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.
Now, John Strassburger, who recently retired as the Chronicle's editor after 20 years and who created the magazine's "Between Rounds" section, has selected Morris' 50 best columns to preserve the equestrian legend's words for horsemen and women who are committed to riding and training their horses correctly.
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.
This collection of Morris' columns is the first of the five-part Chronicle Comment Series. For the second book in the series, due in Spring 2007, Strassburger will collect his 75 best Commentaries, from 1982 to 2006. Then he'll collect the best columns by three more "Between Rounds" columnists?Victor Hugo-Vidal, Denny Emerson and Anne Gribbons?for publication in late 2007 and in 2008.