GM is nothing but a bully.

[findeight]

@sunshinestate;5337891

Actually I would like to see a clinic where trainers, or so-called trainers, work with George in a riding clinic. (I’m not talking about the Grand Prix Riders of today). Now that would sell some tickets and popcorn.

Not to me as I have been watching many top trainers, including mine of the last 15 years, consider GM a mentor and either ride with if they are still able or cheerfully send their kids to him. And the crowd around a schooling ring when he is working with somebody sure does get bigger with alot of well known faces stopping to watch.

That is part of the point of the trainer certification effort, to raise the bar. Unfortunately, the bad riders and incompetent teachers think they do not need it.

And, rileyt, you really think GM is a moron?

[gottagrey]

That is certainly not the worst bullying comment GM has shouted out to those attending one of his clinics. I also wouldn’t be surprised if several, if not perhaps all, of those attending this particular clinic had not cliniced w/ him before… so it would be surprising if any of them were shocked or upset by any of his derogatory comment(s). I’ve audited several of his clinics and some days he was far from bullish - another time he was a complete sexist a**. After auditing all these clinics, I theorized one thing and that is in some way it was almost better if he singled you out to bully as opposed to saying ZIP to you the entire time… At least if he bullied/then praised you he noticed you & you got something out of it; saying nothing to you appeared as though he say you as a nonentity… shoot some auditors got more attention than a couple of riders…

But just because GM can get away with it, shouldln’t give license to many trainers/instructors out there to do the same thing… often the bullying/berating does more harm than good during the lesson. I was at a show once where this trainer went ballistic on one of her students… it was downright shocking… sadly it was the last time that kid ever rode- gave it up entirely

[trubandloki]

@rileyt;5338049

But for the record, only two of you were brave enough to answer my question. (thank you Perfect Pony and Lucassb, although we’ll have to agree to disagree)

I must be wearing my invisible cloak today.

[rileyt]

[QUOTE=sptraining;5338034]
Horses and children know when you’re fair. They both can take the discipline if they feel that it’s justified and when they receive compliments when they deserve them.[/QUOTE]

One of the best comments yet, IMO.

And to Lucassb, I don’t believe for a second that he called the girl a dumbell as a calculated teaching method to get her to do better – let’s get real (and if he did, that’s a pretty poor teaching method). The fact that he later complimented her is entirely beside the point. I’d say its more likely evidence of a guilty conscience, but I doubt he cares that much.

[M_O_Connor]

[QUOTE=SaturdayNightLive;5337555]
I notice that those of you posting about the “mean” comment he made haven’t actually WATCHED the clinic in question. He did call the girl a dumbbell - he told her repeatedly to do something and she didn’t do it. Later in the clinic she did something beautifully and he told her that too. I definitely wouldn’t call his tone that of a bully.

And it’s easy to mistake tone, especially when you already have your mind made up that “George Morris is nothing but a bully”. But you didn’t hear him say anything, you read it in an article and then projected your own tone and feelings onto it.

And these girls aren’t that young. They’re all pushing 18 and they all knew what they were signing up for.

If you honestly believe that GM is a bully, then I hope that you never ever try to participate in any other sports. Some of the things I’ve heard tennis and football coaches say to players who weren’t listening would make your ears bleed. GM is a kitten compared to some of them.

And yes, GM sometimes comments about people’s weight. Is it such a crime that he expects people to take their sport seriously? Would you be as offended if a ballet teacher or gymnastics coach made the same comments? Being overweight DOES effect your riding (ask me how I know) and GM has every right to comment on it.[/QUOTE]

Much of what GM says is pure theatre, done for effect (look how people rise to the bait) and delivered with a twinkle in the eye, and totally deadpan.

In the last GM clinic I took part in, a couple years ago at Morven Park, I wound up in the 3-6" session, on horse that was actually pretty green. I had requested the 3’ session, but it had filled, and so based on my resume we found ourselves in the advanced group. I nonetheless managed to earn the dunce cap myself after doing a couple hairbrained things (misunderstood his directions, went off course on the flat; brought the whole works to a dead stop by dropping my jacket right on the track we were working on, and in such a place that ONLY GM was available to pick it up?) but I can attest to the fact that GM’s theatrics (including the withering descriptions) are not so utterly wounding that one is forever scarred.

Most of his critiques are delivered in a manner which is calibrated precisely to the tolerance level of the individual they are targeted for. Keep that in mind, and don’t project your own feelings into the mix…riders in this bunch know it’s a tough kitchen, and are zipped up into their thermal heat shields well in advance. They will all live to joke about it (yes, even though it’s on video).

Lighten up folks, I mean, really…Is the horse dead yet? Or is it only me that can’t find a pulse?

[MHM]

[QUOTE=trubandloki;5338066]
I must be wearing my invisible cloak today. ;)[/QUOTE]

Ditto.

