Emerging Athletes Program Riders Learn from the Master Graduates of the USHJA Emerging Athletes Program share their experiences from the George H. Morris Horsemastership Training Session By Tricia Booker Photos by Stacey Nedrow-Wigmore A fter spending five days with legendary horseman George H. Morris, Stephen Foran, Ana Forssell and Jacob Pope may have been exhausted and sporting a few sore muscles, but these were only minor inconveniences in return for all of the knowledge and experience they gleaned. The George Morris Horsemastership Training Session was a wonderful learning experience, said Foran. George is the ultimate horsemaster. He s a master communicator, demonstrator and motivator. George is a genius when it comes to training both horses and riders. Everything he asked us to do was very challenging, but that s the best way for all of us to improve. Presented by the United States Hunter Jumper Association and Adequan, the seventh annual George H. Morris Horsemastership Training Session invited 12 of the sport s best young talents to the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, Florida, in January for five days of intensive instruction. Participants earned their places in this one-of-a-kind training session by achieving top honors at some of the sport s most prestigious events. Foran, of Lake Forest, Illinois, won the 2012 USHJA Emerging Athletes Program The EAP absolutely opened doors for me. Stephen Foran National Training Session, presented by Dover Saddlery. Forssell, of Petaluma, California, was the second EAP invitee, and Jacob Pope, of Columbia, Maryland, went from winning the 2011 USHJA EAP National to capture the 2012 ASPCA Maclay Finals and the Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals-East. Foran and Forssell borrowed horses for the training session, and they noted that their experience riding unfamiliar George Morris, above, discussed the art of course building during the George H. Morris Horsemastership Training Session. At left is Stephen Foran, aboard Zarkan. horses during November s EAP National Training Session was great preparation. The horse I rode was Zarkan, a newly imported Dutch Warmblood from McLain Ward, said Foran. I rode him for the first time the day before the clinic. Zarkan was very educated on the flat, careful and clever in the gymnastics phase, and very rideable and responsive the last day doing course work. Each day I got to know him better. We reached the point where I felt we were very prepared to handle the course work on Sunday. Forssell rode two horses during the clinic, which added to the challenge, but she noted that the switch midstream ended up being a positive experience. The first horse, Zoey, was just 6 and a bit too inexperienced, she said. I ended up on a second horse named Rio that I started riding the third day. I had to jump right in and pick up where everyone else was, jumping courses, so it was really nerve-wracking. But I remembered what George said in the clinic one day, which was to MARCH 2013 / USHJA IN STRIDE 21
Olympic Games veteran Anne Kursinski demonstrated proper flatwork techniques to the Training Session participants and auditors. practice your bravery, and that stuck in my mind when I was sitting on the new horse, she added. Forssell admitted that even with the pep talk running through her mind, she was still a little nervous. You know, the jumps weren t little, she said laughing. Part of me wanted to ask to jump smaller jumps to start with. But I thought, I have to be brave and I have to get this done. And I did, and it gave me confidence in myself and what I can do. Making a Connection On the first day of the clinic, riders concentrated on flatwork and focused on connection. Morris emphasized subtle ways to keep an active connection and discouraged see-sawing on the horse s mouth, instead instructing riders to keep your hands very steady and just close your fingers if you want your horse to stop shaking his head. The first day closed with a demonstration of proper flatwork by former Morris student Anne Kursinski, a twotime Olympic Games team silver medalist and devout believer in the American System of Forward Riding. You can do everything from a half-point position if you have a strong base of support, Kursinski noted. The importance of flatwork is the greatest thing I took away from the clinic, said Foran. George emphasized it, and I came away inspired to improve my abilities on the flat and to help my horses rideability and soundness. Day No. 2 included Morris famous gymnastic jumping lessons. Bert de Nemethy used to do it all in straight lines, but I change my gymnastics up a little bit, and they end up being quite varied, said Morris. We have to gymnasticize the horse at home to prepare him for the show ring. So, that s why my gymnastics include a lot of bending lines. We also added a Liverpool because I want them to be very confident at that Liverpool before they