November 3, 2018
Biographical Information
James C. (Jim) Wofford, 74, 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
(B.S. Bus. Admin. ’69). Wofford, a 3-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 Jimmy A. Williams 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, Va., and travels extensively, teaching and giving clinics.
Wofford has had at least one student
on every U.S. Olympic, World Championship, and Pan-American team since 1978.
All four members of the U.S. Bronze medal team at the 2000 Sydney Olympics,
including David O’Connor, the Individual Gold medal winner, were graduates of
Wofford’s program. In addition, 3 out of the 4 members of the 2002 Gold Medal
team at the World Equestrian Games were his former students. Kim Severson, the
Individual Silver Medal winner at the Athens Olympics, and Gina Miles, the
Individual Silver Medal winner at the Beijing Olympics, are both graduates of
Wofford’s program.
He was named USOC Developmental Coach
of the Year in both 1998 and 1999. He served as coach for the Canadian Team for
the 2002 World Championships, for the Silver Medal Team at the 2003 Pan
American Championships, and the 2004 Olympics in Athens. In 2007 Wofford was
named a Fellow of the USEA Instructors Certification Program.
Widely sought after as a clinician
and coach, Wofford is equally well known as an author. His first book, TRAINING
THE 3-DAY EVENT HORSE AND RIDER, is now back in print after selling out the
first print run, while his second book, GYMNASTICS: SYSTEMATIC TRAINING FOR
JUMPING HORSES is out of print. A sequel, entitled MODERN GYMNASTICS and the accompanying DVD, are now
available at
Three other books, TAKE A GOOD LOOK AROUND, 101 EVENTING TIPS, and CROSS-COUNTRY WITH JIM WOFFORD, are all widely available. In addition, he writes a column for Practical Horseman, the largest periodical in the U.S. dedicated to “English” riding.
Three other books, TAKE A GOOD LOOK AROUND, 101 EVENTING TIPS, and CROSS-COUNTRY WITH JIM WOFFORD, are all widely available. In addition, he writes a column for Practical Horseman, the largest periodical in the U.S. dedicated to “English” riding.
Beginning with the 1972 Olympics,
Wofford has served as the color commentator for many national and international
broadcasts, and has worked for NBC, ABC, and PBS. He served as the color commentator
for the 2006 NBC Rolex Championships, for the NBC coverage of both the 2006
World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany and the 2010 World Championships in
Lexington, Ky., and for numerous other horse-related television programs.
Wofford has maintained a lifelong
involvement in the administration of his sport, both nationally and
internationally. This continues a family tradition; his father was a founding
member and the first President of the U.S. Equestrian team. He has served as
president of the United States Equestrian Federation, 1st vice-president of the
United States Equestrian Team, and Secretary of the U.S. Eventing Association.
He served two terms as a member of the International Equestrian Federation’s
Eventing Committee, including 4 years as Vice Chairman. In addition, he has
served on numerous other committees during his career.
Wofford was a successful competitor
until his retirement in 1986. He was on the 1968, 1972, and 1980 Olympic teams,
winning two team Silver medals, and one individual Silver medal. He also
competed in the 1970 and 1978 World championships, winning Bronze individual
and team medals. He won the U.S. National championships five times, on five
different horses, and won or placed at many competitions abroad between 1959
and 1986.
He has followed in the footsteps of
his family as a competitor. His father, Col. John W. Wofford, was on the 1932
Olympic Show Jumping team, his oldest brother J.E.B., was on the 1952 Olympic
Bronze medal 3-Day Event team, his sister-in law, Dawn Palethorpe Wofford, was
on the British Olympic Show Jumping team in 1960, and his middle brother,
Warren, was 1st reserve to both the U.S. Show Jumping and Eventing teams at the
Olympics in 1956. His cousin, William Wofford, was a leading steeplechase rider,
who won numerous steeplechase races, including The Virginia Gold Cup. Bill's horse, Ozymandias, was named Horse of the Year.
In addition to Jim’s eventing
achievements, he was an active competitor in steeplechase races, rode in
numerous horse shows, and fox hunted for over 30 years. Wofford and his wife of
over 52 years, Gail W.Wofford ex-MFH, live at their farm in Upperville, VA. The
Woffords have two daughters, Mrs. Timothy L. (Hillary) Jones, and Mrs. Charles
K. (Jennifer) Ince, and 4 grandsons, James Walker Jones, Hudson Wofford Jones,
Lewis Kitchell Ince, and Theodore Brown Ince. The entire family still rides.
However, when the boys can sneak away, they go fishing as well.