[boosma47]

Can’t help but think that we would all be much better off as individuals, trainers, riders, business people, parents, you name it, if we toughened up, took responsibility for our own growth and excellence and respected the wisdom of those mentors who have walked the walk, regardless of the presentation.

To be stalled at words looses sight of the big picture. NO ONE teaching today comes close to GM’s background, experience and knowledge of the sport. He bridges two worlds of horsemanship and represents the very best of the valuable, never-to-return past glories, systems, basics and correctness. Many horsemen/women are superb communicators and technicians. Many are talented riders who can perform to perfection, but can’t communicate. GM has come upon his career and reputation through hard work, committment and focus. Doesn’t he admit he was never a natural rider? Don’t you think he was hard on himself as a young rider? I know his teachers and mentors were tough on him, but you can be sure he was his own toughest critic.

Why should he expect any less from those who seek him out? Or those who will carry on his legacy?

IMO, if you want to be the best you can be, you work with the best, wherever you find him/her. You grow in knowledge, wisdom and personhood; you do not let go of the big picture. To be distracted by words is to lose focus, doesn’t it?

[rileyt]

Sorry if I didn’t credit everyone who thinks they replied to the question I asked.

But, Trubandloki - respectfully, I think there is a difference in saying “She paid for his opinion and got it” and saying “I think its appropriate to call the girl a dumbell.” But if you are in the camp of thinking its an appropriate comment, I will gladly make a mental note of it.

[MHM]

[QUOTE=M. O’Connor;5338070]
Most of his critiques are delivered in a manner which is calibrated precisely to the tolerance level of the individual they are targeted for.[/QUOTE]

Exactly.

He’s been doing this for a LONG time. It’s not exactly his first rodeo.

[spirithorse]

“A trainer is one who teaches a specified skill, while an educator gives intellectual, systematic instruction for particular purposes through development of character and mental abilities.”

Emotional abuse: "the debasement of a person’s feelings that causes the individual to perceive himself or herself as inept, not cared for, and worthless"

I personally observed GM doing a clinic and I can his knowledge is great, however, his professionalism is not that which USEF should be endorsing.
He does not respect the horses nor the riders.
Every professional in the horse industry should adhire to these principals and only those who do so should be endorsed by USEF
“Integrity”
‘An uncompromising adherence to a code of moral, artistic, or other values: utter sincerity, honesty, & candor: avoidance of deception, expediency, artificiality, or shallowness of any kind’
“Respect”
‘To show consideration for, to avoid intruding upon, to notice with special attention, to regard to consider, to view, treat or consider with some degree of courtesy’
“Trust”
‘Confidence; a reliance or setting of the mind on the integrity, veracity, justice, friendship,or other sound principle of another person or thing’

[MistyBlue]

But I’m shocked that people are defending this specific instance. Are you? Do all of you really think its appropriate to call someone a dumbell in a public lesson like this? Even assuming the girl rode 50 circles? [And let me clarify… that question has nothing to do with whether the girl should be able to “handle it”. Maybe she can… maybe she can’t… But that’s really not the point. Do you REALLY think its appropriate behavior? Because that’s what I’m hearing, and I couldn’t disagree more.]

Yes, I really think it’s appropriate.

Top level sport; rising level athlete aspiring to master level being taught by the top master in our sport.

Did not do as they were told.

Wastes time of other paying clinic members, auditors and coach by not following instructions.

He called her a dumb bell. Hardly character crushing. And do we know how the rider feels about the scenerio? Somehow I doubt she’s as upet as you are about it.

So we’ll have to agree to disagree that a rising level seriously competitive athlete in a masters class being taught by the master of this sport is going to be crushed by this or that the master coach needs to be kinder/gentler in his approach. His approach put him at the very top of this sport and then created a new level above that, a level only he is on in regards to both accomplishments and results. Is he God? Lordy no. Is he the best of the best? Absolutely according to his resume.

As stated before…it’s a sport. Treat it like a sport and you produce athletes. If you want kind and gentle, stick to Midget Football where everyone gets s trophy and everyone is there for fun. If you want to be really serious and go for the top levels…the coaching gets tougher. The Midget Football coach Stuart Smalley creates completely different athletes than say…Mike Ditka in the NFL did. :winkgrin:

Though his comments in his recent riding pictorial in PH were a bit milder towards himself, than they would have been to a mere mortal sending in the same picture, and he defaults to using age and falls as a reason for his position. In his “clinics” where riders send in a picture, he does not allow the same liberties.

Well, to be fair:

1. He has already proven himself as a rider, he’s not critiquing someone learning
2. Even at his age he can still get on a very fractious horse and have it going correctly in very little time…after asking the rider less 1/3 his age to get off.
3. Turning 73 this year…at this age your body simply cannot do the things it did 50 years ago. Same with someone who has eaten footing more time than they can count.
4. GM knows function over form when it gets to the point that your body can no longer physically attain the 100% correct looking form. But he’s still got the function part down cold. :winkgrin:
5. If a rider in/near the same level of proven accomplishment as he has sent in a photo for critique, he’d probably not ding them on form as much as he would someone much less accomplished.

