Announcing the Return of Freewill Farm & Wendy Potts' New Home
Announcing the Return Of Freewill Farm and Wendy Potts' New Home Starting This June
We are pleased to announce the return of Freewill Farm this coming June under the direction of acclaimed Arabian trainer Wendy Potts in our new home located at the renowned Varian Equestrian Center in Arroyo Grande, California. After working in Texas for the past 26 years, Wendy will return to her home state.
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Wendy, a self-described “horse crazy girl” who grew up in Southern California, began riding at the age of six and won her first US & Canadian National Championship in Hunt Seat Equitation at the age of 13. She began training horses after graduating from USC and has spent the last 40 years perfecting her training practice.
The results of Wendy's work have made her a legend in the Hunter Pleasure Class.
Wendy has amassed over 200 National and Reserve championships and trained riders who have won three times as many. She has won the Arabian Professional and Amateur Horseman’s Association Hunter Trainer of the Year Award 11 times and the Totally Tops Hunter Trainer of the Year 12 times. Her crowning achievement has been winning the prestigious United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Vaughn Smith Trophy 3 times.
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While these achievements are remarkable, Wendy is most proud of the friendships she has formed with her clients, some of whom have been with her for over 30 years. As Wendy puts it, “The friendships born in my barn transcend the horse business. When my clients come for training and instruction, we make a day of it. They watch each other and learn from each other. When the day is over, we all have dinner together.”
Pictured from left to right: Jill Contreras, 20 time National Champion NDA Pericles, and Wendy Potts.
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Photo by April Visel for Arabian Horse World Magazine
Wendy’s move to California follows an incredible eight year run at Whistlejacket Farms, owned by Ralph Manning in Alvarado Texas. Ralph and Wendy’s success together has been both professionally and personally rewarding. Their achievements at Whistlejacket include National and Reserve Championships by both Ralph’s children and Wendy’s children. Wendy will continue working with Ralph at Whistlejacket through May. We want to thank Ralph for all his love, help and support over the past years which continues during this transition to our new home at Varian.
Our Story
About
The team of Freewill and Varian will bring together two of the most recognized names in the Arabian horse world. Wendy and partner Eric Nelson will team up with Simon and Caprice Arkell, owners of the Varian Equestrian Center. Varian is a historic and celebrated property rooted in the extraordinary legacy of Sheila Varian, whose visionary breeding program helped define the Arabian horse world. Its storied barns, rich heritage, and championship history give the ranch a rare sense of character that few places can match. Today, it continues to inspire horse lovers with its beauty, prestige, and enduring spirit of excellence.
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"We are stepping into an incredible opportunity by partnering with Wendy Potts, a respected and accomplished Arabian horse trainer known for her deep expertise and dedication to excellence. This collaboration brings together vision, experience, and passion, creating the kind of powerful alignment that can elevate horses, training, and the entire program to a higher level. It is a rare and exciting partnership with the potential to build something truly exceptional and lasting. We couldn't be more thrilled to have her at the Varian Equestrian Center!"
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-Simon and Caprice Arkell
Wendy’s clients travel from all over the US to train with her. Many of her clients will follow her to California and relocate their horses with Wendy at Varian. Wendy also has an amazing track record of finding Arabian horses, both those with high potential and those that are already winners, for clients and non-clients who are searching for a horse that is the right match for them.
Starting in June of 2026, Wendy will be accepting additional clients who are like-minded Arabian horse enthusiasts. If you have an Arabian horse or are looking for an Arabian, and you would like to improve your horsemanship and be part a special group of riders who
who work hard and enjoy socializing together after a fun and productive day of training and instruction, Freewill may be the perfect place for you. Join us to visit and train in a beautiful California Central Coast setting.
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You can contact Freewill Farm at :
ericnelson@freewillarabians.com
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For more information about the Varian Equestrian Center, click the name or follow this link:
https://www.varianequestrian.com/
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If you live in the San Luis Obispo area and are interested in riding but not ready to buy a horse, please consider the Chapter 1 Riding Academy at the Varian Equestrian Center.
https://www.chapteroneridingacademy.com/
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