The former U.S. show jumping coach, a living legend, tells about his start with riding and outlines what it takes to be a success in the sport.
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George Morris is at his best when he has an opportunity to share his knowledge. He's been an important player on the equestrian scene for more than six decades, but George Morris is still a big draw -- and never runs out of advice for those wise enough to listen.
The former U.S. show jumping coach drew an SRO crowd of more than 130 to Beval Saddlery in Gladstone for an off-the-cuff talk, in which he was frank about a lack of ability and courage in his youth.
As a child, he revealed, he stayed on the leadline "longer than anyone else," and screamed if they took him off it to ride on his own.
Eventually, he started getting the hang of riding to some extent, and began taking lessons from Gordon Wright, a trainer he called "the father of this sport in this country. He was my spiritual father. He gave me success and confidence because I was a non-talent, very chicken and very stiff."
The first few months of his lessons with Wright, the trainer would call Morris' mother and say, "He doesn't have it. I think he's built for swimming."
Morris kept coming back, however, and Wright changed his tactics, suggesting in his calls to Mrs. Morris that tennis might be a better option.
Yet her son refused to give up, so Wright said he would continue to teach him because, "he's a hard worker, and he wants it."
With work, and desire, Morris became a star.
"I was always horse-obsessed," revealed the trainer, 77, who thinks the explanation must be involvement with horses in a previous life.
"It was never easy for me," he said, "but I can teach other people because I know their problems."
Morris gave his talk last month while he was in New Jersey for a clinic at the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation headquarters in which he helped up-and-coming jumper riders, some of whom may have potential to represent the country one day, as he did.
A member of the silver medal U.S. squad at the 1960 Rome Olympics, Morris trained at the Gladstone headquarters with the legendary Bertalan de Nemethy, who put the U.S. on the map of international show jumping after he started working with the team in 1955.
"Hunter Seat Equitation," Morris' best-known book, is considered a Bible of that discipline, and he trained many national and international champions from his Hunterdon facility in Pittstown during the time he operated it.
Despite some health problems in recent years, Morris stays very fit and when giving a clinic, always gets on students' horses to demonstrate, often picking a difficult animal who never fails to see things his way in the end.
For those aspiring to great success in riding, Morris said ambition is vital.
"It has to be real, and it has to be blinding," he stated, mentioning two-time Olympic team gold medalists Beezie Madden and McLain Ward as having the right kind of ambition. He warned, however, that it shouldn't be limited to being part of an Olympic team, pointing out that only four riders every four years go to the Games.
Another element of advancement comes from being a "real horse person" who can do everything with a horse. He cited the late Clarence Nagro of Hilltop Stable in New Vernon, noting all-around horse people in his era did everything from breaking, training and fox hunting to being the veterinarian or the blacksmith when necessary. Although competition was also important, they were "not just competitors."
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George Morris poses with an admirer after his speech at Bevals, where fans lined up to have him sign their books.
Teaching, he believes should help people understand horses and ride all different types. He noted that temper has no place in horse training and it's important to control emotion.
"It's a horse sport, so the horse always comes first," he observed, commenting that horses shouldn't be over-faced, drilled or pounded. While horses need management, so do riders, and that's the job of the teachers.
He said those who want to make it in the horse business, unless they are "born lucky" and wealthy, have to learn public relations so people will want to own the horses they ride. Morris cited Laura Kraut and Margie Engle as riders that people like and want to help.
The final ingredient for achievement that he outlined is being good at horse selection.
Some people, he said, like Meredith Michaels Beerbaum, simply have a great eye.
Others "have to develop that and eventually get to be good pickers."
He added that he was told early on by trainer Otto Heuckeroth that "the most important thing about a horse is his brain. As I've gotten older, I see exactly what that wise German man meant."
Stupid horses, he advises, always let you down.
"A clever horse gets you out of situations." He likes catlike horses "with a fifth leg so he can get out of trouble."
Being a good rider is not the most important consideration in getting to the top in equestrian sport, he warned.
"Every place I go, there's talent, but how many go to the top?" Those who don't make it, despite their ability, "lack ambition or don't have the mental makeup; they don't manage themselves well."
He believes a horse should jump a maximum of three days a week, but just two days is better. Training should involve a variety of fences, not height.
Morris is a fan of thoroughbreds, but notes that it's easier to go to Europe and see hundreds of warmblood prospects on a shopping trip, while in America, finding a thoroughbred is like looking for a needle in a haystack.
The Gem Twist, For the Moment and Touch of Class types of thoroughbreds are out there, he's convinced, it's just that "it's so difficult to find and develop them."
For those buying European horses, he emphasized it's important that they have thoroughbred in their breeding.
"You can't, with horses, get far from the blood (another way of saying thoroughbred), especially if you want to compete."
Even with everything he has done, Morris continues to read books on equestrian subjects every night.
He suggested to those in his audience who are seeking success with horses, "educate yourself as much as you can. There are lots of ways to do that if you're interested."
ON THE RAIL --Kimberly Herslow has done it again. The Stockton dressage rider led an American sweep of the Prix St. Georges at the Achleiten, Austria, show yesterday. She earned 72.105 percent on Rosmarin, making her a shoo-in for the team that will contest the Pan American Games next month.
