Chris Irwin - Best Horse Trainer of our Time

Recently, I came across the work of Dr. James Hollis, a Jungian psychoanalyst and author of more than twenty books. In many of his interviews, he speaks about shadow work—the deep inner process of facing one’s own fears, insecurities, and repressed emotions. Dr. Hollis says that people who have done their shadow work can truly help others do the same, and in doing so, help heal the world.

That insight immediately reminded me of Chris Irwin, the best horse trainer of our time.

Many spiritual teachers echo what Hollis says: that healing ourselves is the foundation for helping others heal. Chris Irwin embodies this truth. In his remarkable book Dancing with Your Dark Horse, published in 2005, he doesn’t shy away from sharing his own struggles. Unlike many trainers who project only confidence and mastery, Irwin had the courage, honesty, and authenticity to talk about his darker moments—the times when ego, fear, or frustration got the better of him.

That willingness to face and integrate his own “shadow” is exactly what makes him not only an exceptional horseman, but also a profound teacher of life.

Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to meet some of the greats in the horse world—Monty Roberts among them. Yet no one has spoken as openly about their inner challenges as Chris Irwin. And perhaps that’s why his work resonates so deeply.

When I first discovered his methods more than fifteen years ago, I was struggling with my horse, Hidalgo. He had tendonitis and couldn’t be worked in a round pen, which meant long, often stressful walks on hard roads. Hidalgo was sensitive—he would explode at the smallest stimulus. I was not a horse trainer myself; I knew early on that I lacked the emotional self-regulation required to always remain calm, patient, and fearless. I could be endlessly patient with riders—but horses demanded a deeper kind of self-awareness.

So when I came across Chris Irwin’s DVD The Horse in Hand – Evolve with Chris Irwin, I was fascinated. He broke down, in practical and accessible ways, the subtle art of working with a horse’s balance and relaxation.

One of the most eye-opening lessons Irwin teaches is the importance of helping the horse reach a state of relaxation where it can release endorphins. This, he explains, is not just about calmness—it’s about creating a physiological link of trust.

When a horse releases endorphins in your presence, it associates that feeling of safety and well-being with you. That insight transformed the way I saw horsemanship. You don’t need to be a “trainer” in the traditional sense—you just need to get it right emotionally and energetically.

Years later, I learned about the concepts of psychological safety and the vagus nerve, which confirm what Irwin intuitively understood: self-regulation creates safety, and safety enables connection. Our inner state directly affects the horse’s nervous system.

Another essential lesson from Irwin is about balance. Anyone who works with horses knows that true healing begins in the feet, in how the horse moves and carries itself. Chris Irwin shows that even something as simple as when you turn the horse—on the outside front leg rather than the inside—can make all the difference.

It’s a small detail, but when I applied it in free work, the results were astonishing. The horse would follow naturally, willingly, as if we were dancing together. That’s the magic of Irwin’s teaching: simple truths with profound effects.

Dr. Hollis’s words about shadow work come full circle here. Working with horses inevitably brings out both the best and worst in us. Horses reflect our inner state with unflinching honesty. I’ve seen famous trainers lose themselves in anger or dominance—with tragic consequences.

Chris Irwin’s approach is the antidote to that. His work is not about controlling the horse but about understanding yourself. Every interaction becomes an opportunity to practice emotional balance, humility, and compassion.

That’s why Dancing with Your Dark Horse remains, in my opinion, a must-read for anyone who truly wants to evolve with horses—not as a means of ego gratification, but as a path of mutual growth.

It gives me great joy to see that Chris Irwin is now more successful and recognized than ever before. His upcoming visit to Europe, including the Netherlands, feels like a good omen for the horse world—a sign that authentic, heart-centered horsemanship is finally being celebrated.

Chris Irwin teaches us that working with horses is not just about technique. It’s about shadow work, self-awareness, and emotional honesty. When we heal ourselves, we help our horses heal—and perhaps, in a small but meaningful way, we help the world heal too.

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If you haven’t yet read Dancing with Your Dark Horse, do. It’s not just a book about horses—it’s a book about being human.