EAP Regional and National Training Session

Born in Portland, Oregon, Jeff Cook rode the Pacific Northwest show scene with Don and Joan (Curtin) Kerron. With sincere desire to grow in the world of training, he then relocated to Toronto for an opportunity to work with Hugh Graham, one of Canada's most successful show jumping competitors, which lasted several years. His growth in the field was significant under Hugh, so Jeff returned to Oregon and the Lake Oswego Hunt Club in Portland to develop him. Jeff is a terminal learner and has trained with the best in order to continue growing and developing into the person he is known to be today; a man with great knowledge, experience, patience and compassion.

A bit about Jeff's training – From 1986 to 1991, he was offered an opportunity to work with George Morris on the east coast and states, “To work for George and have the chance to learn directly from him for 5 years was priceless. His horses, his system, his approach to competing were eye opening and inspiring to a young professional.” – Jeff

He then went on to the St. Louis area to work with Carl and Lolly Hogan for 7 years (1991- 1998). He then went back to work for George Morris for another five years followed by working with Ira Gumberg in Wellington. At this time, a demand for clinic requests grew and Jeff began traveling around the country offering a variety of clinics that were in demand. Eventually, Jeff returned to Oregon where he started riding the Kilkenny Crest horses for Doug and Sheri Boyd. As clinic requests grew Jeff didn't feel he could do justice to the horses under his care, so he made the decision to devote his professional life to running clinics.

The most important aspect of Jeff's life and what contributes to his patience and tolerance is that his wife and children. Though frequently on the road teaching lessons, attending shows, or giving clinics, Jeff always puts his wife and three children first. "My kids and wife Loriel are my life, especially as I grow older. I have one son, Ryan and twin girls, Mia and Ellie. Ryan plays both baseball and football and one of the most fun things I do is go to his practices and games. I take the girls to school every morning and we get a chance to talk about all kinds of things. Kids their ages are really smart and great conversationalists. They all ride horses a little but only for fun and pleasure." – Jeff

The devotion to family is evident in his teaching, adding a personable touch and element of relatability to lesson and clinic participants. This style has helped both riders and horses win championships from South Hampton to Spruce Meadows, be they low level hunters or international Grand Prix's. Despite a hectic training, clinic and show schedule Jeff has also contributed numerous articles to Practical Horseman magazine. Including, but not limited to a 28 part series on starting horses over fences.

Joe Fargis first represented the U.S. in 1970 in Lucerne, Switzerland, where he rode Bonte II on the winning Nations' Cup team. He is best known for his double Gold Medal performance at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games riding Touch of Class. He became only the second American show jumper to win an Olympic individual Gold Medal, while leading the U.S. to the team Gold as well. He rode Touch of Class to an Olympic record that year by jumping 90 out of 91 obstacles clear. Four years later, Fargis added a third Olympic medal to his collection when he rode Mill Pearl and helped the U.S. win team Silver at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, Korea, and finished seventh individually. Over the years, he has ridden on more than 30 Nations' Cup teams and was part of winning teams at Aachen, Washington, New York, Calgary, Rome and Cannes.

Fargis won the USA-East World Cup League twice and finished fourth in the 1989 World Cup Final in Tampa. He was the Leading International Rider at the National Horse Show in Madison Square Garden in 1987. He was also a member of the Gold Medal team at the 1975 Pan American Games in Mexico City, and the fourth place team at the 1990 World Championships held as part of the initial World Equestrian Games in Stockholm, Sweden.

Fargis's string of grand prix wins is equally impressive. He won such notable events as the American Gold Cup in Devon, PA; the Hickstead Grand Prix in England; the USET Wellington Cup; the Ox Ridge Grand Prix; the Grand Prix of Tampa; and the I Love New York Grand Prix in Lake Placid. Continuing to compete well into his fifties, Fargis added more wins in the first decade of the new millennium including the I Love New York Grand Prix; the $175,000 Grand Prix of the U.S. at the Oaks Blenheim International CSI***; and the $100,000 Hampton Classic Grand Prix. Already a USHJA Lifetime Achievement Award winner, Fargis was most recently honored in January by the USEF as its 2012 recipient of the Jimmy A. Williams Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his outstanding equestrian career.

