He is da best! :winkgrin: :yes:
And yes, he can be critical. Some people just can’t handle being told the truth about themselves. 
Oh and BTW Ride’emVA, I loff your signature!
Thanks for that everyone. I’m a little better clued in. Boy, a chat room full of horse people is as opinionated as a room full of lawyers. But that’s OK, I’m both.
Also if you want to see his link to COTH…do a search for “The Big Pink” :lol:
1 Like
[QUOTE=dizzywriter;3670846]
Thanks for that everyone. I’m a little better clued in. Boy, a chat room full of horse people is as opinionated as a room full of lawyers. But that’s OK, I’m both.[/QUOTE]
No way! Horse people are much more opinionated:winkgrin:
I once went to a clinic with GHM and he yelled at me for several minutes for not setting jumps fast enough. Which was a little surprising to me since I was not actually in the clinic and has just paid to audit. However, he is the best and the scariest damn man on earth so I didn’t yell back, I just walked off.
In FL one year Rio dumped him over a water jump. I was the one who had to catch her because nobody else in the entire crowd was going to hand her back to him and be subject to his wrath. Stupid mare ran right toward me and I had no choice since everyone else was smart enough to step backwards, but he was actually rather gracious and thanked me nicely.
He is the god of the H/J world and deserves to be held in high esteem, but his people skills are not what makes him worth the money or effort. His talent is what makes suffering though his people skills worth it.
I rarely read any of his comments and more, but I do remember he always always always kept repeated that when a certain level of skill is achieved its on to thee automatic release. Its not really his fault if people won’t listen.
3 Likes
Yes, he appears godlike to many of us. The first time GM ever spoke to me was ringside at a big show when I was a junior. I was standing (on foot) at the ingate as I liked to hear him talk to the Hunterdon kids. He said " Young lady, do you have any business at the gate right now?" (apparently I was in the way). I replied “Yes sir, I am learning” or some other nonsense and he replied “Well then, carry on” . I became only slightly less terrified of him after that. I would have withstood any embarrassment to hear a single sentence he spoke to a student.
7 Likes
That is an awesome story, and a very smart answer! Bravo! :yes:
3 Likes
GM ised to coach my then boss’s daughter and he was at our barn frequently-we were close to Hunterdon. As tough as he was during lessons and clinics, he was funny and good company away from that. He told good stories and we laughed a lot!
3 Likes
[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]
Ah, so he’s the Chuck Norris of the horse world? :lol:
If you aren’t sure what I mean and need to giggle… http://www.chucknorrisfacts.com/
Have a great day!
Dee
The Chuck Norris link PRICELESS:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:
I have never ridden hunters, nor been to a clinic with George Morris. That said, I do believe that anyone who is so revered by riders must have something going on to gain that reverence. Perhaps he lacks people skills, but obviously he is good at teaching as so many do learn from him and he does produce winning riders.
I have read articles in PH and have gained an understanding of WHY he is so unforgiving of those that do not show up spit shined and polished with a horse properly turned out. Hell I just polished my paddock boots for a lesson at my OWN stable with my trainer. It’s respectful to the discipline and the trainer and shows that I care enough to try to do the best I can with what I have. One doesn’t see that very much these days in many areas of life, so I understand totally where GM comes from with that. Now if I could just lose that extra 10 lbs…but it’s sadly attached itself to my rear and that is where it is most happy, so doubt that I will make much progress with that anytime soon.
I love hearing the stories about him and think that if I did ride hunters, he would be one of the people I would like to clinic with. I might learn that even my spit shine doesn’t pass muster, but I also would learn how to do it better. At least I’d be a sponge and try to soak up the knowledge. lol.
You can clinic on a Hunter, he does not discriminate. Don’t expect any more, or less, because of it. Just make sure you are in the appropriate section.
Anyway, he literally wrote the book…two I believe, that define our American standards and style as well as anything in print can. His Hunt Seat Eq is the go to reference. He is an Olympic medalist and was one of the youngest to win the Medal Finals.
