Creating Power With Circles

No matter your discipline, keeping your horse’s shoulders straight and maintaining power throughout their hind end is essential. I recently attended a Doug Payne clinic that was filled with insightful exercises to help riders maintain control and power through the turn and to encourage the horse to stay straight and ultimately ready for whatever comes next. 

As the owner of an experienced horse and a very inexperienced horse, I am always looking for new riding exercises to add to my arsenal. I like to give bonus points to the exercises that are compatible for both horses since switching things up between them can be  time consuming and annoying. Thankfully, this exercise is great for horses of all levels and will help push riders to be more correct.

This exercise is one that can act as a warm up exercise or that can be used throughout the duration of your ride.

What you’ll need: 

•  Four poles on 20-meter circle at opposite ends from one another. 

•  Next, you will place the remaining poles the same way, but on a 15-meter circle. 

• If you find the 15-meter circle to be too easy, you can push them closer as needed.

Once you have your poles set up, you’re ready to begin! To start this exercise, trot the 20-meter circle over the poles. As you ride, focus on keeping your horse as straight as possible throughout the circle and really riding through the turn, keeping the power in the hind end. Once you’re comfortable with the 20-meter circle poles, leg yield into the 15-meter circle. The 15-meter circle is meant to be more difficult, so if you find it too easy, don’t hesitate to push the poles inward to make the circle smaller. Continue to focus on keeping your horse’s shoulders straight and using the correct aids to maintain the balance. 

Sound simple enough? Great! Now try it at the canter! This is where you’ll be glad that you worked hard in your trot work to keep the balance and create power in the hind end. Continue to push your straight horse through the poles and balance through the turns. Again, when you’re ready, push yourself into the smaller circle using a leg yield. For most horses and riders, the 15-meter circle will be difficult enough to push yourself and your horse to maintain their straightness and power. 

If you want to add some extra spice to this exercise, you can prop the poles up on cavaletti to further encourage your horse and yourself to take it more seriously by requiring that powerful canter.

I have fallen in love with this exercise due to its simplicity and the fact that it doesn’t require a significant amount of space. As indoor season is rapidly approaching, riders and trainers must get creative to keep things interesting. Finding riding exercises that keep both riders and horses interested is a difficult feat in itself. I challenge you to try this simple exercise and see how it can challenge your ability to create power and maintain the straightness.