Trish Braithwaite's clinic with George Morris
Written by Trish Braithwaite Tuesday, 26 January 2010 06:12
Trish Braithwaite attended a coaches' dream: a clinic with George Morris. The legendary horseman was in Sydney and gave a clinic for showjumping riders and coaches. Trish was lucky enough to be invited. It was the chance of a lifetime to meet the legend, and watch him teach riders on novice to advanced horses. She was not disappointed. Here is her report.
Well, it was forecast to be a sweltering 43deg Celsius in western Sydney the day of the event! Luckily the venue was the wonderful indoor facility at Horseworld Maraylya (about an hour’s drive northwest of the city) and thanks to the caterers there was a continual supply of food and cold drinks to help us all hang in there! There was a good turnout of 90 plus spectators from as far away as New Zealand, Kuala Lumpur/Brisbane (me!), some Victorians, local riders, coaches and students.
The reason we were all there: George Morris is a living legend in the equestrian world! Beginning riding as a child, he has gone on to represent the US many times, riding on successful Nations Cup teams and winning silver at the 1960 Rome Olympics. Many of his students are also Olympic medal winners and he has acted as chef d’equipe for numerous winning teams.
George’s style in his clinic presentation remains very human and regularly amusing, creating a palpable report between himself and spectators. Effective communication is a valuable tool that all of us, as coaches, continually try to improve and George showed us today that it doesn’t have to be complicated; no matter the level that we are teaching!
Fortunately it was still cool enough when George started off with riders Todd Dewberry on a cute welsh cob and Brandon Beneke on a bay thoroughbred to represent a “beginner” style lesson. Many coaches teach these types of riders all day long and George patiently reminded us of the importance of teaching the basics thoroughly and one thing at a time!
We as coaches must teach correct riding on the flat so that riders have a proper understanding of position, the aids, knowledge and control of the paces. What is important is that we should acknowledge and value our own coaching system, which is made up of what we’ve been taught, our experience and what we’ve tried and tested ourselves. Have confidence in your system and add to it from good sources!
Your lessons should begin from the ground - check and adjust girths at least 3 times! Then on to stopping the horse, speeds of the paces (do you know how fast the average horse walks/trots/canters?), basic aids, rider position and of course what seems to be the bane of his existence as an instructor – riders’ hands! Stiff hands = stiff riders = stiff horses.
During this lesson, George showed how to be progressive from the riders’ first lesson by starting with ‘jumping without jumping’ (i.e. using poles). Discussing the Three Principle Angles of the hip, knee, and ankle, he guided them through exercises demonstrating the Cornerstones of Jumping:
- Riding with the motion of the horse (not behind, never against)
- Hands (i.e. type of release - in this lesson, the “long” release)
- Legs (NO kicking; pressure from lower leg; heel down)
- Eyes (looking at a point, keeping eyes up; stopping at your chosen point on a straight line).
The above concepts are the Cornerstones of Jumping, no matter the level!
Next, we had the intermediate group with George Johnson on “Aussie”, an Australian Thoroughbred, James Mooney and Jessica Brown on a couple of gorgeous warmblood stallions. With these riders George initially focused more on the correct position in the saddle, demonstrating with the riders how to adjust your position in order to sit as close to the pommel as possible.
In the warm up, riders moved from posting trot to 2-point/light seat to improve their position and balance, whilst showing they were still moving with the motion of the horse. Then the same at the canter – 2 point then sitting in the saddle. Plenty of transitions to ‘encourage’ – read ‘make’! – the horse light to the leg.
For lateral suppleness: riding serpentines in trot and canter, moving their shoulders with equal pressure in both hands to make them lighter in front. For longitudinal suppleness: collecting and lengthening at canter, keeping the horse uphill in both a half -and full seat. With these ‘intermediate’ riders two of our Cornerstones have been adjusted slightly:
1. Still moving with the horse most of the time but introducing behind-the-movement technique
2. Now using SHORT release.
The riders practised these techniques through a series of exercises on straight and bending related lines, riding specific numbers of strides. Now, the concept of “half halt” is one that many coaches find difficult to explain. George had the answer: “Halting is an extension of the half halt, rein back is an extension of the halt…..to half halt, close the fingers and keep it until your horse comes back to you as much as you want, then allow again. Support with your back, seat, legs…the more educated the horse is, you feel he stays in front of the leg. The horse must listen to your LEG, listen to your HANDS….”
After lunch, the session we’d all been anticipating… the advanced group! Julia Hargreaves came in on “Vidor”, a very talented warmblood gelding that Julia said she is finding a bit difficult to ride (looks are very deceiving as she did a wonderful job!). We also had Jono Berry on the warmblood stallion “Quincy” and Vicki Roycroft on her fully imported Holsteiner stallion “Cougar”.
