Horses Came First, Second and Last - by Jack Le Goff (Paperback)

About the Book

"In the 1970s, a French coach was commissioned to lead the United States Eventing Team, then in its infancy. Jack Le Goff arrived knowing little English but much horsemanship, and it wasn't long before his intensive, innovative methods built the foundation of a team that would dominate the sport for much of his 14-year tenure. With an astounding eighteen medals in eight international championships and team gold medals at the Olympic Games in 1976 and 1984, Le Goff created the standard by which modern-day teams are measured. But Le Goff's techniques could be unforgiving-tough, brutal, and abrasive-earning him critics as well as converts. In this, his autobiography, Jack Le Goff tells the whole story, from impoverished beginnings in Morocco to the tragic death of his father; from his successes as a competitive equestrian to the partying and womanizing that threatened to derail his career before it even began. We come away with a behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of high-level international equestrian sport. We meet the elite riders and horses of past decades, seeing up-close-and-personal how they achieved their successes, faced their failings, and in the end rode for glory under of one of the world's greatest coaches"--

Book Synopsis

With an astounding eighteen medals in eight international championships and team gold medals at the Olympic Games in 1976 and 1984, Jack Le Goff created the standard by which modern–day equestrian teams are measured. But Le Goff's techniques could be unforgiving–tough, brutal, and abrasive–earning him critics as well as converts. In this, his autobiography, Le Goff tells the whole story, from impoverished beginnings in Morocco, to the tragic death of his father, to his successes as a competitive equestrian. Readers will enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of high–level international equestrian sport, as well as an entire section devoted to Le Goff's much admired and extremely successful training philosophy.

Review Quotes

Between the pages of his life story, Le Goff tells of his venerated coaching viewpoints in "Part IV: The Le Goff Philosophy." He explains his thoughts on dressage, show jumping, cross-country, courses, riders, and more in what might be the most enlightening part of the book.

Bottom Line: Go behind the scenes of an eventing legend's life --trials, triumphs, and all! --Equine Journal

"... A fascinating portrait of US eventing history, crafted by the man perhaps most qualified to tell it. Rich with anecdotes of stars before they were stars, photos of horses and riders from a bygone era, and Le Goff's unparalleled perspective on the sport, this volume is an enlightening and valuable tool for any rider."—UnTACKED

A behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of high-level international equestrian sport.--Equestrian Living Magazine

Readers will enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of high-level equestrian sport, as well as an entire section devoted to Le Goff's much-admired and extremely successful training philosophy. —www.useventing.com

"Getting a glimpse into the life of a legendary equestrian is a rare treasure. ... Le Goff leaves nothing out and adds a splash of humor. Between the pages of his life story, Le Goff tells of his venerated coaching viewpoints [and] explains his thoughts on dressage, show jumping, cross-country, courses, riders, and more in what might be the most enlightening part of the book."--Equine Journal

About the Author

Louis Jean Jack Le Goff (1931-2009) was a French equestrian, best known as the coach of the American three-day eventing team from 1970 to 1984. He coached the team to multiple international championships, winning 18 international medals, including several in the Olympics. Le Goff is known for having a large impact on the American eventing world, and the era in which he coached has been called the golden era for American equestrianism.

Prior to becoming an American coach, Le Goff served in the French Army and competed in three-day eventing for France. He rode in the 1960 Summer Olympics, winning a team bronze medal, and the 1964 Summer Olympics, where he did not win a medal. He subsequently acted as the coach for the French national team, winning multiple regional and international medals. After retiring as the American coach, he acted as a consultant to the United States Equestrian Team (USET) for finding new riders, helped to coach the Canadian national team, and served as the director for the USET Training Center. He also served the Federation Equestre Internationale as an eventing judge, committee member and Olympic appeals judge.

Jo Whitehouse retired in 2015 from the position of CEO of the United States Eventing Association, which she held for over twenty years.