George Morris (77) is a living legend. He has devoted a lifetime learning from different people all around the world and he’s also spent a lifetime passing on his knowledge and wisdom. The American trainer is known from his rigorous and consistent approach. Schooled by all the classic masters in the world, George Morris is a highly educated and immensely thoughtful practical horseman.
As a coach he is uncompromising and is not afraid to voice his concerns when he sees standards of horsemanship declining. He coined the term 'Drama Riding' for the lack of classical position seen in riders in the show ring today. Many of the world’s leading show jumping stars still look for Morris’ guidance on their training, including their dressage work.
We are delighted that George Morris will attend the Global Dressage Forum and we just couldn’t resist a couple of questions to get him going;
GDF: do you believe that dressage still remains the foundation of training for other equestrian disciplines?
Morris - ‘I’m definitely not the best person to explain how to ride the highest marked half pass in a dressage test. But I do want to explain how I prefer to ride your horse, for all disciplines. My message is very simple: there are only four important issues when riding a horse’
GDF - are you referring to the German Scales of Training, for example rhythm, suppleness, contact, impulsion and so on ?
Morris - yes those maybe all the right words, however it’s definitely not my intention to follow the order of the German Scale! Horse riding to me starts with impulsion. Everything else follows from impulsion.
Morris will explain his vision in a practical session at the Global Dressage Forum. We think it’s going to be a lively session !
Olympic medallist George Morris is considered to be one of the most influential equestrian coaches of our time. Within the Olympic show jumping world he is a legend. George's training successes include a 'Who's Who' of the United States' top show jumping riders, figuring prominently in U.S. Olympic history. At the 1984 Olympics, the gold medal-winning team included three former students, Conrad Homfeld, Leslie Burr-Howard and Melanie Smith Taylor. The 1992 team included students Lisa Jacquin, Anne Kursinki and Norman Dello Joio. In 1996, George was assistant Chef d'Equipe of the silver medal Olympic team, which included former students Burr-Howard, Kursinski and Peter Leone. At the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, former student Chris Kappler won the individual silver medal and was a member of the gold medal-winning team. He coached United States teams to individual and team Silver metals at the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games. In 2008 he coached the team that won the team Gold Medal at the Olympic Games in Hong Kong as well as the team member who won the Individual Bronze Medal.
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The ticket includes: two days program, documentary, catering and shuttle service: € 621,84 ex vat / € 665,00 incl vat
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