It is best to do this as part of your regular rides instead of waiting until you have a lesson or show coming up.

Incorporating circles into all your work makes the precision and balance second nature to both you and your horse.

A simple way to start is to add precise 20 meter trot circles into your warm-up.
Start at C and make a balanced steady circle.

To do this you need to know the geometry of your ring. If you are riding in a standard ring or ‘large’ arena it is important to know that R and S are 18 meters from the short side (not 20m.). If you get in the habit of making a precise circle everyday it becomes a habit. If you have difficulty picturing and riding a precise circle take the time to measure a 20 meter circle and mark the circle at 4 or more spots with some cones. If your circle is not round you will lose the many of the benefits of riding circles.

From the circle at C go straight down the rail and make a 20 meter circle at S.

Again be aware of the geometry- R and S are 12 meters from the nearest letter. Be sure not to make a 24 meter oval!!

Then move the circle to E, then to V, then to A.

You get the idea. Once you have gone around the entire ring with correctly shaped circles, reverse and go the other way, keeping the geometry in mind. This is a great trot warm-up for a young horse or for the horse that doesn’t like one end of the arena.

Once you are confident making the circles you can check your control.

Every time you begin a circle half halt and rebalance your horse.

Be sure to keep the horse straight on the path of the circle. Envision an overhead camera tracking your horse’s movement. Is the entire horse on the path of the circle or is he falling through the outside shoulder or overbent through the neck maybe with the haunches falling out? Does he follow the same arc both directions? Are you able to control his straightness as you half-halt then push him through?

In the same imaginary picture from the overhead camera are you sitting evenly? With one hand on each side of the horses neck? Legs lightly guiding the horse? Shoulders, hips, hands and eyes square? Inside leg at the girth and outside leg slightly behind the girth?

Once the basic circles become second nature add more control.

Push  your horse through on each straight section and half-halting at the start of each circle.

Then reverse the exercise and half-halt on each straight section and push the horse through on each circle.

Then try half-halting at the start of each circle and each straight section being sure to push the horse through between the half-halts.

Be sure to balance your seat and upper body as you half-halt so you do not rely on just your reins to rebalance your horse. As you push your horse through be sure to think of engaging and activating those hindlegs not just speeding up.

Once you start to feel in better control at the trot go ahead and do the exercise in canter. Include the same variations and check list. If you are not able to go around the whole ring with canter circles at the letters start with just one side of the arena then take a break before going the other way.

If you are on a young horse it may seem that making all these circles and transitions within a gait then adding the circles in canter may end up being your entire work out for a day. After you get accustomed to the routine it can become just part of a warm-up or work out ending stretch.

If you are showing training level be sure to add the 20 meter circles left and right from X. Take the time with your instructor (or a measuring tape) to be sure where the 20 meter circle ends.

Remember that R, S, V and P are just 12 meters from E and B.

As a judge it is frustrating to watch someone with a decent trot quality lose points because they have made a 12 meter egg. Correcting bad geometry in this movement is just a matter of planning ahead and knowing where you are in the ring.

Throughout this exercise be sure to keep the gait quality in mind as you get the geometry under control.