[QUOTE=Soaponarope;8864922]
At a certain point the philosophizing and speculation becomes a whole lot of hot air. If it weren’t he’d be coaching the gold medal Olympic team each and every time.[/QUOTE]
Well, he did coach one team to Olympic gold, along with medal winners in at least four other Olympics, among countless other accomplishments. Which is more than most have ever done. Or ever will.
People can debate his methods until the cows come home, but there’s no question he’s had a tremendous amount of success and influence for more than half a century.
[QUOTE=Andrew;8865081]
And I didn’t even get a MENTION lmao!!![/QUOTE]
Were you riding? I know there was Andrew riding, but for the life of me, I’m not sure what horse or group he was in! Now I’m intrigued!! Who were you!!??
And yes talkofthetown, yes. She sure has been and when I asked to raise them because I felt as though I was reaching for my stirrups, she said no. So I didn’t and just assumed she knew what she was talking about…
[QUOTE=WinWinn;8864347]
He was very nice to the girl and said she was a nice little rider on the third day (with a different horse). He told the mother that she needs to be riding some made horses in addition to the green ones. He said if she is always on the green ones with vices, she will be beyond repair (i.e. riding defensively) and he won’t be able to help her. He also said mother/ daughter training teams don’t usually work, and advised them to seek out another instructor to help her. He explained to a later group that his method is breaking riders down to fix what needs to be fixed, and then building them back up.[/QUOTE]
Well gosh isn’t that the truth… I have never heard it put that way until now and makes perfect sense to me.
I am an older (kind of a re-rider) at over 50 and find myself working so hard to get rid of a few automatic habits I developed as a younger rider on many green OTTBs.
Tension, riding off my knee, afraid to apply leg, pull if the horse is going too fast rather than half halts and soften. I will pull over the jump after a bit of a long distance because I fear what is going to happen on the other side of the jump… buck fest!!!
When I was young I didn’t have finances for quality training and horses available I was lucky enough to ride were not made. I don’t regret riding them and they did teach me too but having a made horse to practice on would have helped me a lot.
And yes talkofthetown, yes. She sure has been and when I asked to raise them because I felt as though I was reaching for my stirrups, she said no. So I didn’t and just assumed she knew what she was talking about…[/QUOTE]
I’m so, so sorry…:lol:
FWIW, I was taught to flat below the ankle bone, go up 3 holes for conditioning/jumpinging, go up 3 more holes for XC.
[QUOTE=trubandloki;8862997]
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.[/QUOTE]
You excuse them from the lesson but do not publically humiliate them. I’ve seen many top clinicians do exactly that. GM is not known for ever having that kind of tact. He has always been of the school of thought to tear a person down before building them back up. I’ve personally disliked that for young students.
I’d been dying to ride with her for a while and I some spare change lying around (literally, I cashed in all my change and had $75!!) so I figured why not go now!! It was a lovely lesson and she had me working on some things that GM was teaching in the clinic. She is an Irish Grand Prix rider who is very familiar with him and rode in the same barn where he taught some students.
I was fortunate enough to ride and show with Blackjack while I was in college. I also audited GHM clinics (though I wasn’t ballsy enough to ride in them!). I’m glad to hear this year’s was as good as ever!
People have mentioned videos- is there somewhere I can view them?
[QUOTE=worth_the_wait08;8868908]
I was fortunate enough to ride and show with Blackjack while I was in college. I also audited GHM clinics (though I wasn’t ballsy enough to ride in them!). I’m glad to hear this year’s was as good as ever!
People have mentioned videos- is there somewhere I can view them?[/QUOTE]
I got all mine from Facebook. They aren’t mine, so I don’t feel comfortable telling you where to look. But, I’m sure if you search black jack farm, you’ll find they are tagged in most of them:)
[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]
I learned to ride in the very early 1960’s, with someone who had learned from both a Cavalry Officer, and later study with (Tina’s Grandfather) Arthur Konyot. She gave that same advice on stirrup length. I am surprised OP’s trainer does not know that ! (I thought everyone who knows what they are doing knew that.)
[QUOTE=MontysGal;8862303]
I am on the list to audit a clinic in 2 weeks time in Ontario! OMG SO EXCITED! I will be there with notepad and NO SMIRK.[/QUOTE]
Oh dear Lord, if GM ever yelled at me for ANY reason I think I would die on the spot. I doubt I’ll ever be a clinic rider but even if I was just auditing I’d be on my absolute very best behavior at all times. You don’t mess with George!
OP, glad you had so much fun and learned a lot. Your enthusiasm is great to hear.
[QUOTE=ReturnCall90;8862434]
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:[/QUOTE]
Of course everyone knows that unicorns leap along in a deerlike fashion with their eyes closed, so to emphasize the correct gait, one must keep a swinging leg to maintain the blind suspension particular to the unicorn…:yes:
If you didn’t know it then, then you know it now. George has set an example, as always…
[QUOTE=Ready To Riot;8862874]
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![/QUOTE]
I’ve taken some clinics from someone who is known for being a straight shooter but also quite kind. He tolerates a lot in his clinics. Let’s just say that he has some choice words for the denizens of the L.A. area. :lol: Nothing the rest of the country doesn’t believe about Southern Californians and sadly, fairly accurate.
he also is pretty tough on auditors. They can chit-chat but no cell phones, etc. He expects all riders to watch all other groups and will look for them in the audience (he actually called for me to make a point to the next group and thankfully I had just arrived from doing some of the homework/practice and was able to respond. Eek!).
[QUOTE=trubandloki;8862997]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.[/QUOTE]
G’ah. I’ve been in a group with an over faced rider and it was not fun. It took a lot of the focus and when the rider stormed out of the arena calling the clinician names, I was also tarnished. I had nothing to do with them being there. When I wanted to do another clinic at the facility a year or two later, I had to have someone else sign me up because the organizer would not respond to my emails because of how badly she and the clinician were treated.
You couldn’t possibly expect her trainer to see that she was over faced? They obviously figured it out because they put her on a different horse for day three. Wouldn’t want to encourage critical thinking, now would we?
As as for putting down the fork? As a rider that does need to push away from the table, I accept the criticism. Riding is an athletic endeavor and if I choose to not behave like an athlete, I deserve to have it pointed out. Weight and body image is a very important and sensitive topic, but we are not doing the horses any favors to pretend like it doesn’t matter. If someone wants to jump their horse, they need to accept that they need to be at a healthy weight for their body type. (And BTW, he has very much mellowed over weight. There is still and ideal type, but he recognizes and acknowledges that there are plenty of good riders that don’t fit into that ideal. He praises good riding, no matter the shape the rider comes in…)
YEP - I get to see him tomorrow! I have spent all day today texting memes to friends LOL
I’m bringing my pad and notebook and cell phone will be away for the duration.
Don’t be so concerned with your cell phone. He yelled at the people talking, but said nothing to those answering emails and videoing. Of course all phones were on silent and I was snap chatting like crazy the whole time. Nothing was said. Just don’t talk. And if he doesn’t catch you, I promise you others will be giving you dirty looks. I about said something to the trainer chatting it up with her students during the final session. She was making comments like “see. I told you” or “I bet your pony could use that” please for the love of God, discuss things later or if you feel it’s important to discuss now, move away from those trying to take notes lol that is all.
