Good Morning,
I absolutely LOVE this photo Anne M. Eberhardt took the other day. Here I am with my dear friends, Mario and Carmen. I wanted to mention, just in case you did not know, Mario and Carmen are MARRIED. It is so special to share all of this with them. WE WILL BE FRIENDS FOREVER! I have spent a great deal of time with these 2 lovely people. I think I’m now OFFICIALLY PART OF THEIR FAMILY! I’ve heard that photos of ME are all over their home and in their family albums…right next to those of their children and relatives!
Carmen had never been in the snow before Monday. It is so cute. When I was looking out my window, I saw them taking pictures of each other in the snow. I loved watching them!
Mario has told John countless times that THE LAST 3 YEARS HAVE BEEN THE BEST YEARS OF HIS LIFE! He simply can’t believe it! His pictures have been in magazines, newspapers and on TV with ME! Carmen feels the same way.
John was teasing Mario while they were here…’Did you ever think, Mario, that you would go into the paddock or on the track and people would be calling out your name?’ The crowd was literally chanting…MARIO, MARIO, MARIO the last time I paraded at Hollywood Park. It was GREAT to see how much people appreciated him….and all of his work with ME! While John was saying this to him, all Mario could do was smile…so proudly!
As this is the season for being thankful and reflective on one’s life…I want to say….I AM ONE VERY GRATEFUL HORSE to have been BLESSED TO HAVE ALL OF THESE SPECIAL PEOPLE WITH ME EACH MOMENT…TO HELP ME BE THE BEST I COULD BE!
I TRULY COULD NEVER HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT MY LOVING TEAM ZENYATTA!
It is so comforting to me to be able to say this…and let my friends at Barn 55…and now at Lane’s End…know how much THEY ARE APPRECIATED. Often, in life, people do not really say these things and let their FAMILY, FRIENDS (and in my case…MY FANS) know exactly HOW SPECIAL they are to you. I wanted to be sure to do so!
Things are not always easy and every single day is not always perfect…but I have truly been blessed to be in an environment where THE LOVE OF THE HORSE ALWAYS COMES FIRST!
IN THIS SEASON OF GIVING…WHAT A GIFT I HAVE BEEN GIVEN!
Have a wonderful day!
With Love,
Hugs to ALL~
Z
Jane C
Mario and Carmen – another great photo to add to your collection. It’s one of the best and very intimate. How wonderful for you both that Zenyatta came into your lives and you are enjoying every second of it!!!! Merry Christmas and love to Zenyatta and her wonderful family team!
Maria
Zenny, I love this picture. I can see in this picture that Mario and Carmen are so happy and proud of you. You have given us sooo much in the last 3 years and we thank you and all Zenyatta’s Team from the bottom of our heart. We love you soooo much!!!
Lori K
ZENNY, I LOVE THIS PHOTO. THIS PHOTO SHOWS SO MUCH LOVE,JOY,HAPPINESS,LOYALITY,TRUST,AND
SUCH A STRONG BOND BETWEEN BEST FRIENDS FOREVER. ZENNY YOU TRULY ARE A GUARDIAN ANGEL. I WOULD LIKE TO WISH ZENNY, TEAM Z, LANES END AND ALL OF ZENNY’S FANS A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A BLESSED NEW YEAR! I LOVE YOU ZENNY. LOVE LORI XOXO…
Penny
Team Z is amazing. The outstanding owners are very kind to share you and your continuing story with your fans. Mario is getting the respect and appreciation he deserves, again due to the Moses. Happy Chanukah big girl! Happy & Safe New Year.
Debbi M
Dottie does an amazing job writing for you, Queen Z. You both are so eloquent and write such words to touch the heart and lift the spirt. I swear, I scarce leave your website without being all misty eyed and touched by the beautiful, gentle and fun spirits of those around you and as shines from you, as well. May God continue to bless you and your team, and may we all know what it is like to be loved and appreciated on this earth. Merry Christmas to all of Team Z!
Mary Alison Knighton
Congrats Mario and Carmen. Ya’ll are major parts of Team Zenyatta.
