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
Annie Reynolds
Zen. So glad you have a new friend. Love your pictures and posts. You are a beautiful girl!
Anna
I’m so glad you have your first buddy! Now, you have someone to romp and play with. I love you, Zenny! Tell Pirate Queen I said ‘Hi’.
Barbara
So glad you are free to run with the wind. And now you have a friend to share you moments with. Tell her all your secrets!!
Love ya,Zenny
Stephanie J Lambert
You make my heart soar Sweet Baby Girl ( that’s my name for you :) ) x0x0x0x0
Samantha Peck
Have fun Lady Z!!
Alexandra Bowdoin
DEAR Z,
“THE WIND FROM HEAVEN IS THAT WHICH BLOWS BETWEEN A HORSES EARS” ARABIAN PROVERB
Maria
Oh my goodness, you got a new buddy. That is great! Have fun outside but please be safe for us. We love you sooo much.
Lisa g
Ms Zenyatta, already a friend in the paddock? Not just beauty, talent, athletic but brains to match. After watching you in that video of your first time out, I do believe that Lane’s End should change their name to Lane’s Beginning. I love ya, Queen….Lisa g.
Loretta in Arizona
I too was brought to tears when I saw you running in your paddock for the first time on Bloodhorse.com. Thank you so much BH.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF ZENYATTA’S DEAR FANS… AND MISS “Z”.
Lori Koellner
ZENNY, I am so glad you have a new friend. I seen the video of you running and bucking in the paddock you look so BEAUTIFUL. Running in a winter wonderland. I was so HAPPY to see TEAM Z there with you. Tears of joy filled my eyes watching you so FREE and especialy seeing you & mario together again. THANK YOU for sharing the video and photos. I LOVE YOU Z LOVE LORI XOXO….
Cindy Johnson
I hope she becomes your BFF ’cause every girl has to have someone to confide in. Have a Merry Christmas, I hope you get lots of cool stuff.
Cheryl Heath
Tears of joy and a happy smile on my face. I love having lunch with my girlfriend, so I know how happy you are to have a friend. I have watched the video so many times, it is wonderful beyond words. All this is so special and what a great, great job Lane’s End and Team Z continue to do for you and us. Thanks to all.
Pristine and Rocco
Dear Z, Be very careful of poor Pirate Queen. She retired unplaced after only 3 starts. Her sire retired with a fracture and has had fractured bone offspring like poor Eight Belles and her broodmare sire(Tale Of The Cat) had 3 fractures during his brief 9 start career and his sire(Storm Cat) had offspring who were euthanized with broken bones. She is not the sound horse you are.
cheryl
Wonderful to see Zenyatta—–being a horse. How fabulous that she has retired 100% healthy, happy and fine in every way. A real tribute to team Z.
Ellen Zachary
Hello Ms. Z…I love that your new friend is Pirate Queen…”aaaaarghhhh!!! Come on over Z, and let’s go for a jog!!: How fun…love to hear how everything’s going…
Trish & Mike in Colorado
Thank you so much, Dot-Zen. Yes, we loved the Bloodhorse video also. What a treat. Zenyatta really loves to pose and is obviously happy around her human family.
May I suggest another Eclipse award? You should get one for best turf-writer !!! What insights you have given us.
Margaret
Hay Z I hope your winter coat is coming in. BBrrrrr I bet its chilly with that thinner coat you have. I hope someone checks on you often to make sure you aren’t too cold.
It’s so exciting to hear how farm life is going for you. And the video was marvelous. Getting to see you buck and run around for the sheer joy of being a horse was fun. And then you danced your way back to your stall just telling everyone how much fun you had.
Be nice to your paddock pals. They aren’t quite as fast you. So don’t bully them. Just be pals. Talk about boys and who’s cute. Make sure you guys talk about who is great in the barn (human wise) and who sucks. And this spring when the flies start buzzing–you’ll graze head to tail flicking flies off each others faces. You’ll figure it out.
Marty
Merry Christmas Zenny!!! I love you!!!
Marian M.
When you learn more about her, Zenyatta, please tell us about Pirate Queen. Where is she from? Has she raced? What have her experiences been? And what do you two enjoy about being together?
Mary Alice Kier
Dear Zenyatta – I still can’t stop replaying the fabulous video of your first romping and stomping in the paddock and each time it brings tears to my eyes and great joy in my heart. We your devoted fans are so fortunate to have you in our lives. And more importantly, the incredibe genrosity of the Mosses,not to mention, John, Dottie, Mario, Carmen, Steve and Mike and all the others that comprise Team Zenyatta who have made this all possible. YOU are what racing has needed and YOU have never let us down for a moment in your illustrious career. I am absolutely blown away by all the raw emotion that streams through the response to the blogs that you and Dottie work so hard on together. Oh joy to the world for all you are Zenyatta.
