Jeff with students past and present, Santa Barbara 1999, L-R: Eric Wagner, Bruce Griffin, Jeff Wonnell, Bill Melendez

JEFF WONNELL

Fifty years of experience behind him, Jeff Wonnell is a consumate horseman respected by many, many horse owners and fellow trainers. At one time, he was a kid who came home from World War II to settle in Los Angeles. He worked in the aviation industry and in the movies. In his spare time, he bought horses off the range, trained them quickly and resold them to eager Los Angelinos, who just had to have a horse to fit into the new wild west.

Between then and now, Jeff has trained National Champion performance horses, helped many learn to handle their horses with confidence, and taught numerous students who went on to become well-known, respected professionals. Here we see Jeff riding L Gold Bonanza, aka "Trigger", a ten year old gelding Jeff bought two years ago.  "Trigger" has been shown by Jeff's students Bruce Griffin and Chris Brutocao, in show hack, hunter pleasure, halter and native costume.  The gelding was still green when Jeff bought him, but has become a stand out example of the versatility of the part-Arab.

If there is a secret to the longevity of Jeff's career, it might be a genuine love for his work. Jeff has never stopped being amused by horses and their people.