GM is nothing but a bully.

[justathought]

Laurie…

Again - I think GM is a brillant horseman and his willingness to share his knowledge and to pass down as much of his wisdom as possible are to be admired and should be examples to other senior statesmen in this sport. The fact that he does this for no compensation makes it all the more impressive.

It is interesting that you mention his threatrical background - that, and his age, go a long way toward explaining some of the behavior that has been noted here.

I have no doubt that many of the students in these clinics need discipline and strong words to correct problems. They should be tough enough to take criticism - and even strong criticism. I would have no patience with them if they were not prepared to do so.

That being said, my most recent comment was not so much directed at GM (although I am of the opinion that personal insults are not appropriate and not the best method of education) as to the culture that seems to think it is perfectly OK to insult the person rather than the error.

[horsekpr]

Years ago ,I was at a GM clinic where a rider who came every year to this clinic ,And took his horse to Hunterdon for lessons ,would get his horse stopping ,and in previous clincis George would get on and fix it .In this clinic ,George asked one of the other riders to get on instead of him,I suppose to prove that the horse didn’t need GM to go well,just a competent ride.He said he was tired of fixing the horse and having the guy get back on and screw him up over and over again.
The man blew a gasket and stomped out of the arena saying “I didn’t pay all this money to be abused” George turned to the auditors shrugged, smiled ,and said “But , that’s what I am known for!”

[Velvet]

[QUOTE=dags;5339869]
Dumbbell: an inanimate object that can actually be beneficial IF effort is exerted to use it.

i.e.: a bump on a log, which is actually never useful no matter what you do with it, but I’m guessing everyone would be okay with that colloquialism.

So, he called her an inanimate object, which sounds like it was accurately descriptive.

THEN he said he was starting to think she was half-dumb :D[/QUOTE]

This is quite a stretch when all Americans know that the derogatory use of the word means you are calling the person a moron, idiot, etc. We are not talking about the actual object, but what the slang word means.

[faraway46]

It’s a tough world…(watch video at end)

I’m sorry, I didn’t read all posts and the truth is that being called names is not appropriate but it’s the least that can happen to you. This sport is tough as any sport is. You have to deal with pain, bad luck, unruly FEI decisions and unreasonable owners. You work to the bone doing everything perfect and, worst of all, luck slips out of your way having an undeserved rail (or someone that bangs everything in sight, poles popping up and down, but all land back in the cup, getting away with murder and a ribbon). Then it’s back to square one, day in day out.
Life is tough, sport is tougher. Honestly, I don’t agree with any sort of disrespect but if this is what it takes to get to the top, so be it. That’s how hungry I was as a teen and how hungry I am today. No pain, bad luck, bullying, name calling or fate will veer me from my goal. Nothing. You’ll have to kill me. That’s the mentality you have to have. These teens better stand up to the privilege and responsibility of being the best. If not, they are welcome to get out of the oven…nobody is forcing them to stay. Sure you can cry it out but never, NEVER while the pressure cooker is on. Then you are focused, almost hypnotized. When you get back to the barn, after the clinic/show/lesson, you baul your eyes out in fury, frustration but never in shame. You take that anger and get back in for some more, making your self esteem grow, not by whimpering around corners thinking “poor little me”, but by getting back at GM. How? Getting in the ring and showing him how good you are. Period. That will be the only thing that will shut him up (and any BNT): perfection. So better start early 'cause the road for perfection is loooooooong. Veeeeeeery long.
Here’s a inspirational clip from , of all people, Rocky (Stallone) but very good. Listen to it and then listen to it again, and again, and again, and again…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoOXa7eFdwc
…and again.

[SnicklefritzG]

I think we should send the infamous “costume class” French guy to a GM clinic and see what happens. I’d pay $$$$ to see GM’s reaction. lol

[Plumcreek]

What faraway46 said - about sums it up.

[ktm2007]

[QUOTE=paintjumper;5339916]
what a rider did to her hunter trainer in Fla one year. It was at a QH show and this trainer is a loud mouthed SOB. He was ripping her very loudly in the practice arena and she rode up to him on a very tall horse and kicked him in the mouth with her boot!!! It was priceless. She followed suit with a ripping of her own and promptly fired him! It was fantastic![/QUOTE]

Jesus Christ. I hope she was arrested for that.