The show, where Steffen Peters broke 80 percent with his new Grand Prix star Rosamunde in the freestyle, was the last stop of a European tour for the group seeking Pan Am team spots. The squad will be training at the USET Foundation in Gladstone before departing for Canada and the Games...
The first American Competitive Trail Horse Association event in New Jersey will be held Saturday at the Round Valley Reservoir Youth Center in Lebanon.
The competition involves negotiating eight trail-type obstacles, with performances to be judged. There are prizes to third place and ribbons to sixth place in four divisions. Those entering also can take self-guided rides on the Round Valley trails.
Entries close Thursday, with no post entries permitted. To sign up, go to www.actha.us/aoc/1954/view.
Lisa Hall, president of the Readington Trail Association, is the host and may be contacted at lisa@abovethebarNJ.com or (908) 797-9750...
Windy Hollow Hunt is offering an introduction to its brand of sport next Sunday from 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at Wiley's Bellfour Farm, 10 Dekay Pl., Vernon. The suggestion is that those already involved in hunter paces will have what it takes to ride in a hunt.
The program starts with introducing horses to hounds. Participants then will follow hounds over moderate-sized jumps (all jumps have go-arounds) or "hilltop" with a non-jumping group. Lunch and a seminar follow, with information on hunting etiquette, costs and a fashion show on what to wear while hunting.
Those who are riding must wear approved headgear and bring a copy of their horse's Coggins test. Dress is informal, and western riders are welcome (the suggestion is that they can borrow a western saddle if they want to hunt in the fall).
The fee is $55 for a mounted drill, seminar and lunch; $40 for just the seminar and lunch. Pony Club members get a discount; they pay $35. Call (845) 325-2664 or contact Shannon Darling at sganong@optonline.net...
The Standardbred Retirement Foundation is holding a meet-and-greet Friday from 6-8 p.m. at its farm, 42 Arneytown-Hornerstown Road in Cream Ridge. Retired horses up for adoption will give demonstrations under saddle, both English and western.
Guests not considering adoption are welcome, but those who are can take advantage of a special, for which the adoption donation is $450, and a $50 equestrian merchandise gift certificate also will be offered. For more information, email at admin@srfmail.com or call (732) 446-4422. The website is www.AdoptaHorse.org...
A new driving show is being offered July 18 at Daystar Farm, 455 Route 579, Ringoes. The line-up includes dressage, arena classes and cones run as a scurry.
For information, email lesliepettanati@gmail.com or call (908) 910-5372...
Dressage at Devon will offer an FEI amateur division during the Sept. 29-Oct. 4 show at the Devon, Pa., showgrounds on Route 30. Offerings include FEI Prix St. Georges and Intermediate I classes. A national level FEI Test of Choice also will be held, but it is not part of the FEI line-up.
Riders must be 26 to qualify and have no ranking on the FEI Dressage World Ranking List at the date of definite entry.
Another attraction of the show will be performances by the Tempel Lipizzan stallions Oct. 2-4 during show breaks. Their performances will not be live-streamed. Approximate times of the performances will be posted in September at www.dressageatdevon.org.
In addition to competition, those attending may browse among 90 vendors offering everything from equestrian items, clothing and jewelry to artwork.
ACTIVITIES SCHEDULE
Today: Jersey Classic Show, Horse Park of N.J., Route 524, Allentown; Windy Hollow Hunt Dressage Show, Sussex Country Fairgrounds, Plains Road, Augusta; Central Jersey Horseman's Association Show, East Freehold Showgrounds, Kozloski Road, Freehold; Amwell Valley Hounds Hunter Pace, Sourland Farm, 33 Lindbergh Road, East Amwell (register on premises; for info call 908-963-5587); Briarwood Farm Show, Duncraven, 1300 Trenton Harbourton Road, Titusville; Delaware Valley Horsemen's Association Driving Show, DVHA Showgrounds, 299 Ringoes-Rosemont Road, Sergeantsville.
Thursday: Thursday Night Dressage Show, Delaware Valley Horsemen's Association Showgrounds, 299 Ringoes-Rosemont Road, Sergeantsville; Palermo Show Stable Summer Opener, 1555A Burnt Mills Road, Bedminster.
Friday: Half-Arabian Show, Horse Park of New Jersey, Route 524, Allentown (through June 14).
Saturday: ACTHA Obstacle Challenge, Round Valley Youth Center, 1124 Route 629, Lebanon; Bonnie Brae Polo Classic, Fieldview Farm, 342 Quakertown Road, Pittstown (908-713-7656/rain date or wet field, June 14); Monmouth County Show, East Freehold Showgrounds, Kozloski Road, Freehold; Sussex County Benefit Show, Sussex County Fairgrounds, Plains Road, Augusta.
June 14: Red Tail Farm Dressage Schooling Show, 1100 Rattlesnake Bridge Road, Bedminster; Delaware Valley Horsemen's Association Jumper Show, DVHA Showgrounds, 299 Ringoes-Rosemont Road, Sergeantsville; CJL Show, Centenary College Equestrian Center, 12-56 Califon Road, Long Valley (for GPS use); Oxbow Farm Dressage Show Combined Test and Horse Trials, 39 Orts Road, Hamburg; Dressage Show, The Dressage Experience, Jacksonville Jobtown Road, Springfield Township.
Nancy Jaffer: nancyjaffer@comcast.net.