Sheila Varian

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Sheila Varian
California Polytechnic State University
Occupation(s)Arabian horse breeder, trainer, owner
Known for
  • Horsewoman
  • Cowgirl Hall of Fame
    inductee
Relatives

Sheila Varian (August 8, 1937 – March 6, 2016[2]) was an American breeder of Arabian horses who lived and worked at the Varian Arabians Ranch near Arroyo Grande, California. She grew up with a strong interest in horses, and was mentored in horsemanship by Mary "Sid" Spencer, a local rancher and Morgan horse breeder who also introduced Varian to the vaquero or "Californio" tradition of western riding. She started her horse ranch, Varian Arabians, in 1954 with the assistance of her parents. Raising and training horses was her full-time occupation beginning in 1963. She used vaquero-influenced methods of training horses, although she adapted her technique over the years to fit the character of the Arabian horse, which she viewed as a horse breed requiring a smart yet gentle approach.

Varian

foundation bloodstock. As of 2016, the Varian horses at stud represent the sixth generation of her stallion breeding line, and her foundation mare lines have produced nine generations of offspring. For her accomplishments, Varian received recognition from the United States Equestrian Federation, as well as several awards from various organizations within the Arabian horse industry. For her contributions as breeder and as a horse trainer in the vaquero tradition, she was inducted into the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame
in 2003.

After she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2013, she sought to place the 230-acre Varian Ranch into a

running with the land
, and the Trust would try to find a buyer that would maintain the Arabian horse breeding program as well. Varian died on March 6, 2016, at age 78.

Early years

Varian grew up in

crossbred, at the age of eight, and rode bareback until she obtained her first saddle at age 12. Although her parents, Eric and Wenonah Varian, did not have an equestrian background, they always supported her interest in horses,[6] allowing both her and her older sister the freedom to ride horses as much as they wanted.[7] Varian matured to be 6 feet (1.8 m) tall, and has stated that while she "struggled" with her height as a young person, she found comfort in riding horses: "all my troubles went away."[8]

The very first thing I have to say is that I love horses. I've loved horses since I was a little girl. I didn't come from a family of horse people, but some of us were just born to love horses and I love them.

— Sheila Varian[9]

Varian and her parents began using the farm name "Varian Arabians" in 1954.

California Polytechnic State University and taught high school physical education for three years, until 1963, when running the Varian Arabian ranch became her full-time job.[4][6][9][14] The ranch was self-supporting from 1963 on, with the short-term assistance of loans from Sheila's aunt, Dorothy Varian, which were promptly repaid.[6] Ultimately, the ranch grew to 230 acres.[15]

The Varian horses

Mares and foals in a wood-fenced green field, tall hills in the background
Mares and foals in a field at Varian Arabians

Varian preferred the Arabian breed because "their instinctual interest in and appreciation for people runs deep in their genes. The Arabian's lightness and responsiveness are wonderful, as is their willingness to be your partner. And...they are beautiful. Arabian horses have never let me down."[3] She valued horses with good dispositions and athletic ability as well as attractive appearance.[16] She does not breed Arabians for a specific discipline, instead describes her breeding philosophy as "consistently continuing to breed for more quality and never losing disposition or athletic ability."[17] Following these principles, Varian has produced some of the most influential Arabian stallions in the breed.[17]

When she was young, Varian developed an interest in finding the "perfect" horse. She soon realized that the way to achieve her goal was to begin breeding horses.[18] Her first Arabian was the mare Farlotta (Lotnik × Farza), obtained in 1952. Farlotta became a finished spade bit horse who won both stock horse (reining) and western pleasure championships.[19] Although loved and cared for by Varian, the mare had been neglected in her first two years prior to being purchased by Varian, and as a result of underlying health damage died at the age of seven.[20] [18]

In 1959, Varian and her mother Wenonah purchased a two-year-old

Bay-Abi (Errabi × Angyl).[21][22] Trained and shown by Varian, he was the judges' unanimous choice for U.S. National Champion Arabian Stallion in 1962, later won U.S. National Top Ten awards in both Arabian English pleasure and Western pleasure, and thereafter was awarded the Legion of Merit.[23][24] Even though he was not bred to any mares until after he was fully trained, and thus his first foals did not appear in the show ring until he was 7,[25] he sired 275 registered Arabians, including 65 champions and 24 national winners.[23][26]

