MEET THE TEAM
Wendy Potts
Wendy Potts is one of the most celebrated Arabian horse trainers in the country, renowned for her mastery of the Hunter Pleasure class and her gift for building lasting partnerships between horses and riders. A Southern California native, Wendy began riding at age six and never looked back. Starting June 2026, she brings her acclaimed Freewill Farm program home to Varian Equestrian Center.
Credentials
Wendy won her first US & Canadian National Championship at just 13. Her 40-year career includes over 200 National and Reserve Championships, 11 APAHA Hunter Trainer of the Year awards, and three wins of the prestigious USEF Vaughn Smith Trophy. Her students have gone on to win three times as many championships as she has.
Philosophy
For Wendy, the barn is as much about community as competition. "The friendships born in my barn transcend the horse business. When the day is over, we all have dinner together." Many of her clients will follow her to Varian, relocating their horses to continue their work together.
To book a training session with Freewill Farms at Varian Equestrian Center please call (805) 225-3222.
The Partnership
Freewill Farm and Varian Equestrian Center unite two of the most recognized names in the Arabian horse world. As Simon and Caprice Arkell put it: "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. We couldn't be more thrilled to have her at Varian!"
