Photo taken by John Shirreffs
Hello Everyone!
It sounds like all of you are off to a busy 2011! Mine has started out wonderfully.
Dottie has been telling me about all of the questions you have. We will do our best to address as many of them as possible often in the Diary. We’ll start with these:
1) YES, Mario does know I’m playing in the MUD…and he is so happy for me. He knows I’ve wanted to roll in the mud for quite sometime. NOW I CAN REALLY GET PLAYFUL OUTSIDE! Very cute! Also, thanks for letting me know Mario has his own Facebook page now. I can’t wait to tell him! SURPRISE!
2) Steve is fine. He is working away at the barn and all is A-OK with him. Obviously, he misses me a whole bunch…as does Mario and the rest of Barn 55…but they are so happy for me. John does his best to keep them posted on my activities. All videos and photos are shared with them constantly!
3) John’s watch…is the IPOD Nano. It is a great tool and also a fun new ‘toy’ for John. Lucky guy, I can still be with him 24/7!
4) My future breeding plans. The Moss’ will announce them soon. Many different things will go into this decision. Everything will be finalized sometime in January. With the holiday, many people have been out of town. It is also fun for ME to ponder who my first date will be. Gotta’ love it!
5) Other breeding questions will be addressed when breeding season begins. The breeding sheds in KY do not open until mid-February. I probably will not be bred until late February. Believe me, I WILL KEEP YOU POSTED!
6) A Jockey question was asked…what does ‘throwing a cross mean’? Dottie has called my guy, MIKE SMITH, for this answer. Mike’s quotes will be used for this answer. They are touching base later today. FYI…Many have asked…and Mike is doing very well. Dottie and John saw him last night at dinner. He is planning a trip to come see me soon. Can’t wait!
7) Video of an interview…John did an interview with Susan Ashbrook of Equine Vip. She granted permission for Dottie to mention it in the Diary. You may find this interview by going to www.equinevip.com. It is the first interview that comes up. My JOHN will be standing there with Susan. (He says so many fabulous things about me and my heritage. He also notes how amazing the entire thoroughbred breed is and his love for the HORSE.) Very special! Please enjoy!
8) Rhonda pointed out that I was recognized as the #1 Female Race Horse of All Time…in a recent Sports Illustrated Article. You may find this piece by: 1) going to my web-page 2) clicking on the Facebook symbol in the right corner 3) that will take you directly to the page you need 4) scroll down the left hand column until you see the term LINKS 5) approximately 3 down is the story TOP FEMALE RACE HORSES OF ALL TIME. 6) Click on this title and YIPPEE…there I am with my owners! What an honor! There are some really amazing historical horses being honored in this piece….and they recognized me with the distinction of being #1! I can’t tell you how PROUD this makes me feel!
9) P.Q…many have asked about her breeding plans and things relating to her. From the beginning, I did ask permission to discuss her name in the Diary. Her owners were so gracious and said of course! Any other additional information, I will need to be polite and ask if I can discuss it. As she is not owned by my owners, we must respect her privacy at this time.
P.Q. and I are great friends…and we do get along beautifully. We have BONDED nicely!
Oh, I’m getting a phone call! Someone in my family is calling to TANGO with me! (Gotta’ get ready for my close-up!) Sending BIG HUGS!
With Love,
Z
Shirley Nolan Al-mlaiti
Hi Zenyatta…very nice an informative post today, I enjoy the answering part of it as it answers alot of uor concerns about you and your life at Lanes End..I just think you should have a year off to relax from the years of racing you just came off of not right into being a broodmare …I don’t mean to say this Zenyatta but monry rules and a foal from you is worth millions, need I say more..Now you will be put to work as a Mom to another race horse …they hope..Just be careful Zenyatta, you deserve the right to be just a horse for awhile not a money maker in another field…JUST MY OPINION…LOVE YOU, LOVE YOU, LOVE YOU
emmy
@Melissa and S…thanks for the positive thoughts…loved the joke about peanut brittle!!!Also,Melissa,thanks for the link for answers to my questions. This is my first experience with Faceook and it is a blast…especialy as I am “computer illiteriate”.Can’t believe I am actually posting on this site !!!
emmy
@Shirley Nolan…Z. will have more than a year off…she has not even been bred yet and when she is in foal,the normal gestation period is 11 months(I have had a mare carry for 12months}. Most mares revel in being “just a broodmare”…the devotion between mom and foal is unbelievably strong and beautiful.
emmy
@Shirley Nolan…perhaps we should temper our remarks about the decisions Zenyatta’s connections make. We all enjoy their diaries and we want them to continue,don’t we? It is not all about the money with the Mosses…they have plenty!!! It is best for Z.’s health and well-being to have her first foal as soon as possible…after all, she will be 8 when that baby is born!
