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Chris Irwin
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  • The wilds of Northwest Alberta
  • Canada
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Is it possible to agree 110% with you, i hear the same thing time and time again too
July 21
Chris - ref. your comments about how soon, or otherwise, different horses mature to a point where they are old enough to be backed, and worked, I'd be interested to hear what you think about the information in this piece, by Dr Deb Bennett. Basicall…
July 18
A blog post by Chris Irwin was featured
It was a few too many years ago that I remember the first group of certified trainers from my “train the trainer” program got together at their graduation party and they collectively gave me a box of Depends diapers. This was their way of teasingly…
July 18
July 17
Chris Irwin received a gift from Frank de Greef
June 15
January 26
Chris, it's time I came back to following your lead. When I read your pieces, my mind always clears, and problems seem more solvable. Over the years I have looked at other clinicians and each offers some wisdom, but your insights about communication…
December 15, 2009
Just caught up with this. What a timely article, with so many new people getting into driving. I hope people will realize it may look easy, but it is not. It takes lots of training and time to get a good driving horse going correctly. Thanks for thi…
September 16, 2009
Hi Chris, I will be reading your book Horses don't Lie once again. Each time I read it I find a new connection between the feelings I have myself and the responce I get from the horses I am around. I have always loved horses and I know that I am tru…
September 15, 2009
what perfect timing for this post. The following article just appeared in Horsetalk NZ: Two carriage rides end in trouble, man loses lower leg August 31, 2009 Two carriage rides ended in mishaps in North America on Saturday, the worst resulting i…
August 30, 2009
Yeah, Jackie, many people have the misconception that driving is "easy" and it's for senior citizens that are too old to ride. Nothing can be farther from the truth! The harness horse is exponentially more potentially dangerous then the riding horse…
August 30, 2009
You just convinced me that if I wanted to drive a horse, to get one already professionally trained! Riding sure sounds a LOT easier to do safely.
August 30, 2009
A blog post by Chris Irwin was featured
As we all know, the old expression “don’t put the cart before the horse” is a metaphor about making sure that we have our priorities straight. Having said that, what is literal is how tragic it can get when someone arbitrarily assumes that it would…
August 29, 2009
Chris Irwin added a blog post
As we all know, the old expression “don’t put the cart before the horse” is a metaphor about making sure that we have our priorities straight. Having said that, what is literal is how tragic it can get when someone arbitrarily assumes that it would…
August 29, 2009
Thank you for the wonderful explanation of EAPD and taking the time in your busy schedule to contribute your thoughts here for those fortunate enough to read them. Hope to see you next year.
August 26, 2009
May the horse be with you! Love it! That should be on a t-shirt.
August 10, 2009

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Canada
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http://www.chrisirwin.com

Chris Irwin's Blog

Chris Irwin

HARNESSING HORSEPOWER? - Don't "put the cart before the horse".

As we all know, the old expression “don’t put the cart before the horse” is a metaphor about making sure that we have our priorities straight. Having said that, what is literal is how tragic it can get when someone arbitrarily assumes that it would be fun to drive their horse in a cart or buggy and that the horse will just agree do his or her job and be okay with pulling the contraption down the road.

Unfortunately, what all too often happens when even the best riding horses are suddenly harnes… Continue

Posted on August 29, 2009 at 5:00pm — 5 Comments

Chris Irwin

Walking The Talk of Natural Horsemanship

Hello and greetings to everyone from Riversong Ranch in Alberta. I’m sitting here in my office reading over a recent chat I found on Barnmice about the merits – pros or cons – of Natural Horsemanship. And I must say that I am truly encouraged by most of the comments I read that seemingly indicate that now that the natural horsemanship “revolution” is over that perhaps now the evolution of natural horsemanship into “supernatural horsemanship” will begin.

Despite all the marketing hype and smoke… Continue

Posted on July 12, 2009 at 1:02pm — 13 Comments

Chris Irwin

Beware of Easy Answers

It was a few too many years ago that I remember the first group of certified trainers from my “train the trainer” program got together at their graduation party and they collectively gave me a box of Depends diapers. This was their way of teasingly letting me know how they felt about the fact that I answered just about each and every question they ever asked with the answer “it depends”. In fact, this happens so much that it has become somewhat of a trademark for me. Often when I am at a clinic… Continue

Posted on June 27, 2009 at 2:49pm — 8 Comments

Chris Irwin

TRAINING BEFORE SCHOOLING?

