Good Morning,
I love this! Look who is at Del Mar having a few days of RNR. It is my dear friend, Jeanne Mayberry. She is the wonderful lady, who along with her daughter, April, taught ME my very first lessons at their training center in Ocala, Florida.
Jeanne is taking a few days off and relaxing in good Ol’ DEL MAR. She is here with her other daughter, Summer, and her family. In the photo with Jeanne is her grandson, BRYAN. Jeanne loves to come to the barn and visit with her ‘students’. I know John and Dottie always keep her up-to-date on how ‘we’ are all doing. It makes it so much FUN for everyone to stay involved.
April went on a vacation a bit earlier…so everyone is taking a moment to refresh before they gear up for another season of ‘breaking yearlings’. Dottie always equates this to ‘going to school’. The yearlings start arriving in late September (after the Keeneland Yearling Sale) to begin the program. They settle in and get acquainted with their new surroundings, and then start to learn their lessons: to wear tack, have a rider on their back and then learn to take the cues from the rider to jog, gallop, and lengthen stride etc. All of this is so, so important to every horse and his / her future.
These lessons progress throughout the winter and then in March, April, May and June, the individual horses… now 2…leave Jeanne and April to go to the racetrack to their respective trainers. When the horse leaves the training center depends on several factors. The most important is HOW the horse is doing and the progress he/she is making. Just like humans, horses develop at different levels and different stages. Some are fast learners and quickly ‘get it’. Others, may need a bit more one-to-one attention to learn a task and and master it. Learning for this horse may progress at a slower pace.
Meeting individual differences, in MY TEAM’S opinion, is just as important for a horse as it is for a young child and a developing student.
Just like school, the students leave each year to go on to a new teacher. The same principle applies here…the 2 year olds leave to go on to the race track, to their new trainer, and the next stage of their career.
I must say, I adore Jeanne and April. They always treated ME with such LOVE and PATIENCE. So much goes into the development of a race horse…and every lesson, every consideration, and every single person who touches you can have such an impact on your future. I’ve been SO BLESSED!
I think they feel I was ‘REALLY A TERRIFIC STUDENT’. I know they are EXTREMELY PROUD OF ME and WHAT I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED.
With Love,
Hugs to All~ (Have fun in Del Mar, Jeanne!)
Z
Linda in NJ
Hi Zenny: How are you? This is a very interesting story. I bet you were a good student! You paid attention and worked hard and your hard work paid off. So do I have the timeline right, the yearlings train for about 6 months and then they are sent to work with a trainer. Zenny, did April and Jeanne train Ebby too? Take care Zenny.
judy berube
Dear Z Fans:
Excellent article on Jeanne Mayberry and Z that some of you may not have seen. Hugs, J.B. http://www.ocalastyle.com/styleadmin/newsadmin/templates/style-template.asp?articleid=2171&zoneid=34
Sunny Boyd
Good night Sweet Heart Good Night
And another lofty pondering for you:
“I still say a church steeple with a lightening rod on top, shows a lack of confidence.” Doug McLeod
Have restful night and sweet dreams
:) :) :)
The Kennedys in San Diego
For all Zenyatta fans, we learned today that Mario’s birthday is August 14 — not too late to wish him a belated but heartfelt “Happy Birthday.”
Tony
@Judy, thanks to the link about Zen and the Mayberrys. She had the right people in her corner from the start and did her part by being the best of the best.
tony and sue
Happy belated birthday, Mario!
Marshall (girl's name)
Zenyatta and Dottie, What a wonderful post! Loved hearing about your early teachers and training. The Mayberry team sound perfectly suited for this most important phase of equine development. Many thanks to Jean and her daughter, April! Endless gratitude for helping to mold our “Z”!!
@LouAnn Cingel of Union, MO: Didn’t know of your illness. So glad you are feeling better! This site has a therapeutic effect on us! Dr. Z is the best!!
@Trina Nagele: Thank you so much for your kind offer of birthday poems for us. Any poem of yours would be a treasure indeed!
Goodnight everyone and sweet dreams, too!
judy berube
Dear Tony:
You’re welcome. You’re so right. She had the ability and they had the knowledge and love to help her be the best. She is extraordinary. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Mario:
Happy, Happy Belated Birthday. Hugs, J.B.
Marshall (girl's name)
Apologies! I misspelled Jeanne (should have used the feminine spelling), sorry!
Also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Mario — a bit late, but no less sincere!
judy berube
Dear Sunny Boyd:
That’s funny. Hugs, J.B.
Karen Gogue
Our Queen’s Prince… Mario… everytime I see and talk with you at Hollywood or Santa Anita, a smile that shines so bright from the heart…happy and kind…eyes that sparkle with delight and treated as a longtime friend…you my friend, the Prince whom loves his Queen, will never be forgot…. the Queen’s palace and her court and her Prince…splendid in appearance, reflecting joy and pride and beaming light..’least it not be forgot that there once was a Camelot’…and you my friend, her Knight in shining armor….Happy Birthday….sweet Prince ….
