About the Book
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.
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 University in 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(R) in New Smyrna Beach, Florida
(seanpatricktraining.com).
