Happy Friday to ALL!
It is a bit cold and icy out here in KY. I did not get to go outside much yesterday…so they have had me walking a great deal inside the barn. It is also ‘cold’ in CA…by CA standards…chilly, drizzly and gray outside. BURRR! My CA friends are keeping me posted. They are also telling me there will be lots of rain in CA the next few days.
Speaking of my CA friends, they are getting very excited out there now. It is the closing few days of Hollywood Park and then Santa Anita opens up the day after Christmas. Santa Anita has a brand new DIRT TRACK…and all of the reports are very encouraging and positive to date. This is terrific!
I loved racing on the dirt at both Oaklawn and Churchill Downs. I also trained on a dirt training track at least 3-4 times per week throughout my entire career. I know my buddies in CA will enjoy this new surface.
John is currently reorganizing his barn and who is located at each site. That is what horse trainers do at the beginning of a new race meet. He is in Barn 55 at Hollywood Park…that was my home base for my entire career. When I ran at Santa Anita and the Oak Tree Meet there, I would van across town to do so. Then at Santa Anita, John is in Barn 66. Too cute! Double numbers for both barns. The horses are moving in there now. Per my updates from them, the grass looks good and the flower boxes are getting planted. Very sweet! I will keep you posted on all of my friends as we go along.
Several of you have asked if I will ever be ridden again. The answer is NO. I am now enjoying my time and relaxing. Eventually, I will be able to run free in my big paddock here. Then I will be gradually introduced to my new paddock friends (my barn mates)…one at a time. It will be fabulous. I am really looking forward to this!
Oh, by the way, I did get a PEDICURE yesterday. My HOOVES look FABULOUS, if I say so myself. It was so much fun!
Thank you all so much for the wonderful cards and goodies. I am enjoying all of them. You are all so kind and thoughtful of me. Again, THANK YOU!
Oh, here come the guys. They are going to take me outside now. YEAH! I am used to standing outside and looking around for hours. John used to let me do this at least 2 hours each day at home. It is something I truly LOVE TO DO! Yeah…I’m on my way to go outside.
Good-bye for now!
Hugs to all!
With Love,
Z
NorCalFan#1
Thanks for the update on Barn 55, Zenny. It’s good to know they’re moving to Barn 66 in time for Christmas–got some goodies to send to your pals back “home.” Stay warm, sweetie!
Gena
I know everyone still wants to be able to see Z competing in something, but do you all really want her to take the chance of getting injured? Hunter/jumper is a hard life for a horse…she has put in her time already and came out of it with no injuries. Let her just be a horse now and be free and happy! She has earned it!
Retrospectiv
@ Emmy,
The JC requires DNA identification so that doesn’t leave much room for ‘hanky panky’ with AI. 90% of the reason they don’t have it is the JC controlling the breed & the old boys club controlling the profit & stud farms in Ky.
@Robin,
Of course a healthy and fit mare lives longer. Same goes for any horse. Ever seen some of the obese stallions @ Lane’s End?…
As I mentioned above, Zenyatta will be pregnant AND nursing a current foal for much of the rest of her life (as long as her reproductive health is good). The few months she’ll get after weaning and before her next birth I’m sure she’d rather spend relaxing, not being ridden just to satisfy some person’s need or want to ride her.
People here don’t seem to understand that broodmares spend every year pregnant (unless they miss a year being late catching or delivery issues) AND looking after a current foal once their 1st one arrives.
Check out the production of Battle Creek Girl (who also lived at Lane’s End)
http://www.pedigreequery.com/index.php?query_type=progeny&search_bar=progeny&h=BATTLE+CREEK+GIRL&sort=Year&done=y&filter=All Horses&cf=
She produced 19 foals in 23 years. Do you think she wanted to be ridden after all that work??
Retrospectiv
This link should work……
http://www.pedigreequery.com/progeny/battle+creek+girl
Mary
Goodmorning Zenyatta…
So nice to wake up with coffee and a letter from you. I am glad you are doing so well and being taken care of like you should be, after all you are “ZENYATTA” and thats a magical name if I have ever heard one…and what a Champion you are. We sure miss you back home, I am going to Santa Anita and Del Mar in 2011 but the funny thing is is we usually plan our visits to those tracks upon your being there…this is gonna be different, I hope I don’t cry…you have always been there.
Thank you for taking the time to write your fans everyday…
you have so many and we kinda earned this. I know if I didn’t know how to check up on you often it would break my heart, and so many others who have faithfully loved you.
