Easy Guide to Riding a Horse in a Circle

The simple steps can be broken down into basicfit to add in verbal cues. This is a big help to those
riding "seat" position, finding your balance in thewho are just starting to learn a skill. Verbal cues will
saddle. Hand position and the feeling of a soft, butbe added in order to help the rider connect with the
connected feeling in the riders hands. Make a straighthorse by asking him/her what to do verbally.
line from the horses mouth to the riders elbow. AskThis can be broken down into a number of different
the horse to walk forward by the squeeze andverbal commands, depending on what the horse you
release of your inside legs gluteal and thigh muscles,are riding was trained to understand. Clicking your
and the constant pressure of the outside leg.tongue on the roof of your mouth will create a
Continue in the circle with the squeeze and releaseclucking noise that is normally the cue for a horse to
with the inside hand as well, while keeping the outsidewalk. Another verbal command is simple saying "walk
hand at a light, but connected contact. Continueon," if the horse is trained he/she will walk forward.
around the circle by repeating the steps above. It isThese verbal cues are important because with each
important to keep in mind, that these individual stepsclick, or verbal cue, it will remind the rider that they
will be all put together in more of a fluid, repetitivemust apply a squeeze to the horses side for them to
movement. To carry out the cognitive stage ofmove as well.
learning presented by Fitt's and Posner's, it would be