George Morris

[poltroon]

[QUOTE=Bluey;3685992]
—“And, um, er. . if you ave a totally Independent seat and good balance, does it really matter if you keep putting your hands on the horses neck? If you have been taught to jump with no hands, hands on hips, hands out to side, hands on head then why is the crest release really harmful? The crest release and ducking and laying down on the horse are not the same thing.”—

A following hand will help support the horse at landing, if it needs support and will have you ahead if you are in a tight course or jump off.
I can’t see a crest release and jumps coming at you fast and furiously be near as effective in what you and your horse can do as with some real straight line contact, so you can be effective every second of the ride, if you need to.

That is why you do need a very secure and independent seat and proper leg to be consistently correct.
We should take advantage of all the aids at our disposition.[/QUOTE]

I will stick my head out to be flamed and say that most riders don’t press their hands on the crest, but just float them there. And a lot of riders float them lower, but not with a straight line.

I personally (this is the part that will get me charred) am not necessarily sold on the straight line to elbow being so great. Indeed, with some angle in your arm, you actually have a little more feel and control and option of how you can move your hand independent of your own body and to wherever your horse’s head ends up. With the straight line, you’re forced to make all adjustments in your shoulder; with the broken line, you can use your shoulder or your elbow to change the rein pressure/position/contact.

A straight line is the right choice for some reasons, the broken line for others, but I think that the argument now may be as much or more aesthetic than functional.

And now, younger people just think the straight line looks old fashioned and weird.

[Mtn_trails]

For all you Westchester people, the woman who does the engraving of saddle plates and other brass plates at what used to be Old Salem Saddlery, now Dover I believe, worked for GM back in the 80’s. However, I seem to recall they were in Florida when she became sick and returned home via George Morris horse transportation. She used to tell me all about him and his teaching methods. I must look her up next time I’m in that area.

Personally, I respect him as a rider and trainer and think he has done more to influence hunter seat equitation than any other trainer of the modern era.

[Bluey]

[QUOTE=poltroon;3688821]
I will stick my head out to be flamed and say that most riders don’t press their hands on the crest, but just float them there. And a lot of riders float them lower, but not with a straight line.

I personally (this is the part that will get me charred) am not necessarily sold on the straight line to elbow being so great. Indeed, with some angle in your arm, you actually have a little more feel and control and option of how you can move your hand independent of your own body and to wherever your horse’s head ends up. With the straight line, you’re forced to make all adjustments in your shoulder; with the broken line, you can use your shoulder or your elbow to change the rein pressure/position/contact.

A straight line is the right choice for some reasons, the broken line for others, but I think that the argument now may be as much or more aesthetic than functional.

And now, younger people just think the straight line looks old fashioned and weird. :p[/QUOTE]

Yes, of course, you are right, not every jump in a course is a perfect example of any one style, you do what you can or have to do to get where you want to get to, that is why it is JUMPERS, not hunters.

But, with a true independent seat, generally, a straight line and a good seat and leg position is evident much of the time, if the jump was not a forced effort.
You don’t see that behind in the air, oddly arched back, loaded rider’s shoulders onto the horse’s neck, faked or not, that you see in the crest release type syle of jumping.

A very good rider probably will get by anyway, no matter what style they are using.
Evidently many, many do, looking at the COTH win pictures.

[Linny]

I chicken like me would never ride with GM but I have audited his clinics. he struck me as tough but fair. My instructor as a young rider (teenager) was from the old school (he’s almost GM’s age) and was tough with a growling voice and demanding attitude. He was never unfair though. As long as you did as asked he’d have no problem with you, even if you really weren’t all that good!
Back to GM. I enjoyed the clinics I saw and learned alot. His method reminded me alot of my riding education. Today, I think many young riders get alot of hand holding. I see kids who ride at the 3’+ levels just destroying a line of jumps and they get, “OK, lets try again…” My Lord, I’d have been bellowed at to get my head out of my arse and “do it right child!!!” But you know what, I did!

GM uses alot of gymnastics as did my instructor. He got the horses and the riders thinking and using all the different parts of their bodies’ independently.

When I called Hunterdon to inquire about the first clinic (how to sign up to audit etc) and got a call back from GM himself. The only regretable aspect was that I was at my highest ever weight at the time and at the lunch break GM happened to come over to say hello just as I was devouring a cookie!