Melissa
@Emmy – No worries, you’re doing great! The best thing you can ever learn about computers is this: “Computers are stupid. People are smart.” Never let fear of a computer get in your way. 99% of it you’ll never have to know or deal with. Use your common sense, avoid anything that’s too good to be true, don’t give your personal info out to strangers, and stick to websites you know and trust. Glad you liked the peanut brittle joke. I love that one myself. Have fun, stay safe! Hugs!
Karey
I’ve been wondering for ages…what was the purpose of the white strap (or was it fabric?) placed around Zenyatta’s lower jaw during races? It shows up in many photos and seems to have something to do with tongue control or protection.
Please enlighten those of us who don’t know.
Karey
Dottie, the light and joy you are bringing to so many people by doing these
posts on behalf of our beloved Zenyatta! Words cannot express the appreciation and admiration I feel for you and the care you put into this daily journal. All of our love for Zenyatta is making the world a noticeably better place, and that is because of you and everyone on Team Z. What an amazingly sweet and beautiful slice of life we are all experiencing together. Thank you most sincerely.
emmy
@Melissa…thanks for the encouraging words…you are a GEM !! I’ll bet you can answer Karey’s question about tying down the tongue of some race horses…(Z. included). I have wondered about that myself….
Dani
Good Morning Z! It is early Tuesday morning and you are probably still fast asleep and nestled in your bedding. But soon you will be up and out ready for a new day of grazing, rolling around in the snow and mud and kicking up your heels as you race around your paddock…….I just wanted to add to what many others have said in regards to this website and that is how lucky we are to have the people who care so much about you, care about we fans as well. Your website is such a joyous and wonderful place to be able to come. We are able to be closer to you now than when you were out there zooming past all the other horses on the race track. I’m sure others join me in saying that we do not take for granted one minute of time that we get to spend learning about your life on the farm or all the other fascinating lessons we are learning about you and horses in general…….Dottie and everyone who works so hard to help you bring us our daily serving of Zenyatta news are godsends and we are all very, very appreciative that they spend their time making it all so special for us. So next time you TANGO with her be sure to throw a big kiss her way and let her know this website means a great deal to us…..Now I have to get ready for work. Alas no rolling in the snow for me today.
Nancy
@EK twitching actually releases endorphins,
which are internal opiates like morphine, which
creates a “high” so the horse relaxes. Again so many
fans are putting human emotions onto a horse which
is not appropriate. I truly love this site and all of the
Information it gives us. Dottie thanks so much and Z
you are truly a gem.
I thinks some fans are still adjusting to the fact that
she will not race or be ridden again and putting their
wants and needs before Zennys and the Mosses. Thanks
to all her connections for sharing her with us. She
is truly the horse of a lifetime!!!!! Hope you have a great
run this morning.
Lisa g
Ms Zenyatta, Good Morning to you. Have you posted videos of the roll in the snow and roll in mud yet? I will have to peak at Mario’s FB. Don’t forget Tiznow as a prospect for one of your dates. Talk with you later. Lisa g
Toi
Hi Zenny!
When ever I feel down I just read your blog and instantly I feel much better. Thanks for sharing your life with us. I look forward to reading more about what you are up to and also what your family is doing back at Barn 55.
Sharon
Dottie, you continue to amaze and delight me with your descriptions of Zenyatta’s new life and your patience with fans. I look forward everyday to reading the posts.
Many thanks to emmy, melissa, quarterhorsegal, lizzy and ensign for your insights and information. I appreciate your taking the time to help me better understand more about horses.
Jenna
Good morning Z and everyone! I’m glad everything has settled down :) And thank you Melissa for nice and informative words.
Good morning, Dottie!
Sharon
PS – my favorite line from post #48 (in reference to the breeding process) is “Believe me, I WILL KEEP YOU POSTED” !!!!!! that really made me smile!
