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END OF TRAIL EQUINE TRAINING |
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Box 621, Lister, British Columbia,
Canada V0B 1Y0 |
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Steve Helping a Student in the Round Pen at End of Trail
Equine Training
In addition to weekend clinics, custom horse training and private lessons, Steve offers intensive 2-week training courses in general horsemanship and starting colts. The courses usually take place at Steve and Carol's 40-acre training facility near Creston, British Columbia, Canada, which is just a few miles north of the Idaho border. Steve has combined his John Lyons training with the methods of other "natural horsemen" into his own unique method. (For information about upcoming weekend clinics, or to request a clinic in your area, click on "Upcoming Events" ).
The intensive 2-week sessions involve training through
trust and reward, and include a Level One and a Level Two course. Students
in both English and Western disciplines will learn how to apply Steve's
successful conditioned- response training methods to develop a more willing,
"want-to" attitude and softer responses both from the ground and
in the saddle. This years' summer courses will take place on the following
dates:
April 3 - 14, 2006
May 1 - 12, 2006
May 29 - June 9, 2006
July 10 - 21, 2006
August 7 - 18, 2006
September 4 - 15, 2006
These 2-week summer courses will be limited to only five participants, to maximize the amount of individual attention that each student receives. Students are required to bring two horses to work with--one unbroke horse that has never had a saddle on, and one broke horse able to walk, trot, canter. If necessary, horses can be provided at extra cost. Participants are encouraged to bring a camper or tent and stay right at the training center. Training sessions will run from 9 am to 4 pm every day except Sunday (with an hour for lunch). Students will spend up to 60 hours or more in direct training with their own horses. Steve is an understanding and caring teacher, who is committed to individualizing the program so that each participant can develop their skills to the fullest extent possible.

