by Michelle Grimmer
My first personal encounter with George Morris was about 10 years ago. He was in Toronto doing a coaching seminar, and I volunteered to be part of the "ring crew." We were there to help adjust jumps, and to pick jumping rails up if a horse knocked them down. Simple enough job... except for the immense pressure one is under when setting fences for the Pope of Modern English Riding. I was standing not too far from a jump that seemed to come down way too often.
When a rail comes down during a George Morris clinic, one does not simply stroll over to set it back up. One must RUN much like the pit crew at the Indy 500. I got my exercise that day, and even received a nickname - Bunny. "RUN Bunny!"
George is a very demanding instructor, and expects the riders who ride with him to rise to the occasion. While his teaching style is not for everyone, and even if you could never imagine being able to ride in front of him, if you get a chance to watch him teach, it is worth a look! Most would agree that George Morris is one of the very best (if not THE best) teachers of modern English riding in the world.
(Originally published June 2013)
