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- Helping George set the gymnastic course in the rain for the next day are riders (from left) Maria Schaub, Sloane Coles, Zazou Hoffman and Maggie McAlary.
Wellington, Fla., January 17, 2007 -- After finishing their morning barn shores, the young riders participating in the second day of the George Morris Horsemastership Training Session head up to the main hunter ring for a lesson with the master focusing on flatwork and gymnastics.
From his golf cart in the center of the arena, George builds on Monday's flatwork session and introduces a new exercise: A reverse half turn, first at walk--how he always introduces new exercises--then at posting trot. From the rail, the riders walk into the center of the arena at a 45-degree angle, make a half circle, then "your inside leg pushes the horse to the outside rein back to the rail," George instructs.
The atmosphere is businesslike, but George shows his wit when scolding Nick Haness, who rides a regular half circle a second time. As he's handed a cup of coffee, George says, "I hope it's loaded with vodka because at this point with Nick, I'm getting to the vodka stage."
Cavalletti Work
Next, George has the riders go over a single cavalletti, first at walk, then trot. The riders then work over a line: three cavalletti (4-feet 6 inches apart) to a ground pole, (set between two standards 10 feet from the third cavalletti) to another groundpole (set 4 feet 6-inches from the first ground pole). "This work teaches rhythm to horse and rider," he says. He tells Zazou Hoffman, whose horse is a little dull, to activate him with leg but contain him with hand. "Your horse has to have the correct impulsion." Then he counts "one-two, one-two, one-two" as she trots through the exercise.
John Madden, who masterminded the event, makes the first ground pole into a vertical. The riders go over the cavalletti and as they jump the vertical, George tells them to use an outside opening rein (bringing it out and down). "This exercise gives you confidence that you don't need the horse's neck for balance," he says. "I don't care what happens, concentrate on the independence of the left hand. Then gradually drift over to the rail with a soft inside leg to outside rein."
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- George has trainer John Madden watch to make sure Maria Schaub uses an opening left rein over the vertical to practice independent hands.
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- George Morris tells Nick Haness to ride the cavalletti keeping his upper body slightly forward so he stays with his horse
The master never misses a chance to teach. During a walk break, he barks a command: "Zazou, get rid of that habit. The technical term is sawing hands when you pull left, right, left, right with your hands. It creeps into your elbows and your whole torso. It's a dreadful habit."
Riding a Bounce: Focus on Independent Hands
In the next exercise, the riders jump three fences, an oxer to two verticals, set as a bounce to a bounce. George tells the riders to canter in and again focus on their hands--keeping them wide off the horse's neck and lowered down to the shoulder. "Concentrate on your hands. This gives you total independence and balance. It helps your body stay in place. Keep the contact very consistent, but very light."
The fences start low, and as they are raised, George says, "Nick with bounces, don't be shy--canter, canter, canter forward to the bounce." He then modifies the exercise and has the riders use an automatic release, raising their hands just slightly so there's a straight line from the bit to their elbow. They bring them in a little and keep a delicate feel.
