The Modern Horseman's Countdown to Broke-New Edition: Real Do-It-Yourself Horse Training in 33 Comprehensive Lessons
The ultimate guide to the “complete” riding horse—whether a performance, working, or “just for fun” prospect. 

Professional horseman Sean Patrick’s now legendary Countdown is the most clear, thorough, “doable” system of horse training available. Quite simply, you begin at Lesson Number 33 and count your way down through the basic exercises—the “primary education”—every horse needs. And when you get to Lesson 1, you’ve done it; you’ve prepared your horse for advanced work in any number of equestrian disciplines. You can’t get lost along the way. There’s no room for confusion. The happy result? Sean trains you to be a trainer. 

Whether your horse is a foal or five, green or educated, well-started or lacking fundamentals, he will benefit from the Countdown—a true “foundation” program, serving to prepare him for the endless variety of activities and “jobs” horses perform today. From indispensable handling, “sacking-out,” and tying exercises, to how you, the rider, can control the different parts of the horse’s body from the ground and the saddle; from mounting on both the left and the right to performing flawless flying lead changes, you’ll be amazed at how effective and efficient this program is. In this book you’ll find:

• Explanations of the “conditioned response,” the Five Control Points, and how to recognize and use a “give.”

• Advice for building the horse’s confidence, knowing when to “push” but most importantly, how to be fair.

• Lessons in conscientious use of the round pen for teaching movement, turning, and inviting the horse in.

• Progressive steps for preparing for first rides and having them be successes.

• Tips for developing the back-up, “whoa,” and seat stops without stress.

• Exercises for achieving a correct and soft collection. 

Because you are the one teaching your horse, you also have the opportunity to build your own skill set. Sean promises that by the end of the Countdown, readers will have a deeper understanding of how horses learn; an improved ability to gauge the pressure necessary to communicate with the horse and pace teaching accordingly; a capacity for recognizing behaviors (both good and bad); and an intuitive understanding of the root of a problem and the steps to take to work on it. In essence, he helps you become self-sufficient and ready to take your horse that next step, whether along the rail, down the trail, or into the show pen.

 

 

 

1140942678
The Modern Horseman's Countdown to Broke-New Edition: Real Do-It-Yourself Horse Training in 33 Comprehensive Lessons
The ultimate guide to the “complete” riding horse—whether a performance, working, or “just for fun” prospect. 

Professional horseman Sean Patrick’s now legendary Countdown is the most clear, thorough, “doable” system of horse training available. Quite simply, you begin at Lesson Number 33 and count your way down through the basic exercises—the “primary education”—every horse needs. And when you get to Lesson 1, you’ve done it; you’ve prepared your horse for advanced work in any number of equestrian disciplines. You can’t get lost along the way. There’s no room for confusion. The happy result? Sean trains you to be a trainer. 

Whether your horse is a foal or five, green or educated, well-started or lacking fundamentals, he will benefit from the Countdown—a true “foundation” program, serving to prepare him for the endless variety of activities and “jobs” horses perform today. From indispensable handling, “sacking-out,” and tying exercises, to how you, the rider, can control the different parts of the horse’s body from the ground and the saddle; from mounting on both the left and the right to performing flawless flying lead changes, you’ll be amazed at how effective and efficient this program is. In this book you’ll find:

• Explanations of the “conditioned response,” the Five Control Points, and how to recognize and use a “give.”

• Advice for building the horse’s confidence, knowing when to “push” but most importantly, how to be fair.

• Lessons in conscientious use of the round pen for teaching movement, turning, and inviting the horse in.

• Progressive steps for preparing for first rides and having them be successes.

• Tips for developing the back-up, “whoa,” and seat stops without stress.

• Exercises for achieving a correct and soft collection. 

Because you are the one teaching your horse, you also have the opportunity to build your own skill set. Sean promises that by the end of the Countdown, readers will have a deeper understanding of how horses learn; an improved ability to gauge the pressure necessary to communicate with the horse and pace teaching accordingly; a capacity for recognizing behaviors (both good and bad); and an intuitive understanding of the root of a problem and the steps to take to work on it. In essence, he helps you become self-sufficient and ready to take your horse that next step, whether along the rail, down the trail, or into the show pen.

 

 

 

32.95 In Stock
The Modern Horseman's Countdown to Broke-New Edition: Real Do-It-Yourself Horse Training in 33 Comprehensive Lessons

The Modern Horseman's Countdown to Broke-New Edition: Real Do-It-Yourself Horse Training in 33 Comprehensive Lessons

The Modern Horseman's Countdown to Broke-New Edition: Real Do-It-Yourself Horse Training in 33 Comprehensive Lessons

The Modern Horseman's Countdown to Broke-New Edition: Real Do-It-Yourself Horse Training in 33 Comprehensive Lessons

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Overview

The ultimate guide to the “complete” riding horse—whether a performance, working, or “just for fun” prospect. 

Professional horseman Sean Patrick’s now legendary Countdown is the most clear, thorough, “doable” system of horse training available. Quite simply, you begin at Lesson Number 33 and count your way down through the basic exercises—the “primary education”—every horse needs. And when you get to Lesson 1, you’ve done it; you’ve prepared your horse for advanced work in any number of equestrian disciplines. You can’t get lost along the way. There’s no room for confusion. The happy result? Sean trains you to be a trainer. 

