Good Morning,
I hope you had a fabulous weekend! I sure did! It all started on Friday afternoon when several of MY BARN 55 FRIENDS flew into Lexington for MY BIRTHDAY! Ann, Dottie, Dawn Hunkin (one of my vets), Michelle (one of John’s assistants and my personal masseuse while I was at the barn), Isabelle (who was my rider whenever Steve was off)Lara and Claudia (Moss family members and 2 of my biggest cheerleaders) all flew in to be with me for the celebration. Sarah joined us when everyone got to the farm. This was all planned in advance…so it is very special that it was able to really HAPPEN!
Charles and the guys helped me get ready for my party. I was outside grazing after my bath when everyone arrived. There were all kinds of snacks and goodies to eat! My favorites were carrots, pears, bananas and peppermints. There was a SPECIAL CAKE JUST FOR ME…and cupcakes for everyone at the farm. They had Z’s, Apple Blossoms or Crowns on them! My John sent his camera with Dottie…so we have tons of photos for him to download and share with ALL OF YOU later this week.
I also received so many cards and gifts from so many wonderful people. You guys are too much! The photo at the top of the page is from a kindergarten class in New York. They did a life-size drawing of ME. They used cotton balls for the white on my legs and my blaze and yarn for my mane and tail. The students wrote me messages all over the card! This really took a great deal of hard work for the students and their teacher. It is absolutely TOO CUTE! It is also very touching that they would do this for ME! We have sent this card back to California to Barn 55 where John is going to display it. I am SO PROUD!
The 5th grade class from Ohio sent a fruit basket (it was terrific) and some of you even sent ME checks for the farm to buy me peppermints and fruit. I am truly speechless at all of this KINDNESS! I want you to know…I am DEEPLY TOUCHED and VERY APPRECIATIVE of all of this THOUGHTFULNESS!
I’m now 7! I can’t wait for John to share the rest of the photos with you of my PARTY! THANK YOU AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING!
On another note, I wanted to let you know about the ZENYATTA BRONZE CONTEST! As Dottie was out of town this weekend, she could not get to the post office to get all of the entries until later today. Thus, in fairness to everyone, we’ll start the drawing on Wednesday. We will pick the 64 cards for the first part of the contest on that day. So sorry for the inconvenience…but there was no way to get the cards from the last few days until this afternoon. We appreciate your understanding this change in schedule!
Again, thank you for making ME FEEL SO SPECIAL in SO MANY WAYS!
With love,
Hugs to all~
Z
Fran
What a wonderful Birthday Z. I am so glad your family got to visit with you on your special day! Can’t wait to see all of the pictures! xxoo
Diana
Z, you are special and you touch our hearts every day. I am so happy you had such a wonderful time, received so many nice gifts and wishes, had special visitors, and you deserved it all. Hugs and kisses!
Mary
Thank you is never enough, but thank you to everyone for sharing the life of Z with us. Hugs and Prayers
Signofthetimes
Dear Zenny
What a wonderful B-day !!!! So nice to have
A visit from CA Girls !!! Great deserts and a beautiful
Card to go in your stall St Barn 55. It will look like you
Are their. Have a wonderful day XXXXXOOO
karen g
Sorry, but does anyone have a link to MTB facebook page? It will not come up for me, no matter what I do! Thank you Too! Karen G P.S. Zenny, I love you more, and more!!
Kitei
Happy you’re happy Your Majesty! Love the big card, especially the fluffy cotton socks and blaze. Maybe you could have yours permed to match? I copy / pasted your backwards photo into Paint and flipped it! Amazing! It turns into a real picture of you! The whole facial expression changes because of being backward, when you flip it the right way it looks much more alert, more YOU! Can anyone explain that? Guess it means there is only one right way to be Z…
Astrid
@Karen G – are you a MTB fan too?:)
MTB facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mine-that-Bird/94159322088
Mine that bird the Movie facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mine-That-Bird-the-Movie/129927947041261
and an ‘older’ ball playting video:)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daQZ6rJlcvM
Janet Cutting
Hi Zenny and everyone- It is just wonderful to hear what you received!!! The life-size picture from the kids– what a KEEPSAKE that is for you and Team Z. It’s easy to see that all the gifts are “GIFTS FROM THE HEART” You are so deserving of it all Queen Zenyatta !!!!!!!!
