Lived in Burbank, CA.

James Edward Bennett was born on December 17, 1938, one of nine children, and grew up on his family’s farm, driving the teams of draft horses, milking cows and showing horses, the family past-time. This “past-time” has grown into a passion and a business for Jim and his brother, Edward “Hoppy” Bennett, who owns Undulata Farm in Shelbyville, Kentucky. Jim’s father, Edward Bennett was one of thirteen children and started the Bennett Brothers Horse Shows in Spencer County in the 1960’s. The shows would alternate between English and Western riding on Sundays and even hosted a Silver Cup Morgan Show. Many prominent riders, trainers and horses got their humble beginnings at those shows in that little country town, very near the part of Kentucky which is now known as the “American Saddlebred Capital of the World”.

Jim went on to join the U.S. Air Force where he served for 20 years, and completed a B.A. in Sociology, Masters in Psychology and Criminology. He taught Criminology at University of the Philippines as well as the University of Santo Thomas both in Manila. He moved to Los Angeles in 1980 to become the Clinical Director at “ASAP Family”, a treatment program for substance abuse and psychiatrics inpatient programs. He helped many children and their families improve the quality of their lives. He has served on several Boards of Directors for various children’s organizations and was a consultant to “New Directions for Youth” where he worked in the schools with drug, alcohol and mental health groups and was awarded their annual Corporate Award, for outstanding service to the community. He also served on the Board of Directors of “Because I Love You”, an organization dedicated to supporting parents with troubled children. In addition, Jim was Supervisor of Psychological Testing at Wilford Hall Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas.

Since 2011 Jim has been an advisor for California State University’s graduate student research on Animal Behavior. When Jim moved to California, he brought his horse with him and spent his weekends riding and training at a horse property in Malibu that had a nice show barn and paddock, which became, Bennett Farms. He opened J. Bennett Farms at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in 1983 where he has spent 30 years developing a premier stable for showing and training American Saddlebred horses as well as teaching Saddle Seat riding lessons. Renowned instructors such as Gayle Lampe and Jane Bennett fly in to hold special clinics throughout the year. Jim also created a successful educational equestrian program where recovering individuals were trained in areas of equestrian management and competition. Jim continues to use his equine program in the rehabilitation of recovering individuals and in helping handicapped children today.

The Los Angeles Equestrian Center salutes Jim Bennett in his amazing business and devoted clients on his birthday. Happy Birthday Jim!
Jim’s goal for J. Bennett Farms is to create a supportive environment for his clients to improve on their riding and driving skills, while developing a
stronger relationship with their horse(s). He wants it to be a place where people who share a love of horses can get away from the stress of their daily lives, relax and enjoy riding. He would love foreveryone to feel welcome and experience the beauty of the horse and the hospitality that is Kentucky and has been in the Bennett’s bloodline for generations.