Happy Friday to ALL!
I so hope all of you are well…and our friends who needed some of our ‘special thoughts’ earlier this week are doing better!
Recently, I have spent some time outdoors with Matt contemplating so many different things. On Saturday, BLACK CAVIAR is competing in the G2–Schweppes Stakes at Moonee Valley Racecourse. She is going for her 15th victory in a row…with the hope of becoming 15 for 15. Here’s wishing her a safe and successful trip! This is quite an accomplishment to achieve the first 14 victories…so all the best to her!
Then in America, we have some wonderful races taking place over the next few days. New York has their Showcase Day on Saturday. The Breeders’ Cup prep events are concluded and we are now gearing up for the Pre-Entries to be taken on Monday morning. It is getting quite exciting!
The majority of horses preparing to run in the World Championship races will probably have 2 more workouts before their BIG DAY! So much needs to be organized and planned in advance so each horse is RIGHT ON TARGET to do his/her best when competing in these events!
As for my dear pal, ZAZU, she will not be participating in the Ladies’ Classic this year. After she breezed the other morning, she had an inflammation in her right shoulder area. The proper tests were performed. It was discovered very quickly and she will be 100% soon. She simply needs some RNR at this time. Zazu will be out of her regular training routine for about 90 days. During that time, she will be hand-walked a couple times each day and enjoy a well-deserved and relaxing vacation.
We thoroughbred horses are athletes…no different than humans. Sometimes, we are not quite ourselves, for one reason or another. Fortunately, we have wonderful people around us who pick up on this very quickly…and the proper measures are taken to be sure we will be fine.
The technology today is also at such a high level. The veterinarians and vet hospitals have machines that can evaluate the different parts of a horse’s body to see exactly what is going on with specific bones and muscles. The level of sensitivity that these machines can analyze and detail is quite amazing. The constant growth and progress in this aspect of the industry truly amazes ME!
Relax and have a fun weekend! As for ME, I’m resting up for MY PARTY. It takes place exactly 2 weeks from today!
With Love,
Hugs to All,
Z
signofthetimes
Goldi 2011 campaign in photos:
http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/throughthelens/archive/2011/08/05/goldikova-s-2011-racing-campaign.aspx
signofthetimes
More on Goldi !!!
http://www.bukisa.com/articles/580249_goldikova-seeks-to-add-to-her-legend-in-2011-breeders-cup-mile
signofthetimes
The latest on So You Think:
Will he go to the BC Mile or the Classic.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5j1axwRfG70_ReOmGMSgmEB0QgLLQ?docId=N0230341319376839044A
The Kennedys in San Diego
@Trina Nagele — plan to watch Gelila in Race 1 at SA today — 1 PM post. She is a 3 year old and this is her second race. We met her on our recent visit to Barn 55. She has all the Zenyatta connections — John S, the Mosses, Mike Smith and MARIO as her groom.
signofthetimes
Link on Rosie Naprovnik return to the track on 10/15/11
http://www.drf.com/news/delaware-riding-double-rosie-napravnik-first-day-back
Margaret
@signofthetimes
Thanks for the link to breeding. I liked to mention a couple of things I’ve seen. For the most part this article seems spot on.
In 2009, I went to the Pryors and saw Cloud. Amazing horse. One of his mares walked across this little meadow they were in, placed herself in front of Cloud and backed up literally into his face. You know what happened. Usually it’s the stud that initiates all the breeding–except that one time. I don’t know how often this happens–that the mares starts everything.
Case 2–I was recently talking to someone about they handled a young colt. One who was mostly well behaved outside but I his stall was a nipper. One you had to keep an eye on. I wouldn’t even begin to suggest I could handle this kind of horse but one of the things you do is look the horse in the eye the whole time. Looking down is a sign of submission and in that moment that IS WHAT YOU DON’T WANT THE HORSE TO SEE. It’s a dominant thing. By eyeing him you are telling him that he still has to behave. And you don’t stand down.
A great example of a stud who wasn’t taught proper manners at an early age is Foolish Pleasure. When I saw him in 91 he had been at Spendthrift for some 6 years. It still took 2 people to manage him at all times.
Handling and managing studs is not for the beginner. These horses when around a mare in heat will turn into a maniac. It’s all hormonal, mother nature at her finest.
One of the gentlest studs that recently passed was The Wicked North who lived at Old Friends. Mr. Wicked LOVED (I MEAN LOVED)being petted. Another stud that I met years ago–and my first Secretariat offspring that I met–General Assembly was also pretty amaiabe. I was allowed to love on him for several minutes. I scratched his neck and his reaction was to stretch out his neck and gently groan. It just felt very good! And he was the first to tell me that. He also allowed me to pick up a foot.
Lastly for those of you who follow wild horses please check RT Fitch at fb. Jason Meduna who has served 20 months–for starving horses to death has a parole hearing on Wednesday. Parole Board needs to hear from all horse lovers that this creep needs to stay behind bars for the full duration of his sentence. He sat in a warm toasty home LITERALLY watching horses drop in front of him. He never lifted a finger to help them. He begged money from the Fans of Barbaro, blamed neighbors for the disappearance of one horse (who was later found safe)–and on it goes. Please help keep this man away from society and ALL ANIMALS. He regularly took horses from the BLM–who of course never checked on the horses–and starved them to death.
