Great Exercise - Circle of Death

[HunterMarc]

This is such a great exercise and just wanted to post how much I love listening to George Morris coach. This is the best demonstration of this exercise by far versus reading how it is done online. I always learn so much from him. Anne Kursinski is not far behind. I would love to ride for both someday. I have done this exercise twice now over the past couple of weeks. It is not easy either, but really helps with rythem, balance and I feel will eventually help me see distances even better. Really helps on many levels.

I do 4 cavaletis at the highest height. 27’ from the center to each cavaleti. Walks at 4 strides each, to add would be 5. I have not tried 3 but that seems like it woudl be really forward from the 4 already.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RO9QD5iSAg&t=139s

[HP_sblueskyenterprise]

Love this exercise! My trainer has done this quite a bit with both cavalettis and then actual jumps.

[LucilleBluth]

I may have cried once doing this exercise. It’s killer, but worth it!

[173north]

Such a good exercise, and also really highlights if you or your horse are one-sided. My trainer set up a variation of this in the indoor this winter. I nailed it to the left and was feeling very smug. When I did it to the right, it was like I’d never ridden a horse before - horse and I are both weaker on the right!

[rockonxox]

I love doing this (although we just do the 4 ground poles/cavalletti/small jumps) evently around the circle. Maybe it is just the angle here, but it looks like they are not evenly spaced, but two on each curve close together? I also adore the pinwheel (after my initial oh crap experience with it). Hard for sure, but when I get it together and it just flows it is a big “hooray” in my mind.

[HunterMarc]

@173north

Such a good exercise, and also really highlights if you or your horse are one-sided. My trainer set up a variation of this in the indoor this winter. I nailed it to the left and was feeling very smug. When I did it to the right, it was like I’d never ridden a horse before - horse and I are both weaker on the right!

I felt a difference going the the right as well. Really had to use my outside aids.

[ChunkyMonkey]

My trainer set this up last winter, I’d done it time or two before. Much like the above posters, we absolutely nailed in one way, crashed and burned the other. Guess I need to work on strengthening my left side!

[ParadoxFarm]

Can someone remind me the dimensions to set this up? Thanks!

[HunterMarc]

@ParadoxFarm

Can someone remind me the dimensions to set this up? Thanks!

I think it can really depend on how big or small you want and how many strides you want in between. I do 27’ from the very center to each cavaletti, set at the highest height and are 8’ long. Could use poles/jumps/cavalettis. I walked the circle out and it came to about 4 strides between each. I ride it with 4 and 5 strides typically.

Curious to hear what others do though…?

[rockonxox]

@ParadoxFarm

Can someone remind me the dimensions to set this up? Thanks!

We have an 80 x 200 indoor. For most of the horses/ponies we set the jumps a couple feet from the edge of the arena walls and the open side we set it even with the rest. One on each “point” of the circle all equal distance from each other. For the guy I ride who is huge and has a huge stride we will put the jumps all the way out to the arena wall. Ours are about 4 strides between each as well. If we set it in the outdoor it is definitely more versatile and you can set up as many or few strides as you want by moving the jumps closer together or further apart.

[ParadoxFarm]

Thanks rockonxox and HunterMarc.

[BLBSTBLS]

I think I will set this up today with ground poles to start - looks challenging and fun. I am trying to prepare myself for a clinic this Friday with Christina Schlusemeyer, and then showing on Sunday. I am interested to see which side we are weaker on.

Thank you for the idea - I had not seen this exercise before!