Ask any dressage rider if they can ride a 20m circle and they'll say yes. Ask a judge and you might get a different answer.

But before we talk about geometry — which yes, we will — it's worth asking a more fundamental question:

does your horse actually know how to bend?

Not lean, not drift, not follow the curve because the arena wall ran out. Actually bend, with his hindquarters following the track of his front end, in response to what you're asking?

Because if that's not in place, no amount of looking at your point on the arena wall will give you a round circle. You'll just be steering a horse who's working out the shape for himself.

In this session we're starting with what bend actually requires — what your horse needs to understand, and how you'd know if he does — and then building that into an actual 20m circle that goes where you intend it to go.

You'll leave knowing what you're actually trying to achieve, and with a clearer picture of where the gaps are.

Sun 19 July | Ohariu Valley - Exact location TBC | $55pp + arena fee

Text Susan to book you spot 020 415 99 111

Weekend Breakdowns are small group lessons for local riders who just enjoy riding and want to do more of it. Each session picks one topic and digs into it properly — the kind of thing that makes your next solo schooling session suddenly make a lot more sense. Bring a horse who's mostly civilised and ready to work.