Trina Nagele
@The Kennedys in San Diego—Have fun at SA! Thanks for the info that our dear MARIO is Gelila’s groom! She sure has gotten the BEST all the way around, hasn’t she! Go, Gelila, go!
@Margaret–I’ll go look at the fb page you mentioned to see about making sure Jason Meduna serves his whole sentence–minimal as it is–for starving horses to death.
Trina Nagele
Contact info from the fb page of RT Fitch which Margaret asked us to visit:
Send e-mail to:
Board of Parole Chairperson Esther Casmer
Phone: (402) 471-2156
Email: esther.casmer@nebraska.gov
SAMPLE LETTER
RE: Jason Meduna
Dear Board of Parole and Whom It Concerns,
After serving 20 months of his 5-10 year sentence, animal abuser and killer Jason Meduna, convicted of 145 counts of felony animal cruelty, is a candidate for parole on October 26. Mr. Meduna was convicted of heinous acts of cruelty on horses, including dozens of killings via starvation, and hundreds of horses in the process of dying from lack of medical care and denial of food and water. With malice and intent, Mr. Meduna caused the intentional death of dozens of horses and hundreds of dying horses. After a review of this case and developing a better idea of the situation, I find it necessary to voice my concern along with an ever-growing national collective who share my disbelief and outrage regarding the utter depravity displayed in this case. I therefore respectfully request Mr. Meduna be denied parole and remain safely away from society and animals.
Although not required, I do feel it important to validate my concerns: when I try to imagine what possible motive animal abusers entertain for subjecting their animal victims to such malicious, heinous acts of brutality, I fail, but I am thankful for a lack of cognitive understanding and rationalization. To engage in such malevolent behaviour absolutely suggests sociopathic and sadistic tendencies and demonstrates an incontrovertible lack of morality regarding other living beings and a gross disrespect for the law. In fact, a person who shows such a remarkable lack of compassion towards animals has, disturbingly enough, the ability to show such indifference towards humans. This link between animal and human abuse has been established, and if we excuse or ignore these violent acts of abuse and killing, we would be serving an injustice to both animals and society.
It is my prediction that you may scoff at this message, disregarding it as the exaggerated rhetoric and embellished rantings of an animal rights activist. However, I have no motive, no potential financial gain, no physical profit, no commercial advantage; indeed, my only focus is to protect the innocent, sentient animals often regarded as mere sacrificial, expendable beings, objectified and disposable. This is a dangerous position and an absolute example of unprincipled endeavors and immoral behaviours. When animals are subjected to such brutality with no human accountability, our society inaccurately concludes that animals are not worthy of empathy, compassion, or rights. We become desensitized to the issue of animal abuse, and our children learn troubling lessons that are contrary to respect of and towards animals, which often evolves into a lack of empathy for humans. We must do everything in our power to allocate necessary resources to investigation, apprehension, and prosecution of animal cruelty cases. I understand that yours can be a challenging position, limited by vague and inadequate laws as well as insufficient funds; however, we are intelligent people with loud voices and tireless determination, and I believe we can make a difference or initiate change to better protect our animal friends as well as society. Please proceed with the most severe penalties, denying Mr. Meduna parole, and examine where existing legal mandates may be rewritten to address the current inadequacy of such sentences.
I know your time is limited and I thank you for your attention to this urgent issue and lengthy message.
NAME
ADDRESS
Trina Nagele
I just sent my e-mail to the Board of Parole in Lincoln, Nebraska re denying Jason Meduna parole–I hope others will do the same.
Tiffany
Hi zenny! Black Caviar won, but she will never compare to you! EVER!
I Love you and hope you are doing well! I wish I could come to your party, but unfortunatly cant afford it. I cant work because of epilepsy, so I dont have enough to come see you… maybe someday, I never got the chance to meet you because I live in colorado :( But i sure hope that when the time comes, Ill somehow make it there, it would be a dream come true! You are the best, and will always hold number 1 in my heart! LOVE YOU ZENNY! And I hope you have fun for your party! Hugs and kisses! <3
Abigail from Montreal
Hi everyone.
Just picked this up from TDN: Japan now has a Triple Crown winner. His name is Orfevre (it means “goldsmith” in French) and his grandsire is the great Sunday Silence. Beautiful chestnut colt who came home looking just like Secretariat. Here’s the YouTube link to watch…it brought tears to my eyes!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsE63Jd1oTc
Barbara Wood (Texas)
@the Kennedys–thanks for the fascinating link about LE. SOunds like they have it down to an exact science. It was similar when we visited Three Chimneys.