When it comes to developing a truly willing mind from a horse there is a critical difference between training and schooling. Focused schooling for specific tasks as to exactly when, where and how the rider wants the horse to perform should only begin when the horse consistently chooses not to fuss, challenge or search to find a way out from between the legs and reins of the rider. Once the horse has had enough training to willingly choose the easy path of staying balanced with a rider and is no… Continue

Posted on June 9, 2009 at 3:07pm — 7 Comments

Chris Irwin

FEEL THE RIVER IN YOUR HORSE

As I travel the world working with people and horses there are significant cultural differences between the various countries. However, it is always true that wherever I go - people are people and horses are horses. But then again there is the very real challenge of how often the time needed for translation of verbal languages takes us “out of the moment” with the horses.

Of course, that delay between a rider hearing what I have to say - and then translating my English into their own language -… Continue

Posted on May 24, 2009 at 10:30am — 5 Comments

Comment Wall (14 comments)

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At 10:17am on July 17, 2010, Jackie Cochran said…
Way to go Chris! Show the world how it is done, quietly, non-abusively, and with no extra drama.
At 10:49am on June 15, 2010, Frank de Greef gave Chris Irwin a gift
Hi Chris, I'm new on this one... Frank de Greef.
At 7:50pm on January 26, 2010, Abigail said…
Hi Chris!
I've started to train my mare, Miagh, in saddle with your methods. She use to be great at doing a right circle at a trot, but then she started turning to the left right before the fence! My coach, Heather Collinge (one of your students), said that Miagh found one of my "holes" in turning that way. I make her go the way I need her to, but it's takes the breath out of me! She is a stubborn Appy, but breed is no excuse... do I just keep training till she smooths out nicely?
At 8:10am on August 10, 2009, Marti Langley said…
Chris, when will you be in Wales? My Grampa was born there. He is gone now. I have a pic of him riding a horse in Cuba. Wish I could afford to go to Wales. Not this year, for sure!
At 1:21pm on June 28, 2009, Bobbi C said…
Hi Chris,
don't know if you remember my horse Mia and I from your clinic in Ireland (we were your demo lab rats!) back in April. Just wanted to say thaks you so so much for everything I learned that day. I am finally able to get Mia to lunge correctly, and she is learning to carry herself and really work her whole body on the lunge now.
i love being able to read your articles, they keep me thinking and learning. Can't wait to see you when you come back in July. This time i'll be there with my notebook and pen and hope to learn loads more actually being able to concentrate more on you without having my ADHD horse with me!!
See you then,
Bobbi
:)
At 11:08am on April 25, 2009, Lallanslover said…
Hi there Chris...I'd be interested in attending your clinic on the 9th of May, at Maelor Equestrian Centre. I live in Manchester, around an hour and a half away. Please forward details of the clinic to me.
Many thanks,
Charlotte.
At 3:04pm on March 31, 2009, Sarah at HorseJobs.ca said…
Looking forward to seeing you at the Cadora Clinic in April.
At 12:02pm on March 20, 2009, Chris Irwin said…
Hi Ann and to all who have posted comments recently,

Greetings to you and everyone else who has been posting such kind comments. Thanks to everyone and many apologies for not staying more on top of these replies with more timely responses to your generous comments. I'm too busy burning the candle at both ends these days - with travel to and from clinics while trying to develop Riversong - it's a challenging transition not unlike the flying changes I just wrote about :-)

Again, many thanks to you all for your kindness of spirit. Much appreciated!
At 9:34pm on March 12, 2009, Patricia Kell said…
Hello Chris, looking forward to seeing you sometime in 2009, and that your winter has been shorter than ours. Take care. Patricia
At 11:11am on March 2, 2009, Debbie Fantin said…
Hi Chris & welcome aboard. I've watched your clinics in Nova Scotia and enjoyed them thoroughly. If you have time, please check our our website at www.euroequestriansales.com We have some gorgeous 2 year olds for sale and hopefully have an outstanding 2009 foal crop to stallions such as Quidam de Revel, Chin Chin, Lupicor, Consul & Landfriesse II. We will also be selling 2 of our incredible mares after their foals are weaned. It is time for them to start their show careers!!
 
 
 

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