Robin
@ Naomi: Thanks for the compliment! I love the passionate arguments for Zenyatta, wherever they are! And Team Z – LOVE LOVE LOVE you all and what you are doing for our girl. We love her with all our hearts.
Sunny Boyd
Hey Zetty,
http://www.Zenyatta.com is the heading of this site.
Posts are written by Dottie/Zenyatta.
Questions about breeding Zenyatta will be addressed in the future by the Moss family.
Let’s all be good Guests and honor the wording by the Host. She’s setting the tone!! Let’s not disrespect her!!
mj
Robbie, I enjoyed your post, and thank you to everyone for the links. Everyday I look forward to Z’s new posts and following comments. No matter what the voters say Z, you’re the BEST!!
Sunny Boyd
Plus it’s the principal of the matter here. Yeah, I know Zetty is a horse but obviously also a being with sensitivities /sensibilities. and that’s just it, she IS a horse not just some automat/robot switched on at the green light. This is a life changing event for her, and a natural event at that, and yet it’s being turned into something so rediculous only humans can think up. People get a life & let the horses do.
Sunny Farm
Wonderful to hear how well ZENYATTA is doing and she does look happy, like she is feeling right at home.
ENSIGN : Thank-you for posting your comments about the breeding shed. You did a good job on describing the proceedure & this is a common practice at many Thoroughbred farms. I saw nothing wrong with your comments, they were clear and factual. I am sorry that you received some negative comments when you were obviously trying to inform others who have never been involved in breeding practices. Please continue to post as you clearly do the experience to share this information- your time is appreciated.
Sunny Farm
“I ment : “As you clearly do HAVE the experience to share with others”
jim
its a tongue tie. its for her own protection. they tie a piece of cloth around her tongue and tie it under her chin.
Robbie Pfeufer Kahn
Dear MJ: Thank you for your kind words. Reading them began the day in a lovely way.
Best regards–Robbie
Sunny Farm
ZENYATTA ; You continue to inspire me.
I have your picture framed and just received a wonderful gift from my friend. She asked Mike Smith to sign the photo of you and he winning the Classic at the Breeders Cup World Championships !
I have framed this picture as well, and when I need to gather more energy to keep chasing my horse racing dreams, I just take a moment to gaze at these pictures.
I become RE-NEWED & the next thing I know, I am back outside with my own horses. I was at the Breeders Cup when you won the Classic & I can STILL hear the roar of the crowd, I still feel the same excitement & emotion.
This site helps me to keep the fire burning & the will to suceed. THANKS SO MUCH. Your such a beautiful mare & SO full of class !I sincerely hope that you are voted HOY and that John Sherriffs will be voted as TRAINER of the year.
Lauren
Hello Beautiful Z. I am so happy to see that you are enjoying your new life in Kentucky. Can’t wait to find out who your first date will be. I am sure your baby will be beautiful just like you.
Love and kisses.
OraJean Stevenson
Queen-Z, Of course you’re #1 !!! Was there any doubt ?? You are soooooo modest and humble…it’s actually quite an endearing and lovable thing about you, and Team-Z. Keep having fun in your preparation for “MOMMY-HOOD”. Fondly, OraJean
Celeste
@Dani – well said. This is a beautiful web-site to visit and I am grateful for the information provided by Team Z and all the interesting comments that follow. Zenyatta’s family has nothing to gain from keeping this diary going – it is a gift to us, her devoted fans. In my opinion, Ensign’s description of the breeding process was done in a tasteful way so whether or not we appreciate the information, we do not need to “shoot the messenger” – lol! On another note, but not entirely off subject – I was thrilled yesterday that I received the Zenyatta ornament I had missed out on before Christmas! Woohoo!
Delores
I love you Zenyatta. I love you Dairy post and thank you Dottie for giving all the fans a daily update on our HOY. I can’t wait to see who the lucky guy will be to be your first date, like everyone else, there is no one worthy of the GREAT Z:)you are special in so many ways and everyone loves you very much. Happy dating:) Love you lots.
diamond watches
Im glad that I found it, Very well post here.
Mary
Dearest Zenyatta, thank you for your daily posts, with updated info and answers to many questions, and, of course, the wonderful pictures! Hope to see you this year in KY. Maybe a Zenyatta/Lanes End tour schedule will be sent out later? Hugs and Prayers. Stay safe