horse help, horse training, chris irwin, horse training pressure, ground work training, groundwork, ground work, groundwork training
Ground work�
In-Hand Help
Keep your horse firmly in hand the right way with
this lesson from top clinician/trainer Chris Irwin.
Working your horse inhand
means maintaining
control when he’s on the lead
rope. When he pushes into
your space or pulls away,
your first instincts to control
his behavior may actually be
counterproductive.
Top trainer/clinician Chris
Irwin explains that there are
two types of pressure used in
this type of ground work: advancing
pressure and blocking
pressure.
• Advancing pressure (also called
impulsive pressure or herding) is
movement oriented, such as
pushing your horse’s shoulder
to move him.
• Blocking pressure is stationary,
such as holding your
hand or dressage whip in
front of your horse’s head
to block his movement into
your space.
When teaching an in-hand
lesson, never use advancing
pressure around your horse’s
head and neck, or you’ll create
a fear response. His head will
pop up, his frame will invert,
he’ll stiffen, and adrenalin will
fill his body, preventing learning.
Rather, use blocking pressure,
which teaches him the
correct behavior the right way.
Watch the video for details!
Horse.com • state line tack HorseLink Magazine15
Watch the video for more on the right and wrong way to
correct your horse if he pushes into your space while on the
lead rope. (For further in-hand training lessons from Chris
Irwin, go to Horse.com, and click on the video library.)
You’ll need: A standard-length dressage whip; a lead rope
without a chain; work gloves.
About Chris Irwin
Chris Irwin uses his evolutionary
approach to horsemanship
to resolve “behavior problems”
in all types of horses, from wild
mustangs to the most challenging
and competitive horses shown in
the highest levels of dressage and
jumping. He’s written two books:
Horses Don’t Lie and Dancing With Your Dark Horse.
Issue 5 2009
news TrAininG HeAlTH Ground
AdvenTures GreAT GeAr HooF iT environs PursuiTs
work
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