Equally respected and admired by the full spectrum of the show jumping world as a rider and instructor, Fargis continues to be a favorite at every event he attends. USHJA is honored to have him serve as an Emerging Athletes Program clinician in 2013.

Cynthia Hankins was a junior equitation star, having placed in the top ten of several equitation finals before winning the American Horse Show Association Medal Finals in 1975. Cynthia has spent much of her professional career traveling between the U.S. and France, where she rides and trains at a top breeding farm. Many of her students have gone on to become successful professionals within the hunter/jumper industry.

Cynthia holds a USEF R-rated judge's license in both Hunter and Hunter Seat Equitation, has judged numerous shows in the U.S. and France, and several equitation finals including the 2011 American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Maclay Finals at the National Horse Show in Lexington, KY.

In addition to judging and training, Cynthia shares her knowledge and expertise with riders as a top clinician and in the articles she contributes to publications such as The Chronicle of the Horse and Practical Horseman.

Candice King began her career on the American Grand Prix Association circuit at the age of 19. A few short years later, Candice competed with Toronto, in the first of her 13 Nations Cup competitions. Her success has continued for nearly two decades.

Candice was the top placed U.S. rider in the 2001 FEI Show Jumping World Cup Final in Gothenburg, Sweden and was the first U.S. rider since 1968 to win the 2001 Queen Elizabeth II Cup at the Royal Invitational Horse Show (CSIO-Hickstead) in England.

Some of Candice's most notable successes are placing first in the six bar competition at CSIO5* Rotterdam in 2004 and placing second in the CSIO5* at Falsterbo, Sweden, where she also took second place in the Derby over riders such as World Cup Champion Rodrigo Pessoa and Olympic Gold Medalist Ulrich Kirchhoff. Candice placed first through fourth in the Merrill Lynch Cleveland Grand Prix in 2002, something no other AGA rider has ever done. In 2006 with her mount Tarco, Candice qualified for the short list at the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany.

Candice continued to have success in 2009 with Toronto, finishing in the top five in several grand prix classes and competing on the team that placed second in the Samsung Super League session in Rome, Italy.

In 2010, Candice and her partner, Skara Glen's Davos, represented the U.S. in the Meydan FEI Nations Cup events held throughout Europe and as part of an all-female U.S. team which placed first and third at CSIO Rotterdam and CHIO Aachen, respectively. 2011 found Candice and Toronto on top again at the $30,000 Cleveland Grand Prix in Chagrin Valley, OH.

Candice has served as a member of the USHJA Trainers Certification Program Committee and was one of the first to become a Certified Trainer. Candice is on the distinguished list of TCP Approved Clinicians, which includes horsemen such as George Morris and Melanie Smith-Taylor. She is also an active member of the USHJA Board of Directors and Professionals Committee, as well as the USEF Jumper Committee and the High Performance Show Jumping Eligible Athletes Committee.

Candice, her husband, Brandon and daughter, Alex, are currently based in Wellington, FL.

Five-time Olympian, two-time Olympic Silver Medalist, author, clinician and international competitor, Anne Kursinski, is one of the United States' most accomplished and respected show jumping athletes. Anne is known for her fluid, classical, American riding style.

Anne has been representing the U.S. for over 30 years. She started her international career while still in high school, competing on the U.S. Nation's Cup Team at Spruce Meadows. In 2008, she went to her fifth Olympic Games in Hong Kong, as the U.S. Gold Medal Team's reserve rider.

In 1983, aboard Livius, she won individual and team gold medals in the Caracus, Venezuela Pan-American Games. She became the first woman to win the Grand Prix of Rome, Italy, in May of 1983. She has been a member or alternate member of 5 U.S. Olympic teams (Los Angelos-alternate-Livius; Seoul-team silver & individually 4th place –Starman; Barcelona-team 5th place-Cannonball; Atlanta-team silver-Eros and Bejing-alternate-Champ). Anne was voted 1988 AHSA Horsewoman of the Year. In 1991, Anne was honored as the Leading Lady Rider at the World Cup Finals in Gothenburg, Sweden. She went on to win the Grand Prix of Aachen, Germany, becoming the second woman and only the third American to ever win this event. For her efforts, she was honored with the 1991 Female Equestrian Athlete of the Year by the United States Olympic Committee. In 1995, the AHSA declared her the HERTZ Equestrian of the Year.

