George Morris Clinic: Dallas, Tx

George and MM on day 1 as he compliments her leg (p.c. Doris Archer)

 

It was a LONG 3 day weekend- but everyone survived! I have honestly been trying really hard to figure out the best way to do a clinic recap- do I do a day by day summary of what was taught?  A quick overview hitting the high parts? Direct quotes from George only? My honest, unfiltered opinion on what went on, the rider and their horses? That probably wouldn’t make me too popular with some, to say the least! Since I didn’t actually ride in it, I don’t feel that an in-depth, super long, 3 post summary is really necessary, so I plan to keep this all to one post, and do a combination of the above- so stay with me here!

 

Quick Overview:

The clinic was very well run- everything went super smoothly! Huge thanks to Melissa Osburn who organized it, all the wonderful staff at Dallas Equestrian Center (my old barn!), and Noel Clark of Two Jack Farm and Megan Southam (the 2 assistant demo riders, who’s riding I was MOST impressed with!).

 

I’m a huge #fangirl for GHM

 

I was fan girling SO HARD to see George on the first day- as I have never seen him in person before, but I grew up reading every single thing he wrote that I could get my hands. I took my first official jumping lesson when I was 14 or 15 ish- I had already been “self teaching” myself to jump for about a year, with help from a dear friend of mine. Basically, I read every jump critique George ever did in Practical Horseman, along with the huntseat bible. Said friend and I would pull jump exercises from magazines, measure and set them in the back pasture, and practice the old fashion way. When I finally had my first real lesson, the jump trainer said, “So you’ve never had a jump lesson before?” Me: “No ma’am”. Trainer: “Huh. Well I guess there is something to those GM articles after all!”

 

Back to the clinic- it was extremely educational. George really hammers in the American forward riding system in everything he does, and does many demonstrations of how it helps the horse and rider. Everything he said was exactly what you would expect George to say, he has this clinic thing down pat. I will admit that some of the flat work in the 3 ft group (which Megan and Clark were in) definitely was a bit dull. I was expecting a bit more advanced flat work. The ‘hardest’ thing he had them do was shoulder-fore. The 3’3 and 3’6 groups got a bit more interesting though- with collected canter work, shoulder-in and haunches-in, turns on the forehand etc, so it did get progressively harder with the higher level groups, but I expected more I guess.

 

 

He hit on a lot of the things that many people who are familiar with George would have heard- always have spurs and long crop (no short bats for him!) and be sure to keep your horse tuned to the legs with these aids. As George reminded us, our legs are NOT strong in comparison to the horse, so be ready to back up your leg aid with cluck, spur, and crop behind the leg as necessary. Take spooky horses into spooky places. Ride them into spooky corners for example, and do not let them say no, as this spoils them. He checked all the bits. He is a big fan of twisted wires. Does not like the fashion of using pelhams on all the Eq horses, as many do not like them/need them. Likes the classic look of full cheeks. Gave some people grief about not shiny enough boots, but really didn’t comment on any horse turnout or riders apparel much. Hammered home the safe way to adjust stirrup length (foot in the stirrup, adjust INFRONT of the thigh, not behind). He likes the girth to be cinched up higher on the off side.

 

Talked about some history and different riding systems in different countries, which I always enjoy but won’t get into here. Also talked a good bit about dressage being extremely helpful, and how you should leave your trainer if they don’t teach some dressage. But then he said to be careful not to do too much modern dressage, as it can cause you to be stiff and drive with your seat.

 

MM and Clark gallop to a triple bar

 

Said some funny stuff about how spoiled horses that are accustomed to lots of pats, praise, treats etc used to be called “lady broke” back in the day, and how women riders need to treat their horses more like how they treat their husbands, and their husbands like their horses. I found this to be HILARIOUS, as I am definitely ‘stricter’ with my husband then Rio, and I bet my husband would enjoy all the attention I pile on Rio LOL. Definitely needed that kick in the pants to get Rio a bit more disciplined as not coddle him so much.

 

There was lots of emphasis on keeping the horses neck straight and bending their bodies with your leg. Repeatedly discucssed riding them up to the contact with impulsion. At one point he said, “Impulsion is LIFE”.  He had the 3’3 group cue for a walk/canter depart across the diagonal without using the inside rein. It was actually kind of surprising how many struggled with it, which led to him harping on cueing horses for the canter with leg only, not hand (inside leg at the girth, outside leg back), which of course translated to straighter canter departs.

 

 

MM and Clark

 

 

George-isms, aka direct quotes:

 

“Stop the death grip! People, let a horse go forward.”

  • He called out several riders many times for having their reins too short.

 

“You children are so spoiled. So indulged. So Spoiled. I do not tolerate spoiled people. Or dogs. That is why I have this whip.”

