Good Morning to all,
Yippee! As I mentioned yesterday, I had my first official veterinarian check-up here at the farm. This is done so they can get a baseline on me and get to know everything about me and how my body works. It is equivalent to you going for your regular check-up…just to be sure all is A-OK! Well, I am very happy to report that I am in FABULOUS SHAPE! Everything about me is just WONDERFUL! Great news! (I kinda’ knew this…but it is always great to have this confirmed.)
My feet were also checked…and I am doing very well BAREFOOT! Also good news! These are just the basic things that need to be done for me….just like you. The Dentist will be next…and I will keep you posted on that.
A woman working in our office, Selena, is about to have a baby. I think she is due on Friday…from what I’m hearing. Good luck, Selena! We will be thinking about you and wish you well!
Several of you had questions about ‘my having a baby’ in your comments. Hope the following information proves helpful to you. As we go along, I will explain more things to you about all of this, but for now, please consider this a starting point.
As you know, with humans, a baby is carried for approximately 9 months. For horses, the gestation period is approximately 11 months. Obviously, individual differences always do apply.
In our industry, the breeding season does not begin until mid-February ‘ish’ and lasts until late June ‘ish’. This depends on the individual farm, horse, and owner of the horse. This is a baseline.
Race horses basically have 2 birthdays. I was actually born on April 1, 2004. That is my real birthday and it is recorded on my official records. BUT…with race horses for racing purposes, ALL horses ‘celebrate’ a birthday on January 1st. This way…all 2 year olds will ‘technically be thought of as being a 3 year old’ on January 1st…no matter what date the horse was actually born. As of January 1st, I will ‘technically’ be thought of as a 7 year old…yet, I will really not be 7 until April 1st. (By the way, I just love my birthdate…April 1st. Dottie has a sister, Frannie, who is also born on this date. She calls us her April 1st Birthday EXACTA!)
So, when you go to the race track and see certain races restricted to an age group, this is how the horses fit into that category. For instance, the Kentucky Derby Trail and the Triple Crown is totally restricted to 3 year olds. The individual horses birth dates may vary from January — June, but they are all considered 3 year olds.
Same for the Kentucky Oaks for fillies…all for 3 year olds. Some may be born early in the year…others late…but they are all still considered to be 3. In the Racing Form, they give the MONTH / AGE for each horse. Perhaps when you are looking at the horse and his/her past performance charts in the FORM, this would be something to note as well. Have fun with it!
I’m off to play with Charles. (Several of you have asked, his full name. It is Charles Stewart William Campbell. He is a Broodmare Manager here at Lane’s End.)
Have a splendid day!
With love,
HUGS TO ALL!
Z
Mary McQuire
As stated in my blog on Saturday, Zenyatta and Blame are in a political competition for Horse of the Year votes and I can only encourage readers of this blog to send their personal choices along with their reasons to me at Steve@GradeOneRacing.com. It has always bothered me that racing fans have no place in the Horse of the Year process and all I’m trying to do is give fans the right to control at least one vote — mine — in the annual poll for racing’s highest honor.
I copied this from a blog so people can email this guy and encourage him to vote for “Z”. But let me warn you…don’t say anything he doesn’t like about Blame’s trainer, the sport of racing, etc. or he gets nasty. Won’t be reading his blog anymore but if he votes for “Z” it was worth the aggravation.
Mary McQuire
As stated in my blog on Saturday, Zenyatta and Blame are in a political competition for Horse of the Year votes and I can only encourage readers of this blog to send their personal choices along with their reasons to me at Steve@GradeOneRacing.com. It has always bothered me that racing fans have no place in the Horse of the Year process and all I’m trying to do is give fans the right to control at least one vote — mine — in the annual poll for racing’s highest honor.
I copied this from a blog so people can email this guy and encourage him to vote for “Z”. But let me warn you…don’t say anything he doesn’t like about Blame’s trainer, the sport of racing, etc. or he gets nasty. Won’t be reading his blog anymore but if he votes for “Z” it was worth the aggravation.