In 1997, with the USET Show Jumping Team and Eros, she aided the U.S. Team to win the Nation's Cup classes at Rome, St. Gallen, Switzerland and a 2nd place finish in Aachen, Germany in 1998. She and Eros were 1st place qualifiers for the U.S. WEG Team that competed in Rome. They went on to win 1st place in the $450,000 Gran Premio Pulsar in Monterrey, Mexico, being the 1st American and 1st female to win a leg of the Pulsar Triple Crown. Anne and long-time partner Eros entered invitational record books by placing five times in the Budweiser American Invitational in 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2004, and she was also the winner of five first place victories at the prestigious American Gold Cup. She has ridden on 47 U.S. Nations' Cups teams, and she has competed in 10 World Cup Finals. Anne has been a member of 3 U.S. World Equestrian Games Teams.

In 2005, Anne and Roxana won the World Cup Qualifying event in the Idle Dice Classic and two weeks later finished 2nd in the Florida Open. They went on to the World Cup Finals and the U.S. Samsung Super League Team in LaBaule, France, Rome and St. Gallen, Switzerland. In 2006, Anne and Roxana won 3 Grand Prix classes in the U.S. including the world renowned Hampton Classic. They were again members of the successful US Super League Team at Falsterbo, Sweden, Hickstead, England and Dublin, Ireland.

Kursinski gained a new mount in 2008, Champ, a 16.3, 9 year old, Holstiener stallion. After having been imported for just 8 weeks, Champ and Anne qualified to compete on the Olympic team short list on the Super League Team in La Baule, Rome, St. Gallen, Rotterdam and Aachen, along with Roxana and Anne was the only rider to qualify two horses on the Olympic Short List. Anne and Champ traveled to Hong Kong to wait in ready as the alternate for the Gold Medal US Olympic Team.

In 2011, Kursinski was voted America's Favorite Show Jumping Equestrian. In 2012, Anne released the second edition of her book, Anne Kursinski's Riding and Jumping Clinic, served as USEF chef d'equipe at the CSIOYJ in Belgium and became a USHJA Emerging Athletes Program clinician.

Anne coached individual Gold Medalist, Eugene Garza, at the 2013 FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships. Eugene earned the style of riding award and had a record breaking number of clear rounds. Anne also assisted the Mexican team who took home a silver medal.

In 2013, Anne and her mount Diva won the $25,000 Asbury Classic Hermitage Farm Grand Prix. Anne continues to teach and give clinics all over the country and each November at her own farm, Market Street, in Frenchtown. This year, Anne will be launching an online instructional website. Members will benefit from the five time Olympian's vast knowledge and experience via instructional videos and articles.

James C. (Jim) Wofford 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", is now available. 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 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 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.

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 49 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.

Peter Wylde's equestrian career has spanned multiple continents and includes impressive victories on both sides of the pond. As a young rider based in Massachusetts, Peter won the prestigious ASPCA Maclay Finals and the IHSA Cacchione Cup before turning his focus to show jumping.

Peter, recently returned to the U.S. after spending the last decade in Germany, won both individual and team silver medals with Macanudo DeNiro at the 1999 Pan American Games in Winnipeg and has earned leading rider titles from some of the world's top shows, including the Washington International (U.S.)and the CSI-W Geneva (CH).

Fein Cera was Peter's mount for the 2002 World Equestrian Games, where her performance captured the ‘Best Horse in the Final' award, as voted on by the final four riders. Fein Cera and Peter were also the top U.S. pair in the 2003 FEI World Rankings and Peter was named Leading Rider at CSI-W Geneva. The pair was third in both the Grands Prix at CSI Brussels and CSI Leeuwarden. Peter picked up ribbons at all the major shows throughout the 2003 fall European seasons with Lipton de L'Othain, Fein Cera and Let's Fly.

In 2007, on U.S. soil, Peter won the Welcome Stake and was third in the Grand Prix with Esplanade at the Fidelity Investments Jumper Classic in Hamilton, MA. He won the Style of Riding Award at the American Gold Cup in Cleveland, OH and in the fall, placed both Eslpanade and Campino in the top five at the CSI-W Lexington (KY).

