Riding Helpful Hints - Part 1 By Bonnie Gruber Can’t make those circles round no matter how long and hard you work on it. Tired of hearing your riding instructor tell you your circles are egg shaped or that a circle isn’t square? Here are some hints to ride better and straighter lines no matter what movement you are trying to do. Most riders stare at the ground just ahead of them when they ride a circle. We are all told to look up and beyond where our horse is stepping to ride more accurately. Lets take it beyond just riding with your eyes ahead of where you are. Try this exercise. Place a plastic training cone (can be purchased in the sports department at Walmart or Target for a few dollars) at X. Now go to E or B and start your 20 meter circle there. Before you start to walk, put your eyes on the cone and don’t take them off no matter what. Start walking your circle and see if you make a perfect circle and end up exactly where you started. If you didn’t then there could be a couple of things wrong. You took your eyes off the cone. Your aids are not even on the horse. Make sure that your reins are the same length and that you concentrate on feeling both sides of the horse evenly. You didn’t have enough impulsion. Your job is just to ride the horse with impulsion and keep your aids even on the horse. Not enough impulsion can cause the horse to wander. If you are having trouble riding the circles you can get the feel of a circle by walking it first. This gives you a chance to practice the circle without having to control your horse too. The secret to good circles is lots of practice. Don't bore your horse with repeated circles the same size and in the same place. Vary the size, gait and location and you'll keep your horse happy. Remember to do lots of transitions between gaits and within the gaits. This will teach you to concentrate on the movement. Now go back and try again. Don’t make it more complicated than it is. When you have accomplished the 20m circle at the walk you can try it at the trot and then canter. Next try 15m circles then 10m circles. Try making circles at A and C. Place your cone exactly in the center of the circle. Once you get the feel of riding the circle round you will be able to ride the circles required in tests with more ease. Remember that on a circle you never stop turning. If you find that your circles are round the first half and a very different shape the second half, you are not staying focused. Stay focused and don't stop turning. Eventually you'll be able to imagine the cone in the center and you won't need it any more. You'll feel great when you can think of something else and still do a "round" circle. [Click here] for more Riding Helpful Hints