I was apparently writing while hilltop was posting. I could not agree more!
Excuse me, is someone STOPPING Morris from speaking??? C’mon, George, we’re keen to hear your side.
SingAlong,
You point is the same as mine, the trainer knew exactly what he was doing, and new the dangers. To say someone “should know better” implies that they are ignorant or were momentarily stupid. For example, an experienced rider who reads a book about schooling with a metal pole and goes out in their backyard and tries it - should know better. I don’t think ignorance or momentary stupidity are the case here, again assuming this is true. To say “should have know better” implies a certain innocence that I don’t think applies. It was a deliberate decision. I am with you.
Gry
Yessiree Hilltop, I can agree with you…perhaps an evolution in attitude is needed here…perhaps changing this ‘rush rush’ attitude is a terrific topic for a new forum/board…if voices are big enough things can change, although I recognize it takes time. Wouldn’t it be nice if everyone just plain enjoyed their horses and the sport without constant pressure to win and impress?
Shame on him. This is someone who helps write the rules that we all show under.
This is someone who knows the rules, yet figures they are only for everyone else.
The past few days have been a free for all in that schooling area…
The AHSA, USET, and the FEI should all be advised of this and proper punishment be given by each of them.
I hope the stewards for this Littlewood Horseshow don’t neglect to put it in their reports.
A quick and tough disiplinary action is what is needed to keep this from getting out of hand.
I am so torn over this. My emotions say “condem”, my reason says “wait until the entire story comes out”. My mind keeps playing the picture of what the last minutes of that innocent animal’s life must have been like. The worst part though is the feeling that there is nothing that we can do, except make sure that our own horses are never placed in a situation like that. But, maybe that’s the crux of the whole matter. There are always people who will provide what other people want, right or wrong. While it may be that Morris bears fault in this incident, I don’t think that the owners and rider of this animal are free of blame. Especially if it is true that they came back the next day for more of the same. I’m not a h/j rider, I don’t understand where this pole was and someone, I’m sorry I can’t remember who, said something about a tennis ball that I absolutely did not understand. I just give thanks that my two are safe with a trainer who has the utmost respect for every living creature, and that I have enough sense to keep an eye on them anyway.
And, Bethe, while I think you have hit the nail on the head about dressage and money, I think, with it being the fastest growing segment of the riding industry, we had better keep an eye on our own back yard.
Sorry, Erin, it HASN’T been a week (duh!), and I really didn’t mean to be snide or hostile. The point I was trying to make…albeit, unsuccessfully!..is that everyone here is a bit hypervigilant in ANTICIPATION of a cover up, even tho the media may well intend to follow thru vigorously. My thought was that simply the more quickly the facts can get to press, the sooner the speculation will be ended, and everyone can get back to their lives.
Again, apologies.
Usually when someone’s lawyer says they can’t comment or they can’t comment themselves for “legal reasons,” it’s because they did WRONG.
Otherwise a full explanation would have been given to the local press, Chronicle, this board, etc. by now.
Hence, a thread with almost 300 posts and an uproar from many of us. When I hear about breaking news on TV I don’t get the story two weeks later! George Morris, could we have some facts, please?
Did anyone send a press release or make a call to the local paper?
My heart goes out to the horse. Moral of story: no matter who the trainer is, when you’re asked to do something you think is unsafe, say NO! Your life or your horse’s life may be at stake.
How many horses have to die before Vlad I mean George is stopped? (I also immediately recalled the Tells’ doubts about Sabre.)
What a horrible thing to happen to a horse!
I have seen trainers “pole” horses and use the metal bar to keep them from hitting the top rails in a class. Fortunatly there are not more tragidies like this occuring. I personally would never allow any horse of mine to be “trained” this way. Its just wrong! to say nothing about being illegal! I wish I could believe that this kind of cruelty is isolated but I think we all know better. When discussing the B. Ward issue with a top rider I once respected all that person had to say was “I can’t believe anyone told on him”
The people involved need to be held accountable for their actions-no matter who they are. Is anyone who directly witnessed this willing to report it
Again I am in agreement with you Kathy Johnson, This is NOT a man that badgers or insults everyone who rides with him. Obviously 99% of the people who are contributing to this board have not ever ridden with this extremely talented teacher.
