How to Balance When Loping a Horse in a Circle

A well-balanced horse-and-rider team have a much better chance at success if they have a steady connection and rhythm. Many riders will attempt to achieve balance by throwing their weight around in the saddle, which is futile. If your horse is actively paying attention to the cues from your seat, legs and hands, balance in the canter will come naturally to both of you. With practice, you and your horse will be able to execute circles of all sizes accurately and smoothly at the lope.

  1. Hips and Seat

    • A horse will naturally lean into the shoulder closest to the center of a circle. Your hips and seat help keep the horse evenly balanced and keeps his shoulder from collapsing, forming a weak or disjointed circle. Keep your hips loose, and flex with the motion of the horse. Shift your weight so that slightly more weight is in your outside stirrup. Fighting a horse's natural three-beat rhythm in a lope will result in a jarring, haphazard ride that can leave you unbalanced and possibly unseated.

    Eyes and Hands

    • A rider's eyes are often cast downward in an effort to manage her horse. By looking up and ahead of you in the direction that you are moving, your lope circle will naturally be more balanced because you are moving with the horse instead of ahead of or behind the horse's momentum. Ride with a light rein contact so you can regulate your horse's tempo by squeezing your fingers to slow him down, or relaxing your fingers to ask for a more forward gait.

    Circle Measurements and Practice

    • Measure a 20m, 15m or 10m circle on a level surface. Place jump standards, barrels or other markers evenly around the circle. Practice loping on the inside and outside of the markers to ensure your circle is round and accurate. As you pass a marker, look ahead to the next marker. Learning to spot distances in a circle will teach you to create complete and evenly shaped circles, thus improving your balance.

    Riding Without Stirrups

    • Riding without stirrups will hone your balance and enable you to center your body naturally instead of relying on your stirrups. Begin by walking, then jog your horse without stirrups. Walk and jog straight lines and wide turns before loping. Slowly work your way into the exercise by riding without stirrups on a very large circle at the lope before riding a smaller circle. Hold on to the saddle horn until you feel balanced without stirrups.