United States Eventing Association

VIDEO: Effective Cross-Country Position with Jim Wofford

In this video break from the USEA Vault, originally provided in partnership with Eventing Training Online, Jim Wofford gives riders an exercise to help improve their cross-country position. Wofford has riders get into their two-point position, shorten their reins, and hold their jumping whip in both hands across the top of the horse's neck. He instructs riders to maintain this position up to, over, and away from the jump, letting the horse jump up to their hand and then gallop away after the fence. As each rider works through the exercise, Wofford encourages the other riders to pay attention and hear his coaching for that rider - "It's like getting six lessons in one!"

Jim Wofford was born and raised on a horse farm in Milford, Kansas. He is a graduate of Culver Military Academy and the School of Business at the University of Colorado with a B.S. in Business Administration. Wofford, a three-time Olympian, has spent his life with horses and is one of the best-known eventing trainers in the world today. In 2000, Wofford was listed by The Chronicle of the Horse as one of the “50 Most Influential Horseman” of the 20th century, and in January of 2012, he was awarded the United States Equestrian Federation Trophy for Lifetime Achievement, horse sports’ highest honor. A Hall of Fame member of both the United States Eventing Association and Culver Military Academy, Wofford trains at his farm in Upperville, Virginia, and travels extensively teaching and giving clinics.