George H. Morris is an American trainer and judge of horses and riders in the hunter/jumper disciplines, and is considered a "founding father" of Hunt Seat Equitation. He is also the current chef d'equipe for the USEF Show Jumping Team.
Equitation is a rider's ability to ride correctly with a strong, supple position and effective aids. This is judged in equitation classes, or classes at horse shows that mainly judge the rider's performance and control of the horse, as opposed to the performance of the horse. Equitation classes occur in the Hunt seat, Saddle seat, Dressage, and Western disciplines. A good equitation rider is always in balance with the horse, maintains a correct position in every gait, movement, or over a fence, and possesses a commanding, but relaxed, presence. They are effective riders, able to direct the horse with nearly invisible aids.
Hunt seat riding originated in the hunt field. Unlike the more common hunter classes, hunt seat equitation judges the rider rather than the horse (except refusals, which always count against the rider). However, a poor performance by the horse is usually a result of the rider it was given, and so a bad take-off spot may be penalized if the judge feels it was due to rider error. Loss of a stirrup or reins are also severe faults, and may be cause for elimination.
Flat classes include judging at the walk, trot, and canter in both directions, and the competitors may be asked to ride without stirrups. The riders are required to have a light and steady contact with their horse's mouth the entire ride.
Over fences, the competitor rides over a course of at least six obstacles (usually many more). Fence height may go up to 3'9". Classes often require at least one flying change and one or more combinations. The rider is judged not only on effectiveness of aids, but should also maintain an even, forward pace and meet each fence at an appropriate distance.
The show hunter is a type of show horse in the 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. In the United States, show hunters are primarily exhibited over fences, with a few additional classes offered for horses shown in-hand or on the flat. In the United Kingdom, competition over fences is called "Working Hunter," and the term "Show Hunter" describes classes held on the flat.
Show jumping, also known as "stadium jumping" or "jumpers," is a member of a family of English riding equestrian events that also includes dressage, eventing, hunters and equitation. Jumping classes are commonly seen at horse shows throughout the world, including the Olympics. Sometimes shows are limited exclusively to jumpers, sometimes jumper classes are offered in conjunction with other English-style events, and sometimes show jumping is but one division of very large, all-breed competitions that include a very wide variety of disciplines. Jumping classes may be governed by various national horse show sanctioning organizations, such as the United States Equestrian Federation in the USA. However, international competitions are governed by the rules of the F»d»ration
Hunters or Jumpers?
See also: Show hunter and Show hunter (British)

Most greatest Accomplishments

Proper show jumping attire, as seen in the show jumping phase of a three-day event. Attire at an event includes a mandatory armband as seen here, although the armband is not required in general show jumping.People unfamiliar with horse shows may be confused by the difference between working hunter classes and jumper classes. Hunters are judged subjectively on the degree to which they meet an ideal standard of manners, style, and way of going. Conversely, jumper classes are scored objectively based entirely on a numerical score determined only by whether the horse attempts the obstacle, clears it, and finishes the course in the allotted time. Jumper courses are often colorful and at times quite creatively designed. Jumper courses tend to be much more complex and technical than hunter courses, because riders and horses are not being judged on style. Hunters have meticulous turnout and tend toward very quiet, conservative horse tack and rider attire. Hunter bits, bridles, crops, spurs and martingales are tightly regulated. Jumpers, while caring for their horses and grooming them well, are not scored on turnout, are allowed a wider range of equipment, and riders may wear less conservative attire, so long as it stays within the rules. However, formal turnout is always preferred, and a neat rider gives a good impression at shows.
In addition to hunters and jumpers, there are equitation classes, sometimes called hunt seat equitation, which judge the ability of the rider. The equipment, clothing and fence styles used in equitation more closely resemble hunter classes, though the technical difficulty of the courses may more closely resemble jumping events.
History of show jumping
Grand Prix show jumping.Show jumping is a relatively new equestrian sport. Until the Enclosure Acts which came into force in England in the eighteenth century there had been little need for horses to routinely jump fences. But with this act of parliament came new challenges for those who followed fox hounds. The enclosures act brought fencing and boundaries to many parts of the country as common ground was dispersed amongst the wealthy landowners. This meant that those wishing to pursue their sport now needed horses which were capable of jumping these obstacles.
In the early shows held in France, there was a parade of competitors who then took off across country for the jumping. This sport was, however, not popular with spectators as they could not watch the jumping. Thus, it was not long before fences began to appear in the arena. This became known as Lepping. 1869 was the year Îhorse leapingÌ came to prominence at Dublin horse show.[1] Fifteen years later, Lepping competitions were brought to Britain and by 1900 most of the more important shows had Lepping classes. Women, riding side-saddle, had their own classes.
At this time, the principal cavalry schools of Europe at Pinerolo and Tor-di-Quinto in Italy, the French school in Saumur and the Spanish school in Vienna all preferred to use a very deep seat with long stirrups when jumping. This style of riding was perhaps more secure for the rider, but it also impeded the freedom of the horse to use its body to the extent needed to clear large obstacles.
The Italian Instructor Captain Fiederico Caprilli heavily influenced the world of jumping with his ideas that a forward position with shorter stirrups would not impede the balance of the horse negotiating obstacles. This style, now known as the forward seat,is commonly used today. The deep, Dressage-style seat, while useful for riding on the flat and in conditions where control of the horse is of greater importance than freedom of movement, is sometimes referred to with disparagement as a "backward" seat in some jumping circles.
Rider attire may be somewhat less formal than that used in hunter riding. However, an approved ASTM/SEI equestrian helmet with a harness is always required, and is a practical necessity to protect the rider's head in the event of a fall. Tall boots are required, usually black. Spurs are optional, but commonly used. Breeches are traditional in color, usually white, tan, or beige. At approved competitions, depending on sanctioning organization, a dark-colored coat is usually worn (though under the rules of the USEF tweed or wash jackets are allowed in the summer and lighter colors are currently in fashion), with a light-colored (usually white) ratcatcher-style shirt and either a choker or stock tie. However, especially in the summer, many riders wear a simple short-sleeved "polo" style shirt with helmet, boots and breeches, and even where coats are required, the judges may waive the coat rule in extremely hot weather. Gloves, usually black, are optional, as is braiding of the horse. At FEI Grand Prix levels, tradition is very strong and riders dress in a more formal manner. White shirts and breeches are worn with black boots. Members of some national teams, including the United States, may be seen in red jackets, a color reserved for only riders of the Grand Prix level; otherwise international competitors usually wear a dark navy jacket, sometimes with national insignia added.
A show jumper must have the scope and courage to jump large fences as well as the athletic ability to handle the sharp turns and bursts of speed necessary to navigate the most difficult courses. Many breeds of horses have been successful show jumpers, and even some "grade" horses of uncertain breeding have been champions. Most show jumpers are tall horses, over 16 hands, usually of Warmblood or Thoroughbred breeding, though horses as small as 14.1 hands have been on the Olympics teams of various nations and carried riders to Olympic and other international medals. There is no correlation between the size of a horse and its athletic ability, nor do tall horses necessarily have an advantage when jumping. Nonetheless, a taller horse may make a fence appear less daunting to the rider.[3]
The Andalusian is one of the oldest breeds of horses in the world today. It is also known as the Purebred Spanish Horse or PRE (Pura Raza Espa³ola; in English, Pure Spanish-bred). It is one of the two sub-breeds of the Iberian horses, and extremely similar to the closely related Lusitano breed.
Andalusians have been used for all manner of riding horses, and were the preferred mount of kings over many centuries. They excel in high school dressage and are used in cattle work and bullfighting in their native Spain. They are highly intelligent and learn very quickly.
Partbred Andalusians are popular as sport horses in many countries. They also excel at classical dressage and are used for show jumping and other equestrian activities. Contents
1 History of the breed
2 Breed Characteristics
3 Film, television and literature
4 References and footnotes
5 External links

