I wish I could say I've always known about George Morris, the legendary coach and author, but that wouldn't be truthful. As a teenager I loved to ride in clinics with Jen Hamilton, but I didn't know that she had been his first student. I went to the National Coaching Symposium in 2009 to watch Ingrid Klimke, David O'Connor and George Morris teach for 3 days, and while those 3 are the best of the best, it was George who made the biggest difference.
Ingrid Klimke, George Morris, David O'Connor National Coaching Symposium 2009
I watched a man in his seventies aboard several unknown horses to school them for a few minutes. They went on the bit nearly immediately, performed all the lateral work and made clean flying changes. Then he jumped the course in both directions. I could hardly see his aids. "I gave you a picture, now copy it." He showed us the correct 'pulley rein' and how to condition a horse to the whip. "The horse should not be afraid of it." as his mount danced in a tense way "No, no, no." he crooned "Caress the horse with the whip." and he stroked the horse until it was calm. I was struck by his tenderness.
The Man Rides
He was wicked to some of the riders, and the crowd squirmed uncomfortably, but I understood the point. "Insulting her sharpened her." He twinkled coldly at us. "Don't practice being soft." Riding is terribly dangerous and we must take it seriously. One's physical appearance and turnout can be an indicator if one is serious, or not. The horse is an amazing creature and we must treat them carefully and fairly. We must teach them to respect us, not fear us. He showed us how.
I saw him again in October 2012 and took another 9 pages of notes. I had so many lesson plans to share! We watched him ride again and when the crowd applauded "Stop that! It's called riding!" He pressed his riders "If she can't take it, I can't produce her. If I can't produce her, I'm not interested in her." "Pretty is as pretty does. It executes AND it's beautiful." "Catering, complimenting, stroking these days is dangerous." "The brain is the most important aid on a horse." "You have to appreciate the genius of dressage."
I saw him again in October 2012 and took another 9 pages of notes. I had so many lesson plans to share! We watched him ride again and when the crowd applauded "Stop that! It's called riding!" He pressed his riders "If she can't take it, I can't produce her. If I can't produce her, I'm not interested in her." "Pretty is as pretty does. It executes AND it's beautiful." "Catering, complimenting, stroking these days is dangerous." "The brain is the most important aid on a horse." "You have to appreciate the genius of dressage."
October 2012 Clinic at Iron Horse Farm
When his clinic in Ottawa was announced for October 2015, I bought my ticket in June. The man is close to 80 and says he's retiring. Again, he schooled the horses simply and thoroughly and I took 6 pages of notes in one day. Teaching good habits, not gimmicks and gadgets. Teaching lightness. Being tough again on some of the riders but admiring the horses "My baby, all horses are my babies." He pulled out a horse's earplugs, threw them at the spectators, and used the crowd to condition the horses to applause.
Clinic at Wesley Clover Park October 2015
I came home and set up some of the same exercises for Ludi. I replayed George's voice in my head. "Leg yield, turn on the forehand, shoulder in, haunches in. Lift the hands, close the fingers. Keep the neck straight. Sink, don't sit. Go forward. Don't drill." "Be the eye of the hurricane; the rider is the stillness." "When the going gets tough, you get tougher."
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