[Summit_Springs_Farm]

[QUOTE=Bethe Mounce;5339961]
As I am watching this morning’s lessons, I am liking Chase Boggio more and more, he has a more professional and business like look about his riding, an air of confidence and polish. I have never seen this kid ride before, just heard his name. He may have come from the equitation ranks, but he also seems able to adapt and sacrifice some “equitation” to allow horse to jump properly. And his toes are not so “out” as the others, nor is he stiff. He makes it look so easy. And he is truly mounted on a super horse. Chase has figured out how to push the right buttons at the right time. His position over a fence is not so perchy and pretty, it’s effective! My kind of kid![/QUOTE]

don’t ya just love that Chase Boggio??? I am privileged to say I know him personally and he rode one of my nicest horses (we switched horses and I rode his) at a clinic with Christina, what fun!! I love the way he rides, he is so soft, truly gifted IMHO. also polite, doubt Lauriep woud ever have words with him. Speaking of Lauriep, just wondering if she would ever take GM’s behavior from just anyone? just sayin…

[Bethe_Mounce]

[QUOTE=Summit Springs Farm;5340054]
don’t ya just love that Chase Boggio??? I am privileged to say I know him personally and he rode one of my nicest horses (we switched horses and I rode his) at a clinic with Christina, what fun!! I love the way he rides, he is so soft, truly gifted IMHO. also polite, doubt Lauriep woud ever have words with him. Speaking of Lauriep, just wondering if she would ever take GM’s behavior from just anyone? just sayin…[/QUOTE]

Today I saw him go, from afar of course, but I truly liked this kid. I liked his flexible way with the horse from jump to jump. I am SO glad to hear he’s a nice kid too! He just had this look of “I know what I am doing, the horse knows his job.” What a sigh of relief to know there are kids like him! I expect to see more things from him! He is SO my kind of kid!!!

[Flash44]

I’m still struggling to understand how anyone would think it is OK to belittle another person in public for any reason. It is simply rude and base, and if a teacher needs to resort to that type of behavior to get his point across, he is not a teacher.

A school teacher that calls a student a dumbbell would get fired immediately, and education is way more important than a riding lesson. The excuse that these kids are our future Olympians is a cop out. If someone overheard a rider’s parent calling the rider a dumbbell loudly in public, I’m sure very few people would rush to support the parent.

[Bethe_Mounce]

Spend some time with Little League baseball…what the parents say to each other and the coaches in front of the kids is pretty scary. When my son was playing, I merely sat to the side in total amazement.

It boils down to two sides of the fence…those of us who could care less what he called the young woman, those of us who feel it was over the top.

I see both sides of the fence, see both points of view. I wonder if the young woman he used the term with has seen this thread! I am sure someone has informed her! Maybe we will hear from her and this will be put to bed.

Everyone of course, is entitled to their opinion. I respectfully agree to disagree with some comments…despite that, am pretty sure they are good people! We can all agree to agree to disagree and move on, most of us here have more in common than we think. Cheers guys…have a good weekend!

[bigeqxo]

I can’t believe I’m posting on here, because I wasn’t going to get into it. But from reading all your comments, I’m pretty sure most of you are all old enough to be considered adults, and I figured I’d give a kids input.
As a junior rider, if I were to clinic with George Morris, I’d want to be treated like an EQUESTRIAN. I wouldn’t waste money for someone to yell out, “Fix your circle,” over, and over, and over, and over again. I can respect the fact that some people have enough backbone to tell it how it is, and not sugar coat it in the least. The rider wasn’t doing what he asked, and he needed to get her attention. If it was me he’d said that to, I’d think “At least the man has enough respect for riding as a sport not to let someone sloppily sit on their horse without performing the task correctly,” and be EVEN MORE thrilled when he told me that I did an exercise beautifully later on in the clinic.

I’m serious enough about my riding to know that a stroked ego is far less important than riding itself. If these riders expect to be the best and achieve the most in the future, they need to realize that, too. This isn’t badminton we’re playing here… toughen up, or choose another sport.

[woops]

Anytime you put someone on a Pedestal – You get this

George Morris is considered to be a Riding God by Most,

In OP he is a great rider and knows sooooo much

But there are several trainers that I would choose anyday of the week before him.

Our society granted him the right to be able to talk in a pompous , hurtful negative manner.

DO I think he has magic secret ??? No just a lot of experience.

It is great for a coach or trainer to provoke expectations or to push us to the next level - But not at an undignified cost.

From all that I ever read that he has done and watching him talk on video " Are You Serious George" Get over yourself.
I watched him on show jumper clininic .com and skipped over him ---- Now Ian Millar ---- I would love to clinic with him.

If we keep calling him " George " and act as that is the only George in the world than we have what we have.

[bigeqxo]

[QUOTE=dags;5339869]
Dumbbell: an inanimate object that can actually be beneficial IF effort is exerted to use it.

So, he called her an inanimate object, which sounds like it was accurately descriptive.[/QUOTE]

I laughed out loud at how spot on this was.
Look, everyone… he was being LITERAL, not rude.

[Midge]

@justathought;5339932

Huh? There are many many high school, college students, graduate students, adult learners in academic programs by choice - who want to attain the highest levels… and (like riders with the same goals) they have differing levels of natural talent.

The analogy is apt.

Oh, certainly there are! But the use of the word ‘schoolteacher’ means kids, and every kid ‘has’ to be there, whether they want to or not, are capable or not, and care or not. They don’t get to vote with their wallet. Maybe if Jumphigh83 had said, ‘college professors’ instead of ‘schoolteachers’, it would be an acceptable analogy, but not as it stands.

