Fairbrook Farm adds second George Morris clinic

Fairbrook Farm has hosted an annual George Morris jumping clinic for 12 years, but in December the Fallbrook facility hosted two George Morris clinics.

Morris, the co-coach of the United States Olympic equestrian team, conducted a two-day clinic December 14-15 and a three-day clinic December 17-19. Fairbrook Farm had previously hosted three-day clinics but had not previously hosted a two-day clinic.

“We feel very lucky to have him out here,” said Mary Lay, who coordinated the clinics for Fairbrook Farm.

In past years Morris had conducted a December clinic in Orange County. That facility changed locations and its 2004 clinic didn’t fill, so Morris contacted Fairbrook Farm about hosting the second clinic.

Fairbrook Farm took up Morris’ offer, and 16 riders at the two-day clinic joined 25 riders at the three-day clinic. The three-day clinic included high, middle, and low sessions, while the two-day clinic consisted of a high session and a low session.

“You learn a lot. You walk away going, ‘Wow, look at what I did’,” Lay said. “In three days you can see the difference.”

Although Morris provides a training session, it is not competition. “It’s there only to get them better,” Lay said. “It’s to prepare them to go to a competition.”

Morris lives in New Jersey and owns Hunterdon Farms in New Jersey. The three-day Fallbrook clinic is held the weekend before Christmas and is his final clinic of the year; after Christmas Morris leaves for a European buying trip.

In 2005 Morris will also have a three-day clinic at Fairbrook Farm the weekend before Christmas, which equates to December 16-18, and a two-day clinic will be offered at Fairbrook Farm December 13-14.

“We’re looking forward to it,” Lay said of the two-day clinic joining the three-day clinic as an annual event.