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
William
Zenyatta,
I’ve never known what greatness was. I’ve never seen what hope, love and devotion can do. To see what strangers can do for someone unknown to them has given me hope. I live each day wondering where life will take me. I can only wish for something great and to have the kind of love I’ve seen so many people have given you. You have inspired me not to give up and keep trying to win even if it’s not in a race .. Well guess some people could call life a race. I write to you again because it feels right to share my thoughts. I’ve not done that before at least not to where so many people can read this. I don’t recall having a childhood dream at least not an unreachable one. I’m 35 years old and I have no idea what it is in life that really gives me ambition. I know so many people wish to meet you in person and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t one of them. To me you are the greatest as they come horse or human and I hope one day to stand before you look into your eyes and to feel what so many have felt when they are around you. Perhaps I can one day. Thats one dream that I’ll not give up on.
Happy birthday ZENNY! Thank you for everything you have given all of us! Thank you for keeping us in your thoughts everyday! Everyone in your team is truly the best!!
With love to all! William
J Smith
Wonderful! The cup cakes look beautiful. We all had a special day too, sharing in your birthday, reading each others posts. Yet again, you have made 1000’s of people happy.
WILLIAM, that was a lovely post. Don’t worry, I’m 50 something and I still don’t know what I want to do when I grow up! I used to think lack of ambition was a bad thing, but looking back on life, I’ve managed to fit a lot in. Just make sure to live though, no sitting on the couch, unless you are watching HGTV!
Delrene
Zenyatta – you look stunning even with food in your mouth!!!! You cannot take a bad picture. You are perfect. What a wonderful time everyone had. Thank you Dottie for the pictures!!!!
Snoprinz
The huge birthday card from the NY kindergarten class was precious, the cupcakes were colorful and looked scrumptious and you were beautiful eating your carrots. You mentioned that Ann and the ladies from Barn 55 paid you a visit on your birthday. What about the guys like John, Steve, Mario and Mike?
Trina Nagele
@Amanda Gilliland—Condolences to you and your cousin’s wife. Now your cousin rests in God’s arms. I hope you feel the loving warmth of a Zenyatta hug around you.
Delrene
The person who asked about MTB VIDEO playing ball. I typed in google “video of Mine that Bird playing with ball” and in you tube there are at least two of him in his stall with this huge big ball they bought him. It’s about 5 min video. I met Dr. Blach, co-owner of MTB, a really nice man. Birdy seems happy and I hope he gets a spot to run around sometime and not be stuck in a stall all the time.
Leslie R.
@ Amanda G., my deepest sympathy to you and your family.
Hugs,
Leslie
Trina Nagele
@Kathryn Cogswell—Thank you for your exquisite description of those special moments of communication that you shared with a trusting horse on your birthday long ago.
karen g
Thank you Delrene!
Christine Coleman
Hi Zenny…You look so beautiful and serene. May God bless your owners and connections. It is obvious you are not just a “horse” to them but a dearly loved family member. This makes me so happy. Just want you to know you have stolen my heart as well. Take care my big, beautiful, majestic mare!
Marilu V
To Robbie: I agree with your wish to have a veil of privacy shielding Zenyatta’s next pregnancy until the 45th day, if that is when being “in foal” becomes reliable. We can then rejoice and pray she will have a healthy and safe pregnancy. Thanks Robbie! Marilu
Margaret
Z I just noticed something about the pic of you with the carrot hanging out of your mouth. You chew with your lips closed. No open mouth chewing! Just another one of those moments when we can learn from you!
Sue
LOOK AT THOSE BEAUTIFUL EARS! love the photos and love you
Stu
Zenny, your a special gift to all of us. We love you.
Nancy L
One of my gifted 10th grade students has a solution for forgetting an answer. He says something good about Zenyatta. Only he always pronounces your name incorrectly. Yesterday, I finally had a little chat about it (it was driving me nuts!) and I explained why you were named Zenyatta and all about Mr. Moss. Hope it sticks!
Kathy Kimber
To Amanda G. Thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief.