Elaine
Yes, Zenyatta….you are wonderful in every way!
BTW: My daughter’s birthday is also April 1! I was very excited to find out you both share the same birthday. I have always called her the best April Fool’s joke ever played on me….she arrived 5 weeks early!
Kathryn Cogswell
Dear Mary McQuire: Please see ~ Stephanie Diaz, THE PILOT Article of Sunday; 14 NOV, 2010; “Don`t Blame Sentiment: Zenyatta Should Be Horse of the Year.” Aside from the snipe about fans who can`t get to their keyboards for the cats hovering, she composes a compelling article. While others may have read this before, it is new to me. Thank you for the offer. Khc.
Nancy Reid
Thank you Z and your new team for keeping us current on your news. xoxoxoxox
Jan Glover from Georgia
Hi there, Beautiful One!! Very glad to know that your check-up with the doc went well and that you’re in tip-top shape!!! Lol, still enjoying barefooting it?? You go girl!! Wondering if you received word if Selena delivered a bundle of joy today?? Thanks, Big Girl, for sharing with us some great info on the steps you’ll be taking to become a great Mom!! I have learned a lot from you!! How lucky to have 2 birthdays a year, although I think at my age, lol, a birthday celebration once a year is more than plenty!! Please tell Charles “hi” for me and enjoy those beautiful walks in the snow with him!! I love you!!
Kathryn Cogswell
Carolyn Caswell-Brown`s New Year`s Eve Guinness Toast to ‘Z,’ could go ‘Around The World In _?_ Days’ FAST! . .. someone else has to co-ordinate .. . I must be Time-dyslexic, if the condition exists.
Quarterhossgal
Robin…one man who has done so much in communicating with horses is Monty Roberts the original horse whisperer. He is responsible for the retraining and training of many race horses. He also developed the blanket that some horses use as they are loaded into the gate. Many don’t like the feel of the metal on the gate touching their sides.
As for HOY there is no one but QUEEN Z she lost to Blame by a short head, Blame lost to Haynesfield by 4 lengths, ZENYATTA beat Haynesfield by many lengths. If winning the Classic last year didn’t give Queen Z HOY, why should it make a difference this year?
Delores
hi my precious Zenyatta. I love seeing your pictures and hearing all about what is going on with you. Thank you so much for explaining everything to us like you do. I love you very much and have fun in the snow. You look so beautiful in that snow.
Love you lots and always my Queen Z.
Patricia
Yes, to go along with your “kids” section of your website…I think it would be great to have a children’s book with pertinent, life stories or just fun things to share with pics of you…hey, I find many of the books I read to my children enjoyable, so I bet many adults reading your book would love it too!
There Dottie…like you need more to work to do! Thanks for the updates
Allen
Z I agree with Quaterhossgal, if winning the Classic last year didn’t matter. Then this years outcome shouldn’t matter either. At the end Blame was fading and you were just getting in stride. YOU ARE HOY !!!!!!
Vicki Duron
I find your website to be just adorable.
Keep up the good work from NM. I look forward to hearing all the Zeyatta news.
Your beautiful! :)
Gerrie P.
I still view all of your races and many of your tributes, often.
The way you look now there is no doubt you could run down any of your competitors.
I envy Charles and would take his job in a Las Vegas minute!
suemar
Hi girl. Congrats on your health report.
Check out Lemon Drop Kid. Hes a hottie!
Wanted to let you know that we picked you to be our Christmas card dance partner. Great seeing you in person Breeders Cup 2009 and 2010.
Check it out.http://videos.jibjab.com/cwb/00s/ic1/jqt/vpg/tnk/wns/8zk.mpg
Mary Adkins-Mattehws
Zenyatta, I have said very little so far other than a few comments here and there wishing you the best, saying how much I love you and how much you mean to me. Today I want to say a little more.
