Over on the dark and stormy night thread, the name of George Morris keeps coming up. I understand that he’s a (for all I know, the) horse person, but what is his special meaning to COTH – was it some trainwreck that I missed, or something else?
George Morris was the first human being to domesticate the equine and developed the first primitive form of tack for horses. He also invented fire, the wheel, the rubber ducky, the Internet, electricity, was an original signatory of the Declaration of Independence, and created the delicacy we know today as “BBQ Ribs”. Truly, no human being has ever given more to their fellow man than George Morris has.
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[QUOTE=LexInVA;3670450]
George Morris was the first human being to domesticate the equine and developed the first primitive form of tack for horses. He also invented fire, the wheel, the rubber ducky, the Internet, electricity, was an original signatory of the Declaration of Independence, and created the delicacy we know today as “BBQ Ribs”. Truly, no human being has ever given more to their fellow man than George Morris has.[/QUOTE]
:yes::yes::yes::yes::yes::yes::yes:
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He is the Big Name Trainer of the Big Name Trainers, Chef de’ Quipe of the US Olympic Show Jumping Team, Author of Hunter Seat Equitation and American Jumping Style (these are occasionally referred to as the Bible, either title can be used as such interchangeably) as well as the monthly installment in Practical Horseman magazine called Jumping Clinic, rider of many huge named Grand Prix jumpers, movie star of The Horse With the High Flying Tail (about Nautical, one of his big time jumpers), Youngest winner of the Maclay. He is the voice of (or at least the one people listen to 
)classic horsemanship and style in todays show ring.
ETA: He has a Wiki page… who’d of thunk it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_H._Morris
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[QUOTE=LexInVA;3670450]
George Morris was the first human being to domesticate the equine and developed the first primitive form of tack for horses. He also invented fire, the wheel, the rubber ducky, the Internet, electricity, was an original signatory of the Declaration of Independence, and created the delicacy we know today as “BBQ Ribs”. Truly, no human being has ever given more to their fellow man than George Morris has.[/QUOTE]
With all the good GM has done for mankind and horsekind, he started and promoted the little known trick for beginners to lean into the horse’s neck for support into a necessary show technique.
Today, thanks to all those years of GM’s hard won “crest resease or else” look, practically all american riders over jumps don’t use a direct line from the hand to the horse’s mouth, their behind sticks out in the air over jumps, looking like a constipated duck, and many never advance past that, even at their attempts at the higher jumping levels, as the winning pictures on COTH the magazine weekly attest to.
With all the good he has done, I am afraid that the crest release will be what he will be remembered for most.
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He also is know for his sometimes cruel comments about riders. I can’t think of any right now, but if you do a search in the Hunter/Jumper forum for GM, you will see.
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He was just up here for a clinic. I loved him but man he was cruel. Not afraid to tell it like it is and them some. I was amazed though at how fluid he rides (and how old he is-anyone laugh everytime they hear him talk!?!?!). It just seems so natural. One of the people I used to ride with was in the clinic and IMHO she deserved everything he said. She needed to be brought down a level.
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[QUOTE=SmallHerd;3670513]
He also is know for his sometimes cruel comments about riders. I can’t think of any right now, but if you do a search in the Hunter/Jumper forum for GM, you will see.[/QUOTE]
He is very honest. :lol:
Uh, you mean not Chuck Norris? :eek::eek::eek::eek:
George Morris is an a$$h01e of the finest type. He may be able to ride, but he has no people skills what so ever. He also believes the color of the horse influences their athletic ability and that eating disorders in young girls are a-okay methods to keep them as super skinny stick figure.
In case, you haven’t guessed, I can’t stand the man.
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Nautical was ridden by Hugh Wiley, not George. George was on the team at the same time, but was riding Sinjon. This was before he took up teaching.
