The Modern Horseman's Countdown to Broke Real Do-It-Yourself Horse Training in 33 Comprehensive Steps

by Patrick, Sean; Hilton, Charles; Miller, Robert M

• ISBN13: 9781570764196
• ISBN10: 1570764190
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-08-01
• Publisher: Trafalgar Square Books

Summary

Many horse training books are meant specifically for experienced trainers, but this comprehensive and highly accessible resource is written specifically for the horse owner. Thirty-three basic lessons in foundation training are included with clear, step-by-step instructions meant to give every horse owner the ability to bring a green animal or one from troubled beginnings to a point where both horse and rider have the essential skills to pursue any equestrian discipline with confidence. More than 75 topics are covered, including release points, knowing the five control points, motivators, facing and following, perfecting leads, and speed control.

Author Biography

Sean Patrick has been working with horses since 1992, is a former high-country guide, and writes for Trail Blazer magazine. He runs a horse training business focusing on performance-horse training, colt starting, problem horses, and horsemanship instruction. He lives in Oxford, Florida.

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. vii
Introduction	p. xi
Getting Started	p. 1
Where Do You Begin?	p. 2
Evaluating Your Horse	p. 2
How the Horse's Age Affects the Countdown	p. 2
How Long Will the Countdown Take?	p. 2
Equipment Needed	p. 3
The Horse's Bit	p. 3
A Special Note on Safety	p. 5
"Jargon-Busters"	p. 5
The Teaching Process	p. 11
Horse Psychology 101	p. 11
Conditioned Response	p. 12
The Five Control Points	p. 14
Spot, Direction, Motivator, and Release	p. 14
A Word about Motivators	p. 17
The Difference between Cues and Motivators	p. 18
Understanding the Release Point	p. 18
Combining Reinforcements	p. 19
Explaining a "Give"	p. 20
Further, Faster, Softer	p. 20
Muscle Memory	p. 20
Learning Curve	p. 21
Building Your Horse's Confidence	p. 21
Helping Your Horse Overcome His Fears	p. 21
Habituation	p. 22
Knowing When to "Push"	p. 23
Replacement Theory	p. 23
Being Fair	p. 24
Thoughts on Reprimanding	p. 25
Problem Horses	p. 26
The Modern Horseman's Countdown	p. 27
Initial Movement in the Round Pen	p. 28
Inside Turns	p. 34
Asking the Horse to "Come In"	p. 39
Facing and Following	p. 45
"Sacking-Out"	p. 50
Introducing Halter Pressure	p. 60
Tying	p. 66
First Saddling	p. 71
"Sacking-Out" under Saddle	p. 79
First Bridling	p. 84
Moving the Hips	p. 89
"Sacking-Out" with Hip Motion	p. 94
Go Forward Cue	p. 99
Preparing for Mounting with "Up-Downs"	p. 110
First Ride	p. 114
"Moving Out" while Mounted	p. 118
Jogging and Loping for the First Time	p. 124
Hip Serpentines	p. 131
Backing-Up-Part I	p. 138
Backing-Up-Part II	p. 145
Loping Circles and Straight Lines	p. 152
Teaching "Whoa" and Seat Stops	p. 158
"Clockwork"-Part I: Moving the Shoulders away from Rein Pressure	p. 165
Shoulder Serpentines and Circles	p. 179
Collection and Nose-Softening-Part I	p. 185
Collection and Nose-Softening-Part II	p. 189
Cueing Hip Motion in Response to Leg Pressure	p. 194
Hips In	p. 198
"Clockwork"-Part II: Moving the Shoulders toward Rein Pressure	p. 203
Lope Leads	p. 211
Cueing Shoulder Motion in Response to Leg Pressure	p. 215
Perfecting Leads	p. 221
Flying Lead Changes	p. 226
Final Check-In	p. 233
Index	p. 235
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