The people who attend GM’s clinics don’t have to be there, they choose to be there. If you don’t like his methods, vote with your wallet. If you think he is abusive, put your money where your mouth is and sue him. As it stands, what you think doesn’t matter even a tiny little bit.

BTW their are many professionals at the top of their fields - the highest levels - where anything but professional decorum - common courtesy - in unprofessional and unacceptable when dealing with clients.

So?

I think the analogy to other professions is rejected so often because too many of us forget that we are clients and trainers are service providers. We have hired them for a particular expertise and we have faith in that expertise but we are clients. It is reasonable to expect that trainers will treat students with the same courtesy attorneys treat clients, doctors treat patients, etc. Clients expect their attorneys to explain the options available to them in reaching their goals when they draft a will or undertake a business contract. Patients expect doctors to inform them of all their treatment options and the benefits and disadvantages of each. Clients and patients expect to be educated and advised by the expert they have hired, but they know the ultimate decision is theirs. They expect to be treated with common courtesy and respect.

I don’t think it is rejected at all. I think every client of every professional in any profession gets to vote with their wallet. If you aren’t happy with the service provided, go elsewhere.

[Midge]

[QUOTE=paintjumper;5339958]
Applauded…loudly. It was fantastic…he got what he deserved. I was later told it changed his attitude a bit too. People will do to you what you allow.[/QUOTE]

And I would never, ever allow someone to kick me in the mouth and get away with it. Interesting that you think it was okay for her to kick him in the mouth while wearing a boot, but not okay for him to call her names when all she has to do is walk away???

She was far and away more in the wrong.

[justathought]

[QUOTE=bigeqxo;5340091]
I can’t believe I’m posting on here, because I wasn’t going to get into it. But from reading all your comments, I’m pretty sure most of you are all old enough to be considered adults, and I figured I’d give a kids input.
As a junior rider, if I were to clinic with George Morris, I’d want to be treated like an EQUESTRIAN. I wouldn’t waste money for someone to yell out, “Fix your circle,” over, and over, and over, and over again. I can respect the fact that some people have enough backbone to tell it how it is, and not sugar coat it in the least. The rider wasn’t doing what he asked, and he needed to get her attention. If it was me he’d said that to, I’d think “At least the man has enough respect for riding as a sport not to let someone sloppily sit on their horse without performing the task correctly,” and be EVEN MORE thrilled when he told me that I did an exercise beautifully later on in the clinic.

I’m serious enough about my riding to know that a stroked ego is far less important than riding itself. If these riders expect to be the best and achieve the most in the future, they need to realize that, too. This isn’t badminton we’re playing here… toughen up, or choose another sport.[/QUOTE]

So… I guess as an adult I have to ask what does it mean to you to be treated like an “EQUESTRIAN”. NOT A SINGLE PERSON here has suggested that this rider or any rider be allowed to make the same mistake over and ocer again. You are right - if you are serious about your riding you want the input necessary to improve. The choice is NOT no correction or name calling - it is HOW the correction should be delivered.

So if being an EQUESTRIAN means being abused/insulted/belittled count me out… if it means striving constantly to be the best/ to learn the most/ to expand my knowledge base and to respectfully pass that along… yep I am REAL interested in that!

[hntrjmprpro45]

This discussion is a wonderful example of why show jumping is not considered a sport by many outsiders. In any other main stream sport not only would a coach yelling at an athlete be tolerated, it wouldn’t even be discussed because it’s so normal and accepted. It seems to add to the stereotype that riders are all rich snobs that can’t stand to get there feelings hurt.

Now before anybody gets their panties in a twist, I personally do not think that the stereotype is true BUT I can certainly understand why others would.

[justathought]

[QUOTE=hntrjmprpro45;5340135]
This discussion is a wonderful example of why show jumping is not considered a sport by many outsiders. In any other main stream sport not only would a coach yelling at an athlete be tolerated, it wouldn’t even be discussed because it’s so normal and accepted. It seems to add to the steriotype that riders are all rich snobs that can’t stand to get there feelings hurt.

Now before anybody gets their panties in a twist, I personally do not think that the stereotype is true BUT I can certainly understand why others would.[/QUOTE]

Good post… raises an issue that was implicit in my post … why is it ever ok to be yelling personal insults … in any sport …

[Midge]

[QUOTE=paintjumper;5339916]
Someone should do to him what a rider did to her hunter trainer in Fla one year. It was at a QH show and this trainer is a loud mouthed SOB. He was ripping her very loudly in the practice arena and she rode up to him on a very tall horse and kicked him in the mouth with her boot!!! It was priceless. She followed suit with a ripping of her own and promptly fired him! It was fantastic![/QUOTE]

@Midge;5339928

I hope she was arrested for assault.

@paintjumper;5339958

Applauded…loudly. It was fantastic…he got what he deserved. I was later told it changed his attitude a bit too. People will do to you what you allow.

@ktm2007;5340037

Jesus Christ. I hope she was arrested for that.

Silly you! It’s okay to assault someone AND rip them apart IF they call you a dumbell first. :rolleyes: