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A simple polework exercise to help distinguish between sharper corners and rounder circles

Tania Grantham Tania Grantham

    • Riding accurate corners is one of the simplest ways to improve a dressage test. Just as importantly, riders must be able to show a clear difference between the corners of the arena and a 20m circle at either end.

    Too often, horses drift through the corners as though riding part of a circle, losing both balance and accuracy, but this polework exercise will create a visual guide to help you clearly distinguish between riding a corner and riding a circle.

    Aims

    • Improve rider understanding of the accuracy points of a 20m circle
    • Encourage your horse to bend correctly through the body
    • Maximise the benefit of riding purposeful corners in a test

    The setup

    You need: two poles

    Setup: Place one pole in each corner either side of C, positioned slightly off the track and pointing diagonally towards the centre of the arena.

    Diagram showing two poles laid in the corners of arena

    Pole placement should suit your horse’s training level – more advanced horses will be able to ride deeper corners

    How to ride the exercise

    1. Begin in walk. Ride around the first pole, then continue straight along the short side towards A or C. Focus on maintaining a straight line after the turn rather than allowing the horse to drift.

    2. From A or C, begin a 20m circle. Your horse should leave the track as they cross the first pole, touch the long side at the correct point, cross the centre line in the middle of the circle, touch the opposite long side evenly, then cross the pole again before returning to A or C.

    3. After completing the circle, continue straight along the short side and ride around the pole once more. The key is to clearly show the difference between the circle and the corner. Through the corner, think about pushing the horse into the turn from your inside leg while controlling the line and balance from the outside aids. Once the exercise feels established in walk, repeat it in trot and then progress to canter.

    Pitfalls to avoid

    1. Lack of bend on the circle

    Many horses fall through the shoulder or overbend in the neck without truly bending through the body. Prepare the circle before leaving the track by asking for a slight flexion to the inside. Then focus on riding a genuinely curved line, turning every stride rather than making one large steering movement. Keep the inside leg at the girth to encourage bend and maintain balance.

    2. Rushing

    Some horses anticipate the poles and quicken towards them. Maintain a consistent tempo by paying attention to your seat and rhythm in each pace. Use well-timed half-halts to rebalance the horse and encourage them to sit more on the hindquarters rather than running forwards.

    3. Breaking from canter

    In canter, horses often lose balance in the corners and drop back to trot. Think of riding a shorter, more collected canter through the corner, keeping the strides active and bouncy. On the circle, allow the canter to travel slightly more forwards before rebalancing again for the next corner. Pole placement should always suit the horse’s training level. A prelim horse will not be expected to ride as deep or as collected a corner as a horse working at elementary or above.

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