Stephen Bradley

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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, and ‘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!

Throughout 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.

When teaching or training, Stephen 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 https://stephensbradley.com.

Sharon White

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Photo Credit: Mike McNally

Sharon is an international 5* eventing rider and trainer based out of West Virginia and Florida who specializes in producing horses and riders to their highest level of training, horsemanship and competition.  
     Sharon’s philosophy is grounded in the fact that horses are very earnest creatures that go the way they are ridden and handled.  Success is always possible.
     Sharon’s lessons are tailored to meet the needs of each horse and rider.  She teaches them to be aware of their physical and mental states as their horse will mirror these.  There is always a reason for anything a horse does and good horsemanship is knowing this.  
Sharon’s easy going manner and sense of humor make her a favorite instructor wherever she goes.  

Jennifer Keeler photo credit

     

Jimmy Wofford

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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.