It takes, sometimes a lifetime, and at least a long time, to earn the respect and admiration of others; it takes but a split second to destroy it. This should apply to everyone.
Folks, this thread is already pretty darn long… and there have been a LOT of issues brought up. It’d probably be better to explore those tangential topics (turn-out, etc.) under new headings. Sound good? Thanks! 
What is his purpose for placing feed buckets on jumps for green horses to jump, and using metal pipes as a jump element? Does he have some cockamamie reason or is it just to take chances and freak out/injure riders and their horses?
it is exactly where your sport is headed, and has been for many years.
That was very nice and literate for you to explain it all to me, jumpinghigh. I really didn’t understand it all until you did-ya know, especially the part about predator, natural state, and “cow” in horses. Whewee, didn’t get it until you stepped in…
Erin - really had to chuckle at your response to my inquiry on why the Chronicle and/or PH haven’t reported more information. You said the Chronicle isn’t CNN - well then why have a website which is being monitored constantly and then hide behind the “we only publish weekly” excuse? You’ve left this thread go 8 pages with a lot of mud slinging, more than a few other horse BB’s have posts referring readers to this thread - it certainly gives the Chron alot of traffic. If you don’t support sensationalism, then don’t be a party to it. This has brought so much attention the Chron and other mags with websites can, (and, I personally believe, should) post a news items with the facts they have substantiated.
Perhaps much of the anger and outrage that’s been manifested here evidences the frustration that many horse people have over the “double standard” in the horse world (all disciplines). If you play by rules then everybody should play by the same rules, but it clearly becomes obvious that people of celebrity (for whatever reason) don’t always get the same swift rap on the knuckles that the “average Joe” can expect. We’ve already paid for this with the Insurance debacle and people obviously have a total lack of trust in the “waiting for the truth to come out” scenario. There are some truths we are still waiting on - after years.
Do the readers and the horseworld a favor - post a news update about the incident on this website and stop the National Enquirer uproar.
Can we just slow down?? Just a little? Yes, there was a terrible tragedy in WPB, and quite possibly, rules were violated, but do keep in mind, it was an ACCIDENT! I don’t understand the hostility toward one of our true living legends. I AM NOT DEFENDING HIS ACTIONS, I would just hope we can treat the man with the respect he has earned and deserved. He is going to go through terrible times ahead, and if he’s guilty, he should be punished, but, can we rid the conversation of the hate? George Morris is a good human being, and this was a HORRIBLE ACCIDENT! Many questions need to be answered, and will be, soon. Was this a private schooling area? Who is in charge when the circuit has yet to begin? IIs a private ring still private, if it’s in a public place? What if it had been a bamboo?? Or a regular jump rail? I’M NOT DEFENDING GEORGE, I’m just asking? And hoping we can cool down the hate…it was horrible, gruesome and tragic,but again, IT WAS AN ACCIDENT! thanks for letting me put in my two cents. I just hate to see a man who had such a glorious career have to go thru this, when he should be enjoying what he has done for the industry. thasnks
You guys are being REALLY harsh. Were any of you there? Until we get the real story from the rider and GM quit bashing George. He is human and humans make mistakes. I don’t agree with jumping horses over metal but I man the same thing could have happened with a wooden pole with a point at the end…that’s all folks!
Carrie is absolutely right about the reasons why any good lawyer will immediately advise a client in a situation involving potential liability not to make any public comment until the incident has been analyzed and good legal advice obtained. It is foolish to do otherwise, regardless of whether one is “guilty” or “innocent” (which are inappropriate terms to use in a matter involving at most civil and not criminal liability).
I’m not commenting on Mr. Morris’s situation in particular, but as a lawyer, the first thing I would advise any client in a similar situation to do is to not make any public comment until the incident has been investigated and analyzed from a legal perspective.
I understand that, unless you practice litigation on a regular basis, as I do, it is difficult to understand all the reasons why no comment is made even though teh public wants an explanation and the parties involved may desperately want to explain themselves (as they usually do). But please, don’t condemn anyone simply because they’re following their lawyer’s directions. There are very good reasons for that advice, as anyone who faces a potential claim will find out.
Until this incident, anyway. I, for one, intend to inform the staff at Practical that I will cancel my subscription until such time as this issue is satisfactorily dealt with.
According to the Official Policy of the AHSA,
“Those who choose to serve the American Horse Shows Association, Inc. (“AHSA”) whether as volunteers or senior staff personnel are held to the highest standards of conduct.” However can they justify this behavior by a member of the Board of Directors?
Heads really are gonna roll.
Ken Kraus is right, of course; it was a dreadful accident, not an intentional act of cruelty or abuse. However, if the facts are correct as presented, George should indeed be ashamed of himself, and the AHSA should investigate the incident thoroughly. Placing horses at risk in that way is unforgiveable. It’s made even more reprehensible by George’s status in the industry.
George, I’m sure, is devastated. He loves horses, or he’d not have been in this business for so long. I imagine he will lose sleep over this for months to come. Regardless, he should have known better, plain and simple.
Several people have pointed out that using a metal pole as an offset is illegal. Yes, indeed it is – at an AHSA event. If this incident occurred in a private schooling area, however, would it be under AHSA rules? I’m unclear whether that private ring is considered to be part of the showgrounds or not. A gray area, and a question for the stewards. Also, did the accident occur on a show day? I’m vague on this, but I think all bets are off on days when no competitions are scheduled. I certainly have seen plenty of creative schooling on dark days at horse shows small and large, with no hint of rules enforcement.
Where the accident occurred may not matter to the AHSA, or course. Was not one of the top German riders set down recently for illegal schooling activities at his own home barn? I can’t recall the details of the case.
