20m circle help! lol

[calvo]

Has anyone got any videos of a near perfect 20m circle starting at A or C...

Its just that ive gone absolutely brain dead and think ive been doing them wrong... ive been doing a circle from A then turn at F and then X and turn again at K.... is that how you do it or have I done them wrong?

Just realised that F and K is 6metres from the corner and only just started doing dressage properly lately... so could someone also correct me on the distances of the arena markers if im wrong too.. thanks everyone

(Ive been riding for 11 years now! I should know by now! lol hhehehe)

[vimto92]

If your riding in a 20x40 school start the circle at A, then you should touch X. The "20 metres" is the diameter of the circle.

A to X is 20 metres.

So therefore, sounds like your doing it right to me!

[eml]

There are no actual turn points on a circle just a continual curve. The easiest way to learn is to mark the 10m points and X and learn to reach those points as part of your constant curve. Touching or turning at the 6m markers is wrong and is not a true 20m circle.

[Ginger Thing]

Although we're taught to ride into the corners of the school and stay on the track, too many people also do this when attempting a circle - you want to touch A (or C) and X, don't go into the corners, but look for the halfway point between the end of the school and E or B, so you have 4 points. I was taught the way to ride a perfect circle is to not try to ride a circle, but more of a diamond, touching these 4 points, and the curve of the horse's body will make the circle. Don't know if that makes any sense, but I know what I mean ;):D

There is a difference between riding around the short end of the school on the track, into the corners, and riding a circle at A or C.

[horseygal90]

Although we're taught to ride into the corners of the school and stay on the track, too many people also do this when attempting a circle - you want to touch A (or C) and X, don't go into the corners, but look for the halfway point between the end of the school and E or B, so you have 4 points. I was taught the way to ride a perfect circle is to not try to ride a circle, but more of a diamond, touching these 4 points, and the curve of the horse's body will make the circle. Don't know if that makes any sense, but I know what I mean ;):D

There is a difference between riding around the short end of the school on the track, into the corners, and riding a circle at A or C.

That's what I was taught too, ride a diamond rather than a circle.

[coss]

ditto above. the distance between the quarter/corner marker and E/B is 14m. so you want to be nearer the quarter marker than E/B but you need to be 4m past the quarter marker - cones are very useful or if you have an arena fence, paint a spot on the fence 10m from E/B and you can head for that spot :p
ignore the quarter markers - be blind to them and ride to the edge of the arena (on a curve) half way between the short end of the school and E/B.
hope that makes sense.

[5.7FB+16.2FC]

I have just started dressage lessons and my teacher teaches the dimond circle too!!

[calvo]

Thanks for all your tips! It saved the day! lol I like the idea of the diamond shape but curve it.. I think I pop a cone up at the 10m marker..

Thanks everyone! ;) :cool:

[coverblown]

hey, the diamond thing is what I do - nobody taught me or suggested that I do it, but my recent dressage test sheets have suggested that my circle looks too much like a diamond!

A.x

[calvo]

lol I was afraid of making it too diamond shape.. I must have cracked it as I didnt have a rubbish score on 20m circles..lol