There is a horse named Cherono who your mom and dad owned just like you who now lives at Old Friends Retirement For Thoroughbreds in Kentucky. I go there almost weekly and I get to see him. He is so smart and I have just fallen in love with him. He has become the carrot king of Scott County and I am trying to teach him tricks. He didn’t get to race like you because he got hurt did but your mom and dad saved his life and had him retired.
The reason I go there so often is not because of Cherono, it is because of a horse that was never famous and never made a great career for himself like you have. His name is I’m Charismatic (he is the son of the 1999 KY Derby and Preakness winner, Charismatic) We found him racing last Feb. at Beulah Park and he was not doing so well. Old Friends was kind enough to take him in. He has no cartilage left in his right front ankle. Since then it has been a struggle and unless his leg fuses we may lose him.
I love him so much and at times I break down crying at the mere though of never seeing him again. I wish so bad that I could give him my leg since I could use a fake leg and he can’t.I sometimes cry when I am in the shower so that my family doesn’t know how much this is hurting me.
Through this, it has been very difficult for me to continue to love this great sport. But Zenyatta I will continue to love it and think of you and your mom and dad who “do it right” I will think about John Sheriffs and pray that all trainers follow his example. It is because of people like your mom and dad that I am able to continue to love the great sport of horse racing that has made you so magnificent.
I love you so much Zenyatta and through you I will hold on and be strong. I will be as strong as you were when I saw you finish races that seemed impossible for you to win. I will pray that all owners and trainers follow those who surrounded you on your journey. My Christmas wish is of course for I’m charismatic to get well and be able to go out and play someday soon. But I also wish you a very Merry Christmas Zenyatta and thank you for just being YOU!
Love Mary
Cheryl
You need a HOT European STUD!
amfcf
To Mary: My heart goes out to you and to I’m Charismatic. I too have a love-hate relationship with this great sport. In the end though I think it is like anything else in life, a mixed bag. I think about pet ownership…some treated better than most humans and some terribly abused. We wouldn’t dream of ending ‘pet ownership’ though, and there are many great owners and trainers as you know. We just have to continue to expose and educate and take care of those we can.
I’m Charismatic is so lucky to have you and be at Old Friends. How wonderful of you to rescue him. I’m Charismatic is winning now, despite his condition. As long as he has shelter, food, and your love, he’ll be doing great!
Carrots and kisses to Zenyatta and thank you Dottie for these diary posts!!!
Saschja Marseguerra
Thank you for the updates! We would all love to see another video – this time of you eating! And just what are you eating these days? Love you very much!
sj
MARY
^^^^
THANK YOU. Your post was inspiring, informative, emotional and educational. It also has affirmed what I’ve always “felt” as the truth–that John, the Mosses and others associated with them operate with integrity. I’ve always felt that Zenyatta’s best interest was always a priority with them-NOW I KNOW… That the Mosses would make sure a horse that was never “winner” was taken care, shows they feel a great responsibility to their horses. I’ve always felt Zenyatta would have never been the horse we know today if it wasnt for her “mom and dad” and trainers. It’s quite apparent that their philosophy was to make a great race horse, you need to take care of them as a whole….mind body and spirit. So, as much as I feel Z is a gift from God, I feel equally that she is a gift and a reflection of her owner and trainers.
Love to all who care for our beautiful Z.
sj
sue w
There are some very interesting posts here about people communicating with horses and vice versa. I remember reading that John would sit outside a horse’s stall for hours just oberving. He is such an intelligent man with a huge heart and wisdom beyond compare when it comes to these amazing animals. I do believe it was destiny for Zenyatta to fall into his hands just as it was destiny for her to become part of the Moss family. She still has many things to teach us (thanks Dottie) and I believe new fans will come into the sport because of this open dialogue we are experiencing. One in a lifetime a creature as magnificient as Zenyatta comes along. It’s up to us to grasp the opportunity to come along for the ride. Like Mike Smith said many times she is something to believe in. I sure do.
Mary McQuire
Kathryn Cogswell…Thanks for the reading tip. Fantastic article!
