[QUOTE=MistyBlue;5352423]
Basically the question is:
Why does occasional name calling keep the man keep churning out top level winners who go on to be top level coaches themselves decade after decade.[/QUOTE]
I noticed that his tone and inflection and tempo in speech matches how one would ride…it’s an almost verbal match to how he would be in the saddle don’t you think ?
Tamara in TN
[QUOTE=doublesstable;5351535]
That’s another point of this thread - some people subject themselves in a GM clinic with the risk of being called a dumbbell.[/QUOTE]
It’s like that scene from Animal House–“thank you sir, may I please have another”. :lol:
Maybe he called her a dumbbell figuring that would make her sit up and finally listen to instruction? And if he called me a sloppy sloppy slob I would bust out laughing - only clean that matters is a a clean round - would be my response to him! A friend of mine had a GM story. When she was MUCH younger - her sister took a clinci with GM. GM was going on and on to her sister about what a terrilbe rider she was, horse was taking advantage - typical GM stuff. Finally he couldn’t take it anymore and he got on. Horse TOOK OFF with him - bolted right out of the ring - the second his butt hit the saddle. When he finally got off he gave KUDOS to my friend’s sister for riding such an animal and doing a fine job (although sister’s horse was a total PR(*&CK he never bolted with her). Friend said he looked a bit shell shocked when he got off.
If you have a trainer who sugar coats EVERYTHING, you’ll get NOWHERE. GM is a legend and has taught some of the best riders man has ever seen. Him being one himself! Basically, if you don’t have a backbone…then don’t go to his clinics. No point in discussing it. I had a friend who went to one of his clinics in Tyler, Texas and she said he was absolutely amazing and helped her SO much. She said that he was one of the funniest trainers she has ever come across! Soooo don’t be hatin’ on GM!!
P.S. Please don’t respond to my message if you wanna pick a fight, I’m not looking to pick any fights. :yes:
[QUOTE=Megaladon;5352438]
It’s like that scene from Animal House–“thank you sir, may I please have another”. :lol:[/QUOTE]
Ride well and listen and you wont be called a dumbbell. Case closed. :lol:
And I agree with Tamara in TN - I think that’s why he’s successful (with “most” horses and riders) - when he gets after a horse or rider - they respect him and work hard to improve and he’s quick to praise… Some melt and I guess GM just isn’t for them. :lol:
I know riders and trainers that think he’s an - - - ss however they know what to expect… no secrets that’s for sure.
I’m as tough as they come, I don’t cry
I’ve worked for, trained with and ridden with way bigger pr**ks. It’s not about my psyche, nothing wrong with it, I’m just calling a spade a spade. I’m not on his radar, not a very important person, and until a personal interaction with him, he had my utmost respect.
Here’s a thought though, some of the same people on this little thread would have a fit at Anky and her Rolkur! The horrors!! It produces results but is unpleasant to watch. But according to the logic here, it’s only the end result that matters, not the process. If it produces winning riders, then it should just be excused, like pro football players who are bad boys, forgiven their sins because they win. Everyone says “well, that’s just the way he is, he isn’t going to change”. I don’t expect him to change, it would just be a bit more pleasant, if the GM groupies could say, "hey, well, he probably COULD get the same results without saying “Oh Blondie, you dumbell, you, the one on the bay horse, who apparently is so stupid you can’t follow simple instructions, good thing God made you cute, because smart you aren’t, do it again.” A sternly spoken, “if you don’t understand, watch Cassie go and do exactly what she does next time around” from the hallowed lips of Himself would work just as well, I’m sure of it. It’s a bit sad when someone’s opinion of themselves is so elevated that they don’t feel the need for civility . I was raised to treat people with courtesy, respect my elders and not be intentionally unkind when it isn’t necessary. Even lions with dull teeth still growl, listening to them though, is a bit sad.
changing to, the trainer that was sweet and kind. Add on if you like
:lol:
Mrs Litrell, a lovely woman from Germany. Our horses loved her because she had the fancy flavor lifesavers. We learned basic dressage and jumping principles and we got candy. Thanks to her I still ride she was a wonderful woman.
2ndrygal, are you THAT unfamiliar with the incident that prompted this? Are you commenting without even knowing what you are talking about? The rider in question had done the exercise WRONG numerous times after having watched several of the others do it right and with George telling her it was WRONG and to watch the others and make her circles progressively smaller. STILL WRONG. So no, gently telling her had already been tried and failed. She needed to be gobsmacked and she was and she then did it correctly. With no discernible psychological damage.
