Training the Three-day Event Horse and Rider [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

James C. Wofford (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 31, 2000

Using the same down-to-earth style that has made his eventing clinics so popular, Wofford uses his book to instruct on what to look for when selecting a mount and when choosing the right tack and equipment.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Derrydale Press (October 31, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1564161773
• ISBN-13: 978-1564161772
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #680,324 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Biographical Information:
James C. Wofford

James C. (Jim) Wofford, 64, 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. A Hall of Fame member of both the United States Eventing Association and the Culver Military Academy, Wofford trains at his farm in Upperville, Va., and travels extensively, teaching and giving clinics.
He 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, as well as 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 2004 Athens Olympics, is another graduate of Wofford's program, as is Gina Miles, the individual silver medal winner at the 2008 Olympics in Bejing.
He was named USOC Developmental Coach of the Year in both 1998 and 1999.He recently served as the 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 OF THE JUMPING HORSE has been met with wide spread approval. His next two books, TAKE A GOOD LOOK AROUND, and 101 EVENTING TIPS, are both available. In addition, he writes a monthly column for Practical Horseman, the largest monthly 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, and for the NBC coverage of the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany.
Wofford has maintained a life long involvement in the administration of his sport, both nationally and internationally. This continues a family tradition, since his father was a founding member and the first President of the U.S. Equestrian team. He has served as president of the AHSA (now USA-Equestrian), 1st vice-president of the United States Equestrian Team, and Secretary of the USCTA (now U.S. Eventing Association). He served two terms as a member of the FEI 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 and 1972 Olympic teams, and named to the Olympic team in 1980, 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, whose exploits include winning numerous steeplechase, especially The Virginia Gold Cup, plus Horse of the year honors for his horse Ozymandias.
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 43 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 in the family can sneak away, they go fly-fishing as well.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Equestrian, Great Trainer, Great Wit, December 23, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Training the Three-day Event Horse and Rider (Hardcover)

Even though I know nothing about horses and, quite frankly, have very little desire to do so I found Mr. Wofford's Training the Three-Day-Event Horse and Rider to be thoroughly enjoyable. Now you are probably wondering why someone who knows nothing about horses, and actually finds them to be rather large, overly agressive and excessively messy, would acquire a copy of Mr. Wofford's book. Well, to make the story brief, I was flying the red-eye from Logan to DIA, after having a very disappointing and unsuccessful two day business failure in Boston. With five hours of flying time ahead of me, I had nothing to do (the movie was utterly sophomoric, I had left my novel in my hotel room, I had already read all of the airline magazines, and the airline "attendents" were being definitely rude and surly to say the least) but to commiserate in my misery with several poor excuses for Scotch. And then, I noticed that someone had left a copy of Mr. Wofford's book in the pocket infront of me. Low and behold, with nothing else to do, I opened it and proceeded to read on the basics and strategies of three-day-eventing. Somewhat inebriated by the time I reached Denver, I found that Mr. Wofford's book had miraculously relieved me of my pain and offered me a new found appreciation of the equestrian, with absolute confidence in challenging any three-day-eventing course. Upon leaving the plane, I was even a little bit unsteady feeling the residual effects of controlling my brave steed, between my thighs, dashing through the obstacles. Thank you Mr. Wofford for educating me through your wit and wisdom, and relieving me from Boston to Denver!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Eventers w/o this book are lacking some great information..., July 26, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Training the Three-day Event Horse and Rider (Hardcover)

This book is great...lots of pictures and lots of explanations...If you are interested in any horse sport, this is a great book to read...it covers a lot of training that can carry over to any discipline...besides...the pictures are great for those of us dreaming of being Olympians, and for those of you that don't particularly like the idea of hurtling over the most dangerous fences in the equestrian world...you can always keep it on your coffee table and when someone (ie. overprotective relative) lectures you on how dangerous the horse world is, you can tell them "At least I don't do this..." and show them some of the pictures...hehehe...all in all, I'd recommend the book to just about anyone...

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Concepts and lots of details, September 5, 2000

By 

lmcgilli "lmcgilli" (Placerville, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Training the Three-day Event Horse and Rider (Hardcover)

I was SO happy to finally read a book involving cross country with so much emphasis on good basics and snaffle bits. I am so sick of hearing trainers advocating bigger bits to control your horse. Mr. Wofford advocates better TRAINING to control your horse - what a concept. This book covers quite a range of topics; from choosing an event horse, dressage, how the horse sees jumps vs. how we see jumps, cross country, jumping, conditioning, cross country position and more. I think this is a great book!