Desperado V at age 16

By 1961, Varian Arabians had a small number of mares. The most notable of her early champions was Ronteza, a daughter of the stallion Witez II out of the mare Ronna.[27] Ronteza was the second Arabian Varian purchased,[9] and she trained the mare herself.[14] The pair, undefeated in competition against other Arabian horses,[14] went on to beat 50 horses of all breeds to win the 1961 Reined Cow Horse championship at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, California.[28][29] Varian was aware that both Farlotta and Ronteza were sired by stallions imported from Poland, out of American-bred mares, and believed this bloodline cross was a major source for the good qualities of these mares. Thus, Varian looked for Polish-bred Arabian mares to breed to her American-bred Bay-Abi. However, Poland was at that time an Iron Curtain nation, and importing horses from there directly to America was quite complicated.[30]

To accomplish her goal, Varian sought the assistance of British horse breeder Patricia Lindsay, who traveled to Poland and purchased three mares on Varian's behalf. The mares arrived in California in December 1961. They were Bachantka (sired by Wielki Szlem out of Balalajka, who was by Amurath Sahib), purchased from the Albigowa stud; Ostroga (Duch × Orda by Omar 11), from the Nowy Dwór stud; and Naganka (Bad Afas × Najada by Fetysz), from the Michalow stud.[19][31] Bachantka and Naganka had been trained and raced in Poland. Bachantka had a record of 2/15 (0-1-3),[32] and Naganka a record of 2/12 (3-4-1).[33] After her arrival in the USA, Bachantka also had a brief but successful horse show career.[31]

Crossing Bay-Abi on these imported Polish mares proved particularly successful for Varian.

gray stallion who was a champion park horse.[31]

"Bay el Bey changed the Arabian horse in America and then in the rest of the world"

—Mike Nichols [36]

Bay el Bey was best known for his offspring, who collectively earned him the nickname, "The Kingmaker."[38] He sired 441 foals including three sons considered his finest:[39] his own successor at Varian Arabians, Huckleberry Bey (whose dam was Taffona, a daughter of Raffon); U.S. Reserve National Champion Bey Shah (out of Star of Ofir, who was by Bask); and Barbary (out of Balalinka (Bask x Bachantka)), who won a total of seven national titles in halter and park horse competition.[40] Barbary was purchased from Varian as a yearling by film producer and Arabian owner Mike Nichols.[39] These three sons of Bay el Bey alone sired a combined total of 650 champions.[39]

bay horse, looking toward the right, standing still
Jullyen El Jamaal with Sheila Varian

Subsequent generations of Varian stallions continued the pattern of winning in the show ring and then producing champion show horses across multiple disciplines. Huckleberry Bey was 1979 U.S. National Reserve Champion Futurity Stallion, 1981 U.S. National Top Ten Stallion, and 1984 U.S. National Reserve Champion English Pleasure. He then became the leading sire of US National Champions for five years, and in 1999 his likeness was reproduced as a

Breyer horse model.[41][42] In turn, his son, Desperado V (× Daraska by Dar) became a leading sire of champions. In 2004 and 2005, Desperado V was ranked the leading Arabian sire by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF),[43][44] and was second in 2008 and 2009. By 2009, Desperado V had sired 75 national winners.[45] In addition, another Huckleberry Bey son, Bravado Bey V (× Bachista V) was USEF's 10th-ranked leading Arabian sire in 2008.[46][47]

In 2010, of the top 25 leading sires of winning Arabian dressage horses since 1960, Desperado V was ranked number 2 (following Khemosabi), Bey Shah was number 4, Huckleberry Bey was tied for fifth, and Barbary was also on the list, in addition to five other grandsons of Bay El Bey.[48]

closeup of a white, italic V freeze brand on the hindquarters of a brown horse
The stylized "V" freeze brand now identifies Varian-bred horses

Over the years, she made use of outside bloodlines. She leased the young, then unproven stallion

under saddle and must prove suitable as a riding animal.[9]

Varian did not originally work her ranch name into the names of her horses, but today all Varian-bred horses have a

freeze branded
with the Varian "V" logo.

