Welcome to Normandy Manor Farm
Music and Training Horses
Often, I am asked what music has to do with breeding and training horses. I find many similarities in my approach to both: As a musician, when deciding to learn a new piece of music you must- First choose the piece
- Observe or listen to the piece if possible. Identify the strong and weak parts of the piece, the things you like about the piece and the parts perhaps that you don't like as much and decide if the piece is worth learning (i.e. - your time)
- Decide if you have the technique for the piece you have chosen (or would like to tackle/choose) and if not, come up with the proper exercises to gain the technique. If you do not have the background to realize what exercises are necessary and how to properly achieve them - get a coach to work with you.
- Learning new pieces and performing music is a work in progress - an ongoing process that is never ending.
Training horses, breeding horses and riding horses follow the same principles.
I will give you the examples here which correspond to the above
- First choose the horse you wish to breed and/or purchase
- Watch the horse move - identify the horses strong and weak points. Decide what you like about the horse and what you don't like about the horse and consider if this is an animal that you can work with and is worth your time to put the effort into.
- Decide if you have the riding and/or training ability to work with the horse you are choosing. If the horse if more talented than you are, think about who you will have help you achieve your goals in training/riding this horse. Decide if your temperament is one that will work in harmony with the horses' temperament you are observing. Be honest with yourself about what you really think the horse can and cannot achieve by what you are watching at that point in time and what you think you can perfect in that particular animal realistically.
- Training a horse or building a good, sound breeding program is never ending. It is in the committment we make that determines how successful we will be.
Since the age of 5, I have had weekly coaching sessions for piano. At the age of 16, I took on the harp and at age 18 was accepted to the Eastman School of Music with a scholarship for harp with a minor in piano, finishing with a degree in Music Education. Eastman accepts only 100 undergraduate students yearly out of thousands that apply. It is an extremely competitive school with very high performance standards. If you do not keep up the work to the standards of the school, you are asked to leave. It is that simple. All throughout my music performance career, I have continued coaching sessions - because I believe no one is ever finished evolving in their field.
I have applied the same methodical ideas to my breeding program in choosing bloodlines for performance and I have applied a consistent method to bringing up young horses that makes sense to the horse so that the future owners will have a willing, fair animal to build their dream with. No young horse is every forced to do anything - they are convinced that they should do something because it is fun and nothing to fear - and it is learned in a consistent manner that the horse comes to understand quickly. Training a horse is like building a house - you must first put in a very good, strong foundation so that you may add the rest of the architectural ideas one by one and have it stand up to the test of time.
When you purchase a horse through Normandy Manor Farm's breeding program, you are getting more than a "horse". You are buying into the benefit of years of knowledge and an animal that is well adjusted, brought up in a happy, safe and understanding environment that is ready to be your partner willingly.
I invite you to visit the farm.