As the Individual Bronze medalist from the 2002 World Equestrian Games and a Team Gold medalist from the 2004 Olympics, Peter's resume shines with experience.

In 2013, Peter Wylde joined the team of Missy Clark and John Brennan at their world-class show stable at North Run. Their operations are based primarily in Wellington, FL, during the winter show season and in Warren, VT, during the summer months. Peter's horses and riders continue to be successful throughout the U.S. and abroad. His inspirational and successful career is the subject of the book "Wylde Ride" by Joe Dotoli.

Peter was the first EAP National Training Session Riding Clinician. It is his passion and commitment to the sport, love for the horses and enthusiasm for teaching that drew him to the Emerging Athletes Program.

The USHJA is proud to have Peter Wylde return as the Lead Clinician at the EAP National Training Session for the fifth straight year. His commitment and dedication to the program is clearly evident in the training and advice he gives to the young riders at the Finals and through his volunteerism as the Vice Chair of the Emerging Athletes Task Force.

Julia Hogan has been part of the horse industry since a very young age. She has ridden hunter/jumpers all her life, and her father has been a thoroughbred breeder and trainer. During her years as a junior rider she rode with Nona Garson, Carol Thompson and Frank Hernandez. Her summers were spent working at Monmouth Park Racetrack for different trainers each year as a groom and hot walker.

After high school, Julia went on to Bridgewater College, where she majored in Business Management and rode on the IHSA team under Coach Sarah Irvine. While at Bridgewater, Julia met Mary Babick and began her career at Knightsbridge as a groom, later becoming Assistant Trainer after graduation. Julia has assisted with the care and training of all the Knightsbridge horses since 2009. She has pursued any opportunity to further develop her knowledge as a rider and stable manager. Julia has also been a proud member of the USHJA Horsemanship Quiz Challenge Committee since the program’s inception.

Tracy Percival Forman is a 30 year instructor of horsemanship. Her passion began as a young child when visiting her grandparents in Pennsylvania. It started with summertime lessons and quickly grew and continued at home in Buffalo, NY at the Buffalo Saddle and Bridle Club (now the Buffalo Equestrian Center/BTRC). Although her family was supportive, she came from a working-class home with limited funds and no horse experience. With this she had to work very hard to pursue her dreams. She spent endless hours at the Club and would ride and do anything and everything in her eagerness to learn. She also built quite a library of veterinary manuals and publications during her high school years, originally planning to go to veterinary school. In the end, she decided that animals didn’t like the company of veterinarians, so plans changed. At the end of high school, graduating as valedictorian, she chose to go to a college with an equine program in an effort to learn more skills both in the saddle and, more importantly, about the care and health of the horse.

She became a professional in 1989 and began her business, TAPS Training and Showing, while still in college. After earning an Applied Science Horse Husbandry Degree in 1990, she has continued to work as a professional to this day. She has taught tens of thousands of lessons over her career. She is now the senior trainer at North Riding in Cleveland, NY, owned by the Duggleby family, where she also developed and manages a hunter/jumper show series. She is a USEF C1 “R” Steward and has been a member of the USHJA Emerging Athletes Program Committee since 2017, after her student Kendra Duggleby won the EAP National Training Session. More than just an instructor of riding, she has always educated students on horsemanship and husbandry. “The most important thing to me is the welfare of the animal. It has always been my goal to instill that in my students, developing horsemen that consider the wellbeing of the animal above anything else.” Many of her students have gone on to work for top professionals in the business as barn managers and have had great success of their own.

Hailing from Northern New Jersey, Colleen Fitzpatrick Reed's love for horses began as a small child, when she successfully convinced her parents of her need for riding lessons at age nine. Colleen was a proud member of the Hambletonian US Pony Club from age 10 through 16, and achieved her C-2 rating during a Rally held at the USET Headquarters in Gladstone, NJ. It was the education from Pony Club that ignited Colleen's passion for horse care and stable management. Despite never owning a pony or horse of her own, Colleen became a master of trading her barn skills for horses to show throughout the local New Jersey and New York circuits.

