Page 96 - December 2016

NORMA ALVAREZ
by John Moorehouse
“These are my people.”
Nagano Moon. Dash Ta Moon. First Moonflash. They stand out as some of the finest Quarter Horses to pass through New Mexico in the past
20 years.
And Norma Alvarez has bred them all. It started
with Nagano Moon, but Alvarez and her husband, Dosi, continue to boast one of the finest breeding programs for Quarter Horses in the Land of Enchantment.
This year alone, horses bred by the Alvarezes have produced more that a quarter million dollars in earn- ings, doing so in less than 40 starts.
Alvarez currently serves on the board of the New Mexico Horse Breeders’ Association. She took some time out of her busy schedule to respond to this month’s “Lighter Side” feature.
Q: Where were you born?
A: Seattle, Washington.
Q: What are your hobbies?
A: Gardening and weeding.
Q: What is your favorite movie, and why?
A: “Chisum.” I love John Wayne, New Mexico history, and that big gorgeous sorrel he rode in this movie.
Q: What’s an interesting fact about your family?
A: My brother and grandfather were both gold miners in Alaska on their own claims. They had many adventures and great stories.
Q: Do you have a nickname and, if so, what is it and how did it come about?
A: “Rainbow”, because I come out after the storm.
Q: What is the strangest personality quirk you have ever seen in a horse?
A: I had a stud horse that would put mouthfuls of grain on the pipe railings of his pen in a neat line. He would then eat the grain off the rail. Strangely enough, some of his babies had the same quirk.
Q: If you were not in the horse racing business, what job would you like to have? A: A job in the marketing field.
Q: What is your favorite thing about living where you live?
A: The weather.
Q: If you could vacation anywhere on the planet, where would it be and what would you do there?
A: I have visited Japan and Alaska, and they were both incredible and I would love to go back. Also on my bucket list is Australia.
Q: Do you have a favorite quote and, if so, what is it?
A: “The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well-meaning but without understanding”, by Chief Justice Louis Brandeis.
Q: If you could sit down and visit with anyone, past or present, who would it be? A: Nez Perce Chief Joseph, who led his people in an attempt to escape to Canada. I always had an interest in the American frontier and would love to see history through his eyes.
Q: What drink would your friends describe you as?
A: A margarita—festive and fun.
Q: Who’s your favorite athlete of all time, and why?
A: Tim Tebow. An all-around athlete who is also a man of faith and not ashamed of it.
Q: If you were making a movie about yourself, who would you cast to play you? A: Sandra Bullock. She has that “girl next door” quality and I like that.
Q: What’s one thing you don’t like about Quarter Horse racing?
A: The cheating with drug use on our beloved horses by our trainers. Steps are being taken right now in New Mexico to eliminate the loopholes that attorneys are using to get their clients off. I support hair testing.
Q: What’s one thing you like about Quarter Horse racing?
A: The people. I can remember returning to the Ruidoso Select Sale after having lunch with my parents, and as we topped the hill and looked down at the tents, barns, trucks, and trailers, I said, “These are my people.” My parents smiled and I thought to myself that it sounded corny, but that is how I feel.
94 SPEEDHORSE, December 2016
THE LIGHTER SIDE