Varian Arabians
Varian Arabians is a privately held, virtual Arabian horse breeding operation in Arroyo Grande, California, offering stallion breeding services (Major Mac V at $1,000 per mare), direct horse sales, and educational DVDs. Founded by Sheila Varian, it sells six-generation 'V' brand bloodlines to Arabian horse breeders and show competitors in North America.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1961
- HeadquartersArroyo Grande, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Varian Arabians does
Varian Arabians is a privately held Arabian horse breeding operation founded by Sheila Varian in Arroyo Grande, California, with roots dating to 1957 when foundation stallion Bay-Abi was foaled. Following the July 2023 divestiture of the 230-acre physical ranch to Simon and Caprice Arkell (who now operate it as Varian Equestrian Center), Varian Arabians was restructured into a virtual business under General Manager Angela Alvarez, retaining ownership and management of stallions Major Mac V and Windy Bey V.
The core offering is stallion breeding services at $1,000 per purebred or half-Arabian mare (with a $250 booking fee, live foal guarantee, and 2026 seasonal discounts), alongside direct horse sales of Varian-bred Arabian and half-Arabians, and a small boutique of educational DVDs and the award-winning documentary 'V: The Legacy of Sheila Varian' (now distributed on Amazon Prime, Google Play, and YouTube TV). Ancillary RV site rentals across from the equestrian facility provide supplementary equestrian tourism revenue. Customers are Arabian horse breeders and show competitors in the U.S. and Canada who seek the 'V' brand bloodlines—a six-generation documented prepotency line whose progeny regularly win at Scottsdale, U.S. Nationals, and Canadian Nationals across halter, western pleasure, reining, ranch horse, and dressage disciplines. The business model is sales-led and relationship-driven, with marketing executed through the website, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and direct show-ring presence.
Varian Arabians firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Varian Arabians
- Legal name
- Varian Arabians
- Website
- https://varianarabians.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1961
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Varian Arabians is a privately held, virtual Arabian horse breeding operation in Arroyo Grande, California, offering stallion breeding services (Major Mac V at $1,000 per mare), direct horse sales, and educational DVDs. Founded by Sheila Varian, it sells six-generation 'V' brand bloodlines to Arabian horse breeders and show competitors in North America.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Varian Arabians industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Arabian Horse Breeding Services
- NAICS
- Horses and Other Equine Production (112920)
- SIC
- Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Horse Breeding & Stud Farms (AFAEAGAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Equine Reproduction Services (Embryo Transfer, AI, Fertility Clinics) (AFAEAGAK), Equine Sales, Auctions & Bloodstock Agencies (AFAEAGAH), Mare Management & Foaling Operations (AFAEAGAC)
Keywords
Where Varian Arabians is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Arroyo Grande
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Varian Arabians business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Horse Sales: Sale of purebred and half-Arabian horses bred at the farm
- Breeding Services: Stud fees for Major Mac V and other stallions; breeding bookings at $1,000 for purebred and half-Arabian mares with $250 booking fee
- DVDs and Merchandise: Sale of educational DVDs about Varian breeding philosophy and legacy, including 'V: The Legacy of Sheila Varian' at $10
- Lodging/RV Rentals: Four RV sites available across the street from Varian Equestrian; nightly rates from $45-$135
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Breeding Fees - Purebred Arabian |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Breeding Fees - Half-Arabian |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | DVD Products |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | RV Site 1 - Fully Furnished |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | RV Site 2 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | RV Sites 3, 4 & 5 |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Varian Arabians product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Varian Arabians offers Arabian horse breeding services centered on stallion Major Mac V (6th generation Varian-bred) at stud, with breeding fees of $1,000 per purebred or half-Arabian mare. The company also sells purebred and half-Arabian horses directly to buyers and operates an online boutique selling educational DVDs and documentary films about the Varian breeding legacy. Ancillary services include RV lodging rentals on-site and access to veterinary reproduction services through a partner practice.
