Koper Equine

Ride 2 circles one way, then change rein through the poles each time, change rein and ride 2 circles on the other way.

1. Start in walk and choose a circle size that creates an appropriate challenge for your horse. A green, stiff or unfit horse might need a 20m circle, while a more supple, strong and developed horse may use the 20m circle to warm up before moving on to a smaller (10-15m) circle. Ride the entire pattern 3x at each circle size.
2. Warm-up your trot by going large around the ring 3x each way. When your horse feels ready, repeat the same pattern in trot, starting with a larger circle, ride the entire pattern 3x each way – 2x left, 2x right, x3 each way. If appropriate, develop a smaller (ex. 15m circle). 
3. Try the exercise in canter, with a simple change of lead. Canter 1.5 circles left, come back to trot before the poles, change your bend through the poles, pick up your new lead, canter right 1.5 circles, come back to trot, change your bend through the poles, pick up your new lead. Repeat the entire pattern 3x. 

🐴 Stay focused – staying on pattern while dealing with any issues that arise is part of the challenge 

🐴 Riding the pattern 3x is important:

• 1st x shows your horse the pattern 
• 2nd x practice and perfect 
• 3rd x is your best attempt together before it’s time to move on to something else and avoid drilling. 

🐴 Compare size, quality, rhythm and ease of turns/line/transitions of each direction. Typically you’ll find that certain turns (or transitions) are more challenging than others. Figuring out why offers insights into your training stage and insights on how you can progress.

🐴 Traveling through the poles provides physical feedback of your accuracy of line – if you drift through them slightly one way it may indicate that your horse “leans” slightly that way or has trouble controlling his core, or possibly because he tends to hold one elbow closer to his rib cage than the other… or maybe it’s actually you…? Discovering when and where he has difficulty will give you clues to help correct and improve. 

🐴 If you’re having trouble with circle size and shape consider adding cones at each 1/4 to help define “round”. 

🐴 Every change of direction, line, bend, or gait it interrupts your horse’s balance and alignment, giving him an opportunity to improve it and make the exercise easier for himself.

A few more advanced variations

🐴 Ride a large 20m circle, then a small 10-12m circle, then change rein and repeat the other way, 3x each way in walk, trot and canter. 

🐴 Try riding transitions within the 2 poles, as in walk/halt/walk or trot/walk/trot beginning just before you enter the poles and ending just after you leave the poles. 

🐴 Add a pole or small jump to the side of the circles farthest away from the 2 center poles. 

🐴 Ride the canter section through walk, as in canter/walk/canter instead of through trot.

“I feel lucky to have Vanessa as a teacher/trainer! Her kind and positive approach creates an encouraging learning environment for horse & rider, and her knowledge of equine biomechanics has offered me a whole new perspective on training/riding. I always leave lessons feeling more confident and connected to my horses”

• Emma K.