse to develop straightness. As the horse's balance increases, the size of the circle can be made smaller with the goal of collection in mind.

Not only will the horse's balance and flexibility be put to the test, but the rider's own capability is brought to light. The rider must position themselves correctly in the saddle. They need to ask the horse for slight bend to the inside, while not allowing the horse to fall in or out. The inside leg will stay at the girth and the outside right behind it.

You can start with a 20-meter circle. This size is found in reining, ranch, and western dressage tests. It can be helpful to know the size of your arena, so you can estimate how big your circle should be. As your horse moves through the circles, look up and ahead. You can create imaginary markers on your circle to help create the perfect shape. Some may even want to use orange cones to visually see where they need to travel.

A circle can be ridden at a walk, jog, and lope. A test may require the rider to perform fast and slow rhythms within a gait. The horse must be responsive to the rider's aids. They should be relaxed and on a loose rein. In reining, a larger circle is ridden fast and then the horse is asked to slow down to ride a smaller one.

Circles can really show off your horse's movement and obedience. They must be willing with no resistance. In schooling, they'll help improve your horse's suppleness, balance, straightness, and collection.