Training philosophy and vaquero tradition

Head of a very dark brown horse with a black mane wearing a bridle decorated with silver, fancy silver bit and a small rawhide noseband
Varian stallion Maclintock V in vaquero style bridle

Vaqueros were the horsemen and cattle herders of

Jesuit priest Eusebio Kino in 1687, with two expeditions in 1769, and the Juan de Anza expedition in 1774.[54] They were the first cowboys in the region.[55] She learned horse training methods that derived from this tradition. In her teens, she was mentored in horsemanship by Morgan horse breeder and cattle rancher Mary "Sid" Spencer.[56][57] The Spencer property, called Forsyth Ranch, was near Arroyo Grande on land that is now under Lopez Lake.[58] Spencer helped Varian learn the underlying principles of training and riding horses, how to work cattle in the mountains, and introduced her to vaquero training methods.[59][56][57] Spencer also did all of her own ranch work including shoeing, gelding, horse training, baling hay, and truck repairs.[9] She learned how to handle well-trained horses by riding one of the Spencer family's finished Morgans, a gelding named Little Horse.[9] With Spencer's help, she also learned to recognize correct conformation and balance in horses.[57][60]

After learning traditional vaquero methods of training from Spencer and others, Varian modified her training methods in her twenties, after meeting

Tom Dorrance. He introduced her to his "soft approach" of working with horses, and his methods were an additional influence on Varian's training philosophy.[56] Varian utilized vaquero-influenced methods in training her horses, but believed that modern well-bred horses need a gentler approach, stating, "All good horses, like smart children, need good instruction, but they don't need harsh instruction."[61]

Varian was one of a very few experts in the 21st century who was still teaching about vaquero equipment, methods, and history.

Jaguar automobile.[64]

It is a spring day, 70 degrees, and I'm on a good horse, moving cattle off a mountain. That is perfect happiness.

—Sheila Varian [3]

Traditionally, the vaquero method starts a young horse using a hackamore,[65] which is headgear that uses a heavy rawhide noseband, called a bosal instead of a bit to control the horse. As the horse gains skill with a rider, it moves to lighter bosals, and next into a transitional period in its training; carrying a bridle with a type of curb bit called a "half breed" which is a modified spade bit worn in conjunction with a light bosal. The rider carries two sets of reins, one set on the bosal and one on the curb, giving this gear its name, the "two-rein."[61][66] After several years in a two-rein, the horse graduates into the spade bit.[61]

Varian departed slightly from tradition. She started young horses under saddle at the age of three,[61] beginning with a bridle and a snaffle bit because it sends clearer signals to a young horse, particularly one of sensitive disposition.[67] She then introduced the traditional hackamore, and, after a couple of months to transition between the hackamore and the snaffle, began teaching neck reining,[68] which allows a horse to be ridden one-handed. After a year or two, when the horse became light in the hackamore,[69] she introduced the young horse to the two-rein, using a light bosal with either a "half-breed" or a low-port curb bit.[61] Once the horse understood the bit, the bosal was removed and the horse was ridden in just the curb bit for a while until ready to go into the full spade bit, at which point the horse went back into the two-rein when the spade is first introduced.[70] She introduced horses to the spade bit at the age of seven or eight, if they had suitable conformation and temperament to carry it.[61] When she selected and fully trained a spade bit horse for her own personal use, that particular horse stayed with her for life and was never sold.[71]

Varian considered Arabians the most "people-oriented" of any horse breed.[72] "No other horse will leave his food to come and see you."[73] Noting that they are a "hot-blooded" breed, she viewed them as sensitive horses that will not tolerate harsh handling,[74] but strongly disagreed with those who considered Arabians to be too high-spirited to be good trail horses.[3] She emphasized teaching horses to have good manners.[75] She roped off of her horses and took them into the mountains.[9]

She viewed Arabians as requiring a smart and gentle approach. She advocated for trainers who used the methods of master horsemen such as

stall 24 hours a day, fed a lot of grain, and never ridden.[77] Varian explained the nature of Arabian horses by analogy, comparing them to precocious children who show their ability with delight, but cannot be bullied or pushed around.[16]