Elena Erdman
Good afternoon Zenyatta. So nice to hear from you again and that you are in great shape from the veterinarian. I knew you were, you look so great. So I dyed my hair brown to match yours, I was a blond and guess what everyone loves me better as a brunette. If someone asks me I said because I want to be like Zenyatta. I like it brown and it is long. So the dentist, yes, the dentist I have to go to.
I am so glad you feet are doing fine without the shoes. I don’t like shoes either, and since I live in California I like to go barefooted. It is raining here and is really cold. I don’t think it is nearly as cold as where you are but it is cold enough for us. So Selena is having a baby, how much fun. Tell her we are all looking forward when the baby comes and you give us the information. I am so glad you are doing well. I love to look at your pictures and videos and they always make me smile as I remember your fabulous career. Awesome for the ages. I am going to take note on the age of horses now. Thank you for cluing us all in on this important information. I love you always
Elena Erdman
Dottie. You are so unbelievable writing these blogs, you have gained millions of people just so grateful for your time and effort and sharing Zenyatta and her life with us. We value you so much and appreciate your wonderful comments and instruction on horses. Have a blessed Christmas and Season.
Joan Walls
Thank you for your comments and information on Zenyatta. As you can see, she has many, many fans who love her and you. I am happy to see that charles is in Zenyatta’s life also. Merry Christmas
Marilu Villanueva
Thank you Dottie for your daily post. I look forward to reading it every day. I agree with SJ that Zenyatta is a special gift from God. She is also a reflection of the values of her owners, trainers and everyone who has contributed in making her so special and ONE OF A KIND. To Mr. & Mrs. Moss, to you, Dottie and John, Mike, Steve and the entire Zenyatta family – you have raised the bar in horse racing industry.
Jan
Zenyatta,
Thanks to John Sherriff’s and his crew for their patience, dedication and hard work which kept you fit, both bodily and mentally which is why you had a A-One clean bill of health. I hope you got a big lollipop after your visit. All my respect to the CA team and especially The Moss’s who took care of you no matter what the cost. They are truly a Class Act. Stay warm big girl and be “cool.”
Love from Cypress, Texas
Kathryn Cogswell
Hi, Mary McQ. ~ .. . good, good. A rollercoaster of reading: The joy of ‘Old Friends Equine’ Retirement Farm for Thoroughbreds . .. a spontaneous reaction to Ferdinand`s death. Michael Blowen`s love and grit draws funds to assure dignified pensions for storied TBs [and one saucy character, ‘Little Silver Charm’], but the need is staggering — $100/day/horse in feed alone; the only place accepting stallions, along w/ mares & geldings. The Mosses are cornerstones of support and Mr. Farish of LEF, figures commendably in it. ~ Reading Stephanie Diaz` for Zenyatta as HOY, stumbled to another S. Diaz article about two trainers; one, John. The other breaks your heart, and the mind boggles. Someone said if stuck for a gift for ‘Z,’ be relieved she`s loved, and find a rescue, honoring her. Good overcoming the toxic. Thanks again, Dottie. Some tonic. Khc.
Joan
Irish horse standing in Ireland, Galileo. I ran across his progeny last night, would be a wonderful beau, but the drive over is quite a distance. Hi Zen, we are all such match makers. Whoever, the foals will be beautiful.
Zen have a safe and wonderful Christmas.
Margaret Murphy
Happy to hear you passed your physical. You look great, keep up the good work with your new friends and get yourself in shape for your new life as Mommy soon.
Lynne
I cannot tell you how very much I love and appreciate what you are doing here, Dottie and Zenyatta. I am an avid lover of horses and a great fan of the races. I often go to the stallion farm websites to view them and read write ups about all of them. You are giving us all great information and insight into the daily life of what goes on at these farms, in particular Lane’s End. I do have a question for you, maybe a somewhat awkward or weird question. There are a few fillies/mares racing with the boys nowadays. I think the girls come into heat once a month? I wondered how owner’s/trainers worked around that if they are preparing their filly/mare for a mixed race? Lots of love for Z, your friend Lynne P.S. Maybe one day I can come and visit Lane’s End and get to meet you.