Re: Dressage question

Hi Sharon,

Actually, his name was Shimmer but I called him Mr. Shimmer sometimes. ATB
means he is at the bridge :-( I miss my sweetpea. He was my "mushmellow".
He loved to be petted and loved on. I had to put him to sleep last October.
I have another bunny, her name is Trixie. Oh, and the bunny was just to
denote that was what he was-a bunny. But, I digress. Sorry about that
:-). (BTW, my bunnies are my horsie substitutes since I cannot afford one
at this time :-) )

Anyway, thanks for the advise about riding the circles. I know it is
especially hard to ride 5 meter circles (I think they go that small, I think
I read about a 5 meter circle today in a Sally Swift book), but I never
thought that a regular training or first level would be so hard!! I was
working in a nice sized dressage arena. My instructor was PSG and she was
very good, but I wish I could have had more lessons with her. I was even
thinking of doing a dressage test but unfortunately I didn't get that good
or that far. It's so hard to remember and there are so many things to do!
But, I may pick it up again at some point. There is a barn that teaches
dressage not too far from my house.

Is it easier to ride the circle at a walk or a trot? I am just wondering
which would be easiest to remember. I think I learned it both ways equally
as much, but I cannot remember. I just remember I was severly LOST without
the cones. I think I learned to turn b/t the letters.

Also, by the two inside legs, are you referring to the horse's legs? Sorry
to be so dumb, but I want to be clear. I know you have to put your inside
leg at the girth to get the bend, is that correct?

Thanks again. This is a very interesting topic.


--
Amy and Trixie and Mr. Shimmer bunny (ATB)
"Lizzardwoman" <lizzardwomanRMOVE@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
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"amy" <gall@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:K9pui.13613$ya1.11461@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
| Hi again,
|
| First off, thanks for all the nice comments about my successful riding
post.

I would first like to congratulate you on the genius stroke of a name (Mr.
Shimmer bunny). : )

What is ATB?

| I have a dressage question though. I did take some dressage lessons at
one
| point and I have been watching some dressage videos and I am wondering
how
| to get perfect circles?
|
| I was taught with riding from cone to cone in a diamond shape but how do
you
| memorize the circle shape when you don't have the cones to rely on
anymore?
|
| It seems so difficult but maybe I am missing something here. How long
does
| it take to get the perfect 20 meter circle?
|
| Any advise would be appreciated.
|
| Thanks again. :-)

I agree it is difficult to ride a perfect 20-m circle. If you are working
in a dressage arena, it is a bit easier because the width is 20-m,
especially if you do it at C or A. Once you get good at the ends, try it
in
the middle (B,E). It's a rare person who can nail a 20-m circle without
visual cues such as being in a dressage arena IMO.

Then you can get into particulars which will help with correctly riding
it,
some of which have been mentioned...

An important one which has been mentioned is straight on the circle. For
20-m, there is very little bend. Anything much larger, you can ride the
circle with no bend as I understand this business.

Try for an even texture in the reins so that you have a "driving" feel. I
had that feel during my better circles.

Also, IIRC, it means the two inside legs are describing the circle.
Someone
correct me here if I'm wrong.

An interesting exercise is to ride the circle counterbent to supple the
horse and to work with the aids a bit more.

You should be dictating the roundness and size of the circle with the
outside aids. Your inside rein is not used other than to maybe keep an
inside flexion. Aside from size and shape, if you are riding the circle
correctly, you will get a sense you can give your inside hand forward and
the horse will not change anything.

Good luck.

sharon



.

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  • Re: Dressage question
    ... thanks for all the nice comments about my successful riding post. ... I have a dressage question though. ... I was taught with riding from cone to cone in a diamond shape but how do you ... memorize the circle shape when you don't have the cones to rely on anymore? ...
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  • Re: Dressage question
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  • Re: Dressage question
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    (rec.equestrian)