Football

Josh Norman finds peace off field riding his horse Delta

By Phil Orban, wsoctv.com
By Phil Orban, wsoctv.com

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. — On Sundays, Panthers cornerback Josh Norman is one of the most intense competitors in the NFL, but off the field he has a more peaceful demeanor.

Two miles from Interstate 77 sits an idyllic farm in Huntersville. Bit O Luck Horse Rescue is where Norman keeps his 10-year-old saddle-bred Delta.

Five minutes into his first ride, you could see a change in his manner and the pressure and stress all melted away.

"You need a release like this, don't you, just cut loose?" Channel 9 sports anchor Phil Orban asked.

"Absolutely, absolutely the release, no cares no worries, just come out here and it's you and your beast. You become the horse and the horse becomes you in a way," Norman said.

Norman grew up on a horse farm in South Carolina and has owned and ridden horses his whole life.

He and Delta have been together five years, which is also the span of Norman's NFL career.

He gets away about once a week during the season for a much-needed reprieve.

"Just stepping away from the game and just clearing my head and clearing my thoughts," Norman said.

Controlling a thoroughbred horse is similar to controlling a fast and strong NFL wide receiver.

"If I'm not in tune to the wide receivers movement my hips aren't as quick as their hips that gives them a big play," Norman said.

Occasionally Delta goes where he wants and occasionally a wide receiver gets the better of Norman, but that's rare. Most often it's Norman in control.

When he's riding he often reflects on where he's come from, which is a walk-on at Coastal Carolina to one of the NFL's best defenders.

"Just like wow sit back and really look at everything we've been through and overcame. We were able to get out here and get our thoughts together," Norman said.

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