Circle Training

Start on a twenty-meter circle. A circle of this size will create definite length ben without overburdening the novice horse. As a rule the size of the circle on which the horse can effectively begin correct length bend depends on the horse's size and athletic ability. A green fifteen-hand horse will handle a small circle more easily than a green seventeen-hand horse, although this advantage diminishes with training.

Using the correct aids for the circle is essential. The rider's inside rein directs the horse to follow his nose, while her inside leg at the girth creates bend through the ribs and spine. By maintaining light support with the outside rein and resting her outside leg behind the girth, the rider supports forward movement with bend. Additionally, by aligning her shoulders to the horse's shoulders and her hips to the horse's hips, the rider begins to teach the horse to align his body to hers. (The ability to follow the rider's body takes time to develop.)

It is the horse's response to the aids that creates lightness. While the horse needs time to develop the skill to interpret the movement of the rider's body, the rein aids can be well defined from the beginning. There are four kinds of connection through the rein: a giving rein, a soft rein, a fixed rein, and a free rein.