Whether your horse is a foal or five, green or educated, well-started or lacking fundamentals, he will benefit from the Countdown—a true “foundation” program, serving to prepare him for the endless variety of activities and “jobs” horses perform today. From indispensable handling, “sacking-out,” and tying exercises, to how you, the rider, can control the different parts of the horse’s body from the ground and the saddle; from mounting on both the left and the right to performing flawless flying lead changes, you’ll be amazed at how effective and efficient this program is. In this book you’ll find:

• Explanations of the “conditioned response,” the Five Control Points, and how to recognize and use a “give.”

• Advice for building the horse’s confidence, knowing when to “push” but most importantly, how to be fair.

• Lessons in conscientious use of the round pen for teaching movement, turning, and inviting the horse in.

• Progressive steps for preparing for first rides and having them be successes.

• Tips for developing the back-up, “whoa,” and seat stops without stress.

• Exercises for achieving a correct and soft collection. 

Because you are the one teaching your horse, you also have the opportunity to build your own skill set. Sean promises that by the end of the Countdown, readers will have a deeper understanding of how horses learn; an improved ability to gauge the pressure necessary to communicate with the horse and pace teaching accordingly; a capacity for recognizing behaviors (both good and bad); and an intuitive understanding of the root of a problem and the steps to take to work on it. In essence, he helps you become self-sufficient and ready to take your horse that next step, whether along the rail, down the trail, or into the show pen.

 

 

 


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781646011681
Publisher: Trafalgar Square
Publication date: 09/27/2022
Pages: 256
Product dimensions: 8.50(w) x 11.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Sean Patrick has been working on his horsemanship as a career since 1992, spending over a decade as a high-country guide and packer at the McLean Family's Tsylos Park Lodge in the West Chilcotin Region of British Columbia, Canada. There, Sean guided international clientele into the rugged mountains of the Pacific Coastal Range for weeklong pack excursions. ​Sean also led various other horseback trips, guided fly anglers on the Chilko River and Lake, and escorted big-game enthusiasts into the alpine on horseback.

Sean earned his BA at Trent Universityin Peterborough, Canada, as well as receiving a horseshoeing certificate from Oklahoma's Horseshoeing School in Purcell. In 2004, Sean joined the John Lyons Certification Program in Horse Training at the Lyons’ facility in Parachute, Colorado.

Sean is a two-time competitor at the prestigious Road to the Horse and loves to share his horsemanship at home and around the country and clinics and expos. He now focuses on performance-horse training, reining, colt-starting, horsemanship instruction, and writing. He has published over 180 equine-related articles in various magazines as well as his bestselling book The Modern Horseman's Countdown to Broke, which is also available in streaming video form. Sean trains and operates his horsemanship school from Pioneer Trail Reserve® in New Smyrna Beach, Florida (seanpatricktraining.com).

Table of Contents

Foreword vii

Introduction xi

Part 1 Getting Started 1

Where Do You Begin? 2

Evaluating Your Horse 2

How the Horse's Age Affects the Countdown 2

How Long Will the Countdown Take? 2

Equipment Needed 3

The Horse's Bit 3

A Special Note on Safety 5

"Jargon-Busters" 5

The Teaching Process 11

Horse Psychology 101 11

Conditioned Response 12

The Five Control Points 14

Spot, Direction, Motivator, and Release 14

A Word about Motivators 17

The Difference between Cues and Motivators 18

Understanding the Release Point 18

Combining Reinforcements 19

Explaining a "Give" 20

Further, Faster, Softer 20

Muscle Memory 20

Learning Curve 21

Building Your Horse's Confidence 21

Helping Your Horse Overcome His Fears 21

Habituation 22

Knowing When to "Push" 23

Replacement Theory 23

Being Fair 24

Thoughts on Reprimanding 25

Problem Horses 26

Part 2 The Countdown 27

Lesson 33 Initial Movement in the Round Pen 28

Lesson 32 Inside Turns 34

Lesson 31 Asking the Horse to "Come In" 39

Lesson 30 Facing and Following 45

Lesson 29 "Sacking-Out" 50

Lesson 28 Introducing Halter Pressure 60

Lesson 27 Tying 66

Lesson 26 First Saddling 71

Lesson 25 "Sacking-Out" under Saddle 79

Lesson 24 First Bridling 84

Lesson 23 Moving the Hips 89

Lesson 22 "Sacking-Out" with Hip Motion 94

Lesson 21 Go Forward Cue 99

Lesson 20 Preparing for Mounting with "Up-Downs" 110

Lesson 19 First Ride 114

Lesson 18 "Moving Out" while Mounted 118

Lesson 17 Jogging and Loping for the First Time 124

Lesson 16 Hip Serpentines 131

Lesson 15 Backing-Up-Part I 138

Lesson 14 Backing-Up-Part II 145

Lesson 13 Loping Circles and Straight Lines 152

Lesson 12 Teaching "Whoa" and Seat Stops 158

Lesson 11 "Clockwork"-Part I: Moving the Shoulders Away from Rein Pressure 165

Lesson 10 Shoulder Serpentines and Circles 179

Lesson 9 Collection and Nose-Softening-Part I 185

Lesson 8 Collection and Nose-Softening-Part II 189

Lesson 7 Cueing Hip Motion in Response to Leg Pressure 194

Lesson 6 Hips In 198

Lesson 5 "Clockwork"-Part II: Moving the Shoulders Toward Rein Pressure 203

Lesson 4 Lope Leads 211

Lesson 3. Cueing Shoulder Motion in Response to Leg Pressure 215

Lesson 2 Perfecting Leads 221

Lesson 1 Flying Lead Changes 226

Final Check-In 233

Index 235

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