[Bluey]

—“The only regretable aspect was that I was at my highest ever weight at the time and at the lunch break GM happened to come over to say hello just as I was devouring a cookie!”—

:eek: :lol:

[Material_Girl]

OK to answer some of your questions:

1. I’ve never ridden in a Grand Prix. I’ve never been Vice President either, but I can still tell when Dick Cheney is having a bad day.

2. The Olympics weren’t that big a deal when they were restricted to amateurs. This is hardly an idea I made up. People paid attention to it, but it was more akin to - let’s say - the NCAA than the NFL. Nobody claimed it was the pinnacle of excellence (least of all the amateurs themselves).

3. The setups at the clinics are fairly obvious if you know what to look for. I’ve done enough of the same kinda stuff to see it. I once asked a friend of mine who worked for GM in the 80’s if I was really seeing what I thought I was seeing. She rolled her eyes as if to say ‘stupid question’, giggled and said “of course”.

[fair_judy]

wow, guys, i guess i was giving this bozo too much credit to say she was messing with us. apparently she is just a garden variety moron.

[Material_Girl]

What exactly are you growing in your garden??

[lauriep]

[edit] There are no set-ups at the clinics, period. And, do you even GET the Olympics? Apparently not.

Do you even ride?

[Material_Girl]

Sticks and stones…

[Gestalt]

[QUOTE=mishmash;3685688]
I am sorry-have to respond to this. That is flat out abuse-not funny, and a hateful thing to do. He could be charged with assault. I hope no one invited him back. If I had been that woman, he would have been speaking to my lawyer. How humiliating.[/QUOTE]

Oh my goodness!!! You are putting way too much “human dignity” crap into this. She didn’t get angry that he kicked at her. She was embarrassed for herself because she was slow. Yeah, that’s right, she was slow. He gave her a free spot in the clinic. He expected her to have the jumps set when he needed them set. If that means you run to get it done, you run. The way he tied it into impulsion was funny. No one auditing or on horseback gasped in dismay that she was made fun of, we got his message.

And you know, he is always invited back and he always has a full clinic. Too many people make excuses for themselves.

[Material_Girl]

Why didnt the girl just turn around and hoof him in the balls?

[Bluey]

Won’t we all be glad when kids go back to school?:rolleyes:

[Moderator_1]

Let’s all watch the language and personal commentary and when referring to each other or other members of the horse community.

We’ve removed/edited some posts.

Thanks,
Mod 1

[MistyBlue]

I had to check this thread out again since the page count jumped and a mod had to jump in.
Getting a laugh out of the Material Girl alter/troll…is anyone going to fess up to acting so crazy for kicks?
Because it’s got to be an alter of a sane person…using the user name Material Girl…Madonna took a header off that horse in a majorly public way breaking herself so it’s got to be an alter. No serious horse person would ever come up with such an inane user name. :lol:

[Material_Girl]

Not sure I follow you’re train of thought about Madonna, but I’ve read this bored long enough to know people will attempt to devirt the conversation whenever GM’s incompetence is exposed.

[amastrike]

Anyone with at least half a brain knows the incredible (positive) contributions George Morris has made. People may not like the way he does things, but no one can deny his ability. No one who knows what they’re talking about, anyway.

GM = God. Whether he’s a kind, loving god or an angry, vengeful god is debatable.

[Material_Girl]

OK well then maybe we can agree that I am using the half of my brain that tells me his show-and-tell theatrics have all but replaced schooling horses with posing for pictures.

As if a serious athlete in a real sport would defer to a short paragraph about a picture of them performing over legitimate assistance from an actual coach.

Ridiculous.

[Paragon]

[QUOTE=Material Girl;3690064]
As if a serious athlete in a real sport would defer to a short paragraph about a picture of them performing over legitimate assistance from an actual coach.[/QUOTE]

I think I’ve missed out on meeting the part of the equestrian sport that defers to photographs and commentary in a magazine over the input of a competent coach.

I would think that if people actually do so, they are their own problem, not a problem created by George Morris.

[fair_judy]

[QUOTE=MistyBlue;3689861]
I had to check this thread out again since the page count jumped and a mod had to jump in.
Getting a laugh out of the Material Girl alter/troll…is anyone going to fess up to acting so crazy for kicks?
Because it’s got to be an alter of a sane person…using the user name Material Girl…Madonna took a header off that horse in a majorly public way breaking herself so it’s got to be an alter. No serious horse person would ever come up with such an inane user name. :lol:[/QUOTE]

i dunno… she just sounds like a not very well mannered adolescent to me. and one who needs some lessons in phonics. :lol::lol::lol: