The 20 Meter Circle of Death

About three weeks ago, our trainer was finally able to come out to give lessons after being away for WEG, judging and riding in the Steffen Peters clinic.  I guess she'd been gone just long enough for things to go the hell in a handbasket, because before you know it I found myself on the 20m circle. A little wave of hatred, anger and despair usually washes over me when I get told to get back on the 20m circle and stay on it.  THIS IS NOT HOW I WANT TO SPEND 45 minutes and $105! But when this happens it is usually because I have lost all control, have started to micromanage bends, legs, shoulders, you name it! 

At first, I was going through the motions but then I got tired of being yelled at for not doing it right. Afterall, how can you not do a 20m circle correctly? Apparently, it is possible. Eventually, I asked Sue why the 20m circle? Sue said all the experts tell you to go back on the 20m circle to fix a problem, but no one tells you how to ride the 20m circle.  Once I understood why she wanted me on the 20m circle, I embraced the challenge of the 20m Circle of Death.  Because the sooner I conquer it, the sooner I can get back to Half Pass, Renvers and all the other stuff that makes dressage more interesting!

You actually ride the 20m Circle of Death  (COD) like a diamond with flat sides.  You have to hit all your points on the flat sides, where you have a moment/step of straightness before you use your outside aids to turn and head straight to the next 'point'.  I've been riding my 20m COD by C so my moments of straighness are at C, I, and the halfway points between H-S and M-R. Somehow, riding the 20m COD and just worrying about hitting all my 'points' I can incorprate all the correct aids for my halt halts, correct flexion, use of the outside aids to 'straighten' the horse. I can find the rhythm and the correct tempo where we are in balance and harmony.  AAHHH! The exercise works for me because it gets us on the aids without thinking about 'being on the aids'. It really does all the work for me so that I am not micromanaging my horse. And then once you have the 20m Circle of Death down, you can adjust the circle to the 10m Circle of Pain! And once you've conquered hitting all your points at the walk and trot, you can do it at the canter.

So my new mantra is "nothing bad can happen on the 20m circle!"

I've been incorporating my 20m COD as part of my warm up after our marching walk and our lateral walk exercises, and right before our lateral trot work warm up. By just having that to focus on, it really doesn't matter what is going on because it puts Red and I into the perfect frame of mind, both of us sharp and on the aids!