[shawnee_Acres]

[QUOTE=JSwan;5337696]
Allow me to quote a master:

Maybe we should chug on over to mamby pamby land and maybe we can find some self confidence for you – you jack wagon! Tissue?

R. Lee Ermy

I’d give my right arm to participate in a George Morris clinic. :yes:[/QUOTE]

ROFLMAO!!! touche!

[rileyt]

[QUOTE=findeight;5338061]

And, rileyt, you really think GM is a moron?[/QUOTE]

I understand where you got this impression, but no, that is not what I meant. I was speaking generically (as in, no one should fall to pieces just because some idiot calls them a mean name).

I acknowledge that the man knows more about horses than I will probably ever know.

But I do think he’s a first rate jerk.

[trubandloki]

@rileyt;5338078

Sorry if I didn’t credit everyone who thinks they replied to the question I asked.

No one would care one way or the other if you did not make some dramatic statement about how only two people were willing to answer. :winkgrin:

I was saying I find nothing wrong with GM calling her a dumbbell. From what it sounds like she was not listening and not trying to do was she was instructed. Dumbbell is not the word I would pick, mine might not have been so nice.

[Lucassb]

[QUOTE=rileyt;5338069]
One of the best comments yet, IMO.

And to Lucassb, I don’t believe for a second that he called the girl a dumbell as a calculated teaching method to get her to do better – let’s get real (and if he did, that’s a pretty poor teaching method). The fact that he later complimented her is entirely beside the point. I’d say its more likely evidence of a guilty conscience, but I doubt he cares that much.[/QUOTE]

You are entitled to your opinion and we can agree to disagree. I think you’re letting your overall opinion of GM color your view of this specific situation.

I will point out that it did work, and he got her to execute the exercise correctly …after he got her attention, so to speak. So you might not like his approach, but it was effective, which is the point of a clinic like that. The riders are there to learn, to step their skills up a notch or two, and to become better riders.

Not a prayer that he had a guilty conscience; in fact, that is pretty hilarious. He is quite clear that he believes that if you can’t take the heat, people… get out of the kitchen!

(yes, a direct quote from an earlier session.)

[MHM]

[QUOTE=rileyt;5338105]
But I do think he’s a first rate jerk. ;)[/QUOTE]

Luckily for you, it’s easy enough to avoid him.

[MistyBlue]

And to Lucassb, I don’t believe for a second that he called the girl a dumbell as a calculated teaching method to get her to do better – let’s get real (and if he did, that’s a pretty poor teaching method). The fact that he later complimented her is entirely beside the point. I’d say its more likely evidence of a guilty conscience, but I doubt he cares that much.

So now you know exactly how he thinks and what he means at all times? And that there’s no way over half a century being at the very top levels and almost as long being a top level coach he’d have learned and implemented a calculated teaching method? And that after tens of thousands of clinic riders and students that he can’t read a person and tailor a lesson or comment directly to them?

Seriously??? :eek:

So your assumption is that he felt guilty and doesn’t really care much…sigh…wish I had a career where I cared so little I was still doing it full time at the age of 73.

We get it, you obviously loathe the man. You’re not going to listen to a single point or opinion with an open mind. Fine, no big deal. I’m sure both you and George will sleep fine tonight anyway.

And please add me onto your list that does think calling someone a very mild dumb bell when they ignore a direct instruction perfectly fine.

I doubt the actual rider called a dumb bell cares 1/10 as much you do about this whole thing. She didn’t get to Master Class level by being a jackwagon crybaby. She knew she was going to hear from the very best and she knew what his methods were like. Big kudos to her for getting there…takes a buttload of work and talent to get there. And nope, just getting there doesn’t make you immune from being called a dumb bell. Dollars to donuts she, like every rider that’s ever shown mid to top levels, has ridden oout of a show ring and had her personal everyday trainer ask her, “What were you thinking in there you dingbat?” :winkgrin:

[M_O_Connor]

I’ve seen people who are paying a LOT more than the kids in this group get called MANY worse things than “dumb-bell,” by trainers with not a FRACTION of the skill and experience of GM, btw…

No one seems to start threads about how horrible THOSE trainers are…

[boosma47]

[QUOTE=rileyt;the man knows more about horses than I will probably ever know.

But I do think he’s a first rate jerk. ;)[/QUOTE]

Obviously. Get over yourself.

[hntrjmprpro45]

To answer riley’s question- no, I don’t think what GM said was inappropriate. He didn’t curse, he didn’t bring up any irrelevant issues (race, gender, religion), and apparently after she did it correctly he praised her. I suppose he could have simply asked her “do you think you are above following instructions or are you just not intelligent enough to follow them?”. Personally I would rather be called a dumbell.

Everyone at that clinic was well aware of what was expected of them. Not following directions at that level us unacceptable.