Flatwork / Dressage Intermediate 20 min

10-Meter Circle with Cone Guides

Focus: Collection, Bend, Balance

Equipment: 4 cones or markers

Set up four cones in a 10-meter diameter circle at C or A. The cones should be 5 meters from center.
Begin at the walk, riding the tight circle and focusing on maintaining three-track bend throughout.
Your inside leg drives at the girth. Your outside leg controls the haunches. The outside rein limits neck bend while the inside rein suggests flexion.
After 3-4 walk circles, pick up sitting trot. The smaller circle demands more engagement from the hind legs.
Maintain a steady rhythm. If your horse falls onto the forehand, half-halt and re-balance before continuing.
Ride 3 circles in each direction at the trot, then straighten onto a long side to assess whether your horse steps more actively behind.
Cool down with a 20-meter circle at the walk to stretch your horse's topline after the collected work.

Allowing the circle to grow larger than 10 meters because the horse resists the bend.
Over-collecting to the point where the horse loses impulsion and forward energy.
The rider tipping to the inside instead of staying centered over the horse.
Grinding around the circle without breaks, causing the horse to lean on the inside shoulder.

Ride 10-meter circles at each letter (C, A, E, B) and compare the quality at each location.
Add a 10-meter circle to a canter transition: circle at trot, pick up canter on the open side.
Spiral in from 20 meters to 10 meters over 3-4 revolutions, then leg yield back out.

Tip: Small circles are strength work for your horse. Limit to 3-4 revolutions before straightening to prevent soreness.