United States Eventing Association

My Jimmy Wofford Experience

When I was a horse crazy twelve-year-old, I stumbled upon Jimmy Wofford’s blog about the Sydney Olympic Games. Trying to find any information I could about the equestrian sports at the Olympics, I relished every word and snippet of information Jimmy wrote. From that day on I was a bona-fide member of the Jimmy Wofford fan club.

(Above Left: Jimmy Wofford deep in discussion with Bella over what a pretty girl she is. K. Kennedy photo.)

As a teenager I used to make up elaborate stories in my head while out hacking or doing fitness work with my horse. One scenario that came up often involved Jimmy driving up the dirt road that I was riding down in Georgia and seeing me on my slightly awkward, but still lovable Thoroughbred gelding Jackson, and deciding right then and there that we were the next Kim Severson and Winsome Adante. Jimmy would then declare that he would stop by every week to train us and help us along the path to Olympic Gold. Yes it does seem far-fetched, but what teenage fantasies aren’t?

After my teenage fantasy years, I continued what my best friend would deem “stalking” of Jimmy. Spying him from afar at events and reading every blog and book he published. After college I packed up my trustee Jeep and moved to Leesburg, Virginia to begin a dream come true internship with the USEA. Of course I could not leave my horse behind and while researching barns for her, my boss recommended Kilfinnan Stables in Upperville, Virginia.

A short while after moving Bella into her new digs I discovered something pretty cool. Jimmy’s barn was down the road, we could hack to his property and were allowed to use his massive hill for conditioning, and best yet sometimes he came over to teach lessons!

(Left: Katie Hasse warms up her Holsteiner gelding, Ollie, amid the sea of gymnastics in the indoor. Leslie Mintz photo.)

So, almost ten years after daydreaming about riding with Jimmy – it actually happened.

This past weekend Jimmy came over to Kilfinnan to teach a group of Sean’s students. Three groups of four riders each were scheduled beginning at nine AM with an hour for each group. Jimmy had Sean set up three gymnastics which turned the indoor arena into a sea of jump standards, although tight the exercises made the horses jump fantastically.

Promptly at 8:57 Jimmy strolled into the indoor with a thermos of coffee in one hand and a miniature bullhorn in the other. I was standing in the entrance to the indoor clutching my camera (as I am the self-appointed barn photographer), and Jimmy immediately accosted me to be jump crew. Of course I was happy to help Jimmy set fences!

I was in the second group of riders, so had snuck away from my jump crew job after only a half an hour. When the first lesson concluded my group entered the indoor to warm up. After a few minutes Jimmy set the siren off on his bullhorn calling us into the center of the ring. Now the indoor isn’t very large, so that must have been for pure comedic relief on Jimmy’s behalf. We all introduced ourselves and explained what levels our horses were competing at. I have no clue what I said as I was distracted by Jimmy carrying on a conversation with Bella and telling her what a pretty girl she was and how she must think she is just perfect.

Jimmy – the eventing god – told my 14.3 ½ paint/mutt mare that she was pretty and perfect. Well he just made my day!

(Right: Jimmy and his bullhorn keeping the rider’s on their toes. K. Kennedy photo.)

The lesson started with simple walking over a pole and plank on the ground. Jimmy said that he wanted our reins to be so long that any other trainer who walked in would think that we were sloppy. We then progressed to trotting a small vertical. Jimmy immediately got after me to put my heels down. I was mortified – it had been years since someone had told me to put my heels down. Apparently I needed it though and it was kind of refreshing that Jimmy would notice that little detail.

(Left: Autumn McCullough and her Irish Draught Cross, Sullivan, jumping one of the large oxers Jimmy set up with ease. K. Kennedy photo.)

As the jumps were added to the gymnastics my mare got a little strong, and I started clutching my reins as is my habit. Well Jimmy was having none of that and decided that I would ride the rest of the lesson in carriage – also known as driving – reins. If you have never ridden with your hands upside-down it’s pretty disconcerting, but you know what? It works! I have always had a lot of trouble making the distances with Bella, but once I stopped pulling she had no problems at all!

Although we did many variations of the gymnastics, Jimmy emphasized the same principles.

- If you go into a line off the left land and go right.

- If you go in off the right land and go left.

- Let your horse do the jumping.

- If you are only jumping 2’6” there is no reason to throw your body on your horse’s neck like you are jumping 4’6”.

- Always establish a good canter before walking, although you may know you are done, your horse doesn’t.

- And keep your heels down. You know why? Because Jimmy doesn’t want you to fall off and blame him!

(Right: Jimmy offered to take Gaelyn Foster’s Connemara Cross gelding, Comet, home. He said it would be no problem since he lives just up the road! Leslie Mintz Photo.)

The final exercise that we did in the lesson involved all three gymnastics. By the time I had jumped all of the lines, I had jumped: bounces, one-strides, two-strides, planks, verticals, 3’6” oxers, super wide oxers with diagonal poles on the top, and lots of trot poles. In between each line we were also required to circle and establish a rhythmical canter before jumping the next line out of the trot.

My horse was fantastic – the mix of jump types and striding put her on her toes and made me feel like I could jump into the Head of the Lake at Rolex. Besides the riding advice Jimmy gave out many other words of wisdom including giving my friend Katie tips on how to bang her horse’s tail. If you ever have the opportunity to ride with Jimmy, I wholeheartedly recommend it, and if you can’t afford it right now or he isn’t coming to your area, don’t stop dreaming about it! It took ten years for it to happen for me, and it was well worth the wait.

Thanks Jimmy for living up to my fantasy!

(Above Left: Bella navigates one of the wide oxer set up in the gymnastic while I attempt to get used to my carraige reins. K. Kennedy photo.)