
HomeThe MagazineIssues
Riding circles
Posted 11th September 2018
Learn how to ace 10m circles and make schooling fun

Small circles are brilliant for making your pony supple and if you can ride a 20m circle well, there’s no reason why you can’t ride a great 10m circle, too! Apart from the size, there’s not that much difference and all the same rules apply…
- make sure your circle is round, not egg-shaped
- your pony should follow the shape of the circle and have a soft bend through his body
- sit up straight and look ahead in the direction you want to go
Top tip
When your pony has the right amount of bend on a circle, you should just be able to see the corner of his inside eye.
Exercise: Work it out
Start by riding a 10m circle from the track at B (or E), because it’s easier to get the size of the circle right. In a 20x40m arena, your 10m circle will touch the track and the centre line, passing over X.
For more fun exercises and top tips on acing a 10m circle, pick up a copy of November PONY, on sale 26 September.