Basic Lesson: 20m Circle

Objective:
- The students will learn how to correctly perform a 20m circle in the dressage square (if weather allows it).
Make Learning Meaningful:
- The 20m circle demonstrates a riders connection with the horse and their ability to ask for flexion and bend while maintaining a correct rhythm. These exercises will help the rider stay balanced on the practice applying and coordinating aids while the horse is in movement. Flexion and bend are not forced, the horse has to be supple and give in to achieve a correct flexion and bend.
Understanding questions:
- Where does flexion happen, where does bend happen?

Through the head and neck, through the body.

Warm Up

The horse will be groomed and tacked up when riders arrive but they will have the task to properly stretch the horse before the ride to get the horse comfortable in its tack.
Riders will mount the horse and walk on the buckle to allow the horse to warm up before starting class.
Riders will get the horses on a correct trot, marching forward with energy. They will do this on both reins to get the horse loose and ready for the exercises.

Exercise 1

Direct Instruction: Riders will pick up a trot and leg yield on both sides.
Theory Behind Exercise: Leg yielding helps the horse supple and prepare for a correct bend. The rider must be balanced on top of the horse and add pressure to their outside leg to get the horse to move off of the leg. The inside rein can be used to half-halt the horse.
Image: Make sure to have both seat-bones on the horse and be balanced on the saddle
Demo: Show the riders what the movement looks like on the floor and how the horse should be crossing over
Manipulation: Grab the rider's leg and show them where to add pressure and how to move the hands to ask for a correct leg yield.
Check for Understanding: Why is posting important for both horse and rider?

Exercise 2

Direct Instruction: Create a circle around me at the working tort. Each time around the circle you will make it smaller and smaller, once you are close to me, you will open the circle back up.
Theory Behind Exercise: This exercise will show riders how to correctly ask for bend. It will help the horse supple and will teach the rider how to stay balanced on the horses back while asking for a circle.
Demo: I will walk the circle myself to show them how to make the circle bigger and smaller.
Manipulation: Show the riders where there legs should be to ask for a correct bend.
Check for Understanding: Do you lead the circle with your reins or your body pressure?

Exercise 3

Direct Instruction: Pick up a posting trot and ride a 20m circle using the poles as guides.
Theory Behind Exercise: 20m circles are performed in dressage tests and show the horses ability to bend correctly. A rider must be able to move the horses ribcage to show a correct bend through the body and a responsive horse.
Image: Approach the 20m circle not as a circle at all but as 4 points. Visualzie your 4 points and draw a cross in your mind. Once you have the four points, you have the four places where your horse has to touch. From point to point you will ask your horse to bend through its body to create a smooth curve and create a perfect circle.
Demo: Walk the 20m circle myself and as I do, talk about what the riders hand and feet should be doing at each step.
Manipulation: Stand next to the horse and touch his neck to ask for flexion, thus showing the rider what flexion feels like and how to achieve it. Then ask for bend so that the rider understands what it feels like and how to ask for it.
Check for Understanding: What is the difference between bend and flexion?
Muscles
- Adductor muscles: The rider will be using their adductor muscles from the inner thigh to ask the horse to bend.
- Core: The rider will use the core to maintain balance and a proper position while in motion.

Cool Down

Trot the horse around the ring on either rein to let the horse stretch.
Walk the horse on the buckle to allow him to cool down and relax.
Stand on your stirrups and allow your weight to drop down on either side to stretch the calf down.

Extend and Strengthen:
- Can you have a correct bend without flexion?
- What discipline is the 20m used on during a test?
- HW: Work on strengthening your adductor muscles in the gym to become a stronger rider.
Evaluation: Today we learned how to create bend and do a correct 20m circle. If you tried your best, you passed.
Check for Understanding:
- What muscles are imperative to ask for bend?
- What is bend?
- How can you strengthen your seat off of the saddle?
Preview Next Lesson: Next lesson we will learn how to do serpentines