James C. Wofford
Encyclopedia
James Cunningham Wofford (born November 3, 1944) is an American equestrian
, who has competed in many international competitions in the sport of eventing
. Today he is most known as a trainer of both horses and riders, and as a retired president of the AHSA and vice-president of the USET.
Wofford now lives on his Fox Covert Farm in Upperville
, Virginia
, with his wife, Gail W. Wofford ex-MFH, of almost 40 years.
Team in the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Col. Wofford went on to coach eventers and show jumpers at the 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games. This was the first Olympics where civilians were permitted to participate in eventing, and nineteen-year-old Jeb Wofford—Col. Wofford’s son and James’ brother—won a bronze medal. Col. Wofford was also the founder and first president of the United States Equestrian Team
.
The second brother to James, Warren Wofford, remains the only USET rider to qualify in both show jumping
and eventing
. He chose show jumping
, but only went as an alternate to the 1956 Stockholm Games. However, Warren did meet his future wife, Dawn Penelope Wofford, who competed on the British Show Jumping Team in the 1956 and 1960 Olympic Games.
Wofford’s cousin is both a trainer and rider of flat
and steeplechase
races. Several members of his family have also been Masters of Foxhounds.
.
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
. He also competed on the US Eventing Team at the 1970 World Championships
at Punchestown, Ireland, winning an individual bronze with Kilkenny
, and at the 1978 World Championship with Carawich, winning a team bronze.
Wofford’s records also include five wins—each on a different horse—at five US National Championships, a team gold medal at the 1967 Pan Am Games, and two wins at the Rolex Kentucky Three Day
(1981 with Carawich and 1986 with The Optimist —remarkably 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.
Notable record of his achievements as a coach include:
, 101 Eventing Tips, and Take a Good Look Around. He has also served on may equestrian committees, including:
Wofford has also been inducted into the US Eventing Hall of Fame and the Culver Academies
Horsemanship Hall of Fame.
Equestrianism
Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
, who has competed in many international competitions in the sport of eventing
Eventing
Eventing is an equestrian event comprising dressage, cross-country, and show jumping. This event has its roots in a comprehensive cavalry test requiring mastery of several types of riding...
. Today he is most known as a trainer of both horses and riders, and as a retired president of the AHSA and vice-president of the USET.
Wofford now lives on his Fox Covert Farm in Upperville
Upperville
Upperville may refer to:*Upperville, Virginia, a city in Virginia*The Battle of Upperville, an American Civil War battle*Upperville , a band founded by Chris Merritt...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, with his wife, Gail W. Wofford ex-MFH, of almost 40 years.
Family
Wofford was born into an equestrian family. His father Col. John W. Wofford, who died when James was 10, rode for the United States Show JumpingShow jumping
Show jumping, also known as "stadium jumping," "open jumping," or "jumpers," is a member of a family of English riding equestrian events that also includes dressage, eventing, hunters, and equitation. Jumping classes commonly are seen at horse shows throughout the world, including the Olympics...
Team in the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Col. Wofford went on to coach eventers and show jumpers at the 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games. This was the first Olympics where civilians were permitted to participate in eventing, and nineteen-year-old Jeb Wofford—Col. Wofford’s son and James’ brother—won a bronze medal. Col. Wofford was also the founder and first president of the United States Equestrian Team
United States Equestrian Team
The United States Equestrian Team, or USET, was founded in 1950 at the Coates estate on van Beuren Road in Morristown, New Jersey, and is the international equestrian team for the United States...
.
The second brother to James, Warren Wofford, remains the only USET rider to qualify in both show jumping
Show jumping
Show jumping, also known as "stadium jumping," "open jumping," or "jumpers," is a member of a family of English riding equestrian events that also includes dressage, eventing, hunters, and equitation. Jumping classes commonly are seen at horse shows throughout the world, including the Olympics...
and eventing
Eventing
Eventing is an equestrian event comprising dressage, cross-country, and show jumping. This event has its roots in a comprehensive cavalry test requiring mastery of several types of riding...
