Three-time Olympian Jim Wofford grew up with horses, beginning with his childhood on a Kansas farm in the forties. The son of an Olympic show jumper, Wofford and his siblings all found themselves pursuing a “riding life”—one of reward and growth, of challenge and disappointment, but mostly of learning to understand and work with a complex animal as an athletic partner and friend. Over the years Wofford developed as an international competitor, successful coach, and sought-after commentator. Known for his wit, irreverence, and whip-smart observations on the sport and its participants, as well as the state of the “outside” world, his magazine columns were as legendary as his performances in the saddle. Now Wofford brings his immense talent for telling tales—all of them (mostly) true—to the page in this incredibly entertaining book. With lessons in horsemanship both simple and profound interweaved with fascinating stories from his many diverse adventures around the world, readers enjoy a rare insider’s look at the life of a professional sportsman as he tries to reconcile that which drives him with livelihood, family, and aging. The greater questions of equestrianism, such as how to make decisions for the good of the horse and how to find a soulful connection with him, are themes throughout. While they may never be fully answered, we all discover something about ourselves as we see how they contribute to Wofford’s own evolution over time.
Video courtesy of Trafalgar Square Books
