03/08/2025
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Why Do This Exercise?
The spiral-in, spiral-out exercise is a great way to improve your horseβs balance, suppleness, and engagement while helping them develop strength in the hindquarters. It encourages your horse to carry themselves correctly, improves lateral and longitudinal balance, and refines your ability to use your aids effectively.
For the rider, this exercise strengthens core stability, coordination, and communication with the horse. It helps develop a lighter, more effective seat and improves control over bend, rhythm, and straightness.
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Step 1: Establish a Good 20-Meter Circle
- Begin in trot on a 20-meter circle at a steady rhythm.
- Your horse should be evenly bent around your inside leg, with their body aligned with the arc of the circle.
πΉ Rider Focus: Your outside rein controls the size of the circle, while your inside rein maintains flexion without pulling.
Step 2: Spiral In (Gradually Reduce the Circle Size)
- Using your outside aids, gradually decrease the size of the circle to 15 meters, then 12 meters, and finally 10 meters.
- Use your outside rein and outside leg to guide your horse inward while maintaining inside bend.
- Keep your horse balanced and rhythmicalβthey should not rush or fall in.
- The spiral should take 3 to 4 circles to complete.
πΉ Common Mistakes & Fixes:
β If your horse falls in, use more inside leg and half-halts with the outside rein.
β If they rush, slow the rhythm with your seat and steady your hands.
β If they lose bend, soften your inside rein and encourage more engagement from the hindquarters.
Step 3: Maintain a 10-Meter Circle for One Full Rotation
- When you reach a 10-meter circle, ride at least one complete, balanced circle before spiraling back out.
- Your horse should stay collected, with deeper lateral bend and increased hind-end engagement.
- Keep your hands steady and quiet, using your seat and legs to support balance.
πΉ Modification: If your horse struggles to maintain balance, walk the 10-meter circle before trotting out.
Step 4: Spiral Back Out (Gradually Increase the Circle Size)
- Use your inside leg to push your horse outward while maintaining the same bend.
- Support with your outside rein and outside thigh to prevent rushing.
- The spiral should take another 3 to 4 circles to return to the original 20-meter size.
πΉ Focus on Quality:
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Keep the same rhythm throughout.
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Maintain a consistent connection with light, effective aids.
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Ensure your horse stays straight (not drifting through the outside shoulder).
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π‘ For a Young Horse or Beginner Rider:
- Perform the exercise in walk before trying it in trot.
- Make smaller adjustments in circle size (e.g., only reducing to 15 meters instead of 10 meters).
π‘ For Advanced Riders:
- Ride the exercise in canter (spiral in, hold a collected canter on a 10-meter circle, then spiral out).
- Introduce haunches-out while spiraling outward to further engage the hindquarters.
- Add transitions (trot-canter, walk-trot) at each phase of the spiral.
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Ride with a clear planβknow where each phase of the spiral should occur.
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Stay patient and gradualβforcing the movement too quickly can cause imbalance.
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Work both sides equallyβone direction will likely be harder than the other.
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Listen to your horseβif they struggle, return to a bigger circle and rebalance before continuing.
This exercise is a fantastic way to refine suppleness, engagement, and balance, making it a valuable tool for riders of all levels! π
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Owners- Dalton Jaggars and Miranda Jaggars
