Hello Everyone,
I have been one very busy girl of late. In addition to my normal activities each day at the farm, I have recently hosted a few visitors. Last Friday, Jim Rome, who nationally hosts several sports talk programs on radio and television, happened to be in Lexington on business. One of his stops was at Lane’s End Farm.
The cute part is that he asked if he could visit ME!
While we were spending a bit of time together, Jim ‘tweeted’ to his fans…”I’m here, kicking it with THE QUEEN.”
I must say, Jim was also very, very kind in his comments about ME. He is a great fan of racing and is a big supporter of our sport! When someone commented that I was the 2010 HORSE OF THE YEAR….he quickly responded that in his mind I was HOTY more than just one year.
What a guy! I am extremely flattered! (Blush, Blush!)
It is truly a great feeling in life when you hear that your hard work and efforts are respected, appreciated, and recognized by others. His kind words really made ME feel so proud and very special!
With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z
Susan in TN
@ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE ME TO EMAIL A RIVER EDGE FARM HORSE RESCUE NEWSLETTER AND/OR PHOTOS OF SOME OF THE HORSES,CONTACT ME AT: carothers.susan@yahoo.com AND I WILL BE HAPPY TO DO THAT!
Zenyen
@LauraJ,
Great link! Funny but as I opened it I remembered reading about Corslew and recognized his name right away. Can’t believe I’d forgotten that one as it was fairly recent, 2006.
Terry Crow
@Charlotte Farmer–Bill Dwyre did register surprise at the fund raising thus far. The way he put it was that he couldn’t believe that horse racing has sunk so low that there haven’t been sufficient donations for this cause. Here’s hoping something shakes loose. The people you have contacted and others suggested may help you turn the corner. @Cynthia H-Quicken Tree was one of my favorites, a stretch runner like Zenyatta. The Lamb Chop case was really sad. Isn’t she buried at Santa Anita? @DJ-Great stuff. I am still revising the “5” joke, incorporating your suggestions. @Barbara Wood and Trina Nagele the books were written after Shoemaker suffered his injury and only stopped when he did. @Kim S–Like I have said before, these ARE your father’s jokes. Glad you are enjoying them. @Jackie Feinberg-The Bay meadows Company owns Hollywood Park. It is generally known that when the economy picks up the land will be developed. The only reason it is still standing is because the business climate makes it more viable as a racetrack at this time. @Susan in TN–How is Lou doing? OK, here is today’s joke. The way I heard it was about a truck driver cafe, but in keeping with this site’s theme I’ll make it a racetrack cafe. A prominent trainer comes into a racetrack cafe to have breakfast. ‘What is today’s special?”, he asks. “Tongue,” the waitress replies. “Tongue?” says the trainer, :do you expect me to eat something that came out of an animal’s mouth?”. “I guess not,” says the waitress. “How about some eggs?”
Lil from KY
Trina N—Thanks for your good wishes
Susan in Tn
LisaG Thank you, Thank you, my love to you & everyone!
DJ
Terry C: Very funny! Rolled right off-the-tongue!
Lil from KY
Kari Bussell—–I wish I had your great vocabulary, to express to you how very inspiring & wonderful your message was to me! It does lift me up and you do transfer your thoughts to words Very well.
I feel like I know so many of you on this site, who are so compassionate & have such love to give. I guess our love for Zenny is uniting us & bringing us together.
Thank you again, you’re a marvelous person.
MK
Zenny, I’d love to visit and tweet about you! Let me know when you have an opening for lunch!
Celeste
What a beautiful photo you have shared with us! Of course, I could not agree more with Mr. Rome – you are more than simply a Horse of the Year. I will borrow a phrase from one of your other fans who posted before – you are the Horse of a Lifetime – Horse of my Heart. Thank you!!
Susan in TN
RESCUE AT RIVER EDGE: It’s about time!
CHESTER: Chester continues to gradually gain weight and his coat is sleek and shiny.His mouth has healed from his extensive dental work and he can graze well and eat his senior pellets dry now. He still has trouble eating hay.His treat of choice recently has been apples that are just beginning to get soft.He nickers at me when I get there and stays close to me unless I am near another horse-he still feels very vulnerable,I think,but is more relaxed and content. He is so quiet-I will turn around and he will literally be 4 inches behind me.I’m not saying that it’s all about me-I’m just the only one there.He is so precious! He loves to be groomed and stands like a rock.He looks very handsome and mysterious in the fly mask that Sharon Call provided!You can see the most recent photos of him in a Kodak gallery slide show that is posted on River Edge’s FB page or I can email them to you. His “before” picture is on their website and FB page.
ROOTBEER and RUSTY: Rusty continues to be the class clown who is fascinated with EVERYTHING and wants to be an active participant in all that I am doing.He is so much fun and a very fast learner.I can pick up his feet,touch him everywhere,lean on him-whatever! His halter/leadline work is going well.You can tell he is SO PROUD that he knows “whoa” so well.he stops on a dime and stands like a soldier.Very cute! Yesterday,he and I played “Jolly Ball soccer” with Rootbeer’s ball.I would kick it toward him and he would pick it up by the handle,swing it once or twice and let go and then I would kick it back.
ROOTBEER is a solemn sweetheart who tries so hard and is making steady progress.It gets easier every time to put the halter on and his groundwork is progressing. He still can’t be rushed but once he is comfortable with something, he is solid as a rock.I can now touch his belly,back to his tail and down to his knees.That probably doesn’t sound like much but I am a big believer in “baby steps.” He likes the Jolly Ball(courtesy of his special friend Shari Volz!) but in a less vigorous manner than Rusty.He is such a good boy-I feel so blessed to be able to work with him.He and Rusty are so good for each other-polar opposites! If they were similar,either way,it would not go well,I don’t think.
The nameless baby is growing like a weed and is really nice-looking.He is running his poor mother ragged at times,though! As hot as it is,he will suddenly decide that it sure would be fun to gallop across the barnyard or paddock and he flits across as Cheyenne trots after him,trying to keep up.She is such a good mother! Most horses are-but not all.The foal’s withers come up to my waist and I am a willowy 5’4″ tall :) He has his cute little “Chiclet” teeth,top and bottom-and tests them out frequently!
I want to tell you about a new horse who arrived about 10-12 days ago.He was surrendered by his owners for financial reasons.He is a light gray(white)21-year-old Arabian gelding named Azzi.He was not in bad shape-maybe a little thin,needed his teeth floated.Jane’s neighbor wanted to adopt him,which was great.She had one horse who needed a companion. Apparently not THIS companion,though. On the third day,their horse started going after Azzi,running him around,kicking and biting-the whole nine yards. Things seemed to settle down but when they went out to check on them at 10pm, Azzi had gone thru the fence and down a steep embankment(very steep)and disappeared.They couldn’t find him until the next morning when he was spotted standing out on a small sandbar in the river! He was just waiting…Ken got him without problem.Azzi had come down the ravine by way of a deer trail.It is amazing he wasn’t seriously hurt.As it was, he had so many cuts,scrapes bites,ticks-and a chunk of tissue missing just below his knee,on the inside.He was very lucky-it was close to the joint but didn’t compromise it.But all through the exam and cleaning and application of ointment and bandages,he had the calmest,kindest attitude-with people who were essentially strangers.Fast-forward about 10 days and after a visit to the vet,teeth floating and a course of anti-biotics,Azzi is healing up nicely and is so sweet and personable-but terrified of ANY of the other horses-even Chester! Understandable,but I hope he can find a companion here or a new home. He is really special.
Well,(obviously)I could go on and on,but I will stop for today and,for anyone who is still reading,thank you for your interest! <3
DJ
To Susan TN: Thank you for such a beautiful update on the lucky horses at Rivers Edge. What a rewarding stewardship you have been given over these special creatures. Blessings for a lovely Today!
Susan in TN
@TERRY CROW: I think we were posting at the same time! I wrote about Lou several posts up but basically he is better and slowly progressing.Thank you for thinking of him-I know you have a soft spot for dogs<3
Loved today's joke! I've thought before that the first person to try an egg was very hungry :)
Karen Gogue
@Kathy Kimber
Thank you for that post above. I wouldn’t have it any other way – yes,’we’ have flaws here in this country, but where else can one express ourselves and our thoughts so forthright without being censored or cut off from doing so? GOD BLESS THE USA, I say! And thank those men and women in the armed forces too!
Judy (Maass) Gadwood ~ CA
@ signofthetimes ~ THANK YOU for referencng the legendary JOHN HENRY! JH was my 1st love (he’s made room for Zenny!) You are right! It took a lot of patience and understanding by his major trainer – Ron McAnally – who gave JH the love and respect needed to bring the best out of JH! John Shirreffs has that SAME quality as a trainer! That’s why Shirreffs and McAnally are my top trainers :-D
————
Some day I’ll have to share my life experiences with JOHN HENRY… memories for a lifetime, just like Our Queen!