Kim Curtsinger
No Zenyatta, what a gift you have given us. What a gift your team has given us. Unprecidented! Yes, you were blessed to be with your team, that is for sure. They are all truely special people and it shows in everything they do. But it is us, the fans, that have been so blessed by your presence and the kindness of Team Zenyatta. My Christmas present was getting to touch you on Dec. 6th at Keeneland. It was all I could ever ask for. May God bless you, John, Dottie, Carmen, Mario, Steve, David, Ann, Jerry, and countless others who played a part in your life, with all the blessings they so richly deserve. Thank you, Zenyatta & Team Z from the bottom of my heart.
Ann Maree
Hi, there, sweet girl, I got here early today….very few responses yet! It has been so heartwarming to me to see how happy you have been the last few days, now that you have some freedom to be a “regular” horse again. It’s been a long time, nearly 4 years, so it must have seemed normal to always have someone have to be with you every second…it was necessary, of course, and you got plenty of exercise and also, with your training for races, you obviously got lots of workouts. But, it must seem like a whole new world for you to explore now, on your own, so to speak! That you seem happy makes me extremely happy for you!
I’ve been working hard to get the word out to everybody I can find on Facebook, in the blogosphere, in the forums where they talk about the upcoming Horse of the Year award in January, that you deserve this award. I’ve done a lot of research, looked at the pros and cons, and have several different takes on why you should be honored by your sport. I try to be nice about it, but sometimes I get so passionate, I have to be sure I stay courteous and keep it on a civil level! You have literally thousands of fans pulling for you. You will always be our “Horse of a Lifetime” no matter how the voting turns out.
Merry Christmas to all your family, friends an everyone associated with your wonderful career. I still recall what John said to you when you and he said goodbye at Barn 55, and it expresses every sentiment I have about you: “There’s not one thing about you that isn’t exceptional…not one!”
Hugs, Ann Maree
harold
what a wonderful way to embress xmas with such love and comfort between horse and people such as mario and carmen.hat’s off to the owner for considering your only as good as the people who work for you.
susan vest
that is my “toast” this season…………..to the love of a horse………….
Mary Ann Wrenn
Merry Christmas and thank you to all the beautiful people of Team Zenyatta and Team Lane’s End for taking care of a beautiful champion. You all are very much appreciated and admired.
Franci Nelson
Merry Christmas from my family to you and your family. I hope you all have a safe and peaceful holiday season and 2011 is full of wonderful new experiences.
Yvonne Pece Schnell
It is a “TEAM” that makes a GREAT RACE HORSE! and… Lady Z you have one hell of a team..
Merry Christmas to ALL!!!!
Stephanie J Lambert
It is truly us that have been given a gift, the gift of Zenyatta…..
Shortskinnylady
More tears, streaming down my face. A wonderful picture, like many have said above, of an enormous amount of love between humans and equine. And a warm Christmas story. We’ve known that Zenny loves Mario and Carmen all along, and of course the feelings are mutual, but it was so good of the Mosses to fly them out to see Zenny to see her set free for the first time. THAT is generosity of spirit and a lot of love. That the Mosses can be big enough to acknowledge the people behind this incredible mare by giving them these opportunities to see her in this transition period, and let her know they haven’t disappeared from her life completely. Again, Dottie, thank you for these diary posts – keeping us fans as part of your extended ‘family’ with Team Z. For every person who takes the time to write something here, there are probably 1,000 or 1 million who don’t. So on their behalf, I thank you and the rest of Team Z for continuing to allow us into her world. Same for Lane’s End as well. Maybe one day Ann Moss will get her dream, when Zenny isn’t bearing babies anymore, and will have the big mare on her front lawn one day! (I can see the tour bus stops as we speak!!) What a gift this horse is, and what a gift Team Z is and has been. Merry Christmas to all of you!
Stephanie J Lambert
Merry Christmas, God Bless you Dottie, John and David x0x0x0x to you Z I love you
Joan
Hi Z,
Great pic. On your retirement day I was lucky enough to meet both Mario and Carmen. That Carmen is a sweetheart,Mario, well what can you say about Mario. They were both so gracious and welcoming. I think this is one of my fav pics, because the love just oozes out of the pic. Merry Christmas to Barn 55, Mario and Carmen and of course to you.