Contents
1 Hunters or Jumpers?
2 Courses and Rules
3 History of show jumping
4 Original scoring tariff
5 Modern Rules
6 Tack
7 Rider attire
8 Types of Competition
9 Types of Show Jumps
10 The Horses
The dramatic appearance of the Andalusian horse has made it a popular breed to use in film, particularly in historical and fantasy epics. For example, two Andalusians, Domero and Blanco played the part of Shadowfax in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. The part of Asfaloth was played by another Andalusian named Florian. Another Andalusian was cast as Peter's unicorn in Disney/Walden Media's The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. In The Mask of Zorro, Zorro's horse, Tornado, was referred to as an Andalusian, although the horse appeared to actually be a Friesian. Mel Gibson rode Jardinero X in Braveheart. Six Andalusians were used to portray the two unicorns in the Ridley Scott fairy tale 'Legend'. Andalusians also appear frequently in films that depict bullfighting or other aspects of Spanish culture.
Morris is one of the founding fathers of Hunt Seat Equitation in America. He began riding as a child and won the ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship Finals and the AHSA Hunt Seat Equitation Medal Final at Madison Square Garden in 1952 at the age of 14, the youngest rider to ever do so. Countless horsemen trained at Hunterdon and have continued on to achieve success in the equestrian world under Morris' tutelage. Morris' "Jumping Clinic" is a regular feature in Practical Horseman magazine.
Editorial Reviews
Book Description
George H. Morris has ridden and trained international show jumpers, champion show hunters and equitation stars for more than half a century. Morris, now the U.S. show jumping team's chef d'equipe, was named one of the 50 Most Influential Horsemen of the 20th Century in 1999 by The Chronicle of the Horse, the magazine for which he's written a monthly "Between Rounds" column since 1989.
The book is divided into four sections to encompass Morris' major themes over the last 17 years: In the section called It's Not Like It Used To Be, Morris analyzes the evolution of the sport he loves over the last century and decries the declining standards of horsemanship he sees around him. In What Good Teachers Teach, he offers his own unique brand of classically based advise on how to train riders and their horses. In I've Always Been Devoted To The Forward Seat, Morris explains why the century-old technique he favors is the best way to jump horses. And in George On Tour, he describes a few of his travels to destinations from the former Soviet Union to the Athens Olympics.
ÏThe riders would not jump their horses in these conditions and what is very astounding is the powers that be don't read the FEI rulebook which says welfare of the horse above all,Ó George Morris quote
ÏIt's about the horse and that's it.Ó George Morris quote
ÏWe decided to build widget accessibility into our web-based applications.Ó George Morris quote
ÏWe have a great team, great horses, and I have a lot of confidence that we can win. There's no magic, just experience.Ó George Morris quote
ÏIt's like the first day of the first horse show of my life.Ó George Morris quote

First level elements

1. communication
2. balance
3. history
4. repetition
5. consistency

Second level elements

1. context
2. shape
3. alignment
4. symetry
5. navigation