Legacy and awards

Ranch sign

The Varian Arabian Ranch has been ranked multiple times as one of the leading Arabian breeders of winning horses by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), which since 2004[a] has ranked breeders based on points earned by horses shown in sanctioned USEF competitions. The ranch was first in calendar year 2008,[79] and in the top ten from 2006 through 2010.[80] In 2013, the Varian breeding program was ranked by Arabian Horse World magazine as the all time number one breeder of both English-type and Western-type Arabian horses.[81] Sheila Varian as an individual was honored by the USEF with the 2001 Ellen Scripps Davis Memorial Breeders' Cup, awarded to an individual who consistently breeds outstanding show horses.[56][82] Within the Arabian industry itself, Varian was honored in 2005 with the Arabian Breeders Association's lifetime achievement award,[3] and was the Arabian Professional & Amateur Horseman's Association 2009 Breeder of the Year.[83]

Varian was inducted into the Cowgirl Hall of Fame in 2003.

trick rider and barrel racer Velda Tindall Smith (1908–1990).[84]

USEF rankings Placing
Leading Arabian breeder 2004 19th[85]
Leading Arabian breeder 2005 18th*[86][b]
Leading Arabian breeder 2006 6th[87]
Leading Arabian breeder 2007 7th[88]
Leading Arabian breeder 2008 1st[79]
Leading Arabian breeder 2009 4th[89]
Leading Arabian breeder 2010 3rd[90]
Leading Arabian breeder 2011 11th[91]
Leading Arabian breeder 2012 11th[92]
Leading Arabian breeder 2013 17th[93]
Leading Arabian breeder 2014 7th[94]
Leading Arabian breeder 2015 77th[95]

In November 2015, Varian announced that she would be working with the

running with the land, and attempts made to find a buyer that would also be interested in maintaining the Arabian horse breeding program.[97]

Varian was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2013 and died on March 6, 2016, at the age of 78.[98] At news of her death, the web site for the California Rangeland Trust crashed due to the high amount of web traffic, necessitating supporters of the trust to set up a backup crowdfunding site for donations to the conservation effort.[99]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ USEF only began tracking leading breeders in 2004[78]
  2. ^ Ranking 18th for 2005 is unofficial. In that year some horses were recorded with Sheila Varian as breeder, with 316 points, officially ranking 24th; others recorded with Varian Arabians as breeder, with 176 points, officially ranked 31st. The combined total of 492 points places the Varian breeding program 18th in point standings