George commented on the day’s soaring temperature: “in a hot climate, lots can be done in walk!” Ride the walk forward: marching in a good rhythm, controlling the shoulders, riding the corners. Contact: if your horse resists, close your hands. Resist until your horse softens; no sawing!! Make your horse straight first. Then move into shoulder fore, with the left hind coming in between the front prints. Flexion to inside. Your horse must accept the contact! Close fingers and wait. Impulsion from inside leg. Move to shoulder in.
He then had the riders move further through the warm up: posting to trot with the motion of the horse and the upper body in front, not vertical when rising. Riders showed transitions from collected (sitting) trot to lengthening (rising) trot – longitudinal schooling. Next was working the horses’ shoulders on the centre line by moving from shoulder in to the right, straight, then shoulder in to the left. Again the centre line with haunches to the left, straight, haunches to the right. Control the shoulders! Then canter work – counter canter, flying change on the centre line and counter canter again. Half pass to counter canter, flying change on the long side and repeat the other way. George frequently reminds all the riders: ‘Don’t drop your hands!’, ‘Ride your horse from back to front!’, ‘Be more meticulous!’
The exercises the horse/rider combinations were put through are progressive and definitely a step up from the earlier class. At this level, George says its all about angling fences and tight turns.
Our Cornerstones have developed to moving with the motion of the horse and also behind the motion; whatever is required and easily moving from one to the other if necessary; but primarily a light seat, allowing the horse freedom and self carriage. The release is “automatic” – maintaining a light contact and straight line to the horse’s mouth throughout the exercise or course.
The riders are challenged with lines combining turn backs, different numbers of strides, jumping fences on angles; all the while staying in a rhythm and making it look beautiful and effortless. The fences get higher, wider; the exercises more technical. But the horses and riders really show their stuff! Vicki’s horse doesn’t mind feeling the fences – George says not to worry about it: ‘horses correct themselves’. To help the horses do just that we set the oxer with the front rail higher and it works. “Ride tight but not fast. Think quicker, react quicker. Take and give. Don’t hang and don’t take too long. Don’t sit too deep. Faster on the turn then wait.” At the end of the day, the horses are doing it with minimal help from the riders, which is what George wants! Don’t we all!
Question time at conclusion - Christine Johnson had a good one: What’s George’s advice for talented riders on thoroughbreds? George says:
“We were a generation who grew up handling horses. You have to be ‘horsy’ first. You can’t name a top rider who wasn’t a horse person first. You must be a horse person or you won’t make it. It will be the person who wants it, regardless of the value or quality of the horse… Firstly, the horse must be forward and straight, away from the arena entrance… then, equal on left and right rein. Adjustable. Then, able to cope with a variety of work/environment/fences… Progressive training, horse sense in training and coaching…”
George’s summary on the day?
“The horses did great! And the riders did ok too....
Trish Braithwaite is a name most equestrians in South East Asia recognise instantly. Residing in Kuala Lumpur from 1998, Trish qualified for her MEM/EFA NCAS Level 1 (General) certification. She then spent a few years in Jakarta, Indonesia, training and instructing at Rafiq Radinal’s Arthayasa Stables. Two of her re-educated thoroughbreds went with her and she competed successfully in Eventing, Showjumping and Dressage.
Moving back to KL in 2003, things stepped up a notch. Trish developed business considerably at Selangor Polo Country Club in Sri Damansara, managing the riding centre for most of 2004 then went freelance, competing and instructing at clubs in and around the city. The Malaysian Equine Council (MEM) used her to conduct a number of “O” Level Certifications and Trish travelled to Singapore and Jakarta by request to train riders and coaches there. In 2006 Trish attained Malaysia’s Eventing 1* Championship with her personally-trained French thoroughbred “Krystallos” and accompanied the Malaysian Eventing team to Doha for the Asian Games in Qatar as groom where two of the team attained bronze and 5th placing.
Trish now resides in Brisbane, Australia where she is building a clientele of students and training horses in the three Olympic disciplines. Most recently she travelled to Sydney to attend the George Morris Coaches Clinic and report back to equestrian.com.my with this article. Reconnecting with old friends such as Vicki Roycroft, Rod Brown and Christine Johnson was a bonus!
During her time in Malaysia and Indonesia, Trish imported quality horses from Australia on instruction from clients and employers, to their satisfaction. As part of her expanding equestrian profile in Australia, Trish is offering her services to acquire horses on behalf of equestrians throughout South East Asia. Whether you wish a full service of accommodation, transport, appointments with horse owners and trial assistance, or simply would like Trish to trial prospective purchases personally and send videos for your consideration, all scenarios can be catered for. International transportation arrangements are also part of the service, be it for a single competition horse or several mounts for a trekking or riding school centre. Trish is well located to access potential purchases from South East Queensland and the Sydney region and connects regularly with the big names in the equestrian business: from competitors, coaches and trainers, to veterinarians, farriers, livery centres and transport companies.
A website for this purpose will soon be available for viewing. Until then, please contact Trish via email
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or +6142 7134033 for any queries.