I gotta get ready for work, I’ll have 3 days off to finish shopping, do some cooking and we are going to see the Nutcracker, thats always a special event for me, my daughter use to dance and every year at Christmas time the dance studio would preform the Nutcracker as a Christmas recital…I was the proud mommy crying up front as I watched her preform her dance parts…now I write you, also a fine dancer.
Have a great day Zenyatta, I will write you tomorrow.
“I LOVE YOU”
Rita
Stay well Z and enjoy all the attention, you deserve it. Im just so happy to hear how you are every day.
Richard K
Retrospectiv, thank you for your insights into this fascinating world. My wife and I visited KY horse farms for the first time before this year’s Breeders’ Cup races and we have had an insatiable quest for knowledge since then.
Ryx
awwe so no one last helmet cam? Ah well, don’t worry, the warm weather will come soon enough!! And you’ll be feelin good then =]
Kathryn Cogswell
‘Retrospectiv’ [above] advises from the perspective of informed, established commercial experience — useful to those seeking some baseline for inquiry in a field new to them. Nevertheless, there is an iconoclastic template on record [pun intended] in the artistry Mr. Moss brought to his partnership with Herb Alpert and ‘A & M Records.’ Conscious and conscientious choices were made to the benefit of those performers they discovered — and to the detriment of their own immediate financial gains. How they discovered and nurtured their people and their careers in retrospect reveals paths which diverged from expected, commonly-accepted industry practices. Surprising themselves and delighting their artists, who often became lifelong friends, began on and ended with a handshake. It`s a wonderful, refreshing and life-enhancing alternative to a proscriptive, didactic, commodity-driven, patterned expectation. There is reason, then, to hope and expect that Zenyatta’s life in brood may surprise and edify us, and the world of hide-bound equine economics. ~ And, it is far more fun to contemplate than the dreary narrative facing those mares caught in cycles previously administered — for lack of a better description — as lacking in imagination .. .or creativity;, surely possibilities one desires for conception, gestation and new birth. ~ Khc.
Richard K
Kathryn Cogswell, I have no doubt Zenyatta’s post-racing life will be managed much differently than the “average” broodmare. It will be handled with the love, care and concern shown all along by the Mosses. She could not be in better hands.
linda
Even I, after many years of following horse racing, am learning new things. But I could swear that I’ve heard racing announcers mention that a mare running in a race had been bred, not that I would ever think that’s a good idea. It’s hard to say that something will never happen again but I can understand it. I do love hearing from Zenyatta. Everyone should be as positive as she.
Jennifer
One of the things I loved about you was that you would stop and stare into the distance at things. I like to attribute that to a higher than normal intelligence, not just curiosity. I am so glad that you are getting the opportunity to do that at LE’s before being turned out in your paddock. You then can do it to your heart’s delight!
Love you, Zen, and always look forward to reading your posts.
Carolyn Caswell-Brown
Truely appreciated all the information concerning why Zenyatta & other broodmares at the major farms are no longer ridden. It’s just common sense I guess, but sometimes that is in short supply – must be the economy. Attention rebekah: In the future please use the compost pile that you call a mouth in your own backyard NOT THIS ONE!!! Love & Peace to ALL.
Roxanne Cook
What a nice post. I’m surprised that Z is not going to be ridden ever again, but certainly she won’t miss it. I have an older retired gelding who hasn’t been ridden in 5 years, and I thought he would miss our rides, but turned out, he’s as happy as a clam with his leisurely life as a pasture pal. Once Z is in safe in foal and has been introduced & gets along with other mares, she’ll be in her NATURAL STATE
Roxanne Cook
What a nice post. I’m surprised that Z is not going to be ridden ever again, but certainly she won’t miss it. I have an older retired gelding who hasn’t been ridden in 5 years, and I thought he would miss our rides, but turned out, he’s as happy as a clam with his leisurely life as a pasture pal. Once Z is in safe in foal and has been introduced to other mares, she’ll be in her NATURAL STATE.