  • This drew chuckles from the crowd. The spoiled rants would predominately come when people wouldn’t follow directions, specifically if the exercise had already be demonstrated correctly by someone else.

 

“Discipline has gone extinct in society. Riding instructors need to teach discipline. Don’t wait for schools to teach it, because they don’t.”

  • This one is pretty self explanatory.

 

“As you jump your horse you are constantly making transitions- turning, lengthening, collecting”.

  • Said while he was emphasizing how flatwork transitions into jumping by having riders do a zig zag on the flat (going from the rail to a cone to a rail to cone, focusing on turning off the legs and keeping the horse’s neck straight) then did the same type of movement over jumps. For some reason I really liked this even though it may sound obvious/simple, the connection was just SO CLEAR, and it made the jumping part of the exercise super successful for all the riders.

 

“There is nothing that gives me a happier night then tears. I love tears.”

  • Typical George, but it didn’t really have any bite to it. I’m not aware of anyone actually crying at the clinic.

 

“Pretty is as pretty does. I am very suspicious of pretty boots, pretty sweaters, pretty belts. Verryyyy suspicious. You are pretty. That is not a compliment.”

  • Said to a junior rider who did the wrong exercise after the first rider did it correctly.

 

“If you lose your temper, you do not ride my horse.”

  • In reference to correcting a horse methodically and in an educational way, NEVER out of temper. This rang deep with me because I cannot tolerate a trainer who rides with a temper.

 

“Great feel and eye, you are very talented, but you need to get fit.”

  •  Of course George always has to mention someone’s weight, but I feel he at least did it in a nice-ish way but heavily complimenting the very talented rider first.

 

“We have to harden you up. Some of you are petunia princesses.”

  •  This had me chuckling quite a bit.

 

“Isabell Werth. Ludger Beerbaum. They do not wake up knowing. They worry, That’s what makes them so good. I do not wake up knowing how to halt a horse. I learn every day, I practice.”

  • Loved this quote so much. The best riders never think, “I’m the best, time to stop learning.”

 

George and assistant Megan (p.c. Doris Archer)

 

 

 

Megan and Clark:

 

 

Untitled from Kelly on Vimeo.

 

 

MM and Clark had an EXCELLENT clinic. MM received many compliments from George, such as her leg position, and overall position in the no stirrups work. He rarely said any corrections towards them, other then giving her  a hard time for being a bit passive to the liverpool once, and not quite galloping fast enough to a triple bar. He also wanted Clark a bit higher in the poll the first day, but only mentioned it once before MM got him up more. They never missed the directed striding in any of the exercises, and rarely had a bad fence. One of the harder exercises George praised them for being the ‘best of the group’ which is always nice to hear. George rode Clark on day 2 at the start of the lesson. He wanted to demonstrate half turns in reverse and turn on the forehand I believe. Unfortunately, Clark had a few others ideas! Due to some of Clark’s training in the past, he is not a big fan of multiple uses of the crop behind the leg, and he got a bit tense and ‘up and down’ with George. Of course it wasn’t anything he couldn’t handle, and he worked him through it, even threw in some counter-canter work with him.

 

George on Clark

 

Clarky no likey the crop

 

Much better!

 

 

 

Well folks- that’s all I have for you!! It was an AMAZING weekend, and I absolutely loved getting to learn from the Master himself. Truly an experience every dedicated equestrian should seek out!

You may also like

8 comments

    1. I can see why a lot of people dont like him. He seemed very tame this clinic compared to stories I’ve heard. His insults were basically generalities and he didn’t target specific people from what I heard. He spent a long time explaining concepts to the auditors as well.

  1. what a cool weekend! i really like a lot of what GM has to say – he’s got a great way of putting together very simple yet powerful statements that speak to his fundamental philosophy on horse training. i’m not sure i’d ever ride in one of his clinics but i would *love* to audit. a lot of it reminds me of auditing janet foy a couple years ago – she’s another one full of funny witticisms and well-practiced one-liners lol – but so much practicality in what she says!

    1. I had planned to ride in this one prior to Rio’s injury- and I’m honestly glad I didn’t now. It’s SO EXPENSIVE ($1150) and I do not feel I would have gotten that much value out of it. I do feel that he gears his clinics to auditors and if you are there to learn then you will.

  2. What a great weekend. I love all of the GM quotes! I’d love to audit one of his clinics some day.

    I haven’t read everything he’s ever written, but I do read the PH critiques a lot and continue to set up exercises in a field to ride like you used to! I’ve never had a structured jumping lesson either…living in the “boonies” makes it hard.

    1. I know exactly what you mean (about living in the boonies!). You’re definitely helping yourself out if you read PH though! I used to keep a binder of exercises and would use a measuring tape to set everything up to practice on my own. You really can progress so far if you’re dedicated. Keep it up!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *