Good Morning,
On so many levels, I can’t thank all of you enough for the kind words you wrote to ME yesterday. Your support and consideration means a great deal. Thank you for encouraging ME to be ME!
I truly am getting a bit of a ‘baby bump’….to quote this current human phrase. I am definitely starting to gain some ‘baby weight’. I must say…this is very exciting!
In my life, my weight has always been a huge consideration. When I was an athlete, MY JOHN would constantly monitor my weight….before and after exercise…and then before and after a race! He had a ‘weight tape’ which he placed over my withers and directly behind my elbow….right around my heart area. This tape is scientifically designed to calculate the weight of a horse based upon a very specific formula. Thus, the point on the tape where the 2 parts meet as it is placed around my body would give my weight. The number given is considered to be quite accurate.
Not only did MY JOHN want to monitor my weight, he also wanted to see how much my weight changed before and after exercise. This would be true for any athlete in any sport.
My optimum weight while racing was right at 1200–1205 pounds. I know, I’m a good-sized girl! What is the saying….it is what you do with what you’ve got that matters! Believe me, I truly subscribed to this principle while racing…and continue to embrace it in my life today!)
Thus, right at 1200ish pounds was MY JOHN’S target weight for ME when preparing for a race. As mentioned earlier, he monitored it all of the time and kept a detailed record of it while I was enjoying my time at BARN 55.
All of this goes to illustrate….THE DETAILS MATTER!
Now, my weight is very important for another reason. I have gained ‘some pounds’ for sure…but I do think I look TOO CUTE!
With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z
ENSIGN
The average mare will gain 150+ lbs during pregnancy, relative obviously to the size of the mare, size of the foal and how much she needs to gain considering her weight at conception.
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Even if Zenyatta were not in foal she’d have gained the same amount of weight by now that she already has. She came to the farm in racing weight so they’ve slowly been adding healthy weight to her frame. She’ll gain the majority of her pregnancy weight in her last trimester – so from roughly January on she’ll see a much more pronounced weight gain and change in body shape.
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‘Average’ TB foal birth weight ranges from 90 to 130 lbs (with those coming in on either side of that average). Maiden mares do tend to sometimes have slightly smaller foals but you’d like to see Zenyatta have one in the 110+ range : )
Teresa
So exciting to see your development darling. I still always defend you and your team whenever I run into bashers on racing sites ;) You are the greatest racehorse of all time. No doubt <3
Gloria Jeanne
Ok everyone – Zenny now has 86,000 FACEBOOK FANS!!! So awesome and wonderful just like you my dear Zenyatta.
I can’t wait until you have 100,000 fans and more. You have given us so much joy, so many wonderful memories, your gift is more than anyone can ever ask of a horse. You simly AMAZING!!!!!
THANK YOU – THANK YOU – THANK YOU
For all you and your team have given to all your fans!!!
Love you!!!
I only have one request – more live video of you playing or just hanging out eating a carrot or something. I miss seeing you in person. :) :)
LouAnn Cingel of Union, Missouri
You always look so good and in optimum health. And yes, it is so cute to see that you are getting a little baby bump! Love you lots Zenyatta!
ENSIGN
Btw, some were asking about the fetal development chart. I can’t recall for sure, but this looks like one Dottie may have posted for you (?):
http://www.avenir-farm.com/#/fetal-development/4538605999
Saralee
Hi Zenny-you look great as always. That field you are in is so green and lush-you deserve the best. I live in Colorado on the plains near the foothills-nothing is that green ! Oh well, we have beautiful mountains. I keep sending youtubes of your 2009 Breeder’s Cup win to friends who don’t really follow racing except maybe during Triple Crown season and they all say “wow what a race” “wow what a horse” and that you are. I miss seeing you race.
Saralee
And by the way-Happy Summer Solstice !
Joan Walls
Dear Zenny – All Mothers look beautiful. Your Z-team will keep your weight monitored so that you and the “baby” remain healthy. All of your devoted fans are anxious “grandparents” Nothing can happen to our beautiful Z! Love and hugs. Joan
Debbie G
Hello my sweet Zenny. I think you look beautiful with your little baby bump. You definitely have that pregnancy “glow” going on. And if anyone ever knew exactly what to do with that they have, it’s you, gorgeous girl. I love you!!! :-)
@Cheryl M- love your post :-)
@Deborah Richmond – Thank you so much for the link to the Reckless video. What an amazing horse! I bet it’s just a matter of time before a movie is made about her.
@Charlotte Farmer – I just read the LA times article about Noor, and I just have to thank you for all the hard work you’re doing. Not a lot of people would go to such great lengths as you have, and I really admire you. The world would be a much better place if it had more people like you in it. :-)
Cynthia H.
My one complaint about this site, is that there is so much great reading, and regretfully, so little time to do it. I am trying to catch-up on responses from yesterday. Many have been so kind, I would hate to think that I missed anyone, and hope I have not.
@Dawn Conrad: My heart is full for you. I am sure that your dad was very proud of you, and would be even more so today. May life bring you gifts of joy.
@Sharon Call:You have such a proud genetic heritage. We can try to live our lives well, to honor our parents. I agree with you and Dawn, the wound never heals, but opening our hearts to others does help.
@Sarah Powell:Thank you, Sarah. You must be so proud of your dad. He was one of “The Greatest Generation.” Blessiings to you and to him.
@Kim S: My heart goes out to you. The first year without dad is so very difficult. One consolation we have, is our storehouse of good memories, and it sounds as if you have many. Birthdays are hard. TIme will help. Hugs and blessings to you.
Jean M.
Beautiful Zenyatta, Please thank Sarah for the pretty photograph and Dottie for her devotion to you and to all of us that love you so much. What would we do without them? You wear your beauty and fame like a comfortable shoe but one can see that no detail has been omitted in the care and love that goes into your well being. I used to worry so much that you would become depressed without your family near but my fears have been put to rest seeing you so content. Love you, big girl.
Rhonda Clements
Zenny you are and will always be a gorgeous girl, baby bump or not, simply breathtaking. We love you Z and all those who continue to share you with us thank you so much, you are all one of a kind for sure!
Cynthia H.
Forgot to say, thank you, Sarah Campion (I want your job), for yet another great photo. It looks like everything is definitely “coming up clover” for Zenyatta!
Morgan
Queen Z Your pregnant! I just read some responses and i was like wha?!?! cause you dont have it in any of your posts! Well now to go grab the Zenny Baby stuff! OMG this is so exciting! Your gonna be a WONDERFUL MOM and your baby will be just like its momma… A fan favorite and an Excelent racer! It will have your legend go on and on and on! Well This is so exciting. all of Fallon Nevada wishes you Happy mother hood and good luck with the baby! We love you big girl! Truly its me who loves you the most Zenny!
Robyn Mullhausen
Thanks for the beautiful photo, Sarah. Z, you look like you and your GF are enjoying that KY blue grass. Zenny, you are as beautiful as ever with you tiny baby bump, and as we humans say, you carry it well.
Trina Nagele
@Deborah Richman—WOW! The story of Reckless is incredible! And to think I had never heard of her! Thanks for sharing the video link. It sure brought tears of admiration to my eyes. I went to her facebook page and found this post there by Hans Moelder : “An old Marine at the American Legion told me her military decorations included two Purple Hearts, a Good Conduct Medal, a Presidential Unit Citation with star, a National Defense Service Medal, a Korean Service Medal, a United Nations Service Medal, and a Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, all of which she wore proudly on her red and gold blanket. He said she also enjoyed beer and scrambled eggs.” (Does that beer remind you of someone?) The people on her page on trying to get a book written and a movie made to properly honor this great forgotten equine heroine.
@The Kennedys from San Diego—-Thanks so much for the tender story of Mario and Zenny. Too cute!
@Judy Berube—I loved the video of Uncle Mo and his girlfriend, the truly awesome Awesome Maria, now four for four as a four-year-old. Thanks for the link!
