Meet Janice Binkley

Janice Binkley’s thirty-five year professional career started at seven years old, taking weekly lessons at a local stable. She soon joined Pony Club, eventually achieving the “A” certification, the highest attainable Pony Club level. One of Olympian Jim Wofford’s first students after his brief retirement, Janice completed seven long format three-day events while under his tutelage.

Clinicing with high-caliber equestrians such as Lucinda Green, Donnan Monk, Eric Herbeman, and Eric Smiley, Janice remained one of Jim’s top students for six years. At the pinnacle of her eventing career, Janice reached the advanced horse trials in one and two star events. Training all of her own mounts, Janice placed fifth at the Radnor Horse Trials One Star event, with a horse that had only 18 months of formal eventing training.

Galloping racehorses at Larking Hill Farm, Janice continued to train off the track thoroughbreds (OTTBs), many of which have gone on to have highly successful second careers in eventing. Serving 15 years on the board of the Marlborough Horse Trials at Rosaryville, Janice served as the cross country coordinator during that time, working closely with esteemed course designer Roger Haller to design and construct cross country courses for the trial. Interviewed by ABC for the program 20/20, Janice wore one of the first helmet camera prototypes as she cruised around the training level cross country course for the world to witness.

Joining the hunt club at age 26, Janice developed a lifelong passion for foxhunting. Hunting for 20 years with Marlborough Hunt Club, Janice then joined Wicomico Hunt Club on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. She has hunted with Wicomico Hunt Club for three years, introducing many of her students to the sport of foxchasing.

In 2018, Janice took over direction of Dodon Farm, the former home of the Retired Racehorse Project, turning the focus to be a high-quality teaching facility for amateurs and professionals alike. With 35 years of teaching experience, Janice has a passion for instructing adult amateur riders and helping them pursue their goals.

Janice has two wonderful sons who are accomplished equestrians in their own right. Becher and Tristan were both involved in local pony clubs, and played polocrosse in the United States and abroad. They are often seen around the barn helping their mom with various projects!