[QUOTE=GoneAway;8861980]
George Morris makes unicorns smile.
(^ I dare you to not be happy when you watch that video. I DARE YOU!)[/QUOTE]
And see here his leg is swinging like the German style of riding. Just shows how he can ride different mounts in the most effective way :lol:
I think it is agreed that he has mellowed with age…and he is getting up there, so take every chance you get to learn from him while the getting’ is good.
He has to slow down sometime!
My book did not come with a disclaimer (that I saw).
I’ve gone to watch his Oregon clinic the past two years. It’s been held at Rich Fellers’s home barn, and watching Rich, Shelly, and Chris ride under GM has been an amazing education. I sincerely hope he continues to come out our way now and again even though he’s slowing down. It’s always entertaining, and even though I watch the 4’+ section and show in the weenie adult hunters, I always feel like I learn something applicable.
Glad you got the opportunity to see him in action too, RTR!
Not to bring this back up - but there was something on FB recently praising how lightly Charlotte Dujardin rides Valegro with her seat. Kind of a new train of thought that strength and finesse to be able to lighten your seat using your legs might be moving us away from some of the harsher images of dressage.
I have found through auditing when George makes fun of dressage riders - it’s generally people who THINK they’re doing dressage but really they’re just flailing. I think it’s the easiest way to explain it to people and I don’t think it has to do with “pure dressage”. But yeah, if you spur your horse into a tight seat every stride - prepare to be berated and have him harp on how sorry he feels for your horse.
Foxtrot,
The book didn’t come with a disclaimer, per se, but there is a “Warning” page that says something like “this a candid portrayal and not for the faint of heart,” or words to that effect, I don’t have my copy in front of me.
I thought that was cute and coy. He is frank about his sexual orientation, but there really aren’t details. He does talk about staying out all night carousing, but again, nothing worth pearl clutching. I mean, George would no more be graphic or disgusting than he would wear a square saddle paid or bling on his spur straps, now would he?
The most shocking thing in the book about his personal life was that he dated women for a time!
[QUOTE=GoneAway;8861980]
George Morris makes unicorns smile.
(^ I dare you to not be happy when you watch that video. I DARE YOU!)[/QUOTE]
Oh George, that swinging leg!!! :lol:
[QUOTE=relocatedTXjumpr;8862417]
I know a couple of the riders, including the young girl you mentioned, that rode in the clinic. Sounds like most came away with some good lessons and had a good time.
Blackjack is amazing isn’t it?! Glad you had a good time as well![/QUOTE]
The girl on the green pony? How is she doing? She switched horses yesterday and had a fall. For some reason lots of horses were having trouble with that exercise. In the video it looked simple, of course I wasn’t there and only saw the video.
I’ll get around to typing out the notes and I’m more than happy to share!! 
[QUOTE=Ready To Riot;8862728]
The girl on the green pony? How is she doing? She switched horses yesterday and had a fall. For some reason lots of horses were having trouble with that exercise. In the video it looked simple, of course I wasn’t there and only saw the video.
I’ll get around to typing out the notes and I’m more than happy to share!! :)[/QUOTE]
She wasn’t on a pony, a green horse (chestnut) and was in the 3ft section, so maybe we are talking about different people. Her Mom is a trainer though, so I am sure it’s the same young girl.
Sounds like he really liked another horse in that section as well, I saw a couple of videos of him riding a bay and talking about how nice it was.
I think a few pages back you were talking about stirrup length and wanting to shorten. Definitely give it a try, BUT…I would suggest one hole at a time till you get used to it. I once jacked mine up and the first time I jumped, I came off, since it was just so different. 
[QUOTE=relocatedTXjumpr;8862748]
She wasn’t on a pony, a green horse (chestnut) and was in the 3ft section, so maybe we are talking about different people. Her Mom is a trainer though, so I am sure it’s the same young girl.
Sounds like he really liked another horse in that section as well, I saw a couple of videos of him riding a bay and talking about how nice it was.[/QUOTE]
Yes, same girl. The horse looked like a pony, maybe the other horses were just really really big! Lol
[QUOTE=ParadoxFarm;8862816]
I think a few pages back you were talking about stirrup length and wanting to shorten. Definitely give it a try, BUT…I would suggest one hole at a time till you get used to it. I once jacked mine up and the first time I jumped, I came off, since it was just so different. :)[/QUOTE]
Yes! Thank you!!! I’m hoping to not come off by shortening the stirrups! Haha
A few times George would address the auditors directly and say stuff like “You people are so stupid because you don’t read.” “You would be lucky to understand 5% of what I am saying because you don’t have the mental capacity.” I was like WTH was that about? I don’t know if we looked puzzled or he saw someone scratching their heads or what but that was weird and unnecessary. I paid $80 to sit on my butt all day and felt it was worth 5 times that much. Maybe that is why he thought we were stupid?
