A snapshot from George Morris' clinic.

© Katherine Jamison

By Kerry Mack

READ KERRY'S FIRST BLOG FROM GEORGE MORRIS' AUSTRALIAN CLINIC HERE

Here is one of the jumping exercises from the George Morris clinic. This is an exercise to help train the horse to wait for the fence. Before doing the exercise, George had riders practise some halts, asking the horse to stop using the wall to really underline the lesson. 

You can set up a little cross or even a trot pole on an angle to the wall of your arena. Trot over the pole towards the arena wall and stop on the wall. Halt there for a few seconds so he knows to wait until he is asked to go. Repeat this a few times. 

Set up a small vertical coming out of the corner on the left rein, perpendicular to the wall. On the diagonal line 8 strides away from this, set up a small liverpool. (See the diagram). George set this up at about 90cm. On the left rein in canter, jump the vertical and halt in between the two fences (see diagram one; X shows the halt). The halt should be a progressive, supple and elastic (balanced) halt. Keep your hand up in the halt to help him keep his withers up in the halt. Wait for a moment. Turn left away from the liverpool and then jump the liverpool. Repeat this a few times. You can emphasise the lesson by stopping after the line using the wall. 

Diagram one

Then vary it by jumping the liverpool on the left rein out of the corner. Halt. Wait. Then jump the vertical on the left rein out of the corner (see diagram two). Then when he is waiting, you can do both fences, no halt. 

Diagram two

“He must wait and respond to my hands. Ease off in the turn. He must accept the contact,” George says. 

“Then you will have a soft, rideable horse.”

READ KERRY'S FIRST BLOG HERE

Stay tuned for Kerry’s next blog, where she will discuss some more of the exercises taught during George’s clinic!

You can read more about George Morris' recent Australian clinic in Issue 35 of EQ Life.

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