Got out my Steinkraus book last night to look up his reference to poling - his discussion of the practice went on for several pages. Interestingly, in the midst of the discussion he cited the current AHSA rules which were for 1969! So folks, whether or not you were have used the technique or were even aware of the technique, it has been an accepted practice for well over thirty years.
(By the way, Steinkraus said in later paragraphs that he prefers tackrails to metal poles…).
Yes Bluey, as well as having authored the “bible” of the sport, Hunter Seat Equitation.
I was never a George Morris fan. What a heinous and deliberately cruel act. Does he get off on trying to show off to his students, making them do insane tricks in the ring? Is this how he instills confidence and guts to a rider and horse? Safety through excellent horsemanship is the motto of any good trainer. I am disgusted and furious at this man. The owner of that horse must be devastated and kicking themselves for trusting such a man. Imagine how betrayed that rider must feel. To take a clinic with someone who is well known, to put all their trust in someone when you think they know what they are doing when they do not, is the worst betrayal to endure and the price that person paid is very heavy. He blows a good smoke screen around himself, but only few are lucky to see through it. Big name or not, who cares? The facts remain, he is a careless, cruel, insulting, B.S. artist. Thumbs down to you Mr. Morris.
HunterH I totally agree with your post…CLAP CLAP!!
After reading the reply from Luciancephus and referring to a totally different subject (a colic case that seems to have a lot of hearsay), I had to reply to this.
This was a serious accident in Wellington. And until I get all the FACTS I am reserving my judgement. But I must say I have been involved in this sport in one form or another for over 25 years. I have seen many incidents that made me leave and come back. But I have NEVER SEEN GEORGE MORRIS ABUSE A HORSE. I am the first to say his people skills need some improvement but the colic story I believe is just that a story. The care at Hunterdon is exceptional.
Until I get ALL THE FACTS, I am reserving my judgement till then. I don’t believe Mr. Morris should get any special treatment if it is PROVEN rules were broken but I do believe that everything that he has done to improve our sport should be taken into consideration (just like in a real world court)when and if considering a penalty.
Having read all the comments concerning the schooling accident at West Palm I understand the disgust, the sorrow over the painful death of the horse.I agree with all of it,but…The venomous attrocious criticism of Mr.Morris is NOT fair…Having been in this business for Ages (really) and having played up there at the top…I just do not believe that George Morris is only concerned with his money,image and getting on with the day.Maybe after all this time I am so off base that he has fooled me all this time but I really doubt it.George is a man just a man not a god to endow him with godlike qualities is an injustice to him.If all these stories about this incident are true he made a TERRIBLE MISTAKE IN JUDGEMENT.He should have known better really he should have.I guarantee you that as he drives back and forth to his home while he is in Florida he will think about this incident and say to himself why did I do that?Any time that he has a free moment he’ll think about and ask himself" why?".Why he chose to use a metal pipe is beyond me but he did and it was a mistake.George Morris is not a personal friend of mine but…I know that he has been in this business for ever(really) forever and if he didnt care about the animals the riders ,their safety ,and education of the same he would have left this business and gone to something else.Any one who cares a bout animals could not just blow this incident off and continue.It will be with him for along long time.I believe that many of you are being un fairly critical,of a person that you know nothing about except by second hand commentary. I am sure that it will be a long time before any of the professionals that post here ever resort to anything but a "normal "jump rail.
Pat couldn’t agree more, LOL…That Cowboy person did get us all waded up, it probably was the intent all along.
Monica, your posts are very astute and thought provoking…plus you just make darn good sense. Thank you…
MB Stark- Agreed, in my ENTZIRE life, I have never ever ever seen nor heard of Mr. Morris abusing an animal. Thius a large part of the basis for my respect of him. I too should have withheld judgement until finding out the EXACT story, with all the facts, and I regret not doing so. However, it is a tradgedy, and I hope it is straightened out, and the truth told, be it awful as it may to all of us and THEN i will truely make my judgements.
In answer to Louise’s question from waaaay back in this thread, yes, there will be coverage of this in the Chronicle.
I think everyone needs to take a breath and back off a tad here. There’s only a very sketchy outline of the facts at this point, and I think it’s WAY too early to be jumping to conclusions… we don’t have all the information yet.
Chill, all right? Save your indignation and calls for George to be run out of town until we know the whole story about what actually happened.