Mary Adkins-Matthews
I can see the love they feel in the way the look at her!
Marty
Thanks again for sharing this wonderful journey with us. Zenyatta you are more beautiful every day. Just when I think I have seen the best picture ever another one pops up. This one today is now the greatest!I visited Hollywood Park in June of last year and was blessed to see Mario and Zenyatta .She was grazing by the paddock. I was so shy to say anything not wanting to disturb, but now I wish I had said something to Mario and Zenyatta. Z would eat ,look , stop, and then nuzzle Mario, and look at me. It looked like she was saying, see that lady over there, why doesn’t she SAY something. LOL
I can’t wait to see you in the Spring, Z.
LOVE YOU
Tammy
I remember at your Hollywood Park retirement ceremony watching Mario clearly stop and pose you for the fans periodically as he walked around the paddock. Your whole family has been so amazing in sharing you with us, we’re just as blessed as you that you wound up with the family did. we all owe David big time :)
Theresa
Merry Christmas to you, Zenyatta, and everyone at Barn 55 and Lane’s End. I sure do appreciate all the detailed updates coming our way.
Happy New Year to all!
Elaine Valenzuela
God bless Mario, Carmen and whole team! What a beautiful pic. Queen Z, you’re looking into their eyes like you’re speaking! Thanks for your daily updates. They help me start my day! Keep warm and make sure Santa gives you your special treats and a sip of that Guiness!
Marilyn Hill-Russell
I love that pic also. Merry Christmas Z and to all of your Barn 55 crew. Have a great New Year.
Cheryl
So beautiful – thank you so much for your thoughts. I find reasurance and strength here with you. You can tell how much Mario and Carmen love you and you them. I think through you, a lot of people are realizing how wonderful and spiritual the horse is. To know a horse is a gift for life. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if this compassion and love would spill out to all the animals and all the people? Zenyatta I really do think you help that happen. LOVE YOU
Sherrie
LOVE & SNOW!!!!
GOD BLESS TEAM ZENYATTA AND THANKS FOR SHARING THIS INCREDIBLE CREATURE WITH US.
IT WARMS THE SOUL TO KNOW THERE ARE FELLOW ANIMAL-LOVERS AND HORSE-LOVERS WHO APPRECIATE THE SMALL MOMENTS IN LIFE AS MUCH AS THE BIG ONES. MERRY CHRISTMAS!
XXXOOO
Sue Fredrick
My beautiful, beautiful Zen, what a georgeous, loving picture this is of you and your peeps. You have what I call a very kind eye, and its what makes you so loveable. Best wishes to all of you family in California and at Lane’s End. They couldn’t have found a better home for you. But the best is yet to come, my beauty, your very own baby to nurture and love. You will be the greatest mom. Let us know as soon as you can who’s THE MAN. LUV
lil bunny foo foo
Mario has always been Zenyatta’s rock star and now he is mine, too.
Jennifer Adelman
Dear Zenyatta, You just keep on giving in every way!! Mario is just awesome to watch with her. He looks so proud and one of the best grooms with his attention. I just love the shots of Z dancing and Mario’s head is way back to accomodate her as they walk out to the track. Some very phenomenal shots with both of them. Events that I will allways remember with joy.
LisaGood
Z thanks for keeping us posted on your life. We have been blessed in our lives to have the chance to see an animal as magnificent as you are. There are not many horses that are able to grace our sport, sport of kings, and we love you for all the accomplishments you gave us. Horse racing is not a very publicized event anymore because of all the negative people say goes with it. You were able to change minds of some of those people and we greatly appreciate that. I hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Love You, Lisa in Oklahoma
Beth
This diary page brought tears to my eyes as several of them have. Thank you for being so wonderful and all of Team Zenyatta, which I am sure most of Z’s fans feel they are on that team also. I am so glad “our” girl Z is doing great!