Ingrid in MA
Sounds like you had a fun day with all your friends! Can’t wait to see more pictures! You don’t look a day over six,my girl. I just wanted to lean in and plant a kiss right on your nose in that last pic,Zenny,you’re so cute! Love you,Sweet Zen!
Robbie Pfeufer Kahn
Zenyatta lovely one: Imagine—you have become a school project in many classrooms. You are an educator—in love, kindness, courage, humor and even articulateness. The gigantic card made by small kindergarten children captures your character as well as any photo, in my opinion. They see you clearly because they are young enough to be sincere. If only their older counterparts, in college for example had that quality. Perhaps children who grow up loving you will retain their true-seeing spirit.
I’m so glad that your extended family of women came to celebrate your birthday with you. We all look forward to seeing John Shireff’s photos that Dottie took.
Your post today cracked me up. You said: I am truly speechless at all of this KINDNESS!” You, a horse who has learned human speech, can become stuck for words, just like us! “Too funny,” as you might say.
To Laura J: Thank you for your encouragement about retirement; for a perspective on social networking (this is my first experience of it—entirely the result of falling in love with Zenyatta); and about horse racing. I’ve been aware of the Triple Crown, but that’s about it and was deeply distressed by the terrible injury to Barbaro (which I watched happen) and by hearing about Eight Belles sad, sad ending. I get upset, too, by whips. Monty Roberts says they are not necessary. I learned about Zenyatta late in her career b/c of an article in the NYT that a friend gave me b/c she knew I loved horses.
To Marilu V: It’s a comfort to hear that you share the idea that we “not. . .get ahead of ourselves. Patience for the wonderful blessing to unfold in the right time.” Personally, I’d be just as glad if a veil of privacy shielded Zenyatta’s next meeting with Bernardini and shielded her pregnancy status until the 45th day, if that is when being “in foal” becomes reliable.
To Karey R, Mary Hale, and Amanda Gilliland: I left messages for you toward the very end of #218.
Margaret Murphy
Your 7 Wow. You look beautiful. Not a day older then 5. Your picture eating carrots is very cute. Your face looks so pretty. You are a very pretty lady.
We love you. God Bless!!!!
mary bobolis
What a beautiful picture of you with the carrot greens hanging out of your mouth. It certainly does look like you have been clipped. You look so smooth and clean like you used to when you were with John. I knew Ann Moss woulf be there for sure. Thank you so much for sharing the awesome pictures with us. I’m waiting to see you with your cake..
Vickie Willmuth
Glad you had such a grand day. I hope the card I sent got there on time!
Debbie G
I’m so glad you had a good birthday, my sweet Zenny. I love the picture of you with the carrot and I can’t the see the other pictures. I love you!!
Janet Cutting
I was just wondering– I notice like in the pic of Z eating her carrot–someone is always hold her strap from her harness-would she not stay close to everyone if let go? Just a curious observation. Thanks,Janet C
Shawna Lynn
Happy birthday, Z! We will always love you and never stop cheering for you!
