This iconic SLO County horse ranch is up for sale for first time in its 60-year history
For the first time in its 60-year history, an iconic Arroyo Grande ranch is going on the market.
Varian Arabians Ranch, a 150-acre ranch nestled between Arroyo Grande and San Luis Obispo, is up for sale now for $3.75 million, according to seller California Nevada Outdoor Properties.
Ranch manager Angela Alvarez, who has worked at the property for 37 years, said the difficult decision to sell the property comes from her desire to retire.
“It was always going to be sold at some point, because (Varian Arabians founder Sheila Varian) left it to the California Rangeland Trust, and that’s what they do — they sell properties to be able to gain more funds to conserve more ranches,” Alvarez said.
Alvarez said Varian left the ranch to that group so that “it would always stay in perpetuity and never be subdivided. There is a conservation easement in place that protects it.”
Varian, who founded the ranch in 1952, died of cancer in 2016.
According to a release from California Nevada Outdoor Properties, the property can house between 150 to 200 horses year-round, and has a 39,421 square-foot footprint across its 13 buildings, which include a main residence, four barns and employee residence.
The buildings were built between 1973 and 2017, the release said.
Varian Arabians grew to prominence over its 60-year history due to its founder, who was a renowned breeder of the Arabian horse breed. Varian “bred some of the most influential Arabian bloodlines in the world,” according to the release.
“This property offers the opportunity to operate a first-class equestrian facility, a trophy ranch and even a small vineyard development,” the release said. “The California climate is mild and very conducive to raising horses and wine grapes.”
Before her death, Varian bred around 1,300 registered Arabian and half-Arabian horses, which has influenced 70% of all Arabian pedigrees today, according to the release.
Alvarez called Varian a great teacher and storyteller who “made a name for herself” during her horse breeding career.
“Sheila was an icon. ... She was probably the most renowned woman in the Arabian horse industry,” Alvarez said. “It was just a tragedy that we lost her so young.”
The conservation easement is particularly important to Alvarez, as the land cannot be subdivided and will remain a ranch in perpetuity.
Alvarez said Varian charged her with caring for the four remaining Varian Arabians horses, including Major Mac V, a 10-year-old breeding stallion who was brought to the ranch from Colt Hill at 2 years old.
Also under Alvarez’s care are Windy Bey V, a 24-year-old breeding stallion; and Varian’s two personal riding ranch geldings, Jubilation and Murietta, both in their 20s.
“(Major Mac V) was really important to Sheila, because we put him in the in the breeding barn just before she passed away,” Alvarez said. “He’s six generations of her breeding, so he’s really important, and people out there love his babies.”
Alvarez said Varian knew that Major Mac V “would help keep this ranch going financially” through breeding mares and selling his offspring.
Alvarez said that Varian saw the horse ridden in the hills by Lester Buckley, one of her friends and trainers, “for the first time just days before she passed away.”
The rest of the Varian Arabians — distinctive from the “V” brand on their left flank, were sold to keep the property running. Around 100 other horses are currently boarded at the ranch, Alvarez said.
Alvarez said the easement will keep the property protected from significant changes, and will hopefully ensure it carries on as a ranch in the future.
Interest in the property has been high so far, she said, though the ranch’s management hopes to find a buyer who will maintain the property more or less as is.
“There has been a lot of interest,” Alvarez said. “We’re focusing on someone who will keep (Sheila Varian’s) legacy, her museum and history wall intact, and hopefully the name ‘Varian Arabians’ will umbrella the farm forever.”
This story was originally published November 3, 2022 at 8:49 AM with the headline "This iconic SLO County horse ranch is up for sale for first time in its 60-year history."
