FLATWORK FEBRUARY #28: SQUARED-OFF CIRCLE

To ride this exercise, think of a square with rounded corners. NOTE: It can help to put markers out and then ride around these to keep your corners tight.

Ride straight to each corner, bend your horse through the turn, and then realign him for the next straight section.

This is more challenging for the rider than riding a circle, as it keeps you thinking. It’s also great for teaching your horse the difference between bending and travelling straight.

You can keep the exercise simple by remaining in the walk or widening the turn at each corner. To up the challenge, you can trot or canter and make the turns a bit tighter.