Enlarging and reducing the size of a circle is not really a shooling figure, but rather a lesson. Here it is checked whether the horse stands securely on the aids and can be well placed and bent. Starting point of the exercise reduce circle is riding on the first track, on the circle line. Starting at any point on the circle line, the rider begins to shift the circle line to the second track, then to the third track, then to the fourth track and so on. The circle should be reduced by about one track (one horse width) per round. The circle is reduced in a spiral to a volt size of 8m or 10m. How far the circle is reduced depends on the level of training and the ability of the horse to assemble. However, it is seldom advisable to ride closer than three to five metres to the centre of the circle. The circle should be reduced to the size of the voltes and should always be evenly divided around the centre of the circle (D or G).
This is followed by the spiral-shaped circle enlarge. This means that after a few rounds on the volt, the circle is enlarged again. Here too, the following applies: Enlarge about one track per round. As with decreasing, the circle is increased from track to track until the rider reaches the circle on the first track.
Rider's aids
The rider shifts his weight to the inner gluteal bones. Reducing and enlarging is done by the interaction of the diagonal aids (inner thigh and outer reins). The inner position and bend must be adjusted according to the size of the turn.
The most important thing when reducing and enlarging a circle is that the horse is always correctly adjusted to the respective circle line. Position and bend must therefore increase as the circle decreases and decrease again as the radius increases.
The smaller the circle becomes, the more load the horse has to carry with its inner hind leg. So it will gather more and more. It is important that the rhythm is maintained. Because of the shorter and higher steps the horse will slow down, but it must not falter. The circle should remain round. This means that the horse should neither break out on one side nor run on several tracks at the same time.
Circle enlargement & reduction in training and at competition
This exercise can be ridden in all three basic gaits. Reducing and increasing the size of the circle trains, among other things, the horse's balance, carrying capacity and longitudinal bending.
Riding the reduction and enlargement circle is ridden, ...
- to check how well a horse responds to the aids.
- to bring the horse to increased assembly.
- to develop the pirouette from a canter.
Possible mistakes:
- Horse throws himself.
- Horse falls on inner shoulder, as it cannot yet keep its balance
- Due to a lack of coordination of the aids, the horse cannot be steered to a smaller circle
- Horse runs away over outer shoulder
- The hindquarters goes a larger circle than the forehand, because the horse does not yet bend enough
- Uneven division of the line
- Zoom in/out too quickly
- Rider gives no / wrong weight help
