Circles; for something that we spend so much time 'doing' with our horses, many riders are more than a little confused when it comes to how to ride a circle.  And while the basic 'riding a circle' is fairly simple and most all riders can manage, the issue of riding a well-balanced, good quality, well-maintained, circle is what leaves many riders feeling more than a little stumped.

How to ride a circle may seem like one of the easier things to do while on a horse. However, riding a well-shaped circle while maintaining or improving the quality of the work you're doing; is a whole other ball game!

For many riders falling in, or falling out are common occurrences.  Losing rhythm or relaxation.  Maintaining bend and flexion also can be a challenge.  And this is all assuming that you are actually riding a real circle at all.  As opposed to a funny, non-descript shape with random straight lines, corners, and pointy bits!

So, the shape of the circle is a given.  A ring with equal diameter, regardless of where measured, all the way around. And yet, as simple as this seems, riding one well can be a whole other story!  For many riders keeping their horse on the track, they planned in their head seems close to impossible.

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It is probably the most ridden shape for most riders, the trusty circle.  And yet, a lot of circles are uninteresting, uninspiring, and (if we're being completely honest here) a total waste of time for you and your horse.   When ridden with a little intention and purpose, the trusty circle can become one of the greatest ways to develop your horse and improve your skills.   Here are 3 exercises you can ride next time you're in the arena to help you make the most of your circles with your horse.   Read More...   Get the Free Months Plan for Your Rides:-

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What does your average ride or training session with your horse look like?  Do you have a riding routine that you follow? If yours is leaning towards, or if it already is, a little too predictable; maybe it's time for a change?  While riding the same sequence often can sometimes be beneficial to your riding and training (more on that later), for the most part, it will only help habits to creep in.  And usually not the greatest of habits.

Doing anything the same way, on repeat, almost always has the same effect.  Your body (and your horse) will look for the easiest, most efficient way of doing it; which probably won't truly serve you!

This is because, usually, the 'easiest' or 'most energy saving' way is not the best way; particularly when we are focused on developing and training.  So, why do we fall into the trap of riding 7 circles, 5 Serpentines, 4 figures of eight (or whatever your 'go to' routine?  And why do we continue to repeat it over and over again?

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What goes up, must come down.  For every upward transition you ride with your horse, you will follow it, at some point, with a downward transition.  For many riders, these can prove a little more complex to balance.

Having to prepare and then guide both yourself and your horse 'downwards', while continuing to maintain forwardness, tension, and energy... It can feel more like falling into, rather than stepping into, the new gait!

However, as with all things riding-related, there are things you can do to really begin improving each downward transition that you ride.  Implementing these changes can begin today, with the very next downward transition you ride with your horse.

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How well do you ride upward transitions?  For many riders, it can feel a little frustrating and ironic how many of them are anything but 'upward' as far as energy and lightness go!  In fact, sometimes they can feel quite the opposite, flat.

Upward transitions are part and parcel of every single ride you do with your horse.  From the 'halt to walk' one immediately after mounting up, to all of the others throughout the ride.

The quality of each upward transition you ride will directly impact where you find yourself with your horse immediately after the transition. 

Meaning, if the transition from walk to the trot was not that well prepared and then performed, chances are that you will have to work at improving the trot itself once you get there.  So, with all of this in mind, it makes sense to prepare and ride the best quality transitions you possibly can, in order to improve the whole ride.

Here are the 6 essential steps to begin riding better quality and more consistent upward transitions with your horse.

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Many riders have a desire to school and develop their own horse. Yet, a lot of these riders don't actually know what horse riding skills they need in order to make this a reality.  The fact of the matter is that you are always training your horse. Every single interaction.

Through your actions, intentional or not, you are always communicating to your horse.  Telling him about what is allowed and what is not.  What is 'acceptable' and what needs to change. 

However, if your horse riding skills are not consistently improving and developing, it stands to reason that this will eventually impact your horse.  Riders are often the cause of the plateau many horses reach in their training. Their own lack of development becomes their horse's glass ceiling.

So, in order to maintain the horse riding skills necessary to help your horse develop, you must revisit, upgrade, and develop certain skills regularly. 

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What would happen to your riding if you began to put a little more effort and intention into each warm up?  Many riders are literally setting a timer for each warm up.  5 minutes of walking, followed by some trotting and maybe a canter or three...

Your warm up is a way to set the tone of the whole conversation with your horse.  Whether that is a groundwork session, a lunging session, a ride in the arena, or a ride on the trail.  