@Margaret–thanks for the heads up and Trina, thanks for the link to write our letters. I still have a hard time with FB
@signofthetimes–the Bluebonnet Expo was wonderful yesterday. I would encourage anyone within driving distance of Austin to attend next year. They had 50 horses for adoption, a challenge clinic where the foster workers showed how far their charges had progressed, an auction of saddles, etc. the LoneStar vaulters (their Belgian was the same height as Zenyatta!), the Rhinestone Cowgirls (one of their horses was from our boarding facility!), riding tips, trick horses, how to teach your horse to do tricks, much more than I can list here. The volunteers did an awesome job of getting 3 arenas ready and staffed. Can’t waiti till next year!
signofthetimes
@Barbara Woods
Thanks for the update on the Bluebonnet Expo. They are a rescue group, then. How wonderful.
signofthetimes
@Abigail from Montreal
Here is the bloodhorse link to the Japanese Triple Crown winner
by Sunday Silence
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/65726/orfevre-completes-japanese-triple-crown
signofthetimes
Flat out’s work:
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/65730/flat-outs-workout-pleases-trainer-dickey
signofthetimes
Breeding at Winstar Farms;
We had a great narative from LE, but this link actually has very tasteful pictures; the mare being courted, in her garb and going home. Very tastfully done and nice narrative. I think the person who did it brought her mare there and she is in the pictures.
http://eventingnation.com/home/2010/05/a-trip-to-the-breeding-shed-winstar-farm.html
Trina Nagele
JACK RUSSELL TERRIER plays fetch by himself. Too cute.
http://animalvideos.yahoo.com/video-detail?vid=27029907&cid=24037714
signofthetimes
@Abigail from Montreal
What an awesome colt Orfevre, He was being checked early on in the race and I thought he might have been rank, but WOW, what a turn of foot. !!! And so much looks like the great Secretariat.
Laura
Wait, is Zazu retierd? It says it on horseracingnation.
signofthetimes
@Laura
According to blood horse, she has shoulder inflammation
And will race next year. Link is above.
Sue Fredrick
Hi Zenny haven’t been here since Thursday, had to catch up, I was having withdrawal symptoms!! Your looking good, big mama, and your congrats to Black Caviar just prove what a great and generous heart you have. I had my grandkids over and we had a ball, hay rides, pumpkin painting, corn maze, and we even went horseback riding. It was such fun, grandmas have more fun than parents!! My granddaughter even made me a beaded bracelet in Z/s colors which I am wearing to her party.
@KENNEDYS IN CAL thanks for the link to LE’s breeding routine…..just great!
@SIGN OF THE TIMES thanks so much for the news on Take Control Indy I am watching him closely because he’s an Indy kid.
@SHARON IN SEATTLE gee I was at that Oaklawn race too we could have been standing right next to one another. Hope you can make it to the BC party.
@DOREEN IN CONN. I enjoyed seeing the RA pics and reading about her she’s such a beauty too.
@ABIGAIL IN MONTREAL sorry you don’t get good coverage for the BC, wish you could make it to Z’s party I’d love to meet you!
(how’s that book or newsletter coming?)
@DAWN CONRAD thanks for the Silver Charm link….he’s so beautiful. Hope you can make Z’s party too.
@DIANE S so sorry to hear you lost such a wonderful family member.
@JUDY BERUBE love your links too I hope you can make Z’s party.
Love you Z and kisses on your nose.
The Kennedys in San Diego
BRAVA, GELILA! She broke her maiden in Race 1, her second race. Congrats to John Sherriffs, the Mosses, Mike Smith, Mario and the rest of Barn 55.
Trina Nagele
WOW! Way to go TEAM G!(Thanks, Carole and Richard Kennedy!)
The Kennedys in San Diego
Gelila’s sire, 14 year old Bernstein by Storm Cat, was euthanized today — the day his filly broke her maiden.
The Kennedys in San Diego
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/65731/castleton-lyons-stallion-bernstein-die
The link to Bernstein above.
JAG Adores Zenyatta & John Henry / CA
@ ALL
Bernstein was with Gelila in spirit that’s why she won her race… she had to check behind a horse, but she and Mike got the job done! Bless Berstein! XO
Barbara Wood (Texas)
@Sally B and Sue Fredrick–oh my goodness! We could have met at Oaklawn, along with Kari Bussell and Sharon in Seattle! How cool would that have been?
Peggy (N)
@Abigail in Montreal, Thank you so much for the link to Orfevre, What a beautiful Horse, just breathtaking. So much reminded me of Secretariat. Brought tears to my eyes too. I so hope he pulled up well too. I know we’ve not heard the last from him. Your heart just has to overflow with happiness seeing this horse. This just made my day.
Debbie G/Kentucky
@Trina Nagele – Thanks for the link to the Jack Russell playing fetch with himself. Too cute!! Also, thanks for the sample letter for that creep Jason Meduna. I’m going to visit RT Fitch’s FB page and get the contact info.
RIP Bernstein
Trina Nagele
@Abigail in Montreal—Hoofray for Orfevre–I got to watch live on TVG! What jubilation there in Japan for this great horse!
@Bernstein, euthanized due to complications from colic–RIP, and guide your daughter Gelila to more victories.