School figures and the rules of the arena

Drawing the figures on paper, riding them well at walk and trot, and sharing the track safely: three skills that go together as soon as you are not alone in the school.

In the exam programme

Draw on paper and name the usual school figures: circle, volte, diagonal, turns across the school.Specific part
Steer at walk and trot on a set track including a circle, a volte, a diagonal and a turn across the school.Specific part
State the rules for riding with others in an indoor school or an outdoor arena.Common module B
Apply the rules of the arena.Specific part

Finding your way

The track: The path that runs round the edge of the indoor school or outdoor arena. The inner track runs parallel to it, a little further in.
The long and short sides: The two lengths and the two widths of the rectangle.
The centre line: The line that divides the arena down its length.
The rein: You are on the left rein when your left hand is on the inside: you are going anticlockwise. To change the rein is to change direction.

The four Galop 2 figures

The circle

20 m across, touching both long sides.

The volte

A small circle, 6 to 10 m, off the track.

The diagonal

Corner to corner, to change the rein.

Turns across the school

Across the width (E to B) or down the length (on the centre line).

Fig. 2.18Circle, volte, diagonal and turns across the school

No change of rein
The circle
A round figure that comes back to where it started, usually 10 to 20 m across. The one in the test course is 20 m: the whole width of the arena.
No change of rein
The volte
A smaller circle: traditionally 6 to 10 m across, though clubs also call a 12 or 15 m circle a volte, like the one in the test course. Your instructor will say what size.
Change of rein
The diagonal
A straight line slanting from one long side to the other. It starts a few metres after the corner, once you are past the short side, and ends a few metres before the opposite corner.
With or without a change of rein
The turn across the school
A straight line from one side to the other: across the width, parallel to the short sides, or down the length, parallel to the long sides, often on the centre line. With or without a change of rein, as instructed. The French call it a doubler.

Tip

Drawing on paper

Draw a rectangle twice as long as it is wide, round off the corners and add an arrow for the starting direction. Add the figure, then an arrow for the way out: that is what shows whether you have changed the rein.

Riding the figures well

Prepare: look at the next point of the figure before you get there and turn your shoulders towards it.
Guide with both reins, which form a corridor, and keep the gait going with your legs. You will explain the aids for turning in Galop 3.
Circle and volte: the same curve all the way round, back to the starting point.
Diagonal and turn across the school: leave the track at the right place, go straight with your eyes on the point where you will arrive, then rejoin the track on the right rein.

The rules of the arena

On the left rein: he keeps the track.
On the right rein: he moves to the inside track. Riders pass left hand to left hand.
At canter: the faster pace has priority.
At walk: he has moved to the inside track to leave the track free.
At least one horse’s length between two horses.

Fig. 2.19Right of way and passing in the arena

Coming in: ask permission, wait for the answer and shut the gate behind you.
Mounting, dismounting, adjusting, tightening the girth: in the middle, never on the track.
Halting: on the centre line, all facing the same way, with room for a horse between two horses.
Keeping your distance: at least one horse’s length behind the horse in front.
The faster gait has right of way: canter before trot, trot before walk. The slower rider leaves the track and moves onto the inner track.
At the same gait, the left rein has right of way: you pass left hand to left hand; the rider on the left rein keeps the track, the rider on the right rein moves in.
Overtake on the inside, calling out a warning and giving plenty of room.
Look before you change direction, leave the track or start a figure.

Did you know?

These are the priorities the FFE recommends; some older manuals still give right of way to the right rein. Each club can set its own rules: follow your club’s.

A word from the instructor

“Left hand to left hand” does not mean a high five as you pass. Keep both hands on the reins, and some daylight between your stirrups.

Ekidemy

The Galops^®, from the first step to Galop 7