By setting an intention and then tweaking your actions based on the results, you can literally change the whole ride.  Here is how I suggest getting started with creating a better warm-up in your riding.

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Additional Resources:-

• Keeping a Horse Riding Journal
• Why You Need to Start Your Horse Riding Journal Today

There is an energy that we experience when we are out on the trail with our horses. It can feel like an added enthusiasm from both horse and rider.  And, maybe, blended with the thought of unlimited possibilities.

Whatever the reason for it, as riders we can begin to use this energy to develop our horse's training and our own riding skills. 

Things that were perhaps feeling flat, or sticky when working on them in the arena become more fluid.  And points in the session when we were struggling to maintain flow, can be transformed when we work on them while out on the trail.

Here are 3 exercises you can try with your horse the next time you're out of the arena and on the trail.

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Free Riding Plan

• One Exercise Multiple Ways

Let's Work Together:-

• Daily Strides Premium Newsletter
• Lunging for Riding
• Groundwork For Riding

Join Our Online Communities for Equestrians

• Connect in the Mindset & Fitness for Equestrians Private Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/SFS30DayRiderFitnessChallenge
• Connect in the Virtual Stable Lounge Private Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/1499737810323191

Additional Resources:-

• When Halt Becomes More than Just Stopping Your Horse
• Conscious Transitions Between Walk and Trot
• Creating Space for Better Canter Transitions
• Turning Your Horse Versus Asking Your Horse to Turn
• Riding Through a Bend, Your Role in the Saddle
• Leg Yielding to Refine Your Asking Aids in the Saddle
• Turn on the Forehand; A Basic to Revisit This Week
• Simplifying the Shoulder In
• Riding Haunches In or Travers
• • •  
• • •  

Not having a designated space to ride in, like an arena, can often feel like a big disadvantage.  If you have been riding in an open field or been confined to roads for any length of time, you'll probably know what I mean! However, while an arena does help with some aspects of riding, having no arena will also force you to think outside of the box.

And this literal 'out of the box' thinking when applied to your schooling can often be a big plus when it comes to riding your horse as well...

Arenas are wonderful to ride in, the surface is prepared for optimal performance, the rails and letters remove any guesswork when it comes to accuracy, shapes, and sizes.  The centre line is exactly that - the centre line of the arena.  X is always at the same place...

Having an arena allows you to focus entirely on the actual riding end of things - or does it?

While many riders see having no arena as a massive drawback and negative aspect of riding, there are a similar number of riders who will happily tell you the opposite.  In fact, they often chat to anyone who will listen about how their riding improved tenfold once they got out of the arena; whether by choice or necessity.

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• One Exercise Multiple Ways

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• Daily Strides Premium Newsletter
• Lunging for Riding (20m x 20m arena)
• Groundwork for Riding (no arena required)
• Connection; The Online Membership for Equestrians

Join the Free Private Communities

• Connect in the Mindset & Fitness for Equestrians Private Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/SFS30DayRiderFitnessChallenge
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Connect with Lorna

• Connect on Instagram @stridesforsuccess https://instagram.com/stridesforsuccess
• Connect on Facebook https://facebook.com/stridessuccess  

Additional Resources:-

• Schooling on the Trail
• Stop Wasting and Start Investing Your Time with Your Horse

Do you want to improve your riding skills, and yet finding more time to spend in the saddle feels an impossible task right now.  More time in the saddle means an even more 'busy' schedule!

Or, perhaps, you're experiencing the other side of this coin; you're riding all of the hours, but you're not actually seeing any improvement?

It is important to remember that riding alone won't improve your skills as rider... There are a lot of other factors involved as well.

Read More...

Free Resource:-

• One Exercise Mulitple Ways Planner for Riders

Let's Work Together:-

• Daily Strides Premium Newsletter
• Lunging for Riding
• Connection; the Online Membership for Equestrians

 Connect with Lorna

• Connect on Instagram @stridesforsuccess https://instagram.com/stridesforsuccess
• Connect on Facebook https://facebook.com/stridessuccess 

Join the Free Private Communities

• Connect in the Mindset & Fitness for Equestrians Private Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/SFS30DayRiderFitnessChallenge
• Connect in the Virtual Stable Lounge Private Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/1499737810323191

Additional Resources:-

• Identifying Causes Versus Symptoms in Your Riding
• Why Progress In Your Riding Can Often Feel Uncomfortable
• Responsibility is a Two Way Street for Horse & Rider
• Keeping a Horse Riding Journal
• How Are You Showing Up for Your Horse?