A fun exercise to help you ride better shapes!
Learning to ride a proper 20-metre circle is a big part of improving your dressage scores and helping your pony stay balanced. But how good are your shapes, really? This fun challenge will help you learn the difference between a circle and a square, and how each shape feels in your pony’s body.
Let’s go!
🎯 Why ride accurate shapes?
Riding accurate shapes isn’t just for judges — it helps your pony too!
- Better scores: In dressage, a wonky circle = lost marks
- Better balance: Riding the correct line helps your pony stay steady and strong
🟢 The circle track
🔧 Setting it up
You’ll need seven markers (like cones or buckets). It’s easiest in a dressage arena, but you can set this up in any flat space. Ask an adult to help you with measuring.
Here’s where to place the markers:
- 2 markers on the centreline, between S and R, spaced 2 metres apart
- 1 marker just inside the arena wall at C
- 1 marker 10 metres down the long side from C (inside the wall)
- 1 more marker 10 metres down the other long side from C
- 2 corner markers set diagonally into the arena (about 3–4 metres in)
Now you’re ready!
🏇 Riding the circle
- Warm up in both directions at walk and trot so your pony feels loose and forward.
- Start trotting to the right. Ask your pony to go forward evenly from your legs to your hands. Use a pressure-then-release aid: when your pony listens, reward them by softening your leg or rein.
- Ride down the long side toward the marker between H and S. Go between the marker and the wall.
- As your pony’s nose passes the marker, look to the next one at C. Ride smoothly around the corner, passing just inside the C marker.
- Now look to the marker between M and R. Ride toward it, staying just inside the corner marker.
- When your pony’s nose passes the M-R marker, look to the centreline markers. Ride through them.
- Look back at your starting marker between H and S — and repeat the loop!
📌 Top tip: Always look to your next marker as soon as you pass the last one. Your path might feel like a diamond, but your pony’s movement will turn it into a circle!
Once it feels smooth to the right, change direction and ride the circle to the left. You might notice one way feels easier — most ponies have a stronger side, just like we do!
💡 Using inside leg to outside rein
As your pony improves, you’ll be able to ride the circle using more refined aids:
- Inside leg: encourages your pony to bend and engage from behind
- Outside rein: keeps the circle from getting too big or wobbly
- Outside leg: helps prevent drifting
- Inside rein: asks for a little flexion, not pulling
This balance of inside leg to outside rein is key to riding great shapes!
🟪 The corner (square) track
Now let’s ride a square shape using the same markers — and feel the difference!
In a square, you’ll ride straight lines with more distinct corners. You’ll use your eyes and markers to plan your turns.
🔧 Setting it up
Use the same markers from the circle exercise — nothing new needed!
🏇 Riding the square
- Start in rising trot to the right and head to the H–S marker.
- As you pass it, look to the marker in the corner and aim just to the inside of it.
- Turn the corner, then ride straight across the short side.
- As you pass the C marker, look to the next corner marker and aim just inside it.
- Turn again, then ride toward the M–R marker, passing to its left.
- Now ride toward a point that feels like a ‘corner’ about 2 metres past R — even though there’s no marker there.
- Look ahead to the centreline markers and ride through them, imagining a corner between S and H.
When you’ve done a few laps, change direction and try the square to the left.
🧠 Challenge yourself!
Want to take this further? Try one of these:
- 🔄 Alternate shapes: Ride one circle, then one square. Can you feel the difference?
- 🌀 Try in canter: First ride a few circles in canter, then a few squares. Only do this when you feel confident in trot.
- 📍 Move the markers: Try setting the exercise up on the other end of the arena — or even in the middle!
- 🚫 Lose the markers: When you feel ready, ride the shapes without the markers. Can you keep them accurate on your own?
📌 Top Tip: Try riding a dressage test with the markers still in place — they can help you learn where your shapes should be and how they should feel.
🎯 Final thoughts
Riding circles and squares helps you feel how your pony moves and improves your own accuracy and balance. These shapes are everywhere in riding — so the better you ride them, the better your partnership will become.
Have fun trying it out — and remember, perfect shapes come from planning ahead, looking up, and riding with feel.
