Western Beginner 25 min

Small Slow Circle to Large Fast Circle at the Trot

Focus: Adjustability, Speed Control, Collection

Equipment: 4 cones or markers

Start at a collected trot on a small circle (20 feet diameter) near the center of the arena.
The small circle should be slow, collected, and precise. The horse's hind legs are well underneath.
After 2-3 small circles, gradually open to a large circle (full arena width) at a faster trot.
The large circle should cover more ground with longer, more forward strides.
After 2 large circles, gradually close back to the small slow circle.
The contrast between small/slow and large/fast demonstrates your horse's adjustability.
This is a required element in reining patterns.

The small circle not being truly slow and collected — the horse needs to sit and shorten.
The large circle not being truly fast — the horse needs to really open up its stride.
Not enough contrast between the two circle sizes and speeds.
The circles being misshapen (egg-shaped) instead of round.

Add more speed contrast: very slow small circle vs. very fast large circle.
Practice the transition from small to large and back within 2 strides for quickness.
Include this exercise in a full reining pattern practice.

Tip: Reining judges score the difference between your small slow circles and large fast circles. The more contrast, the higher the score.