11-Year-Old Saxophone Player Finds an Unlikely Fan
Lola enjoys the soothing sounds of Daniel’s saxophone. Photo courtesy of Lisa Novacek.
By: Brittany Bevis
Numerous studies have been conducted about the effect music has on both humans and animals. From the soothing sounds of soft jazz to the top-tapping tunes of country western, musical genre is largely a matter of personal preference.
Maybe your equine is more old-school and likes to enjoy The Eagles or Earth, Wind, and Fire. Perhaps your horse is a fan of some Haggard or Hank. But, how would you know? More than likely, you’re the one choosing the musical soundtrack for your barn, not your four-legged companion. However, if your horse could take over your iPod for the day, what would he or she select?
Lisa Novacek and her 11-year-old son, Daniel, have the answer, for one of their horses at least. The Novacek family resides in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin on a pretty parcel of property with their merry band of broodmares and foals. Although Lisa has six children, two of whom have already left the nest, she sadly reports that most of her offspring don’t share her passion for horses.
“I started riding pretty early on, around eight years old,” she says. “I started taking riding lessons and first got into polo. Then, I showed Hunter-Jumpers for several years. Then, my Hunter-Jumper mare at the time was injured and needed to take a year off. I decided to breed her to a Quarter Horse stud and got our first foal. After that, it turned into an obsession.”
“I got more into the breeding side of things, breeding 4-6 mares a year. I only breed for Hunter under Saddle. My background consists of breaking and riding a lot of off-the-track Thoroughbreds. I don’t show anymore, but the babies do, and I get to live vicariously through those babies and their owners.”
While she doesn’t have a decidedly horsey family, Lisa is thrilled to notice a growing interest in the breeding side of the industry on the part of her young son Daniel.
“The kids really have no interest in it at all, but Daniel knows every mare by name, all of their foals, and all of their previous foals. Sometimes, he’s even said that maybe I should breed this mare to this stallion. He’s very into it. He’s already talking about taking over the breeding business when I retire! He has plans…”
“I recently went out of town on a work retreat for three days. Daniel fed the horses the whole time I was gone, with my husband overseeing. That’s the first time he has done this. He had all the supplements measured out and gave them their hay, which was great because I normally would have to hire someone to come in and take care of the horses.”
Photo courtesy of Lisa Novacek.
Lately, Daniel has developed a special connection with one of Lisa’s mares by the name of “Lola.” A budding saxophone player, Daniel often chooses the early morning or evening hours to practice his craft outdoors, which is how Lola developed a love for soft jazz.
“Daniel started playing saxophone last year in school and really enjoyed it,” she says. “At first, I was thinking we were going to have to send him down into the basement, but he’s actually a pretty good little player! He came inside one night and said, ‘Mom, I was playing to Lola, and she really enjoys it.’ I just laughed because I didn’t really know what he was talking about.”
“The next morning, I looked out in the yard, and he was standing by the fence playing. Lola had her head over the fence just listening to him play. She stood there for 20 minutes just listening. When someone comes over to the fence, the horses will come over, but they eventually return to graze. She stands there the whole time while he’s playing and listens.”
Lisa’s broodmare band consists of several high quality mares by stallions like Skys Blue Boy, Art I Sweet, Artful Move, and I’m Certifiable. However, Lola, by All Time Fancy, is the only horse that has shown any musical inclination. Judging from Lisa’s photos capturing the sweet moment, this mare seems to thoroughly enjoy her daily concert.
Interested in learning more about the effect music had on horses? Check out the links below.
Music as a Calming Influence For Young Horses
