MIND YOUR HORSE
IN GOOD HANDS
Advanced Biomechanics for Handling and Healing Horses
IN GOOD HANDS
Advanced Biomechanics for Handling and Healing Horses
Handling Is Healing
A horse can only benefit from treatment if it’s in good hands.
It doesn’t matter how skilled the vet, farrier, or bodyworker is — if the horse is caught, led, or headed poorly, the results won’t last.
This course shows you how your body directly affects theirs, giving you a framework for safer, calmer, and more effective handling that supports lasting healing and performance.
It doesn’t just make treatments easier in many cases, it makes them possible. Because if a horse can’t be handled, it can’t be helped.
Meet Your Instructors
Together, Chris and Janek combine science and horsemanship in a way that’s never been offered before.
Chris Irwin
Internationally recognized horseman and author. Known worldwide for his revolutionary approach to horsemanship built on empathy, clarity, and body-language-based communication.
Janek Vluggen
Founder and principal instructor of The Vluggen Institute: Born and raised in the Netherlands and since twenty-five years living and practicing in Germany. Janek Vluggen DO, MRO-EU, EDO® is recognized as the leading expert in the field of modern Equine Osteopathy.
The Science Behind The Handling
What makes In Good Hands different is that it’s not just horsemanship — it’s biomechanics.
Alongside Chris’s behavioral insights, equine osteopath Janek Vluggen, D.O., MRO-D, EDO expands on the systemic health effects, together showing the science and significance of why this approach to handling matters.
Through diagrams, slow-motion video analysis, and case studies, Chris and Janek demonstrate how human movement directly shapes a horse’s behavior, biomechanics, and overall health.
We dive deep into:
A horse’s spine and posture
Diagonal balance
Neck and poll function
The horse’s ability to accept or resist treatment
How our movement impacts the horse’s fascia
Your body shapes their body.
What You'll Learn
“I understand how my handling impacts my horse’s health and behavior.”
“I have a professional framework for heading and handling horses.”
“I finally understand the science behind why these methods work and why they’re essential for my horse’s well-being.”
Inside the Course
A complete ~6-hour training program with horseman Chris Irwin and equine osteopath Janek Vluggen, D.O., MRO-D, EDO.
Put Your Horse in Good Hands
Every step you take with your horse shapes its healing and performance.
Now you can have the tools, the science, and the framework to handle them in ways that support care, calmness, and lasting results.
Classroom Lessons
- Introduction & What Osteopathy Really Means
- How Osteopathy Meets Bio-Dynamics
- The 5 Biggest Issues Affecting Performance & Behavior
- Inverted Spines
- Bending Spines vs Folded Necks
- Working Against Diagonal Balance
- C3 / C2 / C1 and Stages of Development
Biomechanics & Handling
- The 3 Energies: Push, Block, Draw
- Push Block and Draw Continued
Video Analysis of Horse Movement
Groundwork & Riding Video Analysis:
- Groundwork Day 1: Before & After Analysis
- Groundwork Day 2: Continued Analysis
- Riding Day 1: Before & After Analysis
- Riding Day 2: Continued Analysis
Traveler Sessions (In-barn with Chris, Janek, and a wild mustang)
- Catching Traveler
- Introduction to Handling & Heading
- Working as a Team
Case Studies
- Ground Work Day 1
- Ground Work Day 2
- Riding Day 1
- Riding Day 2
Put Your Horse in Good Hands
Every step you take with your horse shapes its healing and performance.
Now you can have the tools, the science, and the framework to handle them in ways that support care, calmness, and lasting results.
Safer, calmer horses
Easier handling for vets, farriers, bodyworkers, and all healing modalities — allowing for quicker AND more effective treatments
Lasting results from bodywork and care
Whether you’re a professional or a dedicated horse owner, this course gives you tools to create:
Safer, calmer horses
Easier handling for vets, farriers, bodyworkers, and all healing modalities — allowing for quicker AND more effective treatments
Lasting results from bodywork and care