In 1984, while attending Centenary College, where she majored in Equine Studies and Management, Colleen was given an internship at famed Beacon Hill Show Stables working as a groom for top show hunters that included Playing Games, Russian Caviar, Dillon and Master Dan. Before long she went from interning to fulltime member of the Beacon Hill team, eventually moving into a traveling management position that found Colleen accompanying upwards of 25 horses to events nationwide. During her time with Beacon Hill, Colleen has bared witness to many great equitation riders who currently are among the most elite athletes in equestrian sport. In 1987 Colleen accepted an offer as private manager for a family of amateur owners with top hunters and grand prix horses Threes and Sevens, Playback and Jupiter. The facility's residents grew to international levels and Colleen found herself grooming their grand prix mounts at events around the world. Colleen's expert barn skills soon caught the attention of the great Emerson Burr and in 1991 Colleen became the manager for Fairfield County Hunt Club and groom for Leslie Burr's elite jumpers- Gem Twist, Pressurized and Charisma. Colleen's time at Fairfield provided a wide range of competition care, from winning World Cups to Pony Finals silver cups. One of her fondest memories is taking 20 ponies to the East Coast and working alongside Emerson one week then going cross country for a grand prix with Leslie the next week on the West Coast.

Now somewhat retired from the constant traveling, Colleen lives outside of Cincinnati, Ohio with husband Dan and their competitive children. She remains active in the equestrian community, assisting with an IEA high school team and the equine 4-H Club as well as helping her own children compete in the hunter and equitation sections. Colleen's love and passion for the care of horses and their environment remains as devout today as when this former Pony Clubber began.

Nanci Synder, originally from Vermont, has been a lifelong equestrian and is an active Professional in the industry. Nanci had the opportunity to work, study and travel with some of the best in our industry including Buddy Brown, Norman Dello Joio, Jos Kumps, Peter Lutz, John and Beezie Madden, Mary Manfredi, George Morris, Michael Matz, Nelson Pessoa, and Peter Wylde. Grateful to have learned from the best, she has always valued horsemanship, and under their tutelage, she has become a skilled stable manager of her own accord. Since 2013 she has been involved with the USHJA Emerging Athletes Program as a stable manager clinician and member of the EAP Committee. She hopes that as a stable manager clinician at the EAP Regional Training Sessions she passes along as much knowledge as possible to the next generation of equestrians.

Anne Thornbury hails from outside of Cincinnati, OH where she operates Equisports, Inc. and the Midwest Equine Rehabilitation and Conditioning Center (MERC) with husband Skip. Anne grew up in Indianapolis, IN and got the horse bug at age five, starting her show career with Saddle Seat before moving into the Hunter sections. Under the tutelage of Russ and Linda Walther, Anne won numerous championships on the Midwest circuit, competing in junior hunters and jumpers. Her equestrian career now spans more than 50 years of combined riding and training.

After graduating from Purdue University with a degree as a Veterinary Technician in 1976, Anne dedicated seven years to a small animal hospital before returning to the equestrian world full-time. Following a year of working with Geoff Teall at Deeridge Farm in East Aurora, NY, Anne moved to the Cincinnati area in 1984 to open a new venture, Uphill Farm, with partners Tom Wright and Lisa Wrigley. In 1992 Anne married Skip and together they built Equisports, Inc. into the premiere equine care facility it is today.

In 2007, Anne added a Certified Equine Practitioner degree from the University of Tennessee College Of Veterinary Medicine to her list of accomplishments and MERC services grew. Anne's mantra that there is more to a horse's rehabilitation than stall rest and hand walking led to the MERC's expanded variety of medical care, post-surgical care, rehabilitative therapies, and conditioning services. Working closely with vets, Anne heads a team of experts in providing horses with the best recovery and/or conditioning available. It's this professional insight that Anne will bring to the Emerging Athletes Program as she returns for five regional sessions as the Stable Management Clinician in 2013.

Anne has served as the secretary of the Ohio Hunter Jumper Association for more than 20 years, is a past Co-Chair of the USHJA Junior Hunter Task Force and currently a member of the USHJA National Hunter Committee, USHJA Joint Emerging Athletes Program Task Force, Zone 5 Hunter Committee and Ad Hoc Awards Committee.