By Joe Thauer.
Start in a dressage ring. Mark the circle points in the ring. The centre of the A or C is a circle point. Measure 10 metres from each corner and make a circle point. It’s nice to set a cone on the centre line, as a circle point. So now you have on each end of the arena a large circle to practice. You have to practice and learn to ride your horse correctly flexed and bent in the large circles from one circle point to the next.
When you feel an improvement or to give your horse a break, change the direction through the diagonal to the opposite circle point and continue to circle on the other end the same way. It is very important to feel the horse relax the muscles (flexion and bend) and the horse will move without braced muscles and become more supple.
After you feel an improvement doing this exercise you can move on the spiral (gradually make the circle smaller then larger) in and out on a large circle. Spiral in until you reach the size of a 10 metre circle on the centre. After, spiral out again on to your large circle. Spiral in and out gradually, not too quickly. With more advanced horses, the spiral in can be done in a travers-like fashion. Spiral out in a shoulder-in like fashion.
When you can do this exercise well, you ride a 10 metre circle at a circle point from a 20 metre circle. Start at a circle point and end up exactly at that point again.
The real point of this exercise is that the rider does not allow himself to be just carried around like a passenger or his position not be displaced by the horse.
Serpentines from will to wall should be practiced gymnastically. Gradually and smoothly flex and bend the horse from side to side with every change of direction. The horse should perform willingly, content and moving happily forward.
Start in a dressage ring. Mark the circle points in the ring. The centre of the A or C is a circle point. Measure 10 metres from each corner and make a circle point. It’s nice to set a cone on the centre line, as a circle point. So now you have on each end of the arena a large circle to practice. You have to practice and learn to ride your horse correctly flexed and bent in the large circles from one circle point to the next.
When you feel an improvement or to give your horse a break, change the direction through the diagonal to the opposite circle point and continue to circle on the other end the same way. It is very important to feel the horse relax the muscles (flexion and bend) and the horse will move without braced muscles and become more supple.
After you feel an improvement doing this exercise you can move on the spiral (gradually make the circle smaller then larger) in and out on a large circle. Spiral in until you reach the size of a 10 metre circle on the centre. After, spiral out again on to your large circle. Spiral in and out gradually, not too quickly. With more advanced horses, the spiral in can be done in a travers-like fashion. Spiral out in a shoulder-in like fashion.
When you can do this exercise well, you ride a 10 metre circle at a circle point from a 20 metre circle. Start at a circle point and end up exactly at that point again.
The real point of this exercise is that the rider does not allow himself to be just carried around like a passenger or his position not be displaced by the horse.
Serpentines from will to wall should be practiced gymnastically. Gradually and smoothly flex and bend the horse from side to side with every change of direction. The horse should perform willingly, content and moving happily forward.