expert days

Rebecca Langwost-Barlow is a USDF Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medalist and one of the first USDF certified trainers to Fourth Level. She was a world-ranked Grand Prix rider on her self-trained Dutch gelding Gomerant. As the first recipient of the Dressage Foundation Scholarship, she trained under the renowned Olympian Dr. Reiner Klimke and Rolf Isselhorst in Germany. She also trained with Michael Klimke, Willy Arts, Conrad Schumacher, Hans Juergen Armbrose, Rudolf Zeilinger, Georg Theodorescu and is presently training with internationally acclaimed trainers: Morten Thomsen and Christoph Hess. Becky is a USDF Certified Instructor and has a 5 Star Rider Rating. Becky is also a USDF L Judge, who graduated with distinction and just recently, was the Expert Commentator at Dressage at Devon 2017. Becky is a frequent contributor to Dressage Today, Practical Horseman and other local publications as well as serving as a training and showing expert for many national magazines. She is featured in the book, Rhythm Riding: A Guide to Riding with Music by CeCe & Frank Maddlone.  Libertina, her Hanoverian mare, is successfully competing at Grand Prix.

Becky has started many equine youngsters and has trained and shown horses to FEI levels including Grand Prix.

Carolyn Del Grosso began a serious focus on dressage began in 1980 when the horse she was riding at the time proved not very athletic over fences.  She trained and competed him to the Prix St Georges level.  Shortly thereafter it became apparent that in order to move up in dressage she would need to have an imported horse as the ones being bred in the United States at the time were just beginning to improve.

With the import of Arklicht, a Hanoverian weanling, Carolyn began a journey that took her to the top levels of the sport.  She was able to get her USDF bronze, silver and gold medals on him and competed through the Grand Prix level.  They also did many demos over the years, sharing their love for dressage from the Cherry Blossom Parade to the Horse World Expo and beyond.

Carolyn has trained with Sally Swift, Kay Meredith, Ginna LaCroix, Walter Zettl, Linda Zang and Rebecca Langwost-Barlow. She loves taking clinics and continuing to learn!

Carolyn continues to teach students from all disciplines and levels with a couple that have made it to the FEI level.  She has a laid back approach to progressing up the levels or just getting the student where they want to go.

2019 Jimmy Clinic Dates: March 26th, April 30th, May 14th, June 11th, July 9th, August 20th, and September 17th. Sign up here!

James C. (Jim) Wofford, 67, 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 21st century, and in January of 2012, he was awarded the Jimmie Williams Trophy for Lifetime Achievement, the 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, 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 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 OF THE JUMPING HORSE is currently being revised and updated for republication in the summer of 2012. Two other books, TAKE A GOOD LOOK AROUND, and 101 EVENTING TIPS, are both available. His latest book, CROSS-COUNTRY WITH JIM WOFFORD, is now widely 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, for the NBC coverage of both the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany, 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, whose exploits include winning numerous steeplechase races, including 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 over 45 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.

David O’Connor was inducted into the USEA Eventing Hall of Fame, along with his partner, Custom Made, in December 2009. He had been best known for his most recent Olympic accomplishment – bringing home the first Eventing Gold Medal for the United States in more than a quarter of a century, which he accomplished on Custom Made at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, with the best score in Olympic history. He also competed Giltedge in Sydney, helping the USET capture the Team Bronze medal.

David followed up on his Olympic successes in 2001 by bringing home his third Rolex watch aboard Giltedge. He also finished third at that event with Custom Made, and went on to win the 2001 USET Fall Eventing Championship at Fair Hill International riding The Native.

In 2002, David led the US Eventing Team to a Gold Medal at the World Equestrian Games in Spain, riding his long-time partner Giltedge. He followed that up with another win at the Fair Hill International aboard his Olympic Gold Medal horse, Custom Made, and was subsequently named Rider of the Year by USA Equestrian.

In 2003, David was awarded the prestigious Wofford Cup, which is given to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the sport of Eventing in a non-riding capacity. David was the first rider ever to receive this award.

David has competed internationally for the United States Equestrian Team since the late 1980’s, beginning at the 1986 CCI*** Alternate World Championship in Bialy Bor, Poland, on Border Raider. Since then he has earned 3 Olympic Medals, 2 Pan American Games Medals, and two World Equestrian Games Medals. He’s won Rolex twice as a three-star and once as a four-star. He’s won Fair Hill International CCI*** five times, and in 1997, he became only the second American in history to win the coveted Badminton CCI****.

As well known as David is for all his riding accomplishments, he is also very proud of the fact that his horses are well known stars and celebrities in their own right!

2019 Stephen Clinic Dates: April 23rd, June 4th, June 25th, July 23rd, August 27th, October 3rd, and October 29th. Sign up here!

Stephen Bradley brings 35+ years of equestrian experience to his team and his students.

He started competing at age 13 with his local 4-H club…and later joined Loudoun Hunt Pony Club where he graduated with an “A” rating. During college, he decided to make a career of competitive eventing and he began competing internationally in 1989. Since then, Stephen has wins in the U.S., England, and Canada.

In 1991, ’92, ‘93, Stephen won Canada’s Checkmate International CCI3* an unprecedented three times riding Sassy Reason. The two competed on the ’92 US Olympic team in Barcelona, Spain, and one year later, they won England’s Land Rover Burghley CCI4*.   Stephen and Sassy Reason were only the second American pair in history to ever win this prestigious competition. Stephen’s mentor, Bruce Davidson won the event on Irish Cap 23 years prior!

In 1993, the US Olympic Committee named Stephen Equestrian Athlete of the Year while Sassy was named The Chronicles’ Eventing and Overall Horse of the Year!

Thru his career, Stephen has trained many horses up to the 4* level. Sassy Reason was his first superstar. Dr. DoLittle, Brandenburg’s Joshua, and From have all successfully partnered with Stephen. Between these wonderful 4 horses, they have been short listed on 4 Olympic teams, 3 world equestrian teams, and placed in the top ten 5 times at Rolex Kentucky CCI4* . Dr. DoLittle won Kentucky in 1996. Joshua and From won gold medals with Stephen at the ‘03 & ‘07 Pan American Games.

Stephen has shared his experience and expertise with the media. He was featured on TBS’ US Olympic Gold and George Michael’s Sports Machine, and he anchored 26 informational episodes of Horsing Around with Stephen Bradley on Outdoor Life Network. He has also been published in The Chronicle of the Horse, Eventing USA, and Practical Horseman.

Currently Stephen trains out of the historic Long Branch Estate in White Post, Virginia. When teaching or training, he focuses on putting together a methodical system between horse and rider. “It’s all about the basics and improving those basics.”

For more information please visit http://www.stephensbradley.com