Good Morning Everyone!
I hope you had a wonderful and restful weekend. Mine was terrific!
Dottie and I have been reading over your thoughtful comments in the DIARY responses! Thank you so much for the kind words, not just to ME…but to each other.
I totally agree with all of your comments about MY NEW HOME! LANE’S END is an absolutely beautiful farm with huge paddocks and lush surroundings. I am SO HAPPY here! Everyone is incredibly thoughtful of ME. I truly can’t thank them enough for the warmth and kindness shown to ME each day! Needless to say, TASTY and I are 2 very HAPPY HORSES!
I also love the fact that you are enjoying my new ZENYATTA SHOP! There are many more fun things to come in the future. I hope you enjoy them.
Many of you have asked about TASTY and I and if she is ‘protective of ME’. The answer is ABSOLUTELY YES. She is truly a very special and dear friend. She always wants to be sure that I am safe.
From what I can tell from the time I’ve lived at Lane’s End, we seem to have many more visitors to our paddock than the others. We have various writers and photographers here quite a bit, the charity visitors and their families come to see ME, TV crews are here, and then my own dear family frequently comes to Kentucky to see ME and catch up with how I am doing.
TASTY and I do hang out together ALL of the time. When MY JOHN entered the paddock on this particular afternoon, she came right over. She wanted to ‘check him out’. When I take a nap in the field, she normally stands right by ME to be sure I’m A-OK. In turn, I try to do the exact same thing for her. We just want to be sure that each of US has the opportunity to rest, relax, and enjoy our lives the best WE CAN! WE REALLY TRY TO BE THERE FOR EACH OTHER!
Here she is checking out MY JOHN. When he was hugging ME, she wanted to be sure all was terrific. I told her everything was perfect! During MY time at BARN 55, he’d hug ME like this every single day for 5 years. I explained to TASTY that MY JOHN is truly one of US….a dear, dear friend! He then hugged HER too….and she knew this was so true!
Happy Monday! I’m sharing a BIG HUG with all of you, too!
With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z
Carolyn Caswell-Brown
Zenny: What a beautiful picture. John is one lucky guy!
Speaking of luck, I feel VERY fortunate to be the recipient of so many comforting thoughts & prayers concerning the loss of our Sheba that many of you passed along. To many to thank individually. Your words have already gone a long way to help the process of healing. I feel that my heart was touched & held by your care.
In keeping with this “circle of love”, I will use the prayers for our loss you have shared and send them on as prayers of hope & life for Autumn & Dyna King. May the love they hold aid in their recoveries.
IN GRATITUDE with PEACE & LOVE
Elaine
You are looking terrific, Mama Z!
Elizabeth G.
Dear Zen, You bring tears to my eyes every time that I read your words. I am so happy that you have such a dear friend. Take Care and God Speed.
Ingrid Arnone. South Beach.
Dear Dottie and John, you are a wonderful and awesome people!
You take care her so well, I am pretty sure you are this way with everyone that are close to you, I thank you for everything you do for us the fans, I adore Zenyatta, and I do loves all the horses, but she is so special lady horse, love you all, Ingrid.
Linda M
Well now, look at the 3 of you – TOO CUTE! I must say Z, between us girls, your hind end remains in FINE SHAPE! :) And look at Tasty’s beautiful Dapples!! You girls certainly know how to have fun! We love all of you, Linda and George
Kimberly Potter/Montana
My Zenyatta~ This post and the pics are truly priceless. Brings tears to my eyes.
@Susan in TN~ What a truly touching and emotional story you shared about your precious Choctaw. More tears, thank you for sharing him with us.
@Kari, Judy and Russ, and all the Z’sters who are in need of positive thoughts and prayers…YOU will always have mine!
Hugz to ALL~
Zenyatta’s #1 fan in Montana
JAG Adores Zenny & John Henry / So. CA
@ Ann Maree
I LOVE YOUR PHOTOS!! Thanks so much for sharing your day with those of us who couldn’t go :-(
Judy G
Kimberly Potter/Montana
@Ann Maree~ The photos you shared of Zenyatta’s party are wonderful! Thanks for sharing!
nancy
You and Tasty just look so happy. Love that baby bump you both have, just think your going to be a mom sooner then later just about 5 months to go? Z, we are all looking forward to that baby there are just no words. You and Thasty stay safe with the wearther starting to get cold. And thank you Dottie for keeping the site going. Love the new merchadise as well, will be ording some things here soon. We will always wear are Queen Z shirts with such pride :)
Georgia Harper< Seattle, WA
Dear Zen – What beautiful phots thank you so much it just brings tears to my eyes to see you and TT with your John, you look so contended. I was heartbroken when they took you away to KY that cold evening when you stepped off the plane but look how happy you are now and to have such a wonderful good friend to stand at your side.