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p.s. For those who’ve never heard me say/write this: John Henry sent me ZENYATTA to ease my pain of losing him…. XO
Max
@LauraJ. Fantastic link. Yes, I have noticed the family resemblance with the ears. It looks like they might have come from Cinderella. Z has obviously not inherited the disposition, which was good for Team Z and now for Lane’s End. Thanks for this.
Karen Gogue
@Judy MG
Thank you for your help yesterday! :)
Sharon Call
@Judy Berube. Yes, I did read the link you posted about AK’s injury and I agree with you about the end of the article and how it made it sound like MMM bumped AK when actually it is Maragh causing the whole thing. Let me put it mildly and say I really wasn’t very happy about that wording.
Sharon Call
@Susan in Tn. Wow, Azzi is terrified of Chester??? Chester is scared of all the other horses except Cheyenne so it’s hard to fathom. But since Azzi had such a hard time with the other horse I can understand. I hope he’s left with Chester for a while to see if time will help. Chester so needs a buddy.
Kari Bussell
@Karren Gogue—I want to share a story with you since I am having problems getting into my yahoo…codes packed-LOL…This all happened about one hour ago..reminder today is official move day…I had just had a spat with my husband over what we keep or give to charity…I rushed outside with my arms full of things to load quite irritated nearly knocking down my postman who had “something ” addressed to me….What was inside included one of the most beautifully worded stories about our Queen I have read….The other contents floored me….I opened it outside….my neighbors now think they know I a quite nuts….as I feel to the ground sobbing (happy joyful tears)….The timing of when it arrived has also blown me away….Zen-magic….I am not sure if the person who sent it wants to be “known”..since it is her story as well as mine….I hope she shares the entire story and types the words she typed to me…It would bless everyone as it so blessed me…..I am moved beyond words and eternally grateful to her for “sharing”…..Many blessings to all & HUGS :)
thank you to everyone who took the time to leave me comments…I did read them…forgive me if I don’t get a chance to reply individually….I will try to later…back to moving…
Sarah Powell
@ Susan in TN – loved reading about your work at Rivers Edge (and I read every word!). I can tell how much they mean to you just as mine do to me. It’s funny that you mentioned Bell’s palsy as that is the first thing I thought of when you first described Lou’s symptoms. The effects of that sometimes disappear completely. Continuing to keep him and your daughter in my thoughts. (I have a rescued 3-legged dog plus 3 other somewhat normal rescued dogs along with the rest of my crew.)
judy berube
Susan in Tn.:
Thank you for the update on all the “sweeties”. Poor Azzi. Hope he can settle in and make friends with Chester. They need each other. God Bless. Hugs, J.B.
Kathy Kimber
@Susan in TN; So glad Lou is doing better I’ll still keep him in my prayers.
Kathy Kimber
@Judy (Maass) Gadwood: I would love to hear stories of John Henry. I’ve loved him forever tarquin_lhs57@yahoo.com
Kathy Kimber
@Charlotte Farmer: Hope it is coming along OK. Thinking about you give us an update when you can. I’ll call you this weekend. Hugs.
Kathy Kimber
@Terry Crow: Good to hear from you. Great Jokes as always. Time is getting close for Noon. Hope it all comes thru. Sometimes newspapers seem to think he is not important. Any horse that made the top 100 is very special. He was a beautiful animal. It just has to work.
judy berube
Dear Trina Nagele:
Thank you. I think you and all of “Z’s Dumplings” will be laughing a great deal of the time on the 9th at HP when Mr. Crow joins you. He has better jokes. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Sharon Call:
Thought you would feel the same as I do about this article Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Laura J.
So sorry you’re no longer in the partnership with Step. If you find out how he makes out with his surgery, please let me know. Poor little guy didn’t have a chance. Hope it works out for him. Hugs, J.B.
Paul
Zenyatta, your brushes with greatness have no end in sight. Jim Rome from ESPN has come by Lane’s End Farm to see you, among other stops he made. Just to think that he did not used to be a fan of horseracing and now he is. Sounds like me. Hopefully, he will talk about you on national TV and speak very highly of you which I’m more than sure he will. I’m very happy that he was so nice to you.
Kathryn Cogswell
Dear Susan in TN: Love hearing how the ‘family’ is knitting together. Vivid & full of love and wisdom. Thank you for the time spent w/ them and writing here.
Sally (B)
My sweet Z; I am glad you get visitors as they are athletes too!! For every sport, there is promise, and one plays at it because it is ones passion! Don’t blush, we all know you are the Queen of Racing, and my Miss Personality!! love you with 2 kisses on your soft nose. one for baby Z