even begin to think about jumping the [open] water, even though riding-wise the water is really only a bigger Liverpool. Morris also noted that every second you re on your horse, you re either schooling him or unschooling him, a reminder that Pope took to heart. Mr. Morris broke us from some of our incorrect habits that we ve acquired and replaced them with correct dressage aids, said Pope. I really enjoyed him stressing to us the fact that we need to go with the horse and not against [him], or force him to do anything. He wanted us in a forward seat with a following arm, especially over the jumps. I thought it made the horses go better, and, most importantly, it made the horses enjoy what they were doing since we were trying to be one with the horse and be empathetic. Day No. 3 focused on jumping, but Morris still emphasized flatwork before, during and after each fence. As Forssell found out aboard her new horse, the starting obstacles Morris set were no picnic, and they were presented in a line on the long side of the ring to be jumped in both directions. It s different, but it s different on purpose, said Morris. If it s easy, it doesn t teach you anything. The fourth day, Morris asked the riders to begin their flatwork without stirrups. He led by example, riding 20 minutes sans stirrups himself. Morris emphasized, over and over, the three contacts a horse has to accept: hands, seat and leg. The successful application of these aids results in a horse that s more balanced, uphill and supple. As the day progressed into the jumping phase, Morris included more sage advice: The most interesting thing about the give-and-take of aids is the give. Good riders give when the horse gives; great riders give just before the horse gives. Pope noted, I think I have a much better feel; I feel like I m much more in Participants in the 2013 George H. Morris Horsemastership Training Session, presented by the USHJA and Adequan, included: Gabrielle Bausano Claudia Billups Olivia Champ Stephen Foran Ana Forssell Frances Land Abigail McArdle Kilian McGrath Meg O Mara Jacob Pope Dana Scott Catherine Tyree 22 USHJA IN STRIDE / MARCH 2013
MARCH 2013 / USHJA IN STRIDE 23
24 USHJA IN STRIDE / MARCH 2013
The New Kid: Ana Forssell s Story F or Ana Forssell, 20, a young professional from Petaluma, California, who runs a lesson program, the USHJA Emerging Athletes Program wasn t initially on her radar. She didn t think the program would be accepting of a young professional with limited experience. I almost didn t apply. I m someone who works really hard, but I don t have a show record, she said. I sent my application in anyway, and I thought, Whatever happens, happens. Forrsell was accepted, attended the EAP Regional and then everything fell into place. When I went to the first clinic, I wasn t expecting anything and was just going for the experience, she said. Then, after the first day, it was like something turned on in my brain. When I was a junior, I had desires and dreams, but when I turned 18 the real world set in. I have a horse and have to pay for him all by myself, and those dreams fell to the wayside. During the EAP Regional, Forssell worked with clinician Anne Kursinski, and her eyes were opened to what could be. Working with Anne relit a fire, and I wanted to learn more and do the big jumpers and do it well, she said. I went away pretty happy. When I made it to EAP Nationals, I was excited and nervous. At the Regional clinic, 80 percent of the kids show at 10 to 15 A-rated shows per year. I wasn t like any of them, so I wasn t sure what would happen at Nationals. Forssell s competitive nature kicked in, and even though she drew a challenging horse whose size dwarfed her, she rode him to the best of her ability and made an impression on lead clinician Peter Wylde and the EAP Committee members. I decided I was going to do well regardless of the horse I drew, and that was it, she said. This horse had a Ana Forssell lot to teach me because he was hard for me to ride. Peter worked with me, and every day I tried to learn more. To me, the emerging athlete for this program doesn t have to have all the resources and funding, but is someone who has that want and desire to get to the next level. Really, the only way for me to get there was to learn more. During the George H. Morris Horsemastership Training Session, Forssell may have walked into the ring as an unknown, but she didn t leave that way. The spectators knew most of those kids, but nobody knew who I was, she said. George had no idea who I was! It was good and bad. He had a fresh look at me, and no expectations. And so I got to really know him, and the other people got to watch me ride. I d met Peter at EAP, and he saw me ride that difficult horse. So, he came and watched me ride in Florida and got to see me on something [with which] I could show the skills I had. While Forssell enjoys teaching riders their diagonals and how to tack up their