@Barbara Wood, thank you so much for the update on Autumn, I have ordered their newsletter and thought I would like to volunteer.
Hugs from Seattle
Marty R / Colorado
@Ann Maree- I thoroughly enjoyed your pictures from Z’s Breeders Cup party. Thanks for sharing.
Brenda S..Ontario, Canada
What great pictures, thanks Dottie for including them and also the details about how Tasty takes care of Zenny. I think in the second picture Tasty looks a bit unsure still about John being so close to her friend. Zenny, I love that you are able to be “just a horse” at Lane’s End even tho you will always be more than that and that you share your family with Tasty.
Susan in Tn – A lovely story about Choctaw standing guard over you in a vulnerable moment, thanks for sharing.
Margaret
Ouch Z! Go easy on that hug! I either have a couple of cracked ribs or pneumonia–either way my ribs are hurting like you wouldn’t. And coughing? There are NO WORDS to describe the pain. I have a couple of dust balls caught in my throat and I have no way to cough them up. Sorry for going on–I’m just feeling very sorry for myself.
I’m glad that you and Tasty have bonded so well. Now you have someone to snuggle up with when it’s a bit chilly outside. And most importantly you can fly swat for each other! Pesky flies learn to late…
Trisha
I think “your John” misses you so much. I know we do.
Love hugs and kisses
DMCQ, Alabama
Hello to beautiful Zenyatta, Dottie, Your John, and Your connections, Z sters and fans,
I am enjoying all the new pictures of You and also your friend, Tasty, and all the Z ster comments. I had two incidents happen this fall that I have learned from and that have confirmed by belief that You are a gift to so many of us. You will never know all the occasions when You have caused us to think again about our priorities and to be kind in the little things and generous in the things that we can do.
The first incident involved My wonder dog, McDude. We were having a walk about and he was not on his leash. I heard him make a very unusual sound, a low growling sound and went to look for him to see what was causing him to growl. He was having a duel with a water moccasin close to a catch pond near our home. I picked up a large tree limb near the two and threw it down between them to surprise and separate them. The strategy worked as the snake went in one direction and McDude went in the other. He ran under a tree and as I watched him, I saw another snake in the tree, a little smaller than the first. I ran to the house to get my hand gun since that was quicker than going for keys and unlocking the tool shed to get my hoe. I ran back and fired four shots before the gun jammed. Then, I realized that I had been in such a hurry, I forgot my ear plugs. I couldn’t hear well at all. It felt like I was pushing my ears shut with my fingers at a 70’s rock concert. I thought that I would recoup at least some of my hearing, but a little more than a week later when I could get a doctor’s appointment; my hearing was not coming back. Sometimes, we do not get do-overs, just like on the race tracks.
The second incident was another surprise for me. I had trouble getting home from a walk that I make easily every day. The next morning, the same thing happened I was suddenly very tired and couldn’t seem to get enough air to keep going. I called my doctor and they told me to immediately go to the ER, but not to drive there by myself. I thought they would find that I needed a change in blood pressure medication since I have lost weight.
I ended up as a guest in the CCU and every day was sure they were going to send me home so I could do Christmas shopping at the Junior League’s Holiday Market. I missed the shopping event and remained a guest for a week. As I have been saying, “I am sure I am where I am supposed to be, doing what I should be doing.”
There are some problems with my heart that were discovered and I am so blessed to have the very best cardiologist and team of people who are monitoring me and planning with me about how to resolve this situation. I am so grateful for the caring doctors, nurses, techs, cleaning people, cooks, and interns. It takes an amazing number of people to take care of us when we are in the hospital. Just as you taught us that it takes many people to take care of the atheletes at a race track.
I was pleased that the early morning techs told me that they hurried to my room to “get a good start to the morning.” What a compliment! We can all use a compliment at 4:30 AM if we happen to be awake then.
When I was bored or feeling a bit grumpy, I pictured You, Zenyatta, and You never failed to help me. I meditated on You,looking in the puddle and seeing the rainbow. It made me think of a student who was deaf-blind and looking in a puddle for the first time. He shouted, “Teacher, come! There is a boy in there!” We see uniquely and what we need to see. I saw you seeing a rainbow when I needed comfort.
While getting a series of shots, 87 in all, I meditated on You, Z, in Your pasture-peaceful and eating and calm and I did not scream! (Not even one time.) For now, You will have to eat my greens since I cannot have any leafy greens.
