All dressage tests, starting from the most basic and ending at Grand Prix level, include riding on a circle or a volte. Contrary to appearances, performing this exercise correctly can turn out to be more complicated than you think, and requires appropriate preparation from both the horse and the rider. It is worth working on, however, because it is a very good exercise for the balance and bend of our mount. Mastering it to perfection will allow us to move on to more complicated figures, or to start, for example, working on lateral movements. In this article we will give you tips on what to pay particular attention to when starting work on circles with your horse and what is taken into account when assessing the performance of this element.
The circle and the volte — what is the difference?
The only difference between a circle and a volte is their diameter, and that is why they are often confused with each other. A volte is a circle of ten metres or less in diameter (usually it is ten, eight or six metres). Circles are decidedly larger and have a diameter of up to twenty metres. Both elements have the same shape, and we begin and end their execution at the same point. Both the circle and the volte can be performed in any gait. The smaller the circle, the harder it is to perform correctly and the more bend and flexibility it requires from the horse. That is why we should begin work with our horse on large circles and gradually make them smaller when we feel that it is ready for it.
The rider’s position and the use of aids when riding on a circle.
A correctly ridden circle or volte should be symmetrical and should not get smaller or larger as it is performed. Remember that, regardless of the diameter, this element contains neither corners nor straight lines (the horse should remain bent in the direction of travel the whole time). To perform this element correctly, the rider must adopt the appropriate position and use the aids with feel.
The first signal for the horse to bend and begin performing the circle or volte should be a change in the rider’s position in the saddle. If we begin our actions with the inside rein, we can easily cause the horse to “fall in” excessively and lose its balance. That is precisely why using the rein as an aid in this case should be secondary, and we should use it only as reinforcement in a situation when the horse does not yet respond correctly to other, more subtle aids.
The rider’s position when performing a circle should be as follows:
- The inside calf stays on the girth, maintaining the impulsion and engagement of the horse’s inside hind leg and giving it the signal to bend
- The outside calf moves slightly behind the girth, preventing the hindquarters from falling out and also encouraging the horse to maintain the pace
- The shoulders slightly turned and directed towards the direction of travel (they should be in line with the horse’s shoulders)
- Both reins are at the same height, over the horse’s withers
- The inside rein gives the horse a light signal to bend
- The outside rein balances the action of the inside one and prevents excessive bending and the horse’s shoulder falling out (a limiting action)
- The rider’s inside hip and inside seat bone are loaded a little more.
Common mistakes made when performing a circle are holding the shoulders straight or even directing them in the opposite direction to the travel. This makes it harder for the horse to find its balance and perform the element correctly, because the rider’s weight is then shifted to the outside.
So that the shoulders adopt the appropriate position, imagine how they would be directed if you were walking up a spiral staircase. You should also remember that the inside hip and seat bone are to be only a little more loaded than their counterparts on the outside. Under no circumstances should this cause crookedness in the saddle or the rider leaning to the inside. Correct loading of the hip will help you keep the inside calf stable on the girth and reinforce the horse’s bend at the level of the ribs.
The horse’s posture on the volte or circle.
Once you already know how to use the aids appropriately, you should also know what effect they should have on the horse and when we can consider that the exercise has been performed correctly.
The natural tendency for a horse when turning is to lean its body to the inside, in the direction of the turn, and at the same time to tilt its head and neck to the outside. The horse’s weight then shifts to the forehand, which, as we know, is not desirable. That is precisely why it is our task to work out with the horse the appropriate bend in the direction in which we are moving and the engagement of the hindquarters.
To understand what an ideal bend consists of, imagine that you are looking at the horse from above. An even arc should run through the horse’s body, starting at the poll and running through the neck and spine all the way to the root of the tail. This arc is the tighter, and the bend the stronger, the smaller the circle on which we are working.
If you want to perform the exercise correctly, it will be helpful to set up letters or cones, thanks to which you will be able to control the symmetry and shape of the figure.
When is a circle or a volte performed correctly?
There are a few of the most important things that are taken into account in dressage competitions when assessing the quality of the performance of a circle or volte:
- The size of the circle or volte — the figure should have exactly the diameter that is in the test. Thanks to this the judge knows that you are able to control the horse
- The correctness of the figure — the figure should be symmetrical, i.e. a circle, not an oval. The circle or volte should touch the wall exactly at the place marked by the letters
- Balance and impulsion — it is very important that, while performing the figure, the horse does not lose its rhythm and forward tendency (nor speed up)
- Bend — the horse is bent in the direction of travel the whole time. The tracks of the hind hooves should coincide with the tracks of the front ones. The shoulder falling in or the hindquarters falling out has a negative effect on the assessment of this element
- Beginning and ending the element at the appropriate place — it is best to begin performing the element two steps after the letter and finish two steps before.
