Good Morning,
I have been having so much fun! I am really starting to feel like I am one very POPULAR HORSE! Thank you for writing so many nice things about me!
Yesterday, in the morning, JOHN and MARIO called. I was able to visit with them via TANGO. It was great to HEAR THEIR VOICES. In the afternoon, MY OWNERS called and we got to TANGO. I’m just getting up to speed on my “tech skills’…and being able to see and hear my friends on the phone like this is a real thrill. Technology is totally amazing to me!
Earlier today, Sarah put some footage up on my FACEBOOK page. I had some special family visitors. The children were so much fun. They also wanted to share with me that MY DADDY, STREET CRY, literally lives right by them. Their DAD works with MY DAD…and they get to see him all of the time. The whole family came to visit and brought me lots of HUGS from my DEAR DAD. Sweetly, they also told me HOW PROUD HE IS OF ME! I am so honored.
I know in the video, I am really ‘woofing’ down the carrots they brought. I’ve done this in the past…and rest assured, I do chew my food carefully. I LOVE carrots! And yes, my other friends in the barn also had lots of treats! I am quite good at sharing!
Several of you have also asked for a video of me PLAYING in the MUD. Sarah is getting here early each day and trying to get this …but I’m teasing her right now. (She is a very good sport!) Every time I see her, I jump up (covered in mud) and run right over to her! I’m sure she will figure out a clever way to surprise me soon and get video of me rolling in the mud for you…and she is trying! But for now, this is a FUN GAME I am playing with her!
When we talked about the different bandages yesterday, Cathleen asked about the ‘red’ color on some of them. Dottie included a photo above to help illustrate this for you. The red color is red chili pepper. These big white bandages are called ‘standing bandages’. They are made out of a nice cotton fabric. The primary reason for wearing them is to protect a horse’s legs while in the stall.
Thus, when I’m in my stall, moving around, laying down, sleeping, or getting up again, the intention is for these bandages to keep me from hitting, nicking, or scratching myself. Mario would dilute the red pepper so he could smear the substance on the bandages as shown in the photo. He would put just enough pepper on the fabric to keep me from ‘amusing myself by playing with them or removing them’. Doing this can be a FUN GAME FOR ME…but not Mario. In truth, I did want to cooperate and keep them on for protection! So, I’d go along with Mario’s plan and NOT touch my bandages! I was a very good girl!
At Lane’s End, they often put standing bandages on me when I am back in my stall. Again…for protection. The just want me to be totally safe.
Elena asked about Mario’s Facebook page that someone started for him. John checked it out for you…and it is under: MARIO ESPINOZA, GROOM!
WOW…just heard DON ROBINSON…who foaled and raised me…is coming to visit. It will be great to see him again! I better get ready!
Have a splendid day!
With Love,
Hugs to all~
Z
Amanda Gilliland
My Sweet Lady Zenyatta, I simply love the fact that you get to see & hear your Barn 55 family techno style. I know that makes you very happy! I can’t wait to see the videos of you in the snow & mud. I bet you did keep Mario wrapping those long legs all the time. I can just see you unwrapping one leg while Mario is wrapping another. keep the posts coming. I love reading them. I love you, Zenyatta! Hugs & Kisses from Alabama with Love, Amanda
Julia B
Ohh dear Z! You do have such a sense of humor… i find that my girl Tara has that same frame of mind..however i have figured out a way of catching her rolling in the mud and even rubbing her rump on the posts! You are such a friendly gal though and I can see how hard it would be for you not to get up and and greet miss Sarah as she is trying to video tape you in action! Glad your are enjoying yourself at Lane’s End !
Woodswoman
I love this site and the daily reports. Above all, thank you Team Zenyatta (and Dottie especially) for your kindness and great effort in keeping us all informed about Zenyatta.
I do have one request, which is that you change the background and color of the text. It is very hard on many people’s eyes to read white text on a multi-color photo as well as on a black background. For a summary of how this pattern makes a site hard to read for people with visual challenges, see
http://www.sitepoint.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=658331
I know you want everyone to be able to access your fabulous site, so I hope this feedback is helpful. Again, many thanks for all you do!
Cheryl
Wow ZENYATTA! You are more tech savy than me! Now there’s something to see – a horse that can do more on a computer than a person! But we are talking about YOU aren’t we! I just love your website and your posts – and I can only imagine what a wonderful mom you will be. To have your own little foal to nicker to and run with will be so beautiful and wonderful. I just love you pretty girl – KEEP WARM! This is a cold winter!
deana dameron
Carole and others-thanks for the messages about Eblouissante-Z’s lil sis-Get on facebook-enter zenyatta/athlete in the search spot-go to the left hand side of the page-go to photos by others-4-348-click on the white dog (Dottie’s dog Sophie)-at top of the picture click on see all photos-Go 9 rows down 1,2,3, pics are Z’s sister. If you scroll your mouse over the pic it will tell you it is Z’s lil sis, eblouissante, etc. She will be going to John Shirreff’s to train for the races around April. She is already 16 hands tall, Z is 17.2 hands tall. Her and Z share the same mum-Vertigineaux. Her father is Bernadini. Bernadini is AP Indy’s son who is the sire everyone is saying will breed with Z. It just might be a glimpse into the future of Z’s foal. This is big racing news and to see Eblouissante at John’s barn will be awesome! If you have trouble let me know but if you see it let me know-they have the same stance, ears, look-it is something else! Please let me know what you think. Thanks for your interest.
