John Irish Illistration

I was giving a lessen to a friend who was struggling to get her horse to 'give" into the bridle- get soft and straight with the shoulders in the middle and lifted up. When they do give they drop their head when you release. But my friend couldnt get this to work for her so I showed her how John Irish does it. He bumps, convincingly with his spurs- in the belly, only he rides with a short stirrip. so he bumps more in the sides, the ribs. And he will pull the reins in one hand towards his belly button untill the horse gives, bumping the chin is the exclemation mark! So I demonstrated this method on the mare I was riding. I was very CLEAR to the mare. Bumped hard with the spurs, bumped hard with the hands. Sorry. Thats just the way it was. So my student would understand that you can be firm without being mad. I made myself clear to both the student and the mare I was riding. The mare understood - the light went on- and she loped correctly and stopped hard. So I made my point. To all three of us.