Horse glossary
Circle
A round path in the arena.
In Spanish: Círculo
What it means
A circle is a round path ridden in the arena, described by its size, such as a 20-meter circle, which fits across the width of a standard dressage arena. A true circle is evenly round, with the horse's body gently curved to match the line it is traveling on.
Why it matters
Circles help a horse bend, balance, and use both sides of its body evenly. For riders, they teach steering with the seat and legs and planning ahead, and a large circle is a calm way to settle a horse that wants to rush.
Example
Ride a 20-meter circle at the walk.
Try this
Pick four points where your circle will touch, such as letters or cones, and look ahead to the next point as you ride. Ride the same circle in both directions to keep the work even.
Common mistake
Many first circles come out egg-shaped because the horse drifts toward the gate or the rider looks down. Keep your eyes up and ride each quarter of the circle on purpose.