Hello everyone,
Things continue to be very exciting here for me at the FARM. LOOK AT THIS! I did so well my first couple days in the paddock that I now have been introduced to my first BUDDY. She is in my barn and stabled right across from me. Her name is Pirate Queen. We are really doing very well together. She is gray and I am dark brown/black so it is easy to tell us apart. I am having SO MUCH FUN!
Our schedule is rather nice! In the morning, we walk out to the paddock together. At that point, when we are settled into the paddock, we get ‘turned out’. (This means the shanks are taken off and we are now ‘free’.) Then we get to play, run, jog, and graze! Here we are just relaxing and grazing. I often grazed with a friend on the grass back home in Barn 55…so this is all very normal for me. At home in CA, Harmonious and I would spend hours outside together. Then I’d also graze with Zardana quite a bit. I like having friends and being able to share my time and experiences with them.
I hope you enjoyed yesterday’s Diary. I tried to give you lots of details about my time ‘being free’ in the paddock. Dottie really helped me put my thoughts and feelings into words for you! Each of the moments was so special to me…and seeing my TEAM Z FAMILY again made that day even more precious! WOW!
THE BLOODHORSE video is also amazing. I hope you have been able to watch it. As I mentioned, Anne M. Eberhardt and Alex from the magazine were here filming and taking photos. They did a fabulous job capturing ‘the moment’ and my time outside! I hope you enjoy it! I personally want to THANK THEM for their hard work and dedication to our sport! They really wanted this experience to be very special and memorable…not only for me and my TEAM…but for the FANS! Again, THANK YOU!
I’m off to go play some more with my BUDDY! I wonder if she has a nickname. I have several of them: Z, Queen Z, Zenny, and Lady Z to name a few. I’ll find out and let you know. I am so excited. This is great FUN!
Cheers for a wonderful, wonderful day for each of you!
With love,
Hugs to all~
Z
Sheri Osborne
That is so sweet that you have a buddy to graze with! You will have someone to play with and “chat” with. Shes pretty, but not as pretty as you Z! Loe you Zenyatta and can’t wait to readyour next post! :D
Amanda Gilliland
My Sweey Lady Zenyatta, I am so thrilled for you. I am so happy to see you with your new Buddy. Thank Anne & Alex for the video. Absolutely a gift to see you acting free & I loved hearing you neighing. You sounded so happy! You look great! It was awesome to see Team Z with you! Thanks for your posts and I love you so much, Zenyatta! Merry Christmas from Alabama sending Hugs & Kisses to you. Love, Amanda
nancy
Hi Z glad to see you have a friend to hang with now, shall we start the nick names off for her with PQ?Saw your vid from lanes end made me smile, you were trully getting to be a horse, runing kicking up your heels, and they way you acted when you saw Mario was just so speical. It is sad though that you will never be ridin again, but your new life is starting to take hold, and we are all so happy for you.Befor you know it your mate will be chosen, and the process will start, then we will have to wait 10 to 11 months to see your baby, it will be worth the wait. I’m so glad Z you will have a good life. My hope is that someday all retired race horses and others will get to exprince what you have. You have such loving owners and team Z will always be there for you new and old. It is still rainy here in Ca, but were suppose to get a break. You be careful in that snow baby girl. Look forward to next post, till then tell PQ we are happy she gets to share space with you.
cheryl
luv all the posts, pics, and the vidio.enjoying everything. thanks to all for sharing, from ohio !!!!!!!
Christine Coleman
Hi Zenny! I’m so happy to read you have a friend to graze with!!! Plus I see you like her. I’m sure she likes you too! I’m glad you aren’t by yourself in your paddock anymore. I know horses are herd minded so everything is falling into place with you! I saw your video and it made me cry. I’m now able to say that after that video, I am happy you are not racing again. I wanted you to get another shot at Blame at first, but watching you run free when you were turned out took my breath away. When you winnyed (sp?) with joy, that was all I needed to see. You were happy and actually enjoying being a horse instead of a race horse! I don’t have to tell you how happy I am that your humans flew all that distance to share this occasion with you! Tell Dottie we are sooo appreciative of her work sharing these precious moments with us. I don’t know what it is you did to us Zenny, but we love you!!!!
Anita
Hi My Big Z Girl. Each day is just a new Christmas present for you and all of us. The video yesterday was so wonderful — i watched it several times and shared it on FB. I really am grateful to everyone from your team for sharing with us every day about your new experiences. They don’t have to do this, but it shows what wonderful people they are. I’m so happy you get to spend time in the paddock and with a new friend! You are one lucky Girl!
Cheryl Smith
So glad that you have made so many new friends. It is so wonderful to hear from you at each update. Thanks Lane’s End for allowing her dairy to continue. We all love her so much and it is good to know that she is adjusting so well.
Merry Christmas to all of you!
Barbara Wood
Dearest Z– congratulations on your latest BFF. Loved your video. Thanks to all who made it possible. Those of us who are far away absolutely feed on every post and photo we can get. It was 87 here in central Texas yesterday. There must be a happy medium somewhere!
Rhonda–I’m remembering you in my prayers. I know exactly how you feel. Our horse helped bring me out of the pits when my mom died.
Dottie–we know this diary is a lot of work, but thank you so much. You choose the exact words Z would type. You are great at taking dictation!
Christine Coleman
Hi again Zenny! I just looked up Pirate Queen and wow is she loaded with pedigree. But I don’t think she should try to outrun you! LOL On her Pedigree Query page it already says she is the first buddy to “The Great Zenyatta” at Lane’s End! You big ham! Everything you touch is affected to the good Mighty Mare! Take care of your buddy Zenny. Not all horses are blessed with humans that love you like your Team Z and your fans. We are watching! Pirate Queen is a part of our Zenny now!