horses at Renee Ronshausen s Crystal Clear Farm, she d like to embark on the next level. Forrsell said Ronshausen prepared her well, and she wouldn t be the rider she is now without all of Ronshausen s support and education. The EAP and George s clinic were great experiences, and I m so grateful for all of it, she said. I really want more. I want to be a great rider one day, and now, thanks to these programs, there are other people willing to help me, such as Peter Wylde and Candice King. This never would have happened if I d changed my mind and decided not to send in my EAP application. tune with my horse. I also think I have become much softer with the horse while at the same time strong. Each day when the riders returned to the barn with their mounts, stable management expert Karen Golding was there to oversee and help the riders to improve their horse care skills and education. Karen is an absolute expert, with limitless knowledge of horse care, said Forssell. I ve worked with her twice before at EAP, and I feel grateful to have had the chance to learn from her. I ve learned many things, from the best way to groom MARCH 2013 / USHJA IN STRIDE 25
26 USHJA IN STRIDE / MARCH 2013
to how to handle so many barn management issues. Because of the EAP, I knew what was expected of me in the barn and how to do those things correctly and effectively, Forssell added. The EAP taught me how to pay attention to details in everything from taking care of my horse in the barn and prepping her for the show ring, to getting myself successfully looking the part. Participants also worked with Dr. Deb Bennett and explored the horse s physiology and anatomy, learning how a rider s body position can affect a horse s soundness. In addition, veterinarian Tim Ober instructed them on equine health and presented a seminar on evaluating a horse for soundness. Farrier Dean Pearson gave a presentation on proper hoof care and how to handle a sprung shoe. After the riders returned to the barn, Pearson assisted them in removing a shoe from their mounts using the various tools from a gift bag he d presented to each rider. For the final day, Morris had the riders tackle a technical course so they could take the tools he d given them and put them to use. He continued to remind riders of the key factors connection, acceptance of aids and straightness. This is a great week; it s the cream of the crop, Morris said. We had wonderful vets and Karen supervising the stable. I wish I could also be with those in the stable. Every year we have a great person, and it s so instructive to be with these old-timers and old-fashioned horsemen in the stables. This is a great group of riders, added Morris. It s what happens to them after this that worries me. Opening Doors With a variety of trainers, owners and professional riders auditing the training session at the PBIEC throughout the clinic, the participants didn t go unnoticed, and that, as Pope found out, opened many doors. Last year, Pope caught the eye of MARCH 2013 / USHJA IN STRIDE 27
28 USHJA IN STRIDE / MARCH 2013
trainers Patricia Griffith and Andre Dignelli during the training session, and he went on to win the ASPCA Maclay and USEF Talent Search Finals under their Heritage Farm banner. Likewise, Foran and Forssell already see opportunities abounding by virtue of their participation in the EAP. The EAP absolutely opened doors for me, said Foran, 17. After winning the EAP finals, Peter Wylde approached me about joining North Run. The plan is to be a working student for Missy Clark, Peter and John Brennan for the rest of my last junior season. It s a dream come true to have my riding be recognized and to be offered great opportunities. Forssell, 20, who is already established as a young professional in California, sees her experiences with EAP and the Horsemastership Training Session as a springboard to moving beyond her current role as an instructor to also include professional riding (see sidebar). Without the EAP, I wouldn t have been invited to participate in the George Morris Horsemastership program and have all the experiences I had, she said. The knowledge I gained is invaluable, and I m so grateful to the EAP for allowing me to have this opportunity. Going to this clinic really opened more doors than even the EAP, she noted. Before the EAP, I d never done a clinic, and that really limits your experience and learning from other people. Riding with George was a dream come true. Clinics are expensive, and because of that, taking them wasn t something that I was able to do. While attending EAP and the Horsemastership Training Session didn t change Foran s mission of becoming a top horseman, he said, I still have the same goal as before, to go as far as I can in the sport; but now the path is much clearer. He also advised riders considering the EAP to just do it. You learn so much, and it changes you from a rider to a horseman. MARCH 2013 / USHJA IN STRIDE 29