How to Trot the Perfect Circle on a Horse

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By HorsesForever
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Is your instructor always nagging you about your circles? Does your horse break to a walk halfway through? Is your circle more square then round? Here are some tips that will have you trotting the perfect circle in no time! (All steps apply for circling left. For circling right, do the same thing, with the opposite aids.)

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

A horse
Proper fitting tack
A place to ride

Step 1

Pick up a posting trot. Make sure you are on the correct diagonal. Hold your reins evenly in your hands and keep your legs close to the horse's sides.
Step 2

Look to the left. Drop your weight into the saddle and sit deeply, driving your horse forward at the sitting trot.
Step 3

Open your left rein. This means bring your left hand away from the horse's neck. Move your right leg behind the girth and squeeze with just that leg. Press the right rein against the right side of the horse's neck.
Step 4

Keep up the momentum. Keep looking left as you trot the circle. As you reach the end of the circle, relax your right leg and use your left leg to move the horse over to the rail.
Step 5

Once you have completed the circle, keep even pressure with both legs and hold the reins evenly. Send the horse forward and start to post again.

Tips & Warnings

Don't bounce around on your horse's back
Always look in the direction you're circling
Remember to ALWAYS wear a helmet when riding, as well as boots with a heel.
Horseback riding can be dangerous, even when just walking and trotting. If you are a beginner, make sure you have supervision all the time.

Comments

MissGenny said

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on 7/2/2007 This how-to does not specify which style of riding this is for, as not all seats approach this with the same cues, and not all sit the trot. Also, it talks of how to do a circle, but not how to make sure it is even and round. To do that, from a starting point on the rail, count the horse's steps on one half of the circle, the second half should match. Counting comes through 'feel' and the seat bones, knowing which hoof is on the ground at a time.