Jenna
Z has a new friend!
Maureen Feely
So glad you have a friend now at Land’s End. You’ll be able to compare notes. Having a girlfriend is the best. Stay safe and warm.
CJ
Pirate Queen gets to hang with the REAL Queen. How lucky is she?
You are awesome! Keep on having fun and kicking up your heels. You deserve the royal treatment you are getting.
Hugs to you Z.
Julie Ann
How great to have a friend to share with! I absolutely loved the video and shared your JOY. I wanted to kick up my heels in happiness for you as you ran and danced around. I think you and Dottie have a very special friendship as well. Please tell her Thank You for putting into words for us all your thoughts and new experiences. How wonderful to have a friend like Dottie who can bring us all closer together here. I think maybe she should consider writing a book for you? Well, enjoy the rest of your day with your new buddy! Andale! Julie Ann
Elena Erdman
Good morning Zenyatta. How awesome that you have a friend. What fun you are having outside. I am so happy that the sun came out here in Cali and I know it is just for you. I have watched your gorgeous video so many times and each time I do, I love it even more. Tell me something when you are running around and having fun, do you change leads? I am just curious. Dottie, you are unbelievable, what you and the Mosses and Lane’s End are doing is truly making history. I have a friend and she knows nothing about horses, well now she keeps on asking me for info on Zenyatta and wants to see the videos. She is sick but the videos are making her well and she is feeling happier and better every day. Can you believe it? You bring so much joy to people. To see you bucking and running is fantastic and the music and the whinnies. Oh, it really is Christams. And wonderful John checking out your legs, God bless him. It brings tears to my eyes to hear all this wonderful news, but good happy tears. I love you and enjoy all you can, you deserve everything good and so do all your connections and Lane’s End, what a group of total winners. I love you.
Jack Wolferseder
Opposite ends of the racing spectrum and neither horse could care. Just happy to be out with each other. The farm obviously knew that these two would get along and in time I suspect others will be added to the herd! It will be interesting to see where Z fits in to the pecking order…if she is an “alpha mare” type.
Pristine and Rocco
Dear Z, We are related to you also. We both have Mr. Prospector from Crafty Prospector. Rocco is also a stakes winner.He was just 6 hundredths of a second slower than a course record. I (Pristine)have black hair in the winter. I have no white. Rocco is a bay with a little white. We are glad you now have a friend and the chance to run like we do.
Big Blue and Sonyah Darling
Hi Z Girl; we been retired and pastured for a couple of years together..I’ll tell ya it’s the life. Our two leged friend JoJo comes out and plays with us, and brushes us and gives us treats, sometimes we take her for a ride and we don’t have to do anything. Enjoy your life big girl it doesn’t get any better than this. Two happy horses.
Sue w
James…hubby and I are also going to Louisville next year to see our Queen.
I love everything about this diary. Everyone needs a buddy and now our awesome Zenny has one! I would give my right arm to see another video of her kicking up her heels.
Helen & Guido
You and friend look so relaxed and happy Z. And yesterday sounded like a perfect day! You have so many people who care about you, and you do deserve that. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas Z!
Julie Ann
P.S. About that book..Tell Dottie, I’m an educator and I’ve been thinking how extraordinary it is how you have touched so many people’s lives and we are benefiting from your experiences. I’ve thought about it a bit and think perhaps you’ve shown us with your spirit how to be happy and successful with similar instances in our lives. For example, how important it is to not give up in any race. We humans face every day so many “races” and like you have to reach deep and give it our whole hearted effort. Sometimes we don’t finish first but we finish and don’t give up. Just like you. When change happens, it’s important to be flexible and find the benefit in the new. Just like you. A new home and new friends. So, if you and Dottie wrote a book for children telling your story, you would be “educators” for so many people. My generation had a much loved book about a bull, “Ferdinand” who taught us how to not fight and to stop and smell the flowers. Perhaps you could be the “Zenyatta” who teaches this generation of young ones how to live with a great heart and never give up? Andale!
Toni Zierold
ZenMama!! you transcend everything with limits! just the site of you is drawing tears! (I gotta stop) You were handled so well, many folks are not familiar with the perils of first-time turnout…or fist-time introductions. You are handled with such dignity and grace. You serve as the ambassador of EQUUS and all its glory. I see a little bit of you in my 6 at home everytime I look in their eyes. You have enriched all of our lives….
muffin
Very fitting that you have a fellow ‘queen’ as your buddy, Queen Z. <3
Kim Curtsinger
Zennie-Looks like you’re doing very well with your new freedom. I am so happy for you. Aren’t all these changes exciting! Take care girl and be safe. Love You
Sandi
Thanks to Dottie for keeping us updated… Lady Z you are heading into a new wonderful phase in your life, and to join others of your kind to play and relax with is wonderful…. so happy for you, as often others are not so fortunate… I pray the best for such a beautiful champion!
Monica Horn
Cool! Someone to gossip with about the stallions! Girlfriends rock!
Shirley VH
Wonderful, gentle smart Dancing Queen.
Patricia
WOW, at last you are living your new life to the full!! What fun to see you run and buck and flag your tail… what a happy girl. You’ve earned it… and we are all so pleased for you. Pirate Queen and maybe a couple of other nobly bred ladies for your little Royal Court…
sg
I would love to see video of you two together.
Barbara
HI Queen Z! Boy you are settling in so well! I am so happy for you and the video was amazing and seeing your family there was sooooo wonderful. Love to you all!!!
Astrid
Zenny, your video was just magical!! Say hi to your new sweet friend:)