Sally (B)
Oh Z, this all takes the cake you sweet cupcake you! Z, you have a very special lovely face, (even though the blaze appears reversed, like others have said on the picture)you are one-of-a-kind: gorgeous and happy!! You had a great B-day party! NY kiddos sure did a terrific job of the lifesize picture of you! Just think, you have those who are 5 yrs old up to 80+ yrs. that love you, and then, all over the world too. It sure does not bother me one itty bit that the first 64 postcards are drawn on Wed. One more day that I’m still in the running with everyone else!ha By the way, I watched the last part of Kentucky vs. Ucon. All displayed alot of heart. It came down to the wire; they lost by 1 point! You may have lost by a nose at the wire at 2010 Breeders Cup; but with you Z (I was there), what you did on the track was the most rivoting display of heart and speed to the end. Can’t wait for more pictures from your party! I still have to give you one birthday kiss. Hope perhaps later Oct. Nov. maybe? love with a kiss on your soft nose
Henrietta Wolfe
You look fabulous in the photo with your carrots. Glad you had all your loved ones there over the weekend. I know they miss you with all their hearts. Hope you are feeling good and enjoying everything. Nice of you to share all your goodies. I love you Zenyatta and will be waiting to hear from you soon. xoxoxoxox
Margaret
Z it looks like retirement has been good for you. The cotton in your ears are now gone. I would guess that things are just a bit lower keyed at the farm and you don’t have thousand of screaming fans.
I kinda like seeing your ears so plain.
I love you Z.
Kathy Beyers
is the last photo flipped or am I seeing backwards? Either way it is lovely! How sweet of the kids to draw something so special….it must have been fun for all of them AND for you and your team! Those cupcakes look yummy! Thanks for sharing all the great fun!
sue w
Zenny…The special card you got is just too cute! Those children who made it for you are special just like you. There’s nothing like a party with good friends. The gals from Barn 55 must have had a blast with you. The cupcakes look yummy and, from the looks of things, your LE pals enjoyed them a lot. No problem about the drawing for the bronze…I would love to be the winner but there are thousands of fans who probably said what you mean to them a lot better than I did.
Dottie…you should get an award for keeping Zenny in our lives. Not only am I learning lots but I’m having a great time doing it. Love to all of Team Z and the Queen herself.
Christine in VA
Dear Zen,
You are SPECIAL and if some do not understand this it is their LOSS. You and your team have changed so many lives. The true depth of what your life on earth has done may never be known.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY GIFT FROM GOD.
Sharon Call
@Janet Cutting. That is a lead line fastened to her halter. It’s a safety thing when she’s outside of a fence or barn. You never hold her just by her halter (or any horse for that matter). One quick jerk of the head and you no longer have any control over the horse and they are free to go wherever they want to. This could be dangerous for the horse so the lead is always held and attached to the halter. She might stay with them (especially if they have treats) but the idea is to make sure she does by holding that lead line.
Roxi Cook
This is just precious! Love all the photos and updates!!
Katie Clawson
Too cute Zenny!! What a sweet card from the kids in NY! Those cupcakes look yummy! Z, you take my breath away every time I see you, but you are backwards in the last picture. ;) You look great sweetie and I’m glad your Barn 55 friends got to visit. I can’t wait ’til WE get to visit our lovely girl!
Very excited for the card contest! We all understand that things happen and sometimes you can’t get to where you need to go.
We love you here in Brazil, IN!
Love, Katie(future jockey)
Steph
I hope you had one of the best birthdays of your life, and all your birthday wishes come true. Love the photos, u must have had a great time.
Happy Birthday again Queen Zenyatta
Kathy Baldwin
Ah, Zenny! A big beautiful birthday for a
big beautiful girl! :)
Thanks for sharing this special time Zen
and “Connections”.
Love to you all,
Kathy from SoCal
Pamela J Hebert
Zenny I’m soooo glad you had such a wonderful birthday!!!! The card from the children was certainly creative & such a good likeness of you. They did work very hard on it! The cupcakes look delicious!! I’m so glad your Barn 55 girls came to see you. Your friends at Lane’s End can see how much you are loved by all. Take care sweetie!! You look FABULOUS!!!! Thank you Dottie.
suemar
Z I want to let you know that “mar” of Suemar is celebrated her 63 birthday with you all weekend. We went to OTB and since her birthday is today she is having a Kentucky bourbon called Woodford Reserve.
She likes cake also! We love you SOOOO much beautiful girl!!
Jan Doyle
You are absolutely beautiful. Hope you had the best birthday yet. Lots of goodies for you. So glad all the girls got to spend it with you. We all love you so much. Thanks for sharing all the great fun! Hugs to you Zenny!