The stretchy trot circle is an important element in dressage that tests your horse’s ability to maintain rhythm, balance, and connection while stretching forward and down into the contact, thus encouraging them to lift their back, engage their core and swing through the body. Being such an important part of the horse’s training and the rider’s skill development, it has a co-efficient of times 2 on the mark in dressage tests.
Making a quality circle, showing the horse’s desire to stretch forward and down while maintaining good rhythm not only shows all the qualities the judges are looking for, but will also be rewarded with good marks.
Here are some tips to ride the stretchy circle effectively:
- Have a solid and consistent 20m circle both directions in rising trot. The stretchy circle is not only about the stretch, but also about the accuracy of shape!
- Got rhythm? Before asking for the stretch, ensure your horse is moving forward with an active, consistent trot rhythm.
- Have a steady contact on both reins, asking your horse to flex softly to the inside and dropping their head and neck into a ‘frame’ connected to the outside rein.
- Once your circle is secure and you have a soft frame, you can start to ask for some stretch. Start by letting your outside hand move forward while maintaining some contact on the inside rein. The horse should look for the contact, dropping his head and neck. As the horse stretches and “seeks” the contact, let your inside rein and outside reins out a little and catch the contact again. Repeat this process while your horse understands to stretch to the reins while you let them out slowly, until you can do this as much as required or desired.
- As your horse finds the stretch, remember to maintain your position. Resist the desire to lean forward and “look” for it! Keep your hands together while maintaining a steady, elastic connection and also maintaining your circle shape.
- Ensure your horse stays on the correct bend of the circle and doesn’t fall in or drift outward.
- Maintain the rhythm during the stretch as well as when picking up the reins again. If at any time the rhythm changes, go back to a steady contact and reset the rhythm, trying the stretch again until the horse will stretch while maintaining rhythm.
- At the end of the stretch, take up the reins smoothly. To help maintain the bend of the circle, and to help your horse find the outside rein again, try picking up the inside a little first while reestablishing the outside rein connection with a little inside leg (without pushing the circle out). Continue to pick up the reins alternately while keeping your position.
What is the judge looking for?
Check the directives on the right-hand side of the test paper and use them as tips for a better score!
Forward and downward stretch over the back into a light contact, maintaining balance and quality of trot; bend; shape and size of circle; willing, clear transitions.
This important dressage test movement encourages horses to lift their back, engage their core and swing through the body.
As a finished product that you would perform in a test, you can maximize the mark for the stretchy trot by showing a clear beginning, middle, and end to the movement. Break the circle into three parts (see above). As you start the circle (while posting), the first quarter of the circle is used to set up the size and shape of the circle and prepare for the stretch. The stretch is shown on the second and third quarters of the circle while maintaining the circle size and shape as well as the trot rhythm. In the last quarter, pick up the reins smoothly while maintaining the circle and trot rhythm, having the horse on contact as you leave the circle at the end of the movement.
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