The man is not going to change. Period.
lauriep
Yes, I read the thread that prompted this, and if you read my posts, I did not say that I would be so bold as to even whisper a suggestion that GM should change, I praised him as a horseman, instructor and coach and said I was quite certain he won’t change at all.
What I said was that I felt (just my opinion, mind you) that as someone whose words are almost biblical in their importance to some people and as a person who is the face and voice of the USET (jumping anyway) that I found it sad that someone as skilled as he was, even with a rider that he thought might have arrived on the short bus, would, in a public format that would no doubt be viewed and dissected by the thousands of those waiting for every morsel of wisdom from the Man HIMSELF, couldn’t simply find an effective way of communication which didn’t involve insulting someones intelligence even if they deserved it. He was right to be annoyed with the girl, but he has DECADES of experience dealing with the cerebrally challenged.
I’m not sure if you looked at a post I had based on a personal encounter with Mr. Morris or not. If you waded through it, what you would have gotten from it was that I’ve donated quite liberally to the USET Foundation in the past and Mr. Morris was so absolutely, imperiously rude to me in the hospitality tent at the WEG (and I was not waiting tables, and I was wearing my USET foundation ball cap that I got for making a very nice donation in response to a form letter signed by GM himself) that he took a lifetime (and I’m 50)of my utmost respect and admiration and let me see a rather nasty side that most seem to feel is his god given right. If he wasn’t the chef d’equipp for the team, and it was just people paying for the man, then that’s fine. It’s that he represents us and still behaves as if he has no one to answer to, and when someone states that his behavior is rude, you all just tell us we’re babies and should get past it, that’s just how he is. I agreed that’s how he IS, I just said that some of us were raised better than that, no matter what our talent, and … wait for it…
He Just Might Be Wrong. Really, I know that’s an unthinkable concept, but…
being rude to people who are donating money on a regular basis so you can continue to field a team is…being…a
.
.
.
Dumbell.
^^^ Very well said. 2ndyrgal
I know we’ll never change George Morris (and that’s okay by me), but my point was:
If this is such an issue that some very good riders avoid riding with him because they don’t have a thick-enough skin, then we might be missing some great talent.
:lol: Using words like “GM Groupies” I think that could be insulting?
And now were comparing using words (dumbbell) to causing “damage” to a horse by the use of (rolkur)? This is just uncomprehensable.
Saying “little thread” and “Groupies” and even calling GM a “Dumbbell” is treating people here with courtesy, respect and not unkind?
I agree that GM can be mean. I have seen and heard him frustrated… IMHO he could use a lot worse words than he does.
PS- And I do think it’s “wrong” that you were treated bad for your hard work. Yeah, I do think some things are wrong… but in a clinic where someone “paid” for his training, not so much.
[QUOTE=Go Fish;5352318]
But, see? That’s the point. There are those of us who don’t see GM’s “commentary” as resorting to “denegration and often outright insulting remarks.” Water off a duck’s back. I’m not a shrinking violet. I could care less what he calls people. He could call me a crack whore and I’d still want to ride with him.
As others have mentioned, if you don’t like it, or, if his comments (which he’s famous for) are going to permanently damage your psyche, then avoid him. Honey, he ain’t gonna change, that’s a fact.[/QUOTE]
I wholeheartedly agree with go fish and laurie p. Call me whatever you want if your skills and experience can actually help me reach my competitive riding goals.
Just direct her to the definition of hypocrisy and she’ll understand 
And you aren’t seeing the difference between causing the horse physical pain/damage (and I’m pretty sure that there is medical evidence proving this)and possibly bruising the ego of the rider? Really? Really?
After having read all of this, and after having recently worked a clinic with GM, I can say this:
He is opinionated, rough, grumpy and does not tolerate fools.
But, as quick as he is to call out mistakes, he is equally quick to praise correctness and effort.
He is also just as quick to point out his own mistakes, as in the picture of him jumping ahead and standing from the Horsemanship Clinic just held in Wellington.
2ndyrgal - I agree with everything you said, and I think you’ve captured the point of my initial post in a much clearer way than I did.
Some people think so little of themselves. Amazing! The end, does NOT always justify the means.
And was seen later that day sitting right with him at lunch (when some of the other kids in the clinic were not sitting with him - so, she didn’t HAVE to sit with him) laughing with him and having a great time!
Yes, he was heard saying MULTIPLE times about her, “She have a lovely, classical position.” “Her equitation is always perfect.”
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