I remember once, years ago, coming across a tack rail at a local trainer’s barn. It was back in the back of a storage area, out of sight of casual passers-by. Rows of carpet tacks studded it, and the rail was dark with dried blood. I was naive. I didn’t realize such things went on behind the scenes. I’ve since learned that everyone has their little tricks that they’d rather their customers and the ASPCA didn’t know about.
Again, people… back up, take a breath, and think for a minute. It’s a little bit ridiculous to be crying “cover-up” or accusing officials of preferential treatment when there is no evidence of anything like that happening. Most of the Monday-Friday 9-5 horse industry people (which includes the AHSA, USET, the Chronicle, Practical Horseman, etc.) just found out about this incident yesterday. To complicate matters, most of the eastern seaboard is under a foot of snow. I’m quite sure that the only “cover-up” here is Mother Nature’s doing. 
As I said before, let’s give everyone involved a little bit of credit to do their jobs, until they prove they deserve otherwise.
I understand that everyone is deeply affected by this, but realistically, it’s going to take a while for the pieces of the puzzle to come together. No one is going to have all the answers tomorrow. And as several other people (thankfully) have said, there is no point in passing judgment until all the facts are in. Doing otherwise is taking part in a prototypical witch-hunt, and I know the people on this board are more reasonable than that.
Oh, and pretty please, don’t put the Chronicle (i.e. – ME!) on the receiving end of an email campaign. I’m already without my regular computer and stuck on a laptop… it’s hard enough for me just to keep on top of this thread! 
BTW, as for the question of when this will actually appear in the magazine… I would seriously doubt it can make it into this Friday’s issue (Jan. 28) because today is the day that we go to press. In fact, since I’m not sure if anyone at the Chronicle was able to snowshoe to work today, I’m not sure if there WILL be an issue this Friday! Most likely, there will be some news of this in the following issue. But as I said, Tricia and I will try to keep you guys posted on any developments.
practical horseman is at prachorse@aol.com equisearch is at info@equisearch.com
[This message has been edited by beccam86 (edited 01-23-2000).]
actually, the fence at which christopher reeve was paralyzed was not used in competition again.
as for GM, i agree that it WAS an accident, albeit a horrible one, but why on earth did he continue to use the pole? thats what i dont understand. fine, continue the clinic, etc, but leaving that obstacle in there seems like a stupid idea.
“That Cowboy person did get us all waded up, it probably was the intent all along.”
I lurk here a lot, but I don’t post much, but I just have to say that “That Cowboy person” is a fake, I’m sure of it. If you read carefully, “he” knows too much about this industry to be what he claims and it makes no sense that he would come here. I’m certain it is someone who already posts regularly, but wanted to make a point they couldn’t make under their usual name/pseudonym. I wouldn’t waste time reacting to that kind of post.
Dear Ken,
I would hesitate to describe Geroge Morris as a hero. Yes, he has done so much for show jumping, but there are many examples of his rude and downright mean behavior. He goes way across the line of criticizing a student during a lesson or clinic. Now, most accidents don’t just “happen.” There are specific circumstances that are set up that allow for the accident to happen. As a horseman, you should be trained to look for “accidents waiting to happen” and do something to remedy the situtation, since we all know how much horses are drawn to accidents. Jumping a metal pole sounds ALOT like an accident waiting to happen. Jumping a bucket sounds ALOT like an accident waiting to happen. I have a fraction of George Morris’ knowledge and experience, yet every time i set up a jump, I remove all spare cups and pins and tuck everything in so the horse or rider will not get hung up or injured shoule something unexpected happen. He exibited blatant disregard for the health and welfare of both the horses and his students. How much does someone like that REALLY care about the sport and sportsmanship? And what if it had been the rider that was killed? As horrible as it is to lose a horse, the rider was probably someone’s daughter, mother, sister, wife and cherished friend.
Laura, thank you for addressing the legality of poling for all of us.
And Portia, once again thank you for your input A calming voice with logic.
And for everyone, this is OUR place to vent and discuss. As people, we all have different ways of venting, some harsher than others. I do NOT read a lynch mob mentality as some have alluded to. Just people coming together over a tragedy.
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Sunny:
[B]This is my concern.
If this incident is dismissed because it presumably occured off show grounds, then governing associations such as the AHSA/USET are useless.
Off grounds schooling areas will become an instant hot item…
[/B]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
OH, Sunny, they already are! There are so many reasons trainers are snatching up all the properties around the showgrounds. Having a place to “do as they please” is one of them. Yup, there are plenty of honest trainers out there more interested in a nice place to school and turn out the horses, so I’m not shaking my fingers at everyone.
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by MB Stark:
[B]Funny Abby I have NEVER HEARD George use that quote. And I will not stoop to your level and try to make horse people fight amonst ourselves. Just because You don’t go to Wellington doesn’t give you the right to tell us whether or not WE love and take care of our horses.
[This message has been edited by MB Stark (edited 01-23-2000).][/B]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Pat,
I don’t have any problems with riders who jump 2’6" and only ride a few time a week. My point was that to say “even I know better” misses the heart of what the trainer in this incident may have done. The metal pole was not used due to lack of knowledge or an understanding of the risks. It was not used (if this story is in fact true) by an amateur who was not experienced in this technique. To say “even I know better” implies that the accident was a result of ignorance. My point was that this did not happen because someone was thoughtless or was trying a trick from a book.
I called the poster naive because if a metal pole was used and a horse died, and GM was involved he knew the risk he was taking by schooling that way, whether we agree or not. I would speculate that this would also be the reason schooling continued, because the trainer has done it many (thousands) of times in the past and considers this a freak accident. For those of us who have never poled a horse the context would be different.
