Windurra welcomed legendary rider and instructor
George Morris
to the farm for a two-day clinic, August 27th and 28th.
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| Morris greets auditors while schooling Gloria Callen's Welcome Shadow |
Boyd says:
I think it was an honor and an absolute treat for some of
the eventing riders of our area to partake in the clinic with George Morris here at Windurra over the past couple of days.
Without question in my mind George is the most influential coach in the United States. His
methods, whilst very strict, are brilliant and he’s got an amazing sense to
motivate and inspire riders through the highest standards.
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| Boyd on Welcome Shadow |
I’d also like to thank Joanie
Morris and David O’Connor from the USEF
for getting behind what started as a private clinic. I thought it showed
wonderful sportsmanship from David for coming up to watch the clinic and also
join in the talk on Saturday evening along with George. They sat down with all
the riders and basically talked about all the bases of training and even went a
step further and talked about the psychology of being a world-class rider, what
they look for in coaching a horse, and the most interesting to me when George
said natural talent was the most important ingredient for a successful rider.
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| Welcome Shadow |
I rode two of Gloria Callen’s Irish Sport Horses, Welcome
Shadow and Finn McCool. They are both green but quality jumpers and were a very
good choice for the clinic. George hopped on both of them and schooled them up
a bit for me – I think he did this more to improve the horses quickly, so I
could feel the difference, and for me on the ground to have a visual display of
what he wanted.
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| George Morris on Callisto |
I think the most important lesson that I took away from the clinic is the importance
of simplicity in the flat work and jumping. It wasn’t rocket science; it’s
absolute correctness, discipline, and the technique you need to be a good
jumping rider. I hope to get George back to the farm next year because I think
all the riders benefited a great deal, and I hope the USEF
will also utilize his coaching in their training program.
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| Enthusiastic Supporters |
A few quotes from the clinic:
“Check that your stirrups are even – this should be a habit.
Don’t sit too deep, especially on a high-headed horse. Stay forward and keep
the outside leg on.”
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| Morris adjusting Dom Schramm's stirrup length and leg position |
“Cantering a figure-8 over a vertical is a super exercise
for learning lead changes, teaching the horse to accept the bend, and
encouraging the horse to accept half-halts. You can take the jump on a long or
short distance, and make wide turns or tight turns. It’s helps the horse for
both stadium and cross-country.”
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| Boyd practicing a Figure 8 turning exercise |
“The fashion today is “behind” the horse, but I don’t see
Beezie Madden, Laura Kraut or McLain Ward “behind” the horse. Watch riders like
these – done correctly it’s fabulous and for the horse it’s nicer.”
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| Sharon White, praised for her consistent position, and Wundermaske |
“Each horse is different, but all horses have to have the
basics. That’s why I’m so picky about things like circles, and how to hold the
whip. When you practice correctly and repeatedly, these actions become
automatic.”
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| Concentration |
“In leg-yielding, head to the wall and tail to the wall are
the first lessons from the outside leg. You want to get a horse yielding from
his quarters. First I flex him, I don’t bend him; it’s not a bending exercise.
Then I keep him straight – ultimately you can school travers, where the horse
is flexed slightly in the direction he’s traveling.”
“Resist, but don’t pull. As the horse stiffens, my hands go
higher – when he relaxes, I release. When he raises his head, he meets
resistance. After a few days of this schooling, when I make a half-halt the
horse drops his head. Any head-shaking and I close my fingers.”
“In rein-back, if the horse makes any step back I release.
What teaches the horse is that reward – after you close your hand, RELEASE.”
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| Boyd looks on as Caitlin rides HH Lancaster |
To Caitlin, who was riding a big horse: “You want the steps
more active but not faster. Activate the horse with your inside leg to outside
rein. You don’t want the tempo to feel rushed.”
“When you are teaching horses anything, they can get “hot”,
they can get “nappy” – but when they understand the lesson, they’re not that
way any more.”
"When you are jumping, if the horse is hesitant: 1. Ask 2.
Tell 3. Make 4. Force. My ultimate goal is to go through first, just allowing
the horse; one is passive, four is maxiumum driving."
"I was always a naturalist, no side reins or other auxiliaries.
The horse will tell me what he needs. My system is based on the natural
mechanics of riding.”
PHOTOS COPYRIGHT AMBER HEINTZBERGER