Signofthetimes
Dear Zenny,
You look gorgeous carrying that “chipmunk”. Finally
At normal weight you are a beautiful girl.
Enjoy that KY bluegrass with your BBF. They are
So lucky to share your special broodmare paddock
That your lovely owners had built for you. You are
A cherished fortunate girl.
XXXXOOO
phyllis Horn
You MUST name the baby Too Cute!! It’s a natural. Love you our Lady Z George and Phyllis
judy berube
To Trina Nagele and Kimberly Potter:
You’re welcome. Hugs,J.B.
To Ensign:
Once again, thank you for the informative post and the foal development link. Hugs, J.B.
Z Fans:
Thank you all for the great links. Hugs ,J.B.
janice
we will always LOVE YOU YOUR GOING TO B A MAMA YOUR STILL SOSO BEAUTIFUL i think aout you and your baby every day LOVE YOU BOTH EVERY DAY MISS YOU ALWAYS
pamela
Enjoy your grazing Zenny you are eating for two. Love your baby bump the most famous bump in the world per fans.
judy berube
Dear Deborah Richman:
What a terrific story about Reckless. Thank you so much. I had never heard of her before this. My husband was a Marine in World War II and he was so moved when I told him about her. Her story really should be made into a PBS documentary or into a movie. She was really something. Hugs, J.B.
Cathy Marshall
Zenny, where is your fly mask? Your pasture gal has hers on. Just wondering. Love ya, Zenny!
Kathryn Cogswell
Terry Crow .. . The trick is the timing: “Can you beat that. A talking dog.”
DJ
To Kathy Kimber: Thank you for that short and sweet ‘Goodnight All’. You are also “TOO SPECIAL!” I will just end with ditto…
Stephanie J Lambert
is Daddy John going to monitor your weight still :) LOL, I bet he does :) He loves his girl so much xxxxx0x0x0x00x
Linda/Maryland
You are TOO CUTE, Zenny!!
Watch your weight carefully and stay healthy!
Love You !
Kathryn Cogswell
Dear Terry Crow: I meant it to read that it is your perfect timing that does the trick [didn`t write right].
Kim S
Another wonderful picture of you Zenny. And with a beautiful friend in the background. It looks like Tasty Temptation all around :)
@Judy Berube–Thank you for the sentiment about my Dad and thanks for visiting the website. Sorry to hear about Russ’ challenge. Sending thoughts and prayers to you both.
@Susan in TN & Trina Nagele–Thank you for visiting the website too. Susan, at rough count there is about 34-35 residents, I will try to get a true number when I go tomorrow. Trina, William and Lacy are TOO CUTE together. They each have a stall with a shared paddock run. At feeding time, if Lacey isn’t sequestered, William will let her steal his food. If that isn’t love :)
@DJ–my email is kimmysue09@msn.com and thank you, the Holy Card would be appreciated.
@Charlotte Farmer and Terry Crow–kudos to you for your networking for Noor. Michael’s LA Times article was great. Also Charlotte, thanks for the tears when being reminded about Bless the Beast and the Children. And Terry, for the laughs from your jokes. I appreciate them as they are the kind that my Dad liked to tell. Hope your friend, Don, came home today.
@Sarah Powell–when there is an animal in need, they seem to know where to go. I think they had email and websites before we silly humans :) Keep up the great work!
@Karen Gogue–TOO CUTE on the postcards
@Cynthia H–Thanks for your sentiment as well. And I agree, the only negative here is finding time to keep up with everyone. It is just so great to know there are so many caring people out there. Most of us seem to be of the same fabric, genuinely concerned for all and die-hard animal lovers :)
Thanks to everyone for the links you shared today and for the informative info.
@Ensign–good to know you are still out there.
Gosh, another book. So sorry Zenny, but you just seem to bring out the best from your fans.
I’ll end it by saying thanks Sarah Campion for the photos, to Dottie, John, the Mosses and the rest of Team Z for all you have done and still do.
Goodnight Miss Z and to all, lotsa love.
Elizabeth Barrow
Hope you’ve got a Triple Crown winner cookin’ in there!