You thought my riding instruction was complete...silly....I just got busy....I'm back now.

So today we are going to talk about circles and how they will aid you in your riding success. 

There's a point in horse back riding where you have to stop thinking equitation and start thinking function.  You know how to sit pretty, but how do you make all this stuff work.  How do you get to anticipate what he's going to do next?  How do you use your natural aids more effectively?

You circle around it all...

Start with a figure eight at one end of your arena, with a flat, straight line in the center...not a diagonal. 

Now chose the hand you and your horse are best at and go in that direction. 

We are going to left first. 

Pick up your left hand and ask your horse to circle bending to the inside.  Sitting deep into your saddle you should be pulling your left, direct rein straight back towards your left hip and pushing your left calf into his barrel. 

Now in the center of your figure eight, in the place where you would normally sit to change your diagonal you are going to instead change your horse's direction. 

We are going to continue to bend him to the left but ask him to go right. 

Simply take that same left hand and use it indirectly across your body pulling to your right hip.  Keep that calf against him (at some point you may even want to push it into him closer to his shoulder) Now the key is to lean with your own body (slightly) to the inside of your new circle...lean to the right and push your hip right into him. 

Your horse will now be traveling right only body will be counter bent to the left causing him to sit back on his hind quarters more and lift his shoulders.  His legs will have to cross a bit more as he travels and it will be awkward at first....eventually it will come together and actually feel pretty...dressage-ie....like a ballet.

Complete your circle going straight back through the center of your figure eight.....now drop that left hand back down a bit and do it again once again asking him to turn left with a direct rein and a normal inside bend sitting more squarely.

Repeat this figure eight maybe twice....then drop your hand down and let him glide gracefully out of the exercise.

Stop before he goes all the way down the rail.  Back two steps...no more then that...anything more then two is a punishment.  Stand for three deep breaths and let him walk off.  Now do something else for a minute...walk, trot, canter.....what ever, but then go back to the exercise in the opposite direction.

Once you are doing this turning off the direct and indirect rein with a little more ease start adding it to your casual riding.  Trot around the ring, and just randomly pick up that outside hand and make a circle, or turn.  In the next corner, pick up the inside hand and just make a circle the way you were taught when you were too close to the horsey in front of you. 

Master this without thinking. 

Once that is done, then we can start the exercise at the canter....this is a LOT more difficult, however very important.  Eventually you'll be able to slightly move that outside hand while cantering and your horse will kick his hip to the inside causing him to shorten his stride and hesitate his movement as he awaits your next command.  This is a great way to combat that horse that tends to pick up his pace down the straight aways on the rail.

The most important thing is that you are starting to feel your horses body move more clearly underneath you.  You are finally going to begin that road to becoming one with your horse. 

This exercise will teach you about the balancing act that is your horses body...how to keep him in the line that you want him to be in with your legs and your seat...lastly your hands.

It's a very important and very effective practice.

Try it out....let me know how it goes.

Remember!  When your leg is in place you are driving the front end of your horse....move it back slightly to move the hind end around....


Good LucK!