[QUOTE=Ready To Riot;8861355]
The way I took it was he thinks they shouldn’t sit so far in their butt with “flailing legs, reached backs and bobbling heads” his words. Not mine.
I made this post because I had a great time. Not to start some huge stupid debate over dressage riders and hunters. I wrote what I learned. If you can’t get excited about the fact that I got to hangout with GHM for 12 solid hours yesterday, then don’t bother posting. Jeez![/QUOTE]
I understand what you are getting at. I have audited many of his clinics and this is what he says about Dressage that they sit too deep… I always took it as a generalization saying some/many do this… not all
Rider sitting too deep and leaning back -
http://www.happy-horse-training.com/images/xdressage_saddles_good_seat.jpg.pagespeed.ic.-R3qrRKFej.jpg
Rider more balanced over the horse -
http://www.lusitanohorsefinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/9I0A9333-copy.jpg
I posted those examples because that is what I understood in the clinics I have watched him teach. He wants riders to know and work to be educated on the weight of your body, hands, seat and legs and how they work on a horse.
It’s great that you had a great time but know this kind of stuff will often become a debate 
[QUOTE=Foxtrot’s;8861931]
But the man can ride ---- somebody look up George Morris rides Catherine Haddad’s Winyamaro (her GP dressage horse) - and he does not ride dressage, ever but does know how.[/QUOTE]
I interviewed GM for an article in August 2013 and, as part of that, audited part of his local clinic. He was frustrated with a clinic rider who wouldn’t try something different with his seat (GM thought he rode too heavy in the saddle). What GM said at that point was, “If you put yourself in this position - attending a clinic - be willing to try something different. I take lessons from Robert Dover and I do exactly what he tells me to.”
So he has had some dressage training!
[QUOTE=doublesstable;8862853]
It’s great that you had a great time but know this kind of stuff will often become a debate ;)[/QUOTE]
So I’m learning! Lol
[QUOTE=Laurierace;8862845]
A few times George would address the auditors directly and say stuff like “You people are so stupid because you don’t read.” “You would be lucky to understand 5% of what I am saying because you don’t have the mental capacity.” I was like WTH was that about? I don’t know if we looked puzzled or he saw someone scratching their heads or what but that was weird and unnecessary. I paid $80 to sit on my butt all day and felt it was worth 5 times that much. Maybe that is why he thought we were stupid?[/QUOTE]
Oh yes. He called us stupid too!! Haha and really went to town about how dumb the south is and how he has to repeat himself 10 times!
While the girl maybe shouldn’t have been there, letting a 13 year old girl “have it” is highly inappropriate. Way to discourage the future of our sport. I guess I shall add that to reasons why I would never set foot in a GM clinic.
[QUOTE=Draftmare;8862964]
While the girl maybe shouldn’t have been there, letting a 13 year old girl “have it” is highly inappropriate. Way to discourage the future of our sport. I guess I shall add that to reasons why I would never set foot in a GM clinic.[/QUOTE]
How should a clinician handle a rider that is not prepared for the level they are entered in and are not willing/able to do the exercises?
Would it be better if he ignored them and left them standing there doing nothing? Or should he let them get hurt and keep doing it wrong?
He can not spend all day getting that rider to a point where they can participate safely, then the other riders are left doing nothing.
…but he has mellowed! He can be awful, but we have never been part of that.
He has another side to him, charming, witty, courteous, etc.
BTW - I didn’t actually mean to convey that GM do dressage ever, but he’s not a dressage rider in the general every day sense of the word…he doesn’t show, etc. But he does know dressage and more importantly the principles of weight, lightness, etc.
He can certainly say he’s made a lasting impact on hunters and jumpers worldwide and goes down as one of the greats.
I’ve not started the book yet.
[QUOTE=Draftmare;8862964]
While the girl maybe shouldn’t have been there, letting a 13 year old girl “have it” is highly inappropriate. Way to discourage the future of our sport. I guess I shall add that to reasons why I would never set foot in a GM clinic.[/QUOTE]
I agree with this. Maybe the circumstances were not ideal, but treating her poorly is no excuse. If she is not paying attention or is clearly not ready for that level, ask her to leave the session, but do not publicly humiliate a child. There are other ways to make your point.
But, we know this about GM. I would not subject myself to it, let alone anyone else. She is a good little rider and would give anyone the shirt off of her back, so I hope she bounces back from this and takes it as a challenge to get better, not let it break her confidence.
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