End of Trail Equine Training Entrance, Lister, BC
THE COST...
(All costs below are in American (USD)
dollars. To convert to your country's currency, click on this link: http://www.xe.net/ucc).
The regular Basic Tuition Cost is $1700 USD * for the entire two weeks (or
only $850 USD * per week), and includes the
following:
• Tuition for the 2-week course
• Stalls and high-quality hay for two horses
EARLYBIRD SPECIAL!!
Pay
your tuition for any of the 2006 sessions in full BEFORE MAY1st
of 2006 and pay only $1500 US * for the entire two weeks (that’s only $750
US per week!!). After May 1st, you will pay the regular $1700 US
* (or $850 US per week), and this is due one month prior to the applicable
session.
BRING-A-FRIEND SPECIAL!!
If
you sign up for the
same 2-week session with a friend, and pay in full BEFORE MAY1st
of 2006, the tuition for each of you is
only $1350 US * for the two weeks (that’s only $675 US per week!).
After May 1st, you and your friend will still only pay the
reduced rate of $1500 * US (or $750 US per week).
The 2-week summer courses will be limited to only five participants, to
maximize the amount of individual attention that each student receives.
Students are required to bring two horses to work with--one unbroke horse
that has never had a saddle on, and one broke horse able to walk, trot,
canter. If necessary, horses can be provided at extra cost. Participants are
encouraged to bring a camper or tent and stay right at the training center.
Training sessions will run from 9 am to 4 pm every day except Sunday (with
an hour for lunch). Students can spend up to 60 hours or more in direct
training with their own horses.
Each apprentice may bring along a helper (spouse or friend, for example) for
an additional cost of $100 USD * per week. The friend may not participate
directly in the program, but may observe, ask questions, etc. Participants
must be at least 18 years old, unless accompanied by a parent.
(* NOTE: All prices are subject to 7% federal Canadian tax, but US citizens may claim back the full amount of this tax upon reentering the US. Your tuition will be refunded in the event that your application is not accepted or if the course is cancelled. Otherwise, there are no refunds for prepaid sessions, but the tuition may be applied to a different End of Trail 2-week course at a different time).
Here is an itinerary for the two-week
course:
LEVEL ONE
In the Level One session, students will learn the following
general horsetraining principles and be able to apply them to many different
horse-training situations:
• theories of herd and horse psychology (pecking order, claustrophobic and
panic reactions) and how these relate to horse behaviour and the development
of trust and respect between horse and human
• the concept of pressure and release
• Lyons' basic concept of request/response/reward
• the three T’s of training: Torque, Timing and Tenacity
• the “Graduated Cuing System” and how it relates to training the
horse to respond to the lightest cue possible.
• the learning curve of the horse and how to achieve consistency of
performance
• John Lyons’ theory of training initially with one rein
WEEK 1
Each day, students will review the concepts they have learned previously and
practice the new concepts that are introduced each day, first with the broke
horse and then with the unbroke horse. During Week 1, students will work
individually with the instructor on Round Penning Techniques with their
unbroke horse in the round pen.
Broke Horse:
Even though students may have been riding their broke horse for many years,
there may have been “holes” in
certain areas of that horse's training, and students will also learn how to
refine these skills with their broke horse, such that the horse will become
a more willing, and more responsive partner. When not working on Round
Penning with their unbroke horse, students will practise round penning
techniques on the lead rope with their broke horse, as well as the following
skills:
• training the horse to know and respect our space on the ground
• ground handling from both sides of the horse: gaining control of all
parts of the horse from the ground, getting the horse to move off of
pressure in all 6 directions, with the goal of getting the horse to respond
to the very lightest cue possible
• the “Go Forward” cue and the “Yield to Pressure” cue
• getting the horse to move off of finger pressure (touch) applied to all
parts of the body
• how to recognize and overcome passive/aggressive behaviour
• the Direction Lesson (John’s WESN Lesson)--round penning without a
round pen
• advanced (“College Level”) leading, with the horse responding
willingly to your body cues in all directions and at varying speeds with
soft stops and peppy starts, either in the round pen or on a loose halter
shank
• trailer loading, and advanced “college level” trailer loading (no
contact)
• touch and handle the horse all over with the hands, including all
sensitive areas such as inside ears, inside mouth, genitalia, under tail,
etc. and how to overcome headshyness
• the “Heads Down Cue”--getting the horse to put his nose down on the
ground using the halter, bit, or hands only
• teaching the horse to accept the bridle (open mouth on cue)
• the concept of “giving to the bit” from the ground
• training the horse to pick up all four feet and place them gently into
your hand with only a “kiss” cue
• training the horse to stand quietly while tied, stand quietly for
saddling, mounting, farrier work, etc.,
• "ground tying" and tying by the foot
Unbroke Horse:
• the “Round Pen Basics”
• the “Come to You” lesson
• teaching the horse to be caught
Following this, students will begin to practise some of the lessons outlined
above for the broke horse with their unbroke horses.
WEEK 2
Broke Horse:
During Week 2, students will continue working on refining the skills they
learned in Week 1, as well as the following:
• “giving to the bit” from the horse’s back
• spook control and “spook-in-place”
• tarp work, rope work and sacking out
• dragging objects, obstacle training, crossing water and bridges
• getting a good “go forward cue”, the stop, the back-up, and smooth
transitions at a walk, trot, canter using one rein only
• develop a better seat and confidence by being round penned by the
instructor while on your horse’s back
• following the nose,
• begin riding out of the arena more, to increase the level of the
distractions
Unbroke Horse:
By the end of the second week, all students should have sacked out, saddled
and had at least the “first ride” on their unbroke horse. They will then
bring the unbroke horse along as quickly or as slowly as they feel able to,
teaching this horse the skills they have been practising on their broke
horse. Some horses will advance faster than others, but each student will
have to rely on their own judgment and that of the instructor as to whether
or not the horse is ready to advance to the next lesson. The young, unbroke
horse must have a solid foundation and should never be rushed into a
situation before it is ready. In addition, every horse and every trainer is
at a different level, and will come with different learning styles, rates
and personalities.
During the second week, students will ride out with the instuctor on longer
trail rides using their broke horse, and their newly broke horse. They will
practise the skills they have learned, including creek crossing.
LEVEL TWO
Once students have completed Level One, they will be required to practise at
home with their horses and consolidate the skills they have learned for a
minimum of 3 weeks before they are able to return for Level Two. In Level
Two, students will continue refining the skills they learned in Level One
with both their horses, and will learn the following more advanced skills:
• advanced "giving to the bit", "following the nose",
"reverse arc circles", "moving off the shoulder", the
"Clockwork", and the Number 10 Spot
• adding in the second rein, and what it is used for
• refining gait transitions, rating your speed at all gaits, getting the
correct lead and flying lead changes
• the "calm down" cue
• teaching the horse to lie down on command
• teaching the “bow”, the “End of Trail” and other “tricks”
• how to deal with common behaviour problems, such as bucking, shying,
rearing, kicking, refusing to go forward, the barn or “buddy sour”
horse, bolting, jigging on the trail, biting, barking dogs on the trail,
etc.
• techniques for handling the aggressive or frightened horse
• how to overcome headshyness

The Scenic Creston Valley
THE PLACE...
The Creston Valley is a broad, fertile farming are nestled in between mountain ranges at the lower end of beautiful Kootenay Lake. Breathtaking views are evident everywhere from miles of scenic riding trails that wind through wooded hills. Mountain streams cascade down the hillsides into the wide Kootenay River, which meanders through the valley and flows into Kootenay Lake. We invite you to British Columbia's picturesque Kootenay Lake region for a challenging and exciting equine learning experience that you'll never forget. Whether you strive to be a professional horse trainer, or if you are only the backyard trainer of your own horse, this apprenticeship program will change the way you relate to your horses forever!
Click HERE
to see a map showing
the location of
End of Trail Equine Training.

Beautiful Kootenay Lake near Creston, BC
And click HERE for the Creston weather!!
If you have any questions about our training programs, or if you would be interested in receiving more information and a brochure, please fill out the form below...
© End of Trail Equine Training 2002-2005