Deborah Borra’s journey into the world of equine breeding began with a leap of faith and a dose of skepticism from equine reproduction specialists at Cornell University. Little did they know that Borra, a successful real-estate agent and professional harpist, would not only complete her year of study but also establish a thriving breeding operation, Normandy Manor Farm. Starting with nine horses on three Long Island acres, Normandy Manor has expanded to 30 horses on a 230-acre farm in western New York, a testament to Borra’s dedication and systematic approach.
From Hobby to Thriving Business
Borra’s entry into horse ownership began with acquiring Brando, an 18-year-old Swedish Warmblood stallion, and three broodmares. Despite being a long-time rider, she lacked experience with stallions and breeding. Her initial foray into artificial insemination became a catalyst for deeper learning, particularly after discovering Brando’s low sperm motility. This spurred her to gain a comprehensive understanding of motility and concentration from the ground up.
Normandy Manor Farm’s commitment to quality is evident in its well-equipped lab, featuring a microscope, hemocytometer for sperm counting, centrifuge for concentration, refrigerator, and incubator. Borra emphasizes the use of the Equitainer for transported semen to ensure product quality, reflecting her meticulous attention to detail.
Safe stallion handling for collection is another critical skill Borra mastered. Recognizing the inherent risks, she adopted the practice of wearing hard hats, a safety measure learned at Cornell, to protect against potential hoof injuries. The collection process requires a skilled three-person team, highlighting the importance of expertise and coordination.
Pillars of Success: Business Acumen in Equine Breeding
Borra attributes her farm’s growth and success to applying sound business practices learned during her real-estate career. Key elements include:
- A Realistic Business Plan: Borra meticulously calculated initial investments, including feed, hay, insurance, and labor costs. She strategically chose a property with diverse potential uses, ensuring a contingency plan if the breeding venture didn’t meet expectations. Sufficient personal savings provided a crucial buffer during the startup phase.
- Consistent Organization: The farm operates with a high degree of organization across its eight barns. Tools and supplies are systematically stored, facilitating efficiency for staff and visiting veterinarians. This organized approach ensures that essentials are readily accessible, particularly in emergencies. Feeding practices are precise, utilizing labeled paint buckets of specific sizes for each horse, and color-coded buckets for medicated feed to prevent errors.
- Valuable and Stable Staff: Recognizing that “good help is the most difficult part of the business,” Borra offers competitive compensation, on-site housing, and opportunities for professional development. She seeks employees eager to learn and deeply invested in the well-being of the horses, even during critical times like foaling. Borra employs motivational strategies, similar to those used in real estate, to foster loyalty and productivity, offering rewards such as massages, extra days off, or restaurant certificates for hard work.
- Regular Follow-up and Oversight: Borra actively participates in daily farm operations, working alongside her staff to ensure adherence to established programs. She personally inspects every horse each day, maintaining a direct connection to their health and welfare.
- Unwavering Honesty: Borra believes that honesty is paramount in the horse business, essential for building and maintaining a good reputation. As a breeder, she prioritizes understanding mare owners’ goals and assessing their mares before agreeing to a breeding. In instances where a stallion may not be the optimal choice for a mare’s intended purpose, Borra has confidently referred owners to other farms, demonstrating her commitment to the mare’s success over immediate financial gain.
“Breeding can be an expensive proposition,” Borra states. “When we sell a breeding, mare owners need enough information to give them the best chance of success.” Normandy Manor provides detailed forms with cooled transported semen, outlining sperm motility, concentration, and the number of motile sperm in each shipment. She advises caution when dealing with stallion owners unwilling to share such details. This principle of honesty extends to selling horses, where Borra is committed to transparently disclosing both strengths and weaknesses to ensure the new owner can provide the best possible care.
Continued Growth and Expertise
Ten years after her initial studies at Cornell, Borra’s breeding business is “right on track.” Normandy Manor now boasts young horses for sale, including several “diploma mares” imported from Sweden. Borra continues to expand her expertise, collaborating with reproductive specialist Dr. Dietrich Volkmann at Cornell on semen-freezing techniques, with plans to implement this at the farm.
Despite the demanding nature of horse breeding, Borra maintains her enthusiasm. She recounts sleeping in her SUV during foaling season, especially when the farm’s closed-circuit TV system was down. Her hands-on experience has equipped her to successfully manage challenging births, such as a foal presented incorrectly (dystocia), underscoring the value of her continuous learning.
This article first appeared in the January 2003 issue of Practical Horseman magazine. For detailed tips from Deborah Borra on preparing for a foal’s birth, refer to her story “Get Ready for Baby” in the January 2005 issue of Practical Horseman.
