Rodney Jenkins

Early life Enis Rodney Jenkins was born in Middleburg, Virginia, on July 3, 1944. He graduated from high school in 1961 and began riding professionally in horse shows up and down the East Coast, including Florida winter circuit. Though he defined himself as largely self-taught, he came from an equestrian family, his father, Enis Jenkins, had been a huntsman for several fox hunting groups in Virginia. Jenkins and his two brothers grew up caring for horses and riding in the hunt field. Jenkins was nicknamed "The Red Rider" because of his red hair.

Jenkins won the American Gold Cup five times, four of them in consecutive years (1972–1975), winning his last Gold Cup with The Natural in 1985. He won the Presidents Cup three times and the National Horse Show Grand Prix three times. Internationally, Jenkins finished 8th in the 1974 World Championships at Hickstead on Idle Dice and 6th in the 1980 World Cup Final at Baltimore on Third Man. However, he tended to downplay his own accomplishments and give credit to his horses, once stating, "The horse makes the rider—I don't care how good you are." Jenkins is also a member of the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame.

Racing career In 1989, Jenkins retired from the show ring. As the main option available to retired riders on the show circuit was to teach others, which was not a job he felt he was suited for, he quietly turned to training race horses. At first he trained steeplechasers but turned to flat racing, working primarily out of Laurel Park in Maryland.

Personal life Jenkins was married to Patricia Perry; they have three children and later divorced. In January 2025, the "Red Rider" was honored by the Maryland racing community with the traditional memorial service at Laurel Park.

Selected bibliography Strassburger, John. American Horses in Sport 1987. "Overall and Show Jumping Horseman of the Year". The Chronicle at The Horse. pp. 9–14 Sorge, Molly. The Chronicle of The Horse. 2011. "Rodney Jenkins Thinks Like A Horse". February 21, 2011, pp. 20–24 Winants, Peter. The Chronicle of The Horse. 1979. "Enis Jenkins: Part Hound-Part Fox". September 21, 1979, pp. 25–26 Quirk, John. The Chronicle of The Horse. March 11, 1977. Interview with Rodney Jenkins p. 21 Chronicle of The Horse. "Jenkins To Show No More". 1988. Chronicle of The Horse. "Rodney Jenkins Back in Action". 1992. Chronicle of The Horse. "US Team Announced". September 1973 Chronicle of The Horse. Detroit 1974 August 30, 1974. p. 19 Fogleman, Jane Porter. VA Sportsman. 2007. pp 22–26 Practical Horseman: "Rodney Jenkins: En Route to The Natural Naturally". Part I: What My Horses Taught Me. March 1986. pp. 4–14 Practical Horseman: Part II: Weathering Change. April 1986. P.4-14 Abbey, Harlan. Chronicle of The Horse. "Who's Who in The Jumper World". Jenkins, Rodney. Practical Horseman's Book. Doubleday 1989. "Putting a Horse in A Proper Frame and How to do it". P. 64–65 Jenkins, Rodney. Practical Horseman's Book. Doubleday 1989. "What My Horses Taught Me". pp. 325–351 Rodenas, Paula. The de Nemethy Years. Arco Publishing, Inc. NY 1983. RJ International Record 1973-1975 p. 186/187 Jafter, Nancy. Riding for America. 1990 Doubleday. Appendix Steinkraus, William. The US Equestrian Book of Riding 1976. Simon & Schuster. P. 269–285 Spraque, Kurth. 1985. H. Centennial History 1883–1983. The National Horse Show: The National Horse Show Foundation. NY. p. 284, p. 394 Dempsey, David. 1968. The New York Times. September 15, 1968. "No Biz Like Show-Horse Biz". Higgins, Alice. 1971. Sports Illustrated. "Blues for An Orange Red Head". November 22, 1971. Chronicle of The Horse. Pennsylvania National. 1972. P. 22 Chronicle of The Horse. Pennsylvania National. 1971. P. 23 Chronicle of The Horse. Oak Brook. 1967. P.24 1st GP Win Maggitti, Phil. 1992 Spur Magazine. pp 82–87. "They Liked Ike: Show Jumping may never see another one like Rodney Jenkins and Idle Dice". Wiebel, Betty Yopko. Idle Dice pp. 52–57 Sack, Kristine. Chronicle of The Horse. February 24, 1976, p. 24-28 "The Story of Idle Dice".