The U.S. Hunter Jumper Association announced Nov. 26 that their board voted to remove two tributes to George Morris: the Hunterdon Cup, an equitation class named after Morris’ stable, and the George H. Morris trophy, awarded to the winner of the Platinum Performance/USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship. The Hunterdon Cup will be re-named, and the George H. Morris trophy will be removed.
The announcement came just days after the U.S. Center for SafeSport permanently banned Morris for sexual misconduct of a minor.
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“As equestrians it is our duty to work to make our sport strong and healthy,” wrote USHJA President Mary Babick in a letter to the membership. “It is time to step up and no longer tolerate inappropriate behavior and to emerge as a safer and altogether more positive environment for our people and our horses. We should have zero tolerance for cruelty and abuse whether of horses or humans. Victim shaming and blaming is never acceptable.”
