High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Sheila Varian is a breeder of Arabian horses who lives and works 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 tradition of western riding. She started her horse ranch, Varian Arabians, in 1954 with the assistance of her parents. Raising and training horses has been her full-time occupation since 1963. She still uses vaquero-influenced methods of training horses, though she has adapted her technique over the years to fit the character of the Arabian horse, which she views as a breed requiring a smart yet gentle approach.