On what was to be my last day, I got to walk the hospital halls and no one was looking, so I did the DMCQ version of the Z dance, and felt as You must have kicking up Your heels when You understood the pasture was Yours to dance in. Of course, I stopped when I saw the nurse coming down the hall! I was prepared to report that the Dr. said I could! That’s when I got the word I could go home and had to go sign out.
I am a willing patient and intend to do what is needed to get well. Your friendship here on Zenyatta’s Diary and FB is treasured! I hope to catch up with previous diary postings and plan to post some comments too. (But, not as lengthy as this was.)
Zenyatta has been a very special presence for inspiring me at different times during this incident and the first incident. Last Friday, I picked up my hearing aids. Though they are not perfect, it is a relief to be able to understand speech more easily. I want to thank everyone who missed me, had a good thought about me, said a little prayer, wished me well, or lit a candle while I was off line. Z hugs to all, DMCQ
Celeste/ Massachusetts
What wonderful pictures!! Thank you Dottie for posting them, so we can see Zenyatta and TT of course, just out enjoying the fresh air. It’s so nice they have each other for companionship. Everybody needs a friend!!!
Arlene
Hi Zenny – Love your life-size painting – fit for the queen you are! Beautiful pictures of you and Tasty and John.
@ Ann Marie: Thank you for sharing your great pictures.
Blessings. LOL, Arlene from VT
Allen
John sure is lucky, two beautiful girls to hug. Love You Z.
Vicki
It never ceases to amaze me that when I look at your awesome profile and see how absolutely CLEAN your legs and body are for a running horse – John sure can pick em to stay sound!! No bucked shins, big knees or ankles and that is because he knows his horses!! Stay sound and safe LOVE YA and that TOO CUTE baby you are carrying cant wait for it to enter the world!
suew/Va
Zenny, what fun you are having these days with all your visitors…especially YOUR JOHN. These pictures make me smile…they show the unique bond between you two. TT is so lucky to have you as a BF as is she to have you. I’m just glad everything is good in your world. Lord knows is’s a crazy place…you bring joy and hope to all who visit here.
Laura
Never realized it before how tall you were racing, but you are really tall Z!!! <3 :)
Margie in So. Calif.
Zenny, great photos with your beloved John and Tasty T. Every photo of you is a gift.
@Susan in TN: your Choctaw is beautiful inside and out. Your shared memory of that special time brought tears to my eyes. Animals are the best people I know, except for Z posters :-)
@Ann Maree: thanks so much for sharing your pictures!
@JAG: I’m glad Zenny’s photos brought you to a better place this Monday. Let her lift your spirits with her special brand of Zen.
Hugs back to you, Zenyatta, and Team Z!
Dallas from Texas
Hey baby girl. I hope your weekend was peaceful. I want to let you and your fans know about an article from Steve Haskin in Bloodhorse.com, a day with Zenyatta and Rachel. While I was never a big fan of Rachel but I did respect her. I only had time to follow you and the Barbaro brothers. But of the 68 comments on Steve’s article, nearly all of them focused on you only. There were so many beautiful things said about you. Several of the comments brought tears to my eyes. Thank you Zenyatta for being here in my lifetime, love you baby girl.
Samantha
Zenny… you are huge!! Please post more pictures, I love setting them as my backround <3
Margie in So. Calif.
@Ann Maree: I’m sure you noticed in the picture where you snapped Zenny up close (last photo in slide show), she’s looking directly at you. LOL That’s our girl, always ready for her close up! She zoomed right in and sent her special Z-vibe straight to your heart. :-) Thanks again for sharing your pix.
lil bunny foo foo
You positively glow, Zenny. Having John there with you is such a blessing. Thanks for sharing. I’m happy that you’re happy. You deserve only love and kindness for all you’ve done to bring joy to everyone, even those who had the privilege of losing to you!
Theresa Buck/Texas
all three of you looks so relaxed
Emily
Oh Sweet sweet Zenyatta, what a lovely post. It makes me feel so good to know that you and TT are so close and happy. The pictures are absolutely precious. As they say a picture paints a thousand words. It’s very apparent that you are enjoying ever minute of your life. Stay well my angel, and TT too. Thanks Dottie and John for sharing. You’re the best.
Trish & Mike in Colorado
What a wonderful post and pictures. Thank you.
Liz
You’re looking great Zen, as are your friends. I think that you have everything there is in having each other. And I agree that your John is an especially great guy. Knew it the minute I saw him. You and Dottie and your friend Tasty are very very lucky ladies. FYI, as things would have it, he stood just in front of us for your 19th race. That was an honor in itself, but he turned around and smiled at us. I’ll never forget his eyes. I said to myself “Now that’s a man”. And then you pulled off the race I’ve waited for all my life. Thanks again for the wonderful memories Zen, and may your baby be equally blessed.