Watch the 2011 George H. Morris Horsemastership Sessions
Honest and popular don’t go hand in hand. That’s how the song goes, but George Morris, America’s revered huntseat oracle/apostle, continues to defy the adage as crowds flock to hear his brutally honest wake-up call to horsemanship in the US.
Much credit goes to USEF, who have continuously expanded the reach and access to the George H. Morris Horsemastership Training Sessions, an annual learning opportunity par excellance for riders of all English disciplines.
As in previous years, twelve fortunate (and brave!) junior riders are participating in the 2011 sessions at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (home of the Winter Equestrian Festival) in Wellington, Florida. Over five days, mounted and unmounted sessions cover flat work, gymnastics, course jumping, nutrition, psychology, veterinary care, course design, and equine welfare. This year’s guest clinicians are Anne Kursinski, Jane Savoie, Dr. Tim Ober, Beezie Madden, Laura Kraut, McLain Ward, and representatives of the ASPCA, including Equine Welfare Ambassadors Georgina Bloomberg and Brianne Goutal.
Excellent coverage of the sessions is being provided by the Chronicle of the Horse and USEF has created a website for watching the archived videos of each session. Oh, and if you’re a fan of Morris’ “Jumping Clinic” column in Practical Horseman (as we have been for the last 25 years!), you can see the photo critique George did of each rider (and himself!) here.
We’ve been watching the sessions with a cup of tea each night and, as always, Morris’ sharp, accurate, and articulate phrasings generate new a-ha moments during our next ride. The power of this man, even as he ages before us, is palpable – from his impact on our individual riding to the mark he is determined to leave on American equestrian sport as a whole.
Thank you, George Morris. We need your knowledge, we need your discipline, and we hope our hunger for both give you a notion of the legacy you are leaving for better riding and horsemanship in the US.
And thank you too, USEF. The organization and publishing of these sessions represents the very best of what a national association can do: attract top sponsors to support extraordinary clinicians and make the content available to all who want to learn and improve.
Happy horsemanship!
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