He is quite qualified to be blunt…unlike many who emulate his delivery thinking it makes them as good as he is.
He has mellowed, must be 70ish now. But he can still dish it out to the deserving. Particularly hard on missing flatwork competency and jumping despite lack of those basics. God help you if you talk back defending lack of those basics or defending poor horse performance due to that lack. In that he has not changed.
And he never says anything about weight if the rider is fit and strong.
Plus, he is quite open about the fact his first teacher told his Mom he was talentless and should take up tennis. Perhaps the fact he worked so hard to prove them wrong despite no natural talent colors his view of those that come to him thinking they are gifted to the point they don’t have to work so hard because those are the ones that really feel his wrath. Even today.
3 Likes
He’s the only reason to read PH
I’ve audited 2 of his clinics. He makes the riders really work to better themselves and their horses. I’m not the caliber of rider needed to participate in a clinic, but I love to audit them.
A woman I knew was helping to set jumps during the morning session for the opportunity to ride with him later. He was explaining impulsion to the mounted riders, he turned to her and told her to set a particular jump, when she turned to walk away, he kicked her in the rear and told her to run. She did. He turned back to the riders and said “That’s impulsion”. :eek:
2 Likes
I would call it honest instead of cruel. Some people just can’t take criticism.
1 Like
[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]
ROFLMAO!!! Thanks, LexinVA, you just made me spurt my coffee out all over the keyboard. Can you enter that in Wikipedia?
1 Like
Chuck Norris wants to be George Morris.
5 Likes
That is in my opinion revisionist history on George’s part. I had the pleasure of a few sessions with Gordon Wright in college- and crest release was NOT something he taught!
GM is quite vocal about what has become of “his” crest release and when it is a good choice in a riders toolbox.
He is as harsh as ever when voicing his opinion of the crutch it has become.
And, really, he just retitled the old “grab the mane” that has been around forever and was hardly the first to advocate supporting the upper body until independent aids are developed to protect the horse.
The thing about GM is that he is brutally honest. He doesnt take no for an answer, and he doesnt tolerate talking back. If you’re told to do something- you better do your damn best to do it. He is an advocate for the old style way of riding where there is such a thing as perfect balance and harmony between horse and rider, and not the typical throw yourself on the horses neck over fences that is typically seen in the ring today.
The issue is that nt very many trainers coach like him. like i said before he is brutally honest and he is not afraid to hurt someones feelings for the sake of them waking up and realizing what needs to be fixed. He makes you want to strive to do better and his coaching tactics work. its kind of like bootcamp for equestrians 
At the risk of splitting hairs 
I would argue that there are some basic differences between ‘grab mane’ as it was taught and crest release. Grabbing mane is a useful tool for anyone, any time, when you just get to the jump wrong and need to avoid a hit to the horse’s mouth or back.
The bigger problem, I think we might agree, is that no one proceeds beyond crest release any more- no one has for some time, seemingly. The winners of the big eq classes have won for how many years with crest release? Can anyone remember the date of the last winner using what is now called automatic release? Apologies for the digression…
Accepted…I am usually pretty general on here. And am on call today with no official life and the knowledge if I start anything, the phone will ring. So B-O-R-E-D. Cold too:no:.
Anyway, the absolute worst I personally heard him do was rip into this one young 20 something. After failing to complete several excercises, he told her to add more leg, horse kicked out. He told her to repeat and add spur…and she halted and said “horse is very sensitive TB and does not respond to leg, spur or whip”…:eek:
Well…he lambasted her for the horse’s lack of respect and response to the aids. Got on her for failing to understand basics, failure to teach the horse to and failure to ride consistently then expect to do complicated excercises in his clinic…and turn around and give the excuse the horse was too sensitive. He also said if they are not broke (to the aids) and you cannot get them that way, you have no business jumping and less in his clinic.
Please note that many in there were on lesser horses, less well dressed and, even, one that was a little heavy, that was the only one that brought out that side of him. And he was RIGHT if not too PC.
1 Like