Kate Wheeler
Dearest Zenny, you even teach us about teaching. You were apparently a brilliant student. And now, through Dottie, you have become our teacher, as you honor your teachers and all teachers. They are always a key ingredient in who we are and how we live. With you, we honor them also. Keep Baby Z snuggled, warm and content. You will be his/her very first teacher.
@ Dottie: Thank you for the treasure trove of information and insight you channel here through our treasure, Queen Z.
@DJ: Thank you for sharing Amazing Grace with us. It always resonates.
@judy berube: Thank you once again for a delightful link to the story on the Mayberrys in Ocala. You are an untiring resource. I am amazed every day.
@Mario: Happy birthday to a horse whisperer. We all appreciate you.
judy berube
Dear Kate Wheeler:
You’re welcome and thank you for the kind words. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Karen Gogue:
What a beautiful post. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Z,
Goodnight and Sweet Baby Dreams. Love you, Judy and Russ
Karen Gogue
DJ
My heart swells from solace and sings your praises at every hymn….beautiful lady of the heart….thank you….I believe I need to have a quiet, reflective ‘chat’ with Zenny soon…another solace for my heart….
judy berube
Dear Z Fans:
Barbara Livingston took some beautiful photos of Z. Here are some of them; two really sweet ones of Z with Mario. Hugs, J.B. http://www.drf.com/blogs/zenyatta-reminder-celebrate-life
Peggy (N)
Thank you so much for the informative article on Jeanne Mayberry. I have heard so many great things about her training Center. Just look at you Zenny your just THE BEST. And I know your blushing. Have a wonderful evening. Love this site. Blessing Peggy
Snoprinz
Happy birthday Mario! You will never be forgotten.
Trina Nagele
Dearest Zenny, Please tell your beloved Mario that I’ve written a poem just for him in thanks for all the love and care he gave you. I belatedly wish him a very happy birthday!
To Mario
No one was closer to the Queen
Than Mario Espinoza.
A special man, a special mare—
They made a magical pair.
Zenyatta blossomed under Mario’s care
And became the fairest of the fair
With dapples agleam,
Glowing from within, it would seem,
And a contentment in her eye
That all could spy.
We can never thank Mario enough
For polishing this diamond-in-the-rough
In every way
Till her brilliance outshone
The sun and the stars every day
And throughout the world her beauty was known.
—Trina Nagele
Happy belated birthday, Mario!
@Paul—Loved your post.
@Lauren—Great idea to ask about early training videos of Z. That would be so special!
@luvscritters—Loved reading about your mare Dash and her responsiveness without a bit. Did you see the link Eveline posted about the saddleless, bridleless reining competitor Stacy Westfall? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoW4cwf507g&feature=related
@Eveline—WOW! Those seconds you mentioned around 1:30 in the dressage prom of Totilas are incredible! Thanks for posting! Ditto for posting the link on Stacy Westfall!
@Marshall(girl’s name)—Thank you for those kind words. Please let me know your birthday. I love your coinage “Dr. Z”—so appropriate!
@Karen Gogue—WOW to you! What an incredibly beautiful birthday greeting for Mario! High hoof!
Trina Nagele
Oops-that was “promo of Totilas,” not prom.
Sleep tight, Zenny, till the morning light.
Trina Nagele
Still thinking—I want to change the last line of the poem to Mario to say:
“And throughout the world her inner and outer beauty was known.”
Trina Nagele
Oh, where is that EDIT feature when you need it, right, Gary?
Elizabeth
We’ll be in at Del Mar Thursday thru the weekend to celebrate my husband’s birthday. Maybe we’ll see some of our fellow Zenyatta fans there!
Elizabeth in OR
Kathy Kimber
Happy Birthday dear Mario may you always have the best.
Brenda S..
Good Morning Zenny, Today will be humid in Lexington so make sure that you stay really well hydrated to keep the little one comfy. Dottie gave us such a great lesson about your life in Ocala with your friends, the Mayberry’s, and what yearlings experience once they leave the sales ring. It truly is like children starting JK in September – how lucky you were to have such good, caring teachers.
Vic and I will be getting up early on Saturday, it’s nearly six hours drive to Saratoga and we don’t want to miss one minute of the races. Making choices for the Alabama is going to be tough, we have our Canadian filly Inglorious in there as well as It’s Tricky and Zazu. I’m sure you’ll have some suggestions for us.
@ Mario – if he reads the diary, Belated Happy Birthday Mario, I know you missed your kisses and nuzzles this year.
Megan
Everyone is very proud of you Zenyatta.Love ya big girl.
Carolyn Caswell-Brown
@ Eveline: Thank you for the clip showing Totilas. Saw him on T.V. when the Equestrian Games were in Kentucky. Incomparable & Breathtaking!! Do you know why his former rider Gal is now on another horse & will there be any U.S. coverage of the Rotterdam event?
PEACE & LOVE
Sunny Boyd
Good morning Zetty,
A happy Whee-Hee Day to your Mario.
Three Leos by now, Dottie, Mikey, Mario.
And another lofty pondering for you:
“If there is a God, I don’t think he is evil. But the worst that you can say about him is, that basically he’s an underachiever.” Woody Allen
Have a great day :) :) :)