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.
The United States Eventing Association (USEA) is proud to announce the selected Young Rider athletes for the Emerging Athletes U21 Program (EA21) national camp, now that the EA21 regional clinics have concluded. Twelve riders were accepted into each of the five regional EA21 clinics, taught by USEA Eventing Coaches Program (ECP) instructors, and now riders have been selected from the regional clinics to participate in the EA21 national camp this winter.
The second Young Horse Show Series (YHS) Regional Championship took place on Sunday, October 1st at Haras Hacienda in Magnolia, Texas. Formerly known as the USEA Future Event Horse (FEH) Championships, this year’s qualifiers were run by the YHS, a program established to provide U.S. breeders the opportunity to show off their young stock, as well as connect them to owners, riders, and trainers looking for U.S. bred sport horses in the hunter, jumper, dressage, and now eventing, disciplines.
Have you made plans to attend the 2023 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention in St. Louis, Missouri, from Dec. 7-10? If so, you’ll want to add the Show Jumping Building Seminar to your list of activities.
Registration for the 2023 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention is now open! Join the USEA in St. Louis, Missouri, this Dec. 7-10 for a weekend of mingling with fellow enthusiastic eventers to partake in discussions about the future of the sport. This year’s event will include a keynote address by Dr. Temple Grandin, a world-renowned scientist and author, a celebration of champions at the Annual Awards Dinner, and more! The city of St. Louis also has so many opportunities to sight-see and explore.