In order to ride in the perfect circle, you need to prepare your horse in advance be
ready in a few strides before making a circle.
You need to be aware the characters of each horse; some are easy to make curve and
some aren't as easy.
A few strides before making a circle, the inside rein positions the horse's head
slightly to the inside shoulder and gives the horse direction and the amount of bend
for the size of circle.
The inside leg pushes against the horse and out of the way. The outside leg lies
against the horse, which keeps the horse from drifting outward.
Remember that the outside rein plays an important role. The horse must not drift to
the outside and make the circle too wide. The outside rein keeps elastic contact to
hold the horse straight on course and sustains the balance, free forward movement
and keeps the horse from drifting inward.
Once start riding in a circle, practice until you can make a correct circle with the
controlled speed.
When the outside hind leg stars drifting outwards, use your outside leg to push it
back on the track.
Both horses and riders have preferable side to turn but try to practice on the both
side equally.
If the horse starts making a small circle, it drifts inward.
It is the same principal as when you are riding bicycle; the rider needs to place
more weight on the inside seat bone if the bicycle drifts outward, or visa versa.
【How to use aids from the reins and legs】
- Inside rein・・・Continue 'tighten-release' movement to aid the horse to make turn.
Keep it light.
- Outside rein・・・ The outside rein keeps elastic contact, allow space for free
forward movement
- Inside of the rider's leg・・・Keep the leg in the normal position and send aids to
run in the controlled speed. At the same time, pushes slightly to change the
direction.
- Outside of the rider's leg・・・The rider applies the outside leg slightly further
back from its normal position to control when the horse drifts outwards
To move straight on a curved line the horse's outside back foot travels along the
same line as the outside front foot.