Vicki B.
Cool! Two Queens living across the aisle from one another, and co-habiting the paddock. Now, if Queen Elizabeth comes from England again, then the Queen will meet the real Queen, and you can take that either way!
Gloria
Hey Big Mama Z, you’re gonna be the most popular horse there! Just think of the song “Popular” from the play “Wicked”. You will have to teach your new girlfriends that song before long. :-)It won’t stop raining here in Southern California. I think it’s because we miss you sooooo much since leaving. I am so glad you are doing great. I’ve loved each and every photo, video, blog or anything else that’s been provided since you’ve made your way to Kentucky. Love you, Z!! XOXO
Jennifer Hodell
OK…I was wrong. I pleaded with you not to send her to breed yet and to let her stay at the track for awhile longer. Not to race but to just be with her humans. When I was able to see the video and found out the Z Team flew in to see this wonderful happy moment, I cried. All along I was so worried for Mario. To see him and Zenny together again was just precious. Someone mentioned what a wonderful family you all are and it’s like you have made us part of that family. John S. I can’t thank you enough for that very first video and continuing to let us be a part of your families world. I remember when only maybe 20 or 30 people would view the videos and it went from that to thousands. How do we thank you? Thanks Ms. Dottie for all the updates, hard work, and time you have taken in putting to words Zenyatta’s daily activies, thoughts, and feelings. Some have asked me why this event in the paddock was so special not realizing that these horses don’t get to go out like this during their racing career so in time and very carefully they can learn to be “free”. Thank you all again and I’m happy to have been so wrong. Zenny is in good hands and looks oh so happy. As always kisses on her beautiful nose from me….
D Skladany
Hi Z, must say that you look fabulous in the video and your pics. Wish I looked as good lol. It is wonderful to hear from you in this blog. Tell Dottie she is also fabulous (along with the rest of the crew). And Z, you should go to Steve Haskin’s blog on the Bloodhorse and read the letter from the retired teacher, Abigale Anderson (hope I spelled that right). She talked about your ancestors. Wonderful stories, beautifully written. I guarantee that you will love the letter and want to share it with Dottie and the team. They will love it. One question to you, does it mean anything that you carry your tail straight up when you run in the paddock???
z4ever
Thanks for the kindest of memories and happiest of endings.
An especial thanks for the generosity and caring of the Mosses, Dottie, John, Mario, Carmen, Mike, Steve and countless others who have contributed to the fabulous Z but especially her fabulous fans.
It’s truly wonderful to experience the generosity and goodwill that Zenyatta inspires.
To Z, her team and her fans, a salute for truly understanding and exemplifying what can be.
Happiest of holidays to all!
kcinla36
Definitely thank you Z and Dottie for keeping us so well informed. I think it’s awesome that TEAM Z went to visit and share in the experience :)
Shortskinnylady
How appropriate the two “Queens” are together for Zenny’s first outings with another mare! Dottie, thank you again so much for putting Zenny’s “words” to “paper” – more tears after the last diary, and again watching the video, tears of happiness for her. How exciting that Team Z could fly back to see her first outing, and now know that she is easily beginning to acclimate to outside life thanks to the good work of Lane’s End. Thanks too goes out again to Lane’s End and the Bloodhorse Mag for making available such a great video! Loved to see Zenny buck and play – I was really looking forward to it! She seems happy, but also looked like she was very glad to see ‘her people’ from Calif. I’m glad that Mario and Carmen were able to go back again so she could see them – I really think that’s important, and so, obviously, do the Mosses and Shirreffs! Tears again… so moved at the caring surrounding her…
Kate
Thank you AGAIN for everyone who is keeping us updated on Queen Z… The video yesterday was breathtaking, and seeing her with a buddy is just fabulous!
Ingrid in MA
There can be only ONE Queen, and that’s YOU, darling Zen! I’m glad you have a friend already. But I have to say, watching that video of you streaking around the paddock like lightning made me cry. All I could think was that you were telling everyone that you’ve still got the fever for racing,that you still had the speed and enthusiasm to get back out there and kick butt on the track. (sigh) What a Christmas present that would have been for all your fans.
But no matter how you slice it, you’re happy,and that’s all that’s important to all of us!
Love you, Your Royal Highness!
Ann Ferguson
Love hearing about Z. Keep them coming.