George H. Morris
Encyclopedia
George H. Morris is an American trainer and judge of horses and riders in the hunter
and jumper
disciplines. He is considered a "founding father" of Hunt Seat Equitation
. He also is the current chef d’equipe for the United States Equestrian Foundation, USEF, show jumping team.
, making him the youngest rider to do so. Morris rode on eight winning Nations Cup teams between 1958 and 1960. He went on to train numerous riders at his Hunterdon stables in New Jersey, who consistently have won in competitions on the East Coast.
Morris has represented the United States in many international equestrian competitions as both a rider and coach. In 1959 his team won the gold medal in the Pan American Games
, and he won a team silver medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics
.
Students trained by Morris have won medals in the 1984, 1992, 1996, and 2004 Olympic Games. Morris has acted as chef d’equipe
for numerous winning teams, including the 2005 champions of the Samsung Super League
. He fully assumed the position of chef d’equipe of the United States show jumping team in 2005. He also served in that role for many Nations Cup events.
He coached United States teams to individual and team Silver metals at the 2006 Fédération Équestre Internationale, FEI, World Equestrian Games. In 2008 he coached the team that won the Team Gold Metal at the Olympic Games in Hong Kong as well as the team member who won the Individual Bronze Metal.
Morris also serves on the USEF National Jumper Committee and Planning Committee, and he is the president of the United States Show Jumping Hall of Fame
.
Morris also writes a very popular column in the monthly equestrian magazine Practical Horseman
, entitled Jumping Clinic, in which he critiques the jumping form of riders in photographs that have been submitted by readers. He coined the term "Drama Riding" for the lack of classical position seen in riders in the show ring today.
Show hunter
The show hunter is a type of show horse that is judged on its movement, manners, and way of going, particularly while jumping fences. The horses are shown in hunt seat style tack, and are often of Warmblood or Thoroughbred type, though a hunter-style pony is also seen in youth classes...
and jumper
Show jumping
Show jumping, also known as "stadium jumping," "open jumping," or "jumpers," is a member of a family of English riding equestrian events that also includes dressage, eventing, hunters, and equitation. Jumping classes commonly are seen at horse shows throughout the world, including the Olympics...
disciplines. He is considered a "founding father" of Hunt Seat Equitation
Equitation
Equitation is the art or practice of horse riding or horsemanship.More specifically, equitation may refer to a rider's position while mounted, and encompass a rider's ability to ride correctly and with effective aids. In horse show competition, the rider, rather than the horse is evaluated...
. He also is the current chef d’equipe for the United States Equestrian Foundation, USEF, show jumping team.
Career
Morris began riding as a child. In 1952, at the age of fourteen, he won the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Maclay Horsemanship Finals and the American Horse Show Association (AHSA) Hunt Seat Equitation Medal Final at Madison Square GardenMadison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
, making him the youngest rider to do so. Morris rode on eight winning Nations Cup teams between 1958 and 1960. He went on to train numerous riders at his Hunterdon stables in New Jersey, who consistently have won in competitions on the East Coast.
Morris has represented the United States in many international equestrian competitions as both a rider and coach. In 1959 his team won the gold medal in the Pan American Games
Pan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
, and he won a team silver medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics
1960 Summer Olympics
The 1960 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held from August 25 to September 11, 1960 in Rome, Italy...
.
Students trained by Morris have won medals in the 1984, 1992, 1996, and 2004 Olympic Games. Morris has acted as chef d’equipe
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
for numerous winning teams, including the 2005 champions of the Samsung Super League
Samsung Super League
The Samsung Super League was the commercial denomination of the Nations Cup, one of the most prestigious Grand Prix Show Jumping series in the world, from 2003 until 2008...
. He fully assumed the position of chef d’equipe of the United States show jumping team in 2005. He also served in that role for many Nations Cup events.
He coached United States teams to individual and team Silver metals at the 2006 Fédération Équestre Internationale, FEI, World Equestrian Games. In 2008 he coached the team that won the Team Gold Metal at the Olympic Games in Hong Kong as well as the team member who won the Individual Bronze Metal.
Morris also serves on the USEF National Jumper Committee and Planning Committee, and he is the president of the United States Show Jumping Hall of Fame
United States Show Jumping Hall of Fame
The Show Jumping Hall of Fame and Museum is an American organization located at facilities at Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida. It came into existence in 1989 as a means to pay homage to the people and horses who have made outstanding contributions to the sport of show jumping.-Hall of Fame...
.
Publications
Originally published in 1971, and now in its third edition, Morris' Hunter Seat Equitation often is recognized as the definitive work on the subject. Morris also has authored several other books and videos on riding and judging. Live broadcasts of training sessions led by Morris are featured on the United States Equestrian Federation, USEF, network.Morris also writes a very popular column in the monthly equestrian magazine Practical Horseman
Practical Horseman
Practical Horseman is an equestrian magazine that focuses on English-style riding, most notably, hunter/jumper, as well as dressage and eventing. Known as the "English rider's #1 resource," the magazine has monthly articles on training, riding, turnout of the horse, medical issues, profiles of...
, entitled Jumping Clinic, in which he critiques the jumping form of riders in photographs that have been submitted by readers. He coined the term "Drama Riding" for the lack of classical position seen in riders in the show ring today.
Works
- Hunter Seat Equitation (1st ed. 1971, Rev ed. 1979, 3rd ed., 1990)
- The American Jumping Style : Modern Techniques of Successful Horsemanship (1993)
- George H. Morris Teaches Beginners to Ride (1st ed. 1981, reprinted 2006)
- Because Every Round Counts (2006)
- Designing Courses and Obstacles (contributor) (1978)