Product overview
Varian Arabians is an Arabian horse breeding farm offering stallion breeding services, horses for sale, and educational DVDs. The core offering centers on Major Mac V, a 6th generation Varian-bred stallion available at stud, with breeding services allowing clients to add 'V' branding to foals. The boutique sells DVDs documenting the legacy of Sheila Varian and the Varian breeding program, including 'V: The Legacy of Sheila Varian' (now on streaming platforms), instructional training videos, and historical documentaries about legendary Varian stallions. Additional services include RV lodging rentals and veterinary reproduction services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Stallion Breeding Services (Major Mac V at stud) Arabian horse breeding services featuring Major Mac V at stud. Breeding fees of $1,000 per purebred or half-Arabian mare with $250 booking fee and balance due prior to breeding. 20% end-of-season discount for 2026 breedings, multiple mare discounts, and return breeder discounts available. Includes Live Foal Guarantee. Offspring may carry the 'V' suffix and be branded with V on left hip.
- Horses for Sale Direct sale of purebred and half-Arabian horses bred by Varian Arabians. Inquiries handled by General Manager Angela Alvarez.
- V: The Legacy of Sheila Varian (DVD) 128-minute award-winning documentary film about Sheila Varian's life as a horsewoman and Arabian breeder. Available as a $10 DVD and via streaming platforms.
- The First of Many - DVD Documentary about Major Mac V ridden in a California hackamore, fulfilling Sheila Varian's last request. Filmed by Lester Buckley.
- Trailer Loading - DVD Approx. 45-minute instructional video showing Sheila Varian's method of teaching horses to load in a trailer, filmed at the 2015 Summer Jubilee.
- Varian Way with Sheila Varian - DVD 90-minute video filmed in 2012 in which Sheila Varian shares historical photos, stories from her life, and her breeding philosophies in the Arabian horse world.
- The Vaquero Tradition - DVD Set DVD set featuring the Vaquero tradition videos from the Varian archive.
- Desperado V - DVD Documentary about Desperado V, the fourth-generation Varian stallion and Sire of Significance who sired more than 900 foals and numerous National Champions. Filmed in 1996.
- The Predictable Outcome: The Huckleberry Bey++ Story - DVD 20-minute historical DVD/VHS about Huckleberry Bey++, the third-generation Varian stallion and Sire of leading stallions in America. Filmed in 1983 by Scott Trees.
- Indian Summer: Dover Canyon - DVD Historical video capturing the final time Sheila Varian rode Huckleberry Bey++ before his death at age 17. Filmed in 1991 by Dick Towle at Dover Canyon.
- Three Generations of Stallions, Six Generations of Mares - DVD First film made at Varian Arabians, filmed in 1982, featuring Bay Abi++ at age 25, Bey El Bey++ at age 17, and Huckleberry Bey++ at age 7, together with Six Generations of Mares including foundation mare *Bachantka imported from Poland in 1961.
- RV Site Rentals at Varian Equestrian Four RV sites available across the street from Varian Equestrian (formerly Varian Arabians). Site 1: $135/night (43' Solitude RV, 3-night min), $650/week, $1,850/month, fully furnished with full hook-ups, WiFi, king bed, full kitchen, Smart TV. Site 2: $65/night with full hook-ups (electricity 30 amp, water, septic, WiFi). Sites 3, 4 & 5: $45/night with electricity, water, and WiFi only.
- Veterinary Reproduction Innovations Services Specialized equine reproductive services for the Arabian breeding program, provided through partnership with Veterinary Reproduction Innovations, A.P.C.
