Jack Le Goff - Horses Came First, Second and Last: My Unapologetic Road to Eventing Gold

In my 60 years in the horse business, I have assigned the word genius to very few men or women. Jack was one of those rare few. He had it all. He had enormous natural talent as a rider, teacher, and trainer. Jack was one of the few remaining men who had a thorough education in the classic French school, one of the great schools in the history of riding. Jack himself rode in the Olympic Games, and his record as a coach at the international and Olympic level is unsurpassed possibly by any equestrian discipline. Across the board, as a rider, teacher, trainer, coach, judge, and now author, Jack Le Goff gets my vote as number one!

George H. Morris

Former Chef dEquipe US Show Jumping Team

The most successful equestrian coach in history finally allows us a unique look behind the scene. Jack Le Goff was a genius, and any horseman will want this book, not just for what you will learn about training horses, but about the internal qualities that set Jack apart, and turned him into a legend.

Jim Wofford

Three-Time Olympian

Jack Le Goff gave a new meaning to the saying a legend in his lifetime and to what we mean as an icon in the sport. Very few people achieve as much as Jack did during his lifetime. I count myself fortunate to have known him as a friend and to have been able to benefit from the knowledge of a truly remarkable horseman.

Captain Mark Phillips

Former Chef dEquipe US Eventing Team

I am a product of what Jack Le Goff taught me; I spent 17 years working with Jack, and you dont forget that. He was a good friend and an even greater horseman, and I have the highest regard and respect for the man. Whenever any of us would have some disagreement with him he would say, Whatever problems we have we are going to resolve them and come away from this as friends. And we did. I learned to my cost the value of not listening to him (as I know he tells you in this book). The times I made mistakes on course were the times I didnt listen. When I did listen, I was successful. Jack was an amazing teacher.

I have been told by many people that I could write a book about what I have done, and I have to say that out of 30 chapters, 20 would be about Jack. Whether I am teaching or riding, Jack is always there with me. His words and his teaching are in my head and always will be. You have to appreciate this man. If people do not, and cannot, learn anything from his book, then they should not be eventing.

J. Michael Plumb

Olympic Gold Medalist,

First Equestrian Inductee US Olympic Hall of Fame

One of my greatest gifts of good fortune was to be a young rider with Jack Le Goff. A genius on a horse, I remember being mesmerized by his abilities to transform a horse. He understood, perhaps better than anyone, the physical and mental needs, abilities, and limitations of this noble creature. Jack had a brilliant mind. He thought about and cared deeply for the horse and for the future of all equestrian sports. As both a student and a master of the game, he dedicated his life and energies to the future well-being of both and to the education of those of us who share his interests. He set the example and the standard for all of us to follow. Jack was a gifted teacher, trainer, and coach. His language abilities and understanding of human nature enabled him to impart his education, skill, and expertise to so many of us over the years. More importantly, his lessons and insights were part of a larger philosophy of riding, horsemanship, and life that have guided me and others through the years.

Tad Coffin

Olympic Gold Medalist

When Jack Le Goff was appointed as Chef dEquipe for, what was then the USET Three-Day Eventing Squad, he single-handedly revolutionized the sport in the United States. He became a true ambassador for eventing in America, taking us from a group of local, loosely organized competitors to a force to be reckoned with on the international scene. The opportunity to work under Jack on a daily basis was the highlight of my equestrian education. He was classically trained and a rigorous taskmaster, but more importantly, he possessed the uncanny ability to customize his training methods to each horse and rider. He enhanced our strong points and, after explicitly describing our faults to all within earshot, proceeded to show us how to turn these weaknesses into strengths. For this, we are forever grateful! I will always admire Jack for his sixth sense with the horses and his unique ability to leave the lessons of the day in the barn. This allowed us all to enjoy Jacks wit and charm and maintain a friendly bond after hours. For these reasons and countless more, Jack will forever stand as my eventing mentor.

Karen Stives

Olympic Gold Medalist

After considering all of the extraordinary strengths and accomplishments of this man, what stands out the most about Jack Le Goff is what an incredible horseman he wasa very rare breed then and even more so later. Jack truly loved and cherished his horses. He was instinctive about their strengths and needs. His coaching was invaluable, and his knowledge and consideration of the horses in his trust were unprecedented. How privileged I was to ride the finest horse in the world and be coached by the finest horseman.

Torrance Watkins

Olympic Gold Medalist

HORSES CAME FIRST, SECOND, AND LAST

My Unapologetic Road to Eventing Gold

Jack Le Goff

with Jo Whitehouse

First published in 2017 by

Trafalgar Square Books

North Pomfret, Vermont 05053

Copyright 2017 Jack Le Goff

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, by any means, without written permission of the publisher, except by a reviewer quoting brief excerpts for a review in a magazine, newspaper, or website.

DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY

The author and publisher shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by the information contained in this book. While the book is as accurate as the author can make it, there may be errors, omissions, and inaccuracies.

Trafalgar Square Books encourages the use of approved safety helmets in all equestrian sports and activities. Riders must wear helmets with chinstraps securely fastened at all USEF/USEA-recognized competitions.

All photographs courtesy of Jack Le Goff unless otherwise noted.

An effort has been made to identify all photographers and all individuals pictured. In some cases, the identity or whereabouts of a photographer or an individual were not known. Should they be identified, their names will be noted in future editions of this book.

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA

Names: Le Goff, Jack, 1931-2009, author. | Whitehouse, Jo, author.

Title: Horses came first, second and last : my unapologetic road to eventing

gold / Jack Le Goff with Jo Whitehouse ; foreword by David OConnor.

Description: North Pomfret, Vermont : Trafalgar Square Books, 2017. |

Includes index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2017026485 (print) | LCCN 2017034029 (ebook) | ISBN

9781570768682 (epub) | ISBN 9781570768279 (paperback)

Subjects: LCSH: Le Goff, Jack, 1931-2009. | Eventing (Horsemanship)--United

States--Biography. | Horsemanship--Coaching--United States--Biography. |

BISAC: SPORTS & RECREATION / Equestrian. | BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY /