GM is nothing but a bully.

[northerhunter]

I’ve been watching bits and pieces of the clinic as I can, and honestly, any criticism has been deserved.

He also seems OK with the rders making mistakes (Chase missing hard over the trot rails to the fence yesterday). GM kept saying that it was OK, and if you don’t make mistakes, you’ll never learn (or something to that effect).

This feels like the time that I was riding a greenie at a show for my trainer, and was riding like oop that day. Could not get mare over the first jump for the life of me. Trainer screams across the ring “YOU ARE NOT LEAVING THIS RING UNTIL YOU GET OVER THAT JUMP!!!” Talk about embarassing. But it worked, got the mare over the fence on the next shot. Sometimes riders just need that extra kick in the butt to get the job done.

But then again, we’re all just a bunch of dumbells blindly following GM.

[Timex]

@Doctracy;5338440

And how long ago was everyone upset because he killed a horse with a metal pole, then continued on with the clinic?

well, since i wasn’t there, and never saw any photographic or video proof that he deliberately impaled a horse on a pole, and since i’ve never known him to be cruel like that, i’m willing to run with ‘tragic accident’ since i’ve got nothing else saying it was anything but. and, unless he called that rider a dumbbell too, it has nothing to do with the argument at hand.

[MHM]

[QUOTE=Linny;5338449]
Anyone else think it’s funny that folks are coming on here saying “GM is a jerk!! Doesn’t he know that name calling is mean?”[/QUOTE]

Totally! Dude.

[trubandloki]

@rileyt;5338390

???
You mean where you point out that I misspelled asinine? What do you want me to say?

Um, no.
The fact that you seem to think it is OK to call everyone else names time and time again.

Some how it is wrong for GM to use a word like dumbbell but it is OK for you to tell MB she is asinine.

[findeight]

@Jumphigh83;5338341

So help me understand what seems to be duplicitous thinking. So defenders, what if a school teacher had used this technique in the classroom?

Not applicable unless you are talking Phd level scientific programs working with compounds that can be dangerous if mishandled or a head surgeon working with interns trying to keep them from cutting their own fingers off.

Or how about a flight instructor after the student keeps making the same mistake?

Because, with a group looking to level 8+ fences with International time allowed standards? Repeated mistakes will get you killed.

[JFJ]

[QUOTE=rileyt;5338432]
Of course I’ve lost my temper and said things I don’t mean. To err is human. Although I think I swore off “name calling” somewhere in my mid 20s. But part of the reason I outgrew it is because I really actually felt badly when I did it. On the contrary, when someone like GM repeatedly and unabashedly continues to behave in such a way, I don’t think it is deserving of quite so much understanding. There is a difference between an occasional slip up on a bad day, and someone who clearly thinks the rules of common civility don’t apply to him because of his lofty position. I find the latter reprehensible.[/QUOTE]

HAve you met him? Worked with him? I have and I have not found this to be the case at all!

[MistyBlue]

Hey, I don’t mind if anyone thinks my ass-is-a-nine. :winkgrin: :lol:

[MHM]

[QUOTE=ktm2007;5338450]
There is probably a more diplomatic way of saying, “You are not listening. When you are ready to listen, come back. Otherwise stop wasting my time”.[/QUOTE]

I think the 73 year old’s shorthand version of that is: Don’t be a dumbbell.

[Long_Spot]

[QUOTE=findeight;5338491]
Not applicable unless you are talking Phd level scientific programs working with compounds that can be dangerous if mishandled or a head surgeon working with interns trying to keep them from cutting their own fingers off.

Or how about a flight instructor after the student keeps making the same mistake?

Because, with a group looking to level 8+ fences with International time allowed standards? Repeated mistakes will get you killed.[/QUOTE]

FABULOUS analogy.

[JFJ]

[QUOTE=Doctracy;5338440]
It’s just that he seems to make a living of saying the wrong thing.
And how long ago was everyone upset because he killed a horse with a metal pole, then continued on with the clinic?[/QUOTE]

Again, I don’t see him “making a living of saying the wrong thing” people ask for his help, and some people don’t like to hear the honest truth. If you don’t like him, don’t ride with him or watch his clinics. Simple as that. And as far as the horse that died, I believe it was a lesson during Florida with one of his own students. Not a clinic that just carried on after the fact.

[rileyt]

[QUOTE=trubandloki;5338468]
Um, no.
The fact that you seem to think it is OK to call everyone else names time and time again.

Some how it is wrong for GM to use a word like dumbbell but it is OK for you to tell MB she is asinine.