. He chose show jumping
Show jumping
Show jumping, also known as "stadium jumping," "open jumping," or "jumpers," is a member of a family of English riding equestrian events that also includes dressage, eventing, hunters, and equitation. Jumping classes commonly are seen at horse shows throughout the world, including the Olympics...
, but only went as an alternate to the 1956 Stockholm Games. However, Warren did meet his future wife, Dawn Penelope Wofford, who competed on the British Show Jumping Team in the 1956 and 1960 Olympic Games.
Wofford’s cousin is both a trainer and rider of flat
Flat racing
Flat racing is a form of Thoroughbred horse racing which is run over a level track at a predetermined distance. It differs from steeplechase racing which is run over hurdles...
and steeplechase
Steeplechase (horse racing)
The steeplechase is a form of horse racing and derives its name from early races in which orientation of the course was by reference to a church steeple, jumping fences and ditches and generally traversing the many intervening obstacles in the countryside...
races. Several members of his family have also been Masters of Foxhounds.
Wofford’s Early Life
Wofford attended Culver Military Academy for high school. He later went to graduate from the University of Colorado School of Business.Riding career
Wofford has had a successful riding career, joining the USA Eventing Team in 1965 and remaining a member until 1985. During this time, he trained under Bert de Nemethy and Jack Le GoffJack le Goff
Jack le Goff was a French equestrian. He won a bronze medal in team eventing at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, together with Guy Lefrant and Jéhan Le Roy.-References:...
.
Wofford competed in the 1968 and 1972 Olympic Games on his famous horse Kilkenny
Kilkenny (horse)
Kilkenny was a horse that competed in the sport of eventing.*Born: 1957 in Ireland*Stable name: Henry*Height: 17.0 hh *Markings: Small star*Riders: Tommy Brennan, Jimmy Wofford-Competitive career:...
, winning team silver both times, and was also named to the 1980 Olympic Games
Equestrian at the 1980 Summer Olympics
Equestrian at the 1980 Summer Olympics was represented by 6 events. All of them, with the exception of the Individual Jumping Grand Prix, were held in the Trade Unions Equestrian Centre, which is situated in the Bitsa forest park...
. He also competed on the US Eventing Team at the 1970 World Championships
Eventing World Championship
The Eventing World Championship, or the eventing competition in the World Equestrian Games , began in 1966. It includes both a team and individual competition for the best horses and riders in the sport of eventing...
at Punchestown, Ireland, winning an individual bronze with Kilkenny
Kilkenny (horse)
Kilkenny was a horse that competed in the sport of eventing.*Born: 1957 in Ireland*Stable name: Henry*Height: 17.0 hh *Markings: Small star*Riders: Tommy Brennan, Jimmy Wofford-Competitive career:...
, and at the 1978 World Championship with Carawich, winning a team bronze.
Wofford’s records also include five wins—each on a different horse—at five US National Championships, a team gold medal at the 1967 Pan Am Games, and two wins at the Rolex Kentucky Three Day
Rolex Kentucky Three Day
The Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event is an eventing competition held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. The Rolex Kentucky is a CCI**** eventing competition, and the only four-star show in the Western Hemisphere. Four stars is the highest level of competition, the same level of...
(1981 with Carawich and 1986 with The Optimist —remarkably coming out of retirement to ride the horse for student and fellow Olympian, Karen O'Connor
Karen O'Connor
Karen Lende O'Connor is an American equestrian. She was born February 17, 1958. Her family includes Joanne and Phillip Lende and brothers Steven and Chip. She grew up in Bolton, Massachusetts....
). 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
Steeplechase (horse racing)
The steeplechase is a form of horse racing and derives its name from early races in which orientation of the course was by reference to a church steeple, jumping fences and ditches and generally traversing the many intervening obstacles in the countryside...
jockey, and fox hunted
Fox hunting
Fox hunting is an activity involving the tracking, chase, and sometimes killing of a fox, traditionally a red fox, by trained foxhounds or other scent hounds, and a group of followers led by a master of foxhounds, who follow the hounds on foot or on horseback.Fox hunting originated in its current...
for over 20 years.