References

Citations

  1. ^ Varian, Sheila. "Profiles". VarianArabians.com. Varian Arabians. Archived from the original on September 11, 2010. Retrieved August 6, 2010.
  2. ^ Charlton, April (March 9, 2016). "Famed Arroyo Grande horsewoman dies". Santa Maria Times. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Roberts, Honi. "Arabian Horse Breeds-Sheila Varian". MyHorse.com. Cruz Bay Publishing, Inc. Archived from the original on January 29, 2013. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
  4. ^ a b Varian 2004, 0:01:53.
  5. ^ O'Reilly & interview 12:05.
  6. ^ a b c d Varian, Sheila. "In the Beginning". VarianArabians.com. Varian Arabians. Archived from the original on March 8, 2012. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
  7. ^ O'Reilly & interview 10:33.
  8. ^ O'Reilly & interview 9:37.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Varian, Sheila. "Business Sense (Belongs in the Barn Too)". VarianArabians.com. Varian Arabians. Archived from the original on January 26, 2010. Retrieved July 21, 2010.
  10. ^ French, Judy. "Dreams Do Come True or A State of Euforia [sic]". VarianArabians.com. Varian Arabians. Archived from the original on August 3, 2010. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
  11. ^ O'Reilly & interview 13:20.
  12. ^ a b Shumway, Eleanor L. (March 3, 2000). "The Temple of the People: A History". Archived from the original on March 8, 2001. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  13. ^ O'Reilly & interview 17:50.
  14. ^ a b c Thwaites 1968, p. 120.
  15. ^ O'Reilly & interview 5:53.
  16. ^ a b Thwaites 1968, p. 121.
  17. ^ a b Wardrope 2007, p. 85.
  18. ^ a b O'Reilly & interview 12:40.
  19. ^ a b c d "Brief History". VarianArabians.com. Varian Arabians. Archived from the original on August 12, 2010. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
  20. ^ O'Reilly & interview 16:00.
  21. ^ Carpenter 1999, pp. 204–205.
  22. ^ "Pedigree of Bay-Abi". AllBreedPedigree.com. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
  23. ^ a b Carpenter 1999, p. 210.
  24. ^ Thwaites 1968, p. 31.
  25. ^ Carpenter 1999, p. 208.
  26. ^ "History: Bay Abi". VarianArabians.com. Varian Arabians. April 22, 1957. Archived from the original on July 14, 2010. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
  27. ^ "Pedigree of Ronteza". AllBreedPedigree.com. Pedigree Online. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
  28. ^ Varian, Sheila. "Ronteza at the Cow Palace". VarianArabians.com. Varian Arabians. Archived from the original on March 25, 2006. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  29. ^ Edwards 1973, p. 247.
  30. ^ Edwards 1973, pp. 137–138.
  31. ^ a b c Edwards 1973, p. 142.
  32. ^ Edwards 1978, p. 19.
  33. ^ Edwards 1978, p. 106.
  34. ^ Carpenter 1999, p. 211.
  35. ^ "Pedigree, show and progeny record of Bay el Bey". AllBreedPedigree.com. Pedigree Online. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
  36. ^ a b Magid, Arlene. "History of Bay el Bey, "The Kingmaker"". VarianArabians.com. Varian Arabians. Archived from the original on September 12, 2010. Retrieved July 14, 2010.
  37. ^ a b c "Sheila Varian Inducted Into National Cowgirl Hall of Fame". equiworld.com. equiworld Magazine. Retrieved August 17, 2010.
  38. ^ Carpenter 1999, p. 214.
  39. ^ a b c Carpenter 1999, p. 220.
  40. ^ Carpenter 1999, pp. 220–222.
  41. ^ "Pedigree, show and progeny record of Huckleberry Bey". AllBreedPedigree.com. Pedigree Online. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
  42. ^ "472 Huckleberry Bey, Famous Arabian Stallion". BreyerHorses.com. Breyer Horses, Reeves International. 2004. Archived from the original on January 19, 2013. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
  43. ^ "Week in Review, Equestrian Magazine, July 8, 2004". usef.org. United States Equestrian Federation. July 8, 2004. Retrieved July 14, 2010.
  44. ^ "2005 Leading Arabian Sires". usef.org. United States Equestrian Federation. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
  45. ^ Magid, Arlene. "Pedigree Research. "MIRAGE V++//"" (PDF). miragev.com. Catori Creek Arabians. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
  46. ^ "2008 Leading Arabian Sires" (PDF). usef.org. United States Equestrian Federation. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
  47. ^ "2009 Leading Arabian Sires". usef.org. United States Equestrian Federation. July 8, 2010. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
  48. ^ Schofler, Patti; Bavaria, Susan (August–September 2010). "Excellence Starts With X". Modern Arabian Horse. Arabian Horse Association: 44–49.
  49. ^ "Varian Arabians — Stallions: Jullyen El Jamaal". VarianArabians.com. Varian Arabians. October 8, 1996. Archived from the original on June 30, 2010. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
  50. ^ "Pedigree of Jullyen El Jamaal". AllBreedPedigree.com. Pedigree Online. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
