Husband-Wife Duo Brings Unique Synergy to Pleasant Acres Stallion Barn

[Wandering Eyes]

Running a breeding shed efficiently and effectively takes a certain level of teamwork. Really, it takes a lot of the same characteristics found in any strong relationship. So it's no surprise, then, that the husband-and-wife duo of Roberto and Leticia Vera manages the shed at Pleasant Acres Stallions with such ease, proving that both professionally and personally, the best teams are built on mutual trust, understanding and sometimes, a whole lot of patience.

For the past two years, Roberto and Leticia have made up the two-person team behind a roster of 12 stallions at Pleasant Acres Stallions outside of Ocala, Florida. In a job that is anything but a nine-to-five, the Veras spend long hours together overseeing the care of their equine charges and making sure the breeding shed runs seamlessly.

“Sometimes it's a little rough, let's say it that way,” Roberto said with a good-natured laugh. “But we work pretty good together. It's literally twenty-four seven. This time of year there is no, 'I'm going out with my friends' or, 'She's going out with her friends.' It's just her and I, so we try to balance whatever disagreements we have. She is a hard-working woman and I think I'm pretty fortunate to have her with me.”

Roberto has worked in the stallion business for nearly 30 years. He moved from Mexico to the United States at the age of 15 and quickly found his way to Florida, where he helped break 2-year-olds. Roberto eventually landed at Farnsworth Farms, a leading breeding operation in the Sunshine State that won the 1996 Eclipse Award for outstanding breeder. He started out with broodmares, but later moved on to stallions and never looked back.

“I guess when you work with certain horses, you just get used to them,” reflected Roberto. “I started working with the stallions and I just felt comfortable with them.”

Roberto worked at Farnsworth for 14 years, until the operation shut down in 2005. From there he managed breeding sheds throughout Florida at Cloverleaf Farm, Sequel Stallions, Solera Farm and eventually, Pleasant Acres.

Around that same time, Roberto met Leticia through a chance encounter on Facebook. The pair was from the same town in Mexico, but had never met each other in person.

“We started chatting and I guess it all started from there,” explained Roberto. “I went to Mexico to see her. For five years I was here and she was there. I would go see her once or twice a year when I could.”

Three years ago, the couple got married and Leticia moved to Florida. She had no prior experience working with Thoroughbreds, but Roberto helped her land a job at a breeding farm. Later, there was an opening in the stallion division at Pleasant Acres and Roberto asked the team there if they would give Leticia a chance.

Roberto and Leticia prepare popular young sire Verifying for breeder inspections| Katie Petrunyak

Roberto proudly described how Leticia's horsemanship has developed in a relatively short period of time.

“In the beginning she was a little afraid, but I taught her confidence and how to be safe around the stallions, so now she's pretty good,” Roberto said. “She's a fast learner. She's done a great job, I think, and I feel comfortable working with her because I really trust her. I look out for her and she looks out for me.”

One of the stallions that helped build Leticia's courage was young sire Bodexpress (Bodemeister). With his easygoing demeanor, the bay quickly became Leticia's favorite charge.

Leticia smiled as she explained in Spanish how, whenever she visits Bodexpress in his paddock, the stallion rests his head on her shoulder.

“They seem to me to be very noble animals,” said Leticia. “They have given me this opportunity and I have been able to learn alongside them.”

Leticia also shared how, even five years ago, she never could have envisioned herself working with such powerful animals, but she said that having a good teacher in Roberto has helped her build her confidence and she jokingly added that some days she likes the stallions more than her co-worker.

“There are a lot of things that we could do [separately], but we like to do everything together,” said Roberto. “That way, it doesn't feel like she's doing more than I am or I'm doing more than she is. Sometimes if there is a horse that is kind of tough to turn out I do that just to keep everybody safe, but we work as a team.”

This year, the Pleasant Acres Stallions roster includes Verifying, a Justify half-brother to champion Midnight Bisou who bred 127 mares in his debut season last year, as well as stalwart Neolithic (Harlan's Holiday), one of the leading sires in Florida in 2024 by blacktype winners. In 2025, the farm welcomed new sires Mr Fisk (Arrogate) and Champions Dream (Justify).

“It keeps us pretty busy,” admitted Roberto. “We have our hands full, but the quality keeps going up. We feel very proud to work [here] because they have really good stuff, I mean, just really good horses.”

Roberto credits Pleasant Acres farm owners Joe and Helen Barbazon and the farm's Director of Stallion Services Christine Jones for giving him and his wife the opportunity to work together.

“You couldn't ask for anybody better,” he said. “There are guys who have been working here for 20 years, so that speaks for itself. They're good people to work for. I love working with the horses and I love my job. I'm a big believer that if you enjoy what you do, you do a better job.”

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