Wofford retired as a competitor in 1986. He continues to ride, along with his wife, two daughters, and three grandsons.
As a Coach
Perhaps even more impressive than his riding career is his career as a coach. Wofford began focusing on coaching after his retirement, and has produced riders on nearly every USET Eventing team. He has had at least one student on every US Olympic, World Championship, or Pan Am team since 1978. Today he is sought after as a clinician.Notable record of his achievements as a coach include:
- 2004 Athens Olympics: Kimberly SeversonKimberly SeversonKimberly Severson is a highly successful international equestrian. She took several years of dressage lessons before training in eventing, and began with a background in Pony Club...
and John WilliamsJohn Williams (equestrian)John Williams is an equestrian from the United States of America, who competed for the USA in the US Eventing team at the 2004 Summer Olympics, winning the bronze medal....
were both former students. Severson went on to win the individual silver. The team won bronze. Also coached the Canadian team.
- 2003 Pan Am Games, as coach for the silver medal-winning Canadian team.
- 2002 World Equestrian GamesWorld Equestrian GamesThe FEI World Equestrian Games are the major international championships for equestrianism, and administered by the Fédération Equestre Internationale . The games have been held every four years, halfway between sets of consecutive Summer Olympic Games, since 1990...
in Jerez, Spain, where he coached the Canadian team. The gold medal US team also had former students Kim Vinoski-SeversonKimberly SeversonKimberly Severson is a highly successful international equestrian. She took several years of dressage lessons before training in eventing, and began with a background in Pony Club...
, David O'ConnorDavid O'Connor (equestrian)David John O'Connor is a retired equestrian rider. He won many international competitions as well as the gold medal for the US in the 2000 Olympic Games. He is only the second American to have won the Badminton Horse Trials. O'Connor sits as the President of the US Equestrian Federation...
and John WilliamsJohn Williams (equestrian)John Williams is an equestrian from the United States of America, who competed for the USA in the US Eventing team at the 2004 Summer Olympics, winning the bronze medal....
.
- 2000 Sydney Olympics, where all four US team members—David O'ConnorDavid O'Connor (equestrian)David John O'Connor is a retired equestrian rider. He won many international competitions as well as the gold medal for the US in the 2000 Olympic Games. He is only the second American to have won the Badminton Horse Trials. O'Connor sits as the President of the US Equestrian Federation...
, Karen O'ConnorKaren O'ConnorKaren Lende O'Connor is an American equestrian. She was born February 17, 1958. Her family includes Joanne and Phillip Lende and brothers Steven and Chip. She grew up in Bolton, Massachusetts....
, Nina Fout and Linden Wiesman—had trained with Wofford. David O’Connor went on to win the individual god medal, the team won bronze.
- Wofford was named United States Olympic Committee development coach of the year in 1998 and 1999.
Other Involvements
James Wofford has written a number of books, including Gymnastics: Systematic Training for Jumping Horses, and Training the Three-Day Event Horse and RiderTraining the Three-Day Event Horse and Rider
Training the Three-Day Event Horse and Rider is a 1995 book written by James C. Wofford, covering each phase of the equestrian sport of eventing, as well as a brief history of the event and a section on choosing a proper horse for the sport. The book ends with a section on conditioning and...
, 101 Eventing Tips, and Take a Good Look Around. He has also served on may equestrian committees, including:
- AHSA (now USEF) as president
- USET: the first vice-president
- USCTA (now USEA) secretary
- Member of the FEIInternational Federation for Equestrian SportsThe Fédération Équestre Internationale or in English, the International Federation for Equestrian Sports, is the international governing body of equestrian sports. It recognizes ten international disciplines...
Eventing Committee for two terms, including two years as vice-chairman - He does many clinics all over the US
Wofford has also been inducted into the US Eventing Hall of Fame and the Culver Academies
Culver Academies
The Culver Academies is a college preparatory boarding school and summer camp in the United States. The Culver Academies is composed of three entities: Culver Military Academy for boys, Culver Girls Academy , and the Culver Summer Schools and Camps . Collectively known as Culver Academies located...
Horsemanship Hall of Fame.