  51. ^ "Varian Arabians — "What does the "V" mean?"". VarianArabians.com. Varian Arabians. October 8, 1996. Archived from the original on March 24, 2016. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
  52. ^ Varian 2004, 0:8:10.
  53. ^ Varian 2004, 0:8:33.
  54. ^ Clayton 2001, pp. 10–11.
  55. ^ "Buckaroos: Views of a Western Way of Life". Buckaroos in Paradise: Ranching Culture in Northern Nevada, 1945–1982. Library of Congress. 1980. Retrieved August 6, 2010.
  56. ^ a b c d "Sheila Varian: 2008 V6 Ranch Trail Ride Clinician" (PDF). ArabianHorses.org. Arabian Horse Association. 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 25, 2011. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
  57. ^ a b c Wardrope 2007, p. 86.
  58. ^ Varian 2004, 0:02:25.
  59. ^ Thwaites 1968, p. 122.
  60. ^ Carpenter 1999, p. 207.
  61. ^ a b c d e f g h Stewart, Kara L. (December 2004). "The Vaquero Way". HorseChannel.com. Horse Illustrated. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
  62. ^ Varian 2004, 0:45:20.
  63. ^ Clayton 2001, pp. 180, 186, 208.
  64. ^ Varian 2004, 0:45:00.
  65. ^ Clayton 2001, p. 31.
  66. ^ Varian 2004, 0:30:45.
  67. ^ Varian 2004, 0:9:30, 0:11:27,0:11:54.
  68. ^ Varian 2004, 0:24:40–0:26:00.
  69. ^ Varian 2004, 0:28:57.
  70. ^ Varian 2004, 0:36:30-37.
  71. ^ Varian 2004, 0:39:32.
  72. ^ O'Reilly & interview 19:20.
  73. ^ O'Reilly & interview 20:56.
  74. ^ O'Reilly & interview 21:14.
  75. ^ O'Reilly & interview 21:38.
  76. ^ Varian 2004, 0:02:11.
  77. ^ Varian 2004, 0:22:01.
  78. ^ "Points and Awards". United States Equestrian Federation. August 26, 2004. Archived from the original on October 3, 2013. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
  79. ^ a b "Leading Breeders" (PDF). usef.org. United States Equestrian Federation. January 13, 2009. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
  80. ^ see individual year citations in USEF rankings chart in this section
  81. ^ O'Reilly & Interview text.
  82. ^ "The Ellen Scripps Davis Memorial Breeders' Cup" (PDF). usef.org. United States Equestrian Federation. Retrieved July 14, 2010.
  83. ^ "2009 Horseman's Awards Recipients". HorsemansAwards.com. Arabian Professional & Amateur Horseman's Association. Archived from the original on February 28, 2010. Retrieved July 14, 2010.
  84. ^ "All Honorees—National Cowgirl Museum". cowgirl.net. National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved July 14, 2010.
  85. ^ "Leading Breeders". United States Equestrian Federation. October 25, 2007. Archived from the original on December 25, 2004. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
  86. ^ "Leading Breeders". United States Equestrian Federation. October 25, 2007. Archived from the original on December 26, 2004. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
  87. ^ "2006 Leading Breeders". usef.org. United States Equestrian Federation. January 13, 2009. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
  88. ^ "2007 Leading Breeders". usef.org. United States Equestrian Federation. January 13, 2009. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
  89. ^ "Leading Arabian Breeders" (PDF). usef.org. United States Equestrian Federation. January 13, 2009. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
  90. ^ "2010 Leading Breeders" (PDF). usef.org. United States Equestrian Federation. December 20, 2010. Retrieved April 20, 2011.
  91. ^ "Leading Breeders" (PDF). United States Equestrian Federation. January 3, 2012. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
  92. ^ "2012 Leading Breeders" (PDF). United States Equestrian Federation. January 24, 2013. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
  93. ^ "2013 Leading Breeders". United States Equestrian Federation. September 29, 2013. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
  94. ^ "United States Equestrian Federation". USEF. 2014. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  95. ^ "United States Equestrian Federation". USEF. 2015. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  96. ^ "California Rangeland Trust Launches Conservation Campaign to Protect the Varian Arabians Ranch". Varian Arabians. November 4, 2015. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
  97. ^ "Varian Arabians Ranch". California Rangeland Trust. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
  98. ^ Charlton, April (March 9, 2016). "Famed Arroyo Grande horsewoman dies". lompocrecord.com. Lompoc Record. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
  99. ^ says, Barbara Welch (March 8, 2016). "Arabian horse legend Sheila Varian dies at 79". Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  100. ^ Stanford University Libraries. Patricia White (ed.). "Guide to the Papers of Russell and Sigurd Varian, 1836–1988" (PDF). oac.cdlib.org. Online Archive of California. SC 345. Retrieved August 21, 2010.

Bibliography

External links

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