[/QUOTE]

Read it again. Carefully. I didn’t tell MB SHE was asinine. I said she made a statement that was asinine. There is a difference. At least in my mind. And I stand by my statement because I think MB was being obtuse.

And see above as to why I think there is a difference between me calling GM a “jerk” and him calling a student in one of his lessons a “dumbell”. I’ll call it the public figure exception…

[KC_and_the_Sunshine]

rileyt you ride beautifully. you are super talented. you will go to the olympics. i love you rileyt.

[KC_and_the_Sunshine]

somebody needs to grow some balls!

[Elmstead]

[QUOTE=Coreene;5337608]
Hells bells, it’s a riding lesson, not Up With People. If everyone needs a trophy and a kissy, go play AYSO soccer instead.[/QUOTE]

Haha! Exactly! This is a SPORT, after all! He’s an elite athletic coach, not a
kindergarten teacher.

I can pretty much guarantee you that the European show jumping coaches aren’t handing out hugs, kisses, and “certificates of achievement” (just for showing up in the outfit) to the top level riders that they are attempting to train for competition…especially when those riders are being dumb and not paying attention to the instruction!

[justathought]

[QUOTE=Jumphigh83;5338341]
So help me understand what seems to be duplicitous thinking. So defenders, what if a school teacher had used this technique in the classroom? How long before that teacher would be in front of the school board and/or looking for a new job? The “real” world is cruel, why wait? How about a coach? A mentor? A counselor? I’m not sure I understand the need to be cruel to anyone. Truthful, yes. Mean, never. How long before the whole class laughs at you do you continue to raise your hand and perhaps give the “wrong” answer? Just wondering.[/QUOTE]

GREAT POST - we couldn’t be further apart politically but this post is right on… This is not an issue about George Morris, its an issue about education, training, and common courtesy

To all who think that we should set high standards, ABSOLUTELY. To all who think we should be tough, CERTAINLY. TO all that think that we should be honest about mistakes and errors, WITHOUT A DOUBT

To tell a student at whatever level that “You have made the same mistake four times in a row - that is not acceptable - change it now or be done with the horse for today” is honest - brutually honest - and absolutely fine. To tell a student that they are an idiot, a dumbbell, a baby - that lacks common courtesy, it carries no useful information, and it has no consequence except cruelty - and it is NOT fine.

Personal insults do not inform, do not correct, and do not have a consequence directly related to the behavior the teacher is trying to change. Basically - its ineffective, except perhaps in ridding the teacher of frustration.

And Jumphigh’s comparison to what is appropriate in school is apt — unless we all believe that people learn different in sports.

There is an old story - don’t know if its true - about a junior rider a Devon. She had recently changed trainers - both BNT stood at the ring watching. She won. The old BNT turned to the new BNT and said, “How did you get her to ride like that?” The new BNT replied, “I told her she could.”

Nuff said.

[spirithorse]

Elite coach ?

He is an elitist coach, without professional ethics.
Name calling and belittling a person is not a professional action, it is merely the stupid act of an egotistical bully.

@Elmstead;5338566

Haha! Exactly! This is a SPORT, after all! He’s an elite athletic coach, not a
kindergarten teacher.

I can pretty much guarantee you that the European show jumping coaches aren’t handing out hugs, kisses, and “certificates of achievement” (just for showing up in the outfit) to the top level riders that they are attempting to train for competition…especially when those riders are being dumb and not paying attention to the instruction!

[Lucassb]

[QUOTE=MistyBlue;5338283]
Looks an awful lot to me like you’re telling everyone else what he’s thinking when he teaches.

Apologies for my reading comprehension but I can only comprehend what you type. I cannot read minds.

But thank you for the insults.

I hate it when Im immature and foolishly read exactly what someone typed. :winkgrin:[/QUOTE]

Dontcha? I know, I do too… <laughing>

[sptraining]

[QUOTE=justathought;5338580]

There is an old story - don’t know if its true - about a junior rider a Devon. She had recently changed trainers - both BNT stood at the ring watching. She won. The old BNT turned to the new BNT and said, “How did you get her to ride like that?” The new BNT replied, “I told her she could.”

Nuff said.[/QUOTE]

So true!

[findeight]

@rileyt;5338508

And see above as to why I think there is a difference between me calling GM a “jerk” and him calling a student in one of his lessons a “dumbell”.

Quite a difference. Because she paid for his opinion and he had been coaching her for some time and you have never met, ridden with or audited an upper level clinic with the man.

[ponyjumper525]

[QUOTE=Petstorejunkie;5337512]
I can understand his frustration, these girls are picked as the best in the country, yet have HUGE holes in their training. That doesn’t excuse the comment… I’m sure he wanted to say worse.[/QUOTE]

Ditto.