vicky
Congratulations Team Zenyatta/Barn 55. Can I find a write up of this somewhere?
sue
You are one popular lady, Zenyatta! You have more visitors than me! Thanks for the info on the chili pepper…makes sense…Can’t wait to see you rolling in the mud. If you want to eat your carrots whole, go right ahead! ;>) Love and treats
Robin
Hi Zenny!! I was feeling down tonight until i read your post. You are so funny and very informative. I can just see you trying to pull off those bandages on your legs!! That’s a lot of work for Mario! I can’t wait to see you play in the mud! The game you play with Sarah reminded me of the game you played with John’s hat! Thanks for making me laugh pretty girl. Stay safe and warm!! MUAH!! XOXO
MaryAnn Donahue
May all your days be splendid, dear Zenyatta. As splendid as you, and that is as splendid as splendid can be. You are a treasure.
with love,
MaryAnn
Kristi Catalani
Thank you for all the updates! Love you Zenyatta!!!
Pamela J Hebert
Dear Zenyatta congratulations on the Special Eclipse Award. You better get HOTY. Can’t wait to see you rolling in the mud. Thanks for today’s post most informative. Iv’e got to ask what the cotton is in your ears for? Night sweet girl. Till tomorrow. XOXO
Nancy
@Deanna
Thanks so much for directions on how to
find Zenny’s lil’ sis. She is a real looker. I
do wish she had some white. Sooo big.
Guess she needed more basic training before
coming to Barn 55. Maybe she will go in Z’s
stall!!! Z’s mom has beautiful babies. I read
she will not be bred back to Street Cry. Breeding
Farm politics. She was sold to a farm that does
not breed to Darley where Street Cry boards. Breeding
politics. Z your Dad is so handsome and your
Mom is beautiful with her woolly coat. I don’t think
your coat will get that long. Sweet dreams Z.
Anita in CA
Hi Zenny. You ARE a popular girl! Thanks for sharing about the bandages and carrots. The horse I ride, Muffin, likes to bite half of the carrot off when I give it to her. Too cute. I miss you. Last night I watched the TVG special of your 2009 BCC win. So exciting to see again. You are awesome. Talk to you soon and have a great night and day tomorrow. Hugs and kisses.
Joani Jiannine
A BIG CONGRATULATIONS on the Special Eclipse Award TEAM Z!!!!!!! Way to go! And much deserved!
…………………………………….. You all earned it!!!………..
Julie June Stewart
Dear Team Z – Congrats on your wonderful Eclipse award. You most certainly deserve it. Some of my most cherished memories are my moments visiting my “Gal Pal Z”. I have noticed that I am looking forward every day to this diary. I found a 15 minute tribute to Zenyatta today and decided it wasn’t long enough. Love the daily updates. Thank you so much…. Julie
Cathy Tyerman
Congrats on your Eclipse award Team Z! Thank you so much for sharing this diary with all of us Zenny lovers as well. You are a marvelous combination of exciting ,incredible athlete,combined with personality,grace,beauty,and charisma like no other horse I have ever seen Zenny. I watch your races again and again ,and can only imagine what Mike must have felt like up there when you turned on that awesome home kick.You are also the smartest girl ever,to figure out how to handle that unfamiliar deep cuppy track,and turn it on again in race 20.Firmer track,or 1 more stride,and it would have been Zenyatta. That loss by a nose to the excellent colt means nothing,it was still an outstanding race,and you showed incredible heart,and smarts making up that much ground.You are horse of the century in my heart and mind
deana dameron
Hi Nancy-I just looked at Bernardini’s photo in my stallion registry and he does not have white on him-guess that is where she gets it. If Z breeds with AP, he has some white markings on his face and on his back right foot. Hope Z’s foal has some white. Other than that the 2 sister’s definitely favor their mom and each other. As far as politics go-it is their loss. However, Balance (Z shares mom-sire is Thundergulch), is being bred to Street Cry. Hmmmm……….
Dawn Conrad
Hi, Zenny! Just had to let you know I just saw the picture of your “little” sister. Wow, is she a looker. Of course with a beautiful sister like you and an amazing mom and pop, how could she miss? The picture said she was 1 1/2 years old and already 16 hands, gee wiz. Wish I could have seen alittle more of her face. So glad she is going to our John. Hope you and PQ have an awesome time tomorrow. Sweet dreams, love.
Deana – Thanks for the information about her. She will be so special to watch develop. I actually could not get into the area you descibed, but I just Googled her name and a number hits came up, including the picture.
Valeria Cannon
Hi Lady Zenyatta,
Congrats to Team Z on their award, I know you’re so proud of them! They truly deserve it and it’s about time that they were acknowledged for the exceptional work they do.