Quantifiable outcome
- Major Mac V progeny won multiple championships at 2026 Scottsdale including Western Dressage, Hunter Pleasure, Ranch Horse, Reining, and Cutting events
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Varian Arabians
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Varian Arabians technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Varian Arabians partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Veterinary Reproduction Innovations, A.P.C.coreProvides specialized veterinary reproduction services for the breeding program, including reproductive technologies and services listed under services on Varian Arabians website.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Varian Arabians competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Cedar Ridge Arabians: Arabian breeding farm marketing stallion services and show-quality offspring. Comparable in show-ring participation, brand-driven marketing, and small-team boutique operation.
- Bentwood Farm Arabians: Arabian breeding program offering stallion services and sales; competes in the same halter and performance disciplines as Varian-bred horses, with similar mid-market breeder client base.
- Astral Arabians: Arabian horse breeding operation producing purebred and half-Arabians with active stallion services. Comparable in stallion-at-stud pricing model and direct sales channel to amateur and professional breeders.
- Midwest Arabians: Arabian horse breeding operation offering stallion services, horse sales, and active participation in regional and national shows. Comparable in scale and breeder-customer model.
- Royal Arabians: Arabian horse breeding operation with stallion services, horse sales, and active show presence. Comparable in revenue model (stud fees + horse sales) and target customer segments (breeders and show competitors).
- Rohara Arabians: Long-established Arabian horse breeding farm focused on producing champions in multiple disciplines. Comparable in stallion-at-stud model, show-ring results, and breeder-client relationships within the U.S. Arabian segment.
- Al-Marah Arabians: Historic Arabian horse breeding operation founded by Bazy Tankersley, producing champion Arabians through multi-generational programs similar to Varian's. Directly comparable in bloodline philosophy, show-ring success, and breeder marketing approach.
- Sinclaire Arabians: Arabian horse breeding operation offering stallion services and horse sales, similar in scale and boutique positioning to Varian. Comparable in breed-association engagement and direct-to-breeder distribution.
- Argent Farm LLC: Arabian breeding operation with multi-generational bloodlines and stallion services. Comparable in heritage-led marketing approach and championship-track progeny in Arabian disciplines.
Others
- Arabian Horse Association: National breed association that registers Arabian horses, sanctions shows (Scottsdale, U.S. Nationals, Canadian Nationals), and runs the Breeders Sweepstakes program that Varian stallions participate in. Not a competitor but the central infrastructure peer for industry participation.
Market position
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Varian Arabians social profiles
Digital presenceVarian Arabians financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Varian Arabians leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Varian Arabians funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Varian Arabians M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Varian Arabians
What does Varian Arabians do?
Varian Arabians offers Arabian horse breeding services centered on stallion Major Mac V (6th generation Varian-bred) at stud, with breeding fees of $1,000 per purebred or half-Arabian mare. The company also sells purebred and half-Arabian horses directly to buyers and operates an online boutique selling educational DVDs and documentary films about the Varian breeding legacy. Ancillary services include RV lodging rentals on-site and access to veterinary reproduction services through a partner practice.
Is Varian Arabians a public or private company?
Varian Arabians is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Varian Arabians founded?
Varian Arabians was founded in 1961. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Varian Arabians based?
Varian Arabians is headquartered in Arroyo Grande, United States, in the North America region.
How does Varian Arabians make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Horse Sales are the primary driver. The others are breeding Services, DVDs and Merchandise and lodging/RV Rentals.
Who are Varian Arabians's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Cedar Ridge Arabians, Bentwood Farm Arabians, Astral Arabians, Midwest Arabians, Royal Arabians, Rohara Arabians, Al-Marah Arabians, Sinclaire Arabians and Argent Farm LLC. Arabian Horse Association is listed as an others.
Does Varian Arabians have an API?
No public API is recorded for Varian Arabians.
What industry is Varian Arabians in?
Varian Arabians's product category is Arabian Horse Breeding Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAEAGAA, Horse Breeding & Stud Farms, with a secondary code of AFAEAGAK, Equine Reproduction Services (Embryo Transfer, AI, Fertility Clinics). Its NAICS code is 112920 and its SIC code is 200.