George taught equitation back when it really meant something, and was THE go-to guy if you wanted to win at the top. Conrad, Leslie, Katie, Melanie, the Leones, Katherine Burdsall, the list goes on of the top junior/eq. riders he put on the map. From there, he moved into jumper world, and had equal success both teaching and riding there. Melanie, Katie, Leslie, Chris Kapler, the Leones, Ann Kursinski, Norman, and on and on. The Jones Boy, Rio, Brussels, to name just three that he owned or showed. And finally, on the downhill side of his life, he took on the role of Chef d’equipe for the USET, after sharing the job with Frank for many years. And, other than the World Cup, where he isn’t directly involved with a team, we have had tremendous success.
George’s system of riding works because it is effective and it is beautiful and it is based on classical riding. The crest release was taught TO HIM by Gordon Wright, his mentor and another “god” of h/j. It was supposed to be part of a progression of releases that changed with your ability. However, it has been corrupted and become the ONLY release taught by teachers who don’t know how to teach the auto, or can’t get their riders balanced and strong enough to do it. Now it is the norm.
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[QUOTE=Alagirl;3670554]
Uh, you mean not Chuck Norris? :eek::eek::eek::eek:[/QUOTE]
Chuck Norris is not a human being. He is Chuck Norris.
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[QUOTE=tabula rashah;3670585]
George Morris is an a$$h01e of the finest type. He may be able to ride, but he has no people skills what so ever. He also believes the color of the horse influences their athletic ability and that eating disorders in young girls are a-okay methods to keep them as super skinny stick figure.
In case, you haven’t guessed, I can’t stand the man.[/QUOTE]
And you have had WHAT experience with him???
Also, the same above teachers have corrupted the classical jumping form to the 'stick your bum out and climb the neck" look of today’s hunters. He does not teach that.
You have to know what you are getting into to join one of his clinics, but our daughter was thrilled to have his help.
My mistake. I have only 2nd hand knowledge of the movie and was going on what I had heard. Thank you for the info.
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[QUOTE=LexInVA;3670450]
George Morris was the first human being to domesticate the equine and developed the first primitive form of tack for horses. He also invented fire, the wheel, the rubber ducky, the Internet, electricity, was an original signatory of the Declaration of Independence, and created the delicacy we know today as “BBQ Ribs”. Truly, no human being has ever given more to their fellow man than George Morris has.[/QUOTE]
ha ha ha ha
In short:
He is the Man, the Myth, the Legend.
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[QUOTE=tabula rashah;3670585]
George Morris is an a$$h01e of the finest type. He may be able to ride, but he has no people skills what so ever. He also believes the color of the horse influences their athletic ability and that eating disorders in young girls are a-okay methods to keep them as super skinny stick figure.
In case, you haven’t guessed, I can’t stand the man.[/QUOTE]
actually his riding isnt what i call riding – i have seen his videos here and ther and i can honestly say hes worth p in a pot
[QUOTE=tabula rashah;3670585]
George Morris is an a$$h01e of the finest type. He may be able to ride, but he has no people skills what so ever. He also believes the color of the horse influences their athletic ability and that eating disorders in young girls are a-okay methods to keep them as super skinny stick figure.[/QUOTE]
Is this what wins in the Hyperbole Ring these days?
:no:
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“You’re just dumber than a box of rocks!” :lol: seems to be one he likes to use. And, my fav from this year’s Morven clinic, “You’re young, and you’re stupid. I was young once, but I wasn’t stupid. Well OK, maybe I was stupid, but I wasn’t as stupid as you!”
I found the only time he ever insulted anyone was if he had to repeat himself or if he was questioned by a student. Otherwise he was informative and entertaining, and he obviously LOVES to teach. The highest praise you can get from GM is to be told you’re a good student.
So, if you’re going to ride with him, pay attention, listen up, and obey without arguing. He said himself one only has to do it for the length of the clinic; when you’re back home you can discard anything you disagree with or feel isn’t working. But if you’re going to spend the money and time to clinic with him, be present and accounted for and don’t waste his time.
I enjoyed every minute of the 3 days I rode with him, and did my best to absorb everything he told us. :yes:
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