I’m so happy for you that your daddy sent messages to you, maybe you’ll get to see him and your brothers, too! Tell Don that we said hello, and now that you’re a big girl, you’re not so hard-headed anymore (smile). I know he must be as excited about seeing you as you are about seeing him. You’re daddy must be proud as a peacock strutting around telling all the other stallions about his baby girl (hee-hee). I can imagine Street Sense, Hardspun and Street Boss threatening the other stallions if they look or say the wrong thing about their big sister:) But it looks like your little sisters (Street Chimes, Teryn Song, and Eblouissante)are trying to live up to ‘big sis’… Saw Harmie run the other day, she looked really good! Tell PQ, Sarah and the boys I said Hi. And Lady Z; dance Lady dance!!!!
Hugs and Kisses,
Valeria
Bob Rose
Thrilled that the Z Team is being recognized with an Eclipse Award. Never saw a more deserving crew, from top to bottom. It’s always been said that you only get back what you put into a race horse, and boy you let the world know Zenyatta, in each and every race, just how healthy, happy and sound your team kept you throughout your entire career. God bless them each and all…and of course you too ‘Horse of a Lifetime’.
Maria K.
Thanks for the update. Have fun outside but be safe. We love you soooo much!
Cathy P
You are just to cute Zenny. We all hope you had a fun time with Don today. Thanks for sharing about all the types of bandages. We also love to hear what all goes into taking care of you when you where racing and there at Lane’s End. Thank you so much Z we all love you so much and lots of love and hugs.
Shirley Nolan Al-mlaiti
Hi dear Zenyatta, I AM GLAD YOU TOLD WHO THE CHILDREN WERE IN THE VIDEO WITH YOU, I am glad they see your daddy STREET CRY so very often. I have an idea why doesn’t your friendS at Lanes End include a picture of both your DAM and SIRE in one of your postd so we can see the two wonderful horses that produced our beautiful ZENYATTA ???? I HOPE THEY DO THIS , I bet you would love to see your parents included in one of your posts..RIGHT?? I found Mario’s facebook account but it says he is not the one who does it …I wish he would and mybe tell us about the wonderful years he spent with our beloved ZENYATTA , IT’S AN IDEA you should pass it on to him….You like to play with your wraps too , my horse have a period or two when they do the same thing but not very often..looking forward to hearing from you tomorrow til then LOVE YOU, LOVE YOU, LOVE YOU
judith berube
Dear Z,
I look for as much info about you that I can find and I found a really great interview by Mr. Robinson in The Saturday Post dated Nov. 15, 2010. He talks about knowing your Grandmother and your Mother really well, and about your birth at Winter Quarter Farm and how you stood up right away. It’s obvious how much he loves all of you. I hope all of your fans can get to read this inteview. Maybe you can link it through your facebook. I think everyone that loves you would enjoy reading it. I’m glad you will have a visit from Mr. Robinson soon. Reading his words really peaked my interest to see any photos or videos that may be available of you as a younster with your Mom.
I also looked up your Dad, Street Cry, and your Mom, Vertigineux, and found that they both are in Kentucky. Isn’t it great that they are nearby.
Love to you.
Joyce
Congrats Queen Z to you and your connections on the special Eclipse Award!!!
Next-Horse of the Year. You are already horse of the century, just another award for our queen and her connections aka her people.
Mari J Flippen
What is up with the workmate ? El vino? does he race?or was he soley a workmate for Z
Nancy
Congratulations Team Z and Queen Z on the special Eclipse award. Now, it is time for the voting members to name Zenyatta Horse Of The Year for her accomplishments on the track!
Lisa g
Ms Zenyatta, good, beautiful, wonderful morning to you. Have a great and fun day. Hugs and Love, Lisa g
Stella Bagwell
Dear Queen, I can’t start my day until I read how you’ve been spending yours. When you retired I cried for days on end. But being able to keep in touch with you like this has made the loss of seeing you on the track so much more bearable. Thanks to your wonderful team for sharing you.
Have a lovely day with Pirate Queen!
Kisses and hugs,
Stel
Dani
Good Morning Zenny. What a wonderful image I have in my head of you rolling around in the mud all silly and goofy like a little kid stomping around in a mud puddle. Then you see your friend Sarah and you are so happy that she is there to visit you that you jump up and run over to see her (and of course to get in a good tease too because she is trying to videotape you during your mud bath). …..Such images make me feel like a kid again too (I’m old enough to have roamed the countryside with the dinosaurs). But when I am reading about your antics and seeing you slurp away at Guiness or chomping on carrots or running around your paddock, I just get a goofy grin on my face and feel all silly again. It takes something very unique to bring these feelings up in me. And I don’t mind a bit if anyone thinks I’m crazy to be talking to a horse on a website. Heck, how much more of a kid at heart can you be than that?. …..By the way, maybe one little spark has hit with another owner getting his horse out there for the public to meet. Mike Repole who owns the 2 year old sensation Uncle Mo has a facebook page for him. What a cute little thorougbred he is. So see, Team Z continues to make a difference in the racing world. Don’t ya just love it?. ….Now Zen, quit teasing Sarah and let her get some footage of your mud baths. Now is not the time to be modest! :)