Sheila Varian, breeder of Arabian horses. [61], Varian departed slightly from tradition. Then, I would get on him and let him canter, anyway he wanted with his head down. 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. The small California town of Arroyo Grandeis to host the world premier of a movie celebrating famed arabian horse breeder Sheila Varian in early August. Also the gaited breeds like the Tennessee Walking Horses and Rocky Mountain Horses. Those are the breeds of the top of my head that I would look at for trail or endurance riding due to temperament. Sheila Varian (August 8, 1937 - March 6, 2016) 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 . [49] Dorothy died on July 9, 1992. A striking bay horse of primarily Polish/Crabbet breeding, he was named National Champion Stallion in 1962 and returned to the show ring to garner top tens in both English and Western 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. [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. ("Jack") and Lorna. I've loved horses since I was a little girl. 1 talking about this. NZ Farriers Assn. Over 60 years ago, a young girl read Walter Farley's The Black Stallion and dreamed of finding the "perfect" horse. She advocated for trainers who used the methods of master horsemen such as Ray Hunt and Tom Dorrance, with Dorrance's philosophy being especially suitable for Arabians. Dorothy, born in 1907, attended UC Berkeley in 1924-28, working odd jobs to pay her tuition, and graduated with a degree in economics. The festival featured over 250 entries in both film and literature and presented awards in over 80 categories. Russell gained patents for technology related to nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR),[23][24][25] as used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), thermionic tubes, and various radar technologies. Ronteza just happened to be one of those extraordinary mares who had the mental capability and the sensitivity to be great. God was smiling on Sheila once again. 15 talking about this. [14] The pair, undefeated in competition against other Arabian horses,[14] went on to beat 50horses of all breeds to win the 1961 Reined Cow Horse championship at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, California. Phone number for media interviews: 615-289-1292. Russell Harrison Varian (April24,1898 July28,1959) and Sigurd Fergus Varian (May4,1901 October18,1961)[1] were American brothers who founded one of the earliest high-tech companies in Silicon Valley. 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. And what a story it is. "[17] Following these principles, Varian has produced some of the most influential Arabian stallions in the breed. - Varian. [2] Though little is known of their work in this period (because they were presumably working on classified projects), it appears that they directed Sperry's vacuum tube and radar work during World War II. Naturally Equine 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. Its therefore not possible to determine if Sheila is single, dating, engaged, or married. Varian, who died on the morning of March 6, had been breeding horses since 1954 and was considered one of the worlds leading breeders of arabian horses, but she was also well known in western riding circles. Receive a notification when a new article is posted: Arabian horse legend Sheila Varian dies at 79. Sheila Varian (August 8, 1937 - March 6, 2016) was a breeder of Arabian horses who lived and worked at the Varian Arabians Ranch near Arroyo Grande, California. The company had been awarded more than 10,000 patents. [2] Russell was responsible for the design and Sigurd built the first prototype,[3] which was completed in August1937. [10] Upon publication of a paper in 1939,[21] news of the klystron quickly influenced the work of US and British researchers working on radar technology. Afire Bey V and Hucklebey Berry+/ were just coming on as a show horses and young sires. [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. [84], In November 2015, Varian announced that she would be working with the California Rangeland Trust to place her ranch into a conservation easement to protect it from development. Another was the artist, Linda Artz. Varian Arabians Sheila Varian has always raised some good, working and show, Arabians, always seems to care about them, her staff, too. The klystron, a microwave tube,[20] was noticed in 1938 by Sperry Gyroscope, who gave the Varian brothers and Hansen a contract to do further work. [8] The family was not wealthy,[9] but noted in the community for being loving, humorous and adventurous. 2750 Beckett Street Lebanon, Ohio 45036 513-934-1031 (Home) Now, I am comfortable and can rest easy knowing that thisplace will be taken care of. She used vaquero-influenced methods of training horses.. Varian produced many famous Arabian horses who won many show horses in the United States. And last, but not least, another superstar breeding horse covered his first mares in 1988, Desperado V (Huckleberry Bey++ x Daraska by *Dar), who represented 4 generations of Bay-Abis sire line. But Bill reassures her that he loves her, and nothing can stand in their way. I had my goals set on what I wanted to accomplish. [31] Russell served as the company president and a board member until his death;[15] Sigurd served as vice president for engineering, and served on the board of directors until his death, sometimes serving as chairman of the board. 1969 - Sheila trained and showed Bay Event (Bay-Abi++ x Ronteza) to open Reined Cow Horse Championships throughout California. Sheila's tack, awards, trophies, pictures, clothingeverything that told Sheila's story was on display in the house. [3][15] He was also a member of the League for Civic Unity and the ACLU. The cross produced, among other champions, Varian's successor to Bay-Abi, the 1969 colt Bay el Bey (Bay Abi Naganka), who was U.S. Reserve National Champion stallion twice, 1977 Canadian National Champion stallion, and a regional champion in English pleasure. Huck, as he was known, picked up multiple Top-Tens in both English Pleasure and halter. I ferreted out some old, vintage photos of Sheila, her parents, and horses bred by her that went on in many cases to found breeding programs and dynasties of their own. She was the first amateur, the first woman and had the first Arabian to take the title. [61] The process of training the spade bit horse takes five to seven years to complete. Aurora Pure Crabbets She was a woman, an amateur and a schoolteacher. But Farlotta was a heartbreaker. [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. [9] Varian compared the ride and handling of a horse trained in this manner to that of a Jaguar automobile.[64]. [48], Over the years, she made use of outside bloodlines. [9] The spade is an elaborate, complex bit that can only be properly used on a highly trained horse handled by a skilled rider. . [51] He had lived the last three years of his life at Puerto Vallarta. [40] Barbary was purchased from Varian as a yearling by film producer and Arabian owner Mike Nichols. 2 December 2016, Arroyo Grande, Colorado ~ The Equus Film Festival, now in its third year, took place 17-20 November 2016 at the Village East Cinema in New York City's theatre district. There they met the God Mother of *Raffles bred Arabian horses, Alice Payne of Chino, who took the mother and daughter under her wing to help them start their fledgling breeding program. Family (1) Spouse Herbert L. Oakes (1977 . Sheila Varian has been breeding horses since 1955. [50], On October 18, 1961, Sigurd crashed his private plane into the Pacific Ocean while flying from Guadalajara to Puerto Vallarta, after losing his way in darkness. His wife and a small group of friends were there to see him off. This was the open house where I learned that her hosres were not of domestic breeding (they dont do windows), but rather of American breeding. I had not schooled many horses in my life then, so I give credit to her. There isn't a more iconic cornerstone in the global Arabian horse industry than Varian Arabians. Born to theosophist parents who helped lead the utopian community of Halcyon, California, they grew up in a home with multiple creative influences. It also marked the 60th anniversary of Varian Arabians. [19] Edward Ginzton, who later helped the brothers establish Varian Associates, stated: "[Sigurd] felt that Hitler could easily establish bases in Central America, from which his planes could fly into the United States at night, or at low elevations, and drop bombs, without ever being detected. 8,775 16. [26] Russell's second marriage, in 1947,[41] was to Dorothy Hill. He would build up to National Champion level, just like that. He completed his master's degree in 1927, and went to work at Humble Oil, staying there for five months and receiving a patent for a vibrating magnetometer. 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. [38], In 1998, the Congressional Record noted the 50th anniversary of the founding of Varian Associates, which then employed 7,000 people at 100 plants in nine countries. This interview with Sheila occurred in the early spring of 1994, a different time and place in the world of both horses and technology. [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. 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