Zenyatta, good morning beautiful lady we are looking forward to your birthday pictures/ If you see Bernie this week tell him we all wish the best for both of you
Nykole
Happy Birthday Zenyatta! May you have many more. (I love you because you remind me of my all-time favorite horse Ruffian.) You have spunk! Good luck with the kids, I bet you’ll be a great mom. :]
Stella Bagwell
Dearest Zenyatta,
Wow! What a party! So happy to hear you had such a special day and that birthday card from the children was really rockin’! I hope the next seven years of your life are as fabulous as the last seven have been. You’re one very special lady and thank you so much for letting all of us share in your life.
God Bless you always, dear Z,
With much love,
Stel
Nancy
What a wonderful birthday you had! Lots of treats and the people that love you.
Maryyette
Hi, Sweet Girl – wishing you a wonderful birthday all the way from Arkansas – and we are happy to see those Apple Blossoms on your cupcakes, too!! Mike Smith has been doing a great job on the horses he is riding at Oaklawn, and we love having him here, but sure do miss you!! Love you so much, Zenyatta – always!!!
Shari Voltz
Dear Zenyatta here are some of my students: that is amazing!!!!!Logan Blake wow,this is from kaycie joy and i like to say to you that you look so cool in that picture lol you are so coOOL. wE LOVE YOU XXXXXXOOOOOOOO
Annika
Hi Zenny,
I’m so happy that you got a wonderful day, well deserved!!
I’m very happy that everything goes well, haha those cakes look good(:.
You’ll always be my number 1, Love You
XXX Annika
Sarah T.
I love this post. It’s so wonderful that everyone flew in to see you and celebrate you. Wish I could have been there! That’s great you were showered with gifts from all over – you are one of the most loved horses ever. Very nice pic of you enjoying your birthday snack. Can’t wait to see more. Glad you had a great day!
Love,
Sarah
evy
So glad you had a wonderful birthday. I loved the life-sized card from the NY kids. All the photos were great….thanks for sharing them.
Lydia
Dearest Zenyatta, Your birthday card from the children was so wonderful. The pictures were a delight. I’m so glad that you enjoyed your birthday. It was so nice that your family came to visit you on your special day. Precious girl you give us so much pleasure and joy. Thank you and your family for sharing your life with us. Love you always.
@Kathryn Cogswell, Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience of so long ago.
@William, I appreciate your thoughts, your words were heart felt. Don’t give up your dream of meeting our sweet sweet Zenyatta. I too live for the day that I will feel her presence. Believe, it will happen.
Anne
Dottie, if the cards for the bronze are just being drawn, when you get it down to the smallest number, why not let Zenyatta select the winner. That would make for a cute photo. I’m not sure how that would work for a horse, but I let my golden retriever make our Super Bowl prediction every year. Glad you got to pay Zeny a visit. Looking forward to more birthday pictures.
Tricia Clemmensen
Zenny – You look absolutely stunning in the above picture eating your carrots. Wow, your new life is really and truly agreeing with you. So glad you had a wonderful birthday and best of all had company from Barn 55. You rock, Zenny.
Have fun with Bernie this week sweetheart.
Heather Davis
Zenyatta, SO glad that you loved the life size drawing from our Kindergarten class! They were so excited to do it and really thought about words to describe you. They took pride in every piece of the picture. Looks like you had a great birthday! Even as their teacher it brings tears to my eyes seeing it in this post! Our Kindergarten class in Hadley-Luzerne, NY sends you lots of love and birthday wishes!
Holly
*Sigh
I’ve been a Zenyatta fan from the beginning. Love her and the people around. However been disappointed with limited videos/pictures coming out of the Z Camp. With all due respect, the pictures of LE staff eating cupcakes, cupcakes, B’day cards are great when put in context. Posting just one picture of Zenyatta feels like they’re now stringing us along and making it about the anticipation of posting the pictures of her visit from the LA family as opposed to just posting them. It now feels like Zenyatta has become part of some PR stunt. I’m beginning to lose interest in following her like many of her CA fans. Please just post pictures/videos on occasion. And followers on here, please don’t post, “we should just be appreciative that they post.” These folks aren’t softies-there in the horse business. They can take some constructive suggestions. Dottie, please just have LE simply snap some pictures of her on occasion.
Shirley Donoho
So glad you had a wonderful birthday celebration. I was thinking of you when I celebrated my April 1st, AGAIN on April 3. My special “cake” was a scrumptious chocolate mousse pie, with lots of whipped cream, which I shared with all the kids, grandkids and a great grandkid. Love you, Z Shirley