“The leaves have all changed from the emerald green hue of summer to the brilliant reds, oranges and yellows of fall and the frost is now literally on the pumpkin.  The change in season has brought an end to summer fun and has sent almost everyone at North Point Farm back to school.

Educating the young 

Jack began his fifth grade year at the local intermediate school in September and, although he enjoys summer immensely, as all young boys do, he was happy to get back to the grind of schoolwork and his friends.

The weanlings are all off their mothers and in their own herd and they too have gone back to school. They have had their first hoof trims and learned to stand quietly. They have continued their lessons in halter, learning to walk quietly beside and yield to their handlers. And of course, they are learning to interact within the group dynamic of a herd. 

One of our weanlings, who we had offered for sale, got educated in a big way when she boarded the trailer headed for her new home at Anderson Farms, having been purchased by David Anderson this summer. Although, Anderson Farms is one of Canada's leading Thoroughbred and Standard bred breeding farms, David is also involved in Percherons and has had much success with them. We wish 'Sunday' much luck as she begins her career and continues her education with Anderson Farms.

Higher education

Tim and I have also gone back to school this fall. Last spring we were asked to lecture at the local University here in Connecticut, one of the few to offer a Bachelors of Science in Equine Management in the United States. The plan was for us to be part of a team of lecturers in the Equine 320 class, “Introduction to Equine Reproduction”. The other lecturers in the class are two Connecticut veterinarians who specialise in equine reproduction.   

The plan was for us to teach the areas of recognising oestrus and teasing of mares, artificial insemination, and embryo transfers, as well as stallion management and promotion. Because Tim handles all the mare management on the farm and is exceedingly great at getting mares in foal, he opted to handle the classes dealing with mares. And because by default, I have become the go to person for stallion management on the farm,  later in the semester, I will step up to the lectern to discuss the boys.

Tim’s first class went very well, and while he is not a fan of public speaking he is a fan of breeding horses; often telling us that he would forgo showing in an instant to concentrate on breeding and reproduction. The class is three hours in length, an eternity for someone not fond of speaking in front of a group but mere minutes when you are teaching something you love to do. I sat in the back of the class and watched the students taking notes and paying rapt attention to Tim, thinking, these young people are the future. I was happy to hear the good questions that they asked and was pleased that they paid such close attention.

The week before Tim’s classes began; I started my back to school experience teaching another class at the same University where I had been invited to lecture as one of the students “preferred lectures”. This class was an “Introduction to Equine Business” and I was made to feel quite at home and truth be told, delighted, flattered and honored that the class, according to the Dean, has specifically asked for me. In this class I was asked to speak about our business here at the farm and share how I/we got to where we were. Again, the students asked great questions and were a pleasure to teach and share with. 

In another few weeks, I will be again standing in front of a classroom for the stallion management part of the repro classes and Tim will take his turn sitting at the back of the class as an observer. I hope that he will be a proud of my presentation as I am of his.

Pampered show divas

The only ones not back at school these days are the broodmares, who have finished teaching their foals for now and, who are contentedly awaiting the birth this winter, of their next foals. Our show horses are also enjoying their time off, having had their shoes pulled and making up for lost time by grazing in the pastures, rolling in the mud and generally acting like farm horses as opposed to pampered show divas, but who can blame them?

Please have a look at our new and updated website at www.northpointfarm.com We are so happy with our new web designer, Marty Sherman at Sherman Communications and the fabulous and very professional job she has done. Of course Marty will tell you that she too went back to school this fall as, she learned a whole lot about equine reproduction and Percheron horses in designing the fantastic new site for us. She’ll also tell you she loved every minute!

Do let us know what you think. Here is hoping that you are all enjoying the fall weather wherever you may be."

Until next time, all the best to all of you.

Ann