Jean Moore
BEAUTIFUL ZENYATTA, Oh goody, I couldn’t pull up this post last evening and was delighted to find it today, thought maybe Dottie skipped a number by accident. Although all of us want to see more and more of you, I am so glad that you are now retired uninjured and happy. Also most confident that Mr. & Mrs. Moss will certainly make sure you are not handled as the average brood mare and you will have the best life ever enjoying your freedom and those precious foals. Thanks to all who responded to Rebekah in terms acceptable to ladies and gents. Thank you Dottie and John for sharing your valuable time answering our questions. And I too would like to know what diet changes came about once Zenyatta stopped training. MUCH LOVE FROM ME TO YOU
Chris Balmes
I spent the morning in tears catching up with Zenyatta’s post racing life. Everything I ever read or heard about her indicated how social she is and she has had such a loving group of people around her 24 hours a day and I am worried that she is by herself now – there didn’t appear to be any other mares in the barn she was in or in the pastures close by where she is taking her walks. I was thinking about how many people passed by her stall each day at the track and how many people spent time talking to her or just being with her. I want to remain so positive about her life now but I can’t help but think how she must miss all of you who loved her so much (as she did all of you) and the constant attention. How long before she has more interaction with other mares and more people? My guess is “not very often” with people…………I hope that isn’t true. Thank you so much for the beautiful postings and the photos – it means alot to many of us and I sincerely hope you continue; I do look forward to her photos with her first baby – I am sure she will be a wonderful mom. She is so incredibly beautiful and special.
Jess
Oh Zenyatta it’s horrible you won’t ever be ridden again! At least at Three Chimney’s they ride they’re horses there. Oh well, I hope you are enjoying life there at Lane’s End. See ya soon my Man’O’War Mare. Jess
NancyP
Hello Beautiful Girl,
It has been very cold here in North Carolina, so I can imagine how much you miss sunny southern California. I’m happy to hear that weather permitting, you do get some fresh air outside.
Do you have any idea who your paddock friends will be? Are the ‘girls’ sociable in the barn?
Have you heard any rumors as to who is being considered as your mate? Hopefully he is of excellent breeding, handsome with gentlemanly character, as well as intelligent with pizzazz and great heart!
Stay healthy – don’t eat too many treats.
Kisses,
NancyP
Quarterhossgal
Remember that Zenyatta’s life has changed and she is now a broodmare. The value of her foals will be off the charts. I would hope that she doesn’t produce 15-16 foals which she could being a 7 year old. The Mosses have taken good care of her and money isn’t their top priority. They love to race good horses so I’ll guess they will keep some of her foals and race them. However, the life of a broodmare is not just grazing in lush pastures, each foaling can be text book easy or have some serious complications. Until Zenyatta gets in foal and delivers her first baby it is anyone’s guess as to how much she will love be a mama. She is a healthy, intelligent mare and hopefully things will go well for her. It is a priviledge to be able to follow her retirement and I am grateful to Dottie for all the news we receive about our Queen Z. We all just wish the best for this great mare who has given us so many thrills during her racing career.
Shirley Nolan Al-mlaiti
SIMPLE QUESTION ?? WHY WON’T ZENYATTA BE RIDDEN EVER AGAIN????????????? That does not sound right as she is so use to it and I know she loved it Please answer the question Please…
Retrospectiv
@ Shirley Nolan,
See my multiple posts on that subject above. You don’t have to scroll up very far.
Tim
Does anyone know who will be getting Zenyattas first born or will it go auction
DG McCall
I favor Zenyatta racing again next year if she wants to. She is a great if not the greatest ever race horse and she is still in excellent shape. Remember last year she showed everyone she still had it after she was retired then.
Toni R.
Dear sweet Zenyatta,
I am learning so many things about your new life. I just pray that the love and consideration shown to you while racing could be extended to you in retirement.
Why does Zenny have to be breed every year? Why can’t a conscious decision be made to give her a year off in between? That would be an expression of love and consideration. So, in terms of retirement, what DOES set Zenny apart from other broodmares?
I love you Zenyatta and Thank You for ALL you have already given.
God Bless You and keep you safe.
rebekah
@ everyone, I love Zenyatta to death so don’t be saying that. You guys are ignorant. She has been a race horse for a long time and it takes a lot of energy. I think she would much rather just chill out relax and make beautiful babies and not have to be ridden at all. She has done enough for all of us. Now all we shold want her to do is shoot out lovely babies anything else your asking for is both stupid and selfish. Also for the new people there’s an amazing thing called google for your questions
Pat Beck
After Market’s fee is $7,500, not $100,000 or more. Just sayin’
Liz
I would just like to point out that the average broodmare’s life expectancy is 5-10 years less than a regular horse. Gestation last roughly 11-12 months. Then she will be bred immediately. As a broodmare she will spend the rest of her life pregnant while nursing a foal. Giving birth is difficult for horses and takes a toll on mares. I do not see this as a happy thing for her for the rest of her life. AND YES. Mares who have had babies in life can later be ridden. I think some of you “experts” need a good lesson in equine health.
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