Featured Rider - Jennifer Wooten-DaFoe

In 2008, Jennifer and The Good Witch were 2nd at the Galway Downs CIC*** (CA) and 7th at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI****, and were short listed on the 2008 United States Olympic Team. The Good Witch was also recognized as the USEA Mare of the Year. Currently, they are on the USEF Winter Training list.

Words cannot describe the places, the faces and the experiences I have enjoyed during our travels over the past year. It’s not just a girl and horse anymore, but a colorful collective of family, friends, supporters, loyal sponsors, and the fans I never knew we had until recently. I hope you all enjoyed the blog I wrote last summer. There’s more to come! So much has happened and I am thankful that my hard work, sweat, and sometimes tears have persevered and rewarded us with a new sense of self.

We started 2008 with much confidence after our 4**** debut in Pau, France in October 2007. Finishing 11th, we were the highest placed Americans. Staying focused and humble helped us have a safe trip around Rolex for the very first time and our 7th place finish was the icing on the cake. It was a real honor to earn a spot on the winter training list and Olympic training camp and receive the USEA Mare of the Year award after only competing in 4 events throughout the year.

It doesn’t seem so long ago that I was the fan on the sidelines longing for the partner to share the love and the rush of the sport. Who would have known that my scrawny little 15.2 hand mare would be so sublime.

"The Good Witch" aka "Pooh" is feeling and looking smart these days. She is enjoying winter training in Southern California at Copper Meadows Equestrian Center (home). We are gearing up for our first show in Arizona at the Tucson HITS Hunter/Jumper series. On January 28-31st we’ll test our skills around some of the best show jumping courses on the west coast. Ram Tap Horse Trials will follow with an outing at Advanced then Galway CIC*** in March. After that we board the plane for Lexington!

Between competitions we’ll enjoy winter training sessions with Mark Phillips among world-class riders like Gina Miles and Amy Tryon. I am hoping a little Olympic stardom will rub off on us! I say that with so much affection towards Pooh. She loves her job as much as I love mine. I know I say that a lot but if you spent a day with her and watched her expressions and enthusiasm, that alone would tell you a story. She knows exactly what day it is at all horse trials and 3-days. You have to watch out and don’t get too close or this Diva might give you a love nip in passing.

I would love nothing more but to ride her to victory representing our country at the WEG, Pan Am or Olympic games.

I would like to thank my husband Rob for supporting all the weekends and early mornings sacrificed for of course a horse or two! My Family – grandparents Marve and Zetta, parents – Nancy & George, friends, students of Trinity Eventing, Donn & Daisy Tognazzini, my coach, Ginnie Bryant and super groom/friend, Char Eurick who saves all her vacation days to come and take care of both of us at all the important shows.

Bye for now,
Jen