On Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. Central time, join Eric Dierks for a live stream interview with Jim Wofford.
Wofford has had a successful riding career, joining the U.S. Eventing Team in 1965 and remaining a member until 1985. During this time, he trained under Bert de Nemethy and Jack LeGoff.
Wofford competed in the 1968 and 1972 Olympic Games on his famous horse Kilkenny, winning team silver both times, and was also named to the 1980 Olympic Games but did not compete due to the Olympic Committee’s boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics. He was one of 461 athletes to receive a Congressional Gold Medal many years after. He also competed on the U.S. Eventing Team at the 1970 World Championships at Punchestown, Ireland, winning an individual bronze with Kilkenny, and at the 1978 World Championships with Carawich, winning a team bronze.
Wofford’s records also include five wins—each on a different horse—at five U.S. National
Championships, a team gold medal at the
1967 Pan American Games, and two wins at the Kentucky Three-Day Event (1981 with Carawich
and 1986 with The Optimist — coming out
of retirement to ride the horse for student and fellow Olympian, Karen O’Connor). He
also competed very successfully abroad from
1959 –1986. In all, Wofford competed at the Advanced level over 20 years. During this time,
he also raced as a steeplechase jockey and fox
hunted for over 20 years.
Wofford retired as a competitor in 1986. He continues to ride, along with his wife, two daughters, and three grandsons.
Click here to register for the live stream interview.
This live stream is provided by the Illinois Dressage and Combined Training Association.
In this excerpt, trainer and educator Anne Buchannan explains bit contact connection and why it matters for true collection and healthy movement.
Familiarizing yourself with the key players at each horse trial is an important step to your success at your next competition. One of those important figures is the show secretary. Think of the show secretary as the mastermind behind most of the organizational efforts related to each horse trial. They manage entries, the show schedule, ride times, stabling, and so much more. Without the hard work of the show secretary and their office staff, a horse trial simply would not be able to operate.
The USEA Foundation is pleased to announce a new initiative, the Janet Briggs Fund for the Continuing Education of Licensed Officials. Established in memory of Janet Briggs, this fund honors her lifelong dedication to the sport of eventing by supporting the ongoing education and development of eventing licensed officials.
In the rolling countryside of Metamora, Michigan, there’s a place where eventers gather not just to compete, but to celebrate the spirit of the sport. Area VIII’s Hunter’s Run Farm—home to the Hunter’s Run Farm Horse Trials—has long been a beloved destination for riders across the Midwest, and this year, it’s gearing up for one of its most exciting seasons yet.