Today is a day of great adventure for me! I have been introduced to 2 more paddock friends…ALYS and SEA GULL! So now there are 4 of us who go out and play together. We get along very well. It is all working out splendidly!
Judy asked the other day if I FELT LIKE AN ALPHA HORSE—WHEN IN THE HERD WITH OTHERS. I spoke with John about this as he knows my behavior so well. John said NO…not really! He did not see ‘dominating personality traits’ in me while at the barn. I have always been a very mellow horse with a sweet nature. I do like to be ‘in charge’ of certain things…but I am not at all pushy and I am very kind to my peers!
Truthfully, I have always enjoyed having other horses around me…grazing and visiting with them. Now we get to ‘hang out together’ which is so much fun. While at Barn 55…I worked hard to be a very positive influence on the other horses. I was always striving to set a good example for them as a mentor, a teacher, and most importantly as a friend.
I always did LOVE to compete…and truly enjoyed the competition aspect of my SPORT. However, even when I was in a race, I never pushed others around, bounced into them, or tried to bother them in any manner. I always wanted to show respect to my opposition and support the effort each horse was putting into his or her career. Being an athlete is a great deal of hard work…and I never felt anything but admiration for my fellow horses.
In 2009, when LIFE IS SWEET won the BREEDERS’ CUP LADIES CLASSIC…I was there rooting her on every step of the way. When she returned to the barn after winning and cooling out, WE LITERALLY TOUCHED NOSES WITH JOY as she walked by me to enter her stall for the evening! I was SO PROUD OF HER, my friend, and what she had accomplished! It was our way of saying YIPPEE to each other…or doing a HORSE HIGH-FIVE! Also, at that exact moment when we did touch noses, I felt in some way she was passing the torch of encouragement on to me to win my race the next day. As you know, I DID!
To this day, Dottie feels this unique moment…observing the bonding between LIFE IS SWEET and MYSELF……is one of her most cherished memories. It was not captured on camera…but she says it will be in her thoughts and heart FOREVER!
Please enjoy your day! Mine is off to a fabulous start!
With Love,
Hugs to all~
Z
Alex Bowdoin
Dear Zenyatta,
I love this photo of you and Life Is Sweet. I wonder if you both will meet next year or the year after when both of you are in foal? Will you remember each other? I will never foreget the video of you with Mario on your BIG day when you were allowed to be on your own for the first time to run and buck and whinny in the paddock. You went right to him, you rubbed your head against him and loved him back for taking such good care of you for those 4 years. I would like to make a request that a video be made that your fans can buy of you loose in the paddock for the first time and I really want to see you rolling in the mud too! The proceeds should go to a Horse Rescue Program in YOUR name to help Thoroughbreds that no longer can race and need either retirement or training for a new career. Please John and Dottie, this is such a great opportunity to help those horses in NEED. Zenyatta is loved by so many and she has brought so many new fans into a sport that really needs some help with the “what happens to the horses after their racing career is over” issue.
Zenyatta is one of the LUCKY ones, so many are not. We love you Z and Your Teams. XOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Kathleen Burnham
You are so sweet and kind to everyone Zenyatta!!! Human or horse you show nothing but CLASS!!!! You are so LOVED by SO many!!!!
Cathleen
Zenny, I love that photo. And I love Life Is Sweet as much as you. I’m so glad you are at the same farm. I know you are in different barns because she is expecting but I hope someday you get to see her and touch noses again — maybe she can pass the motherhood torch of encouragement for you! I’m sure you know you are a finalist for HOY, but it was announced today that your JOHN is an Eclipse finalist for Bestest Trainer! I just know he is going to win and be recognized for his amazing work with you and your friends in Barn 55. So glad you are enjoying your Paddock YaYas. Girlfriends are so much fun! XOXO
Lynette Lucas
I love this picture of you and I could never see you as a Alpha horse!! I’m glad you are enjoying your 2 new friends!!!
nancy
Ah, the life lessons you are teaching us all. You are such a great role model as well as a great athlete. Exactly what a hero should be!
teresa
This diary entry is an example of why we all love you so much. You are special to us all. Enjoy hanging with your gang, Z. You have earned your time to chill with your peers. Enjoy. T
Deborah Lawson
Zen, thank you for answering the question that has been in the back of my mind about you… Alpha Horse. You are truley such a precious girl!
rodger harrison
LIFE IS ALWAYS SWEET WHEN YOUR WITH ZENYATTA!!!!.THE GREATEST HORSE I EVER SEEN.PEOPLE GO BY THE TIMES OF THE RACE MEASURE YOU TO THE BEST BUT ONLY IF THEY KNEW HOW YOU MOWED THEM DOWN AT THE END.MY VERDICT IS THE FASTEST HORSE WOULD MAKE YOU FASTER.THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
victoria
WOW! I can just see it. Knowing as much as we do now about Zenyatta because of the Team generosity and by watching her in videos and pics and word of mouth, all of the above must be true and the moment with LIFE IS SWEET is an ah-hah moment for them and for us.
Thanks once again for continuing the sharing.
Catherine Uher
Thank you so much Zenyatta and Dottie for putting a smile on my face when I don’t have a whole lot to smile about these days. Just had a heart cath on Tuesday and need a kidney transplant so I basically don’t feel well at all most of the time, but then I read these diary posts and a whole new wave of faith and hope fill me back up! I can’t thank you enough! My wish is that before something bad happens to me that I will be able to meet you in person and hug you and kiss you and feed you all the carrots you can stand! I’m sending you a big hug right now beautiful girl! Love ~ Catherine
linda
The mention of blankets reminds me of a question I have. I noticed that when I saw you in Louisville you were wearing your blanket from the 08 Ladies Classic. Why did I not see you in the 09 Classic blanket or did I just miss it? Was one more special to your people? Regardless, you looked wonderful in it, as always. Love your diary, since I’m always interested in what you’re doing.
Judy Gadwood Loves Zenny/California
THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING MY ALPHA QUESTION!! I KNEW IT! I KNEW THE ANSWER WOULD BE NO… I had this discussion on fb and there were peeps saying you would be an “alpha”… I told them ‘no’ because of your gentleness! WOOO HOOO I should have made a bet in Vegas and would have one BIG.
Thanks for answering my question! XO
Judy Gadwood Loves Zenny/California
Typo: Would have “won” big! Dah! I was so excited!! :-)
Lisa T
What a touching pic of you Zenyatta with Life is Sweet!! You are truly a sweet, amazing horse. I so look forward to your posts, especially after a hard day at work. Thank you for keeping all your fans updated. You have captured my heart for eternity. WE LOVE YOU ZENYATTA!!! :)
Elena Erdman
Fantastic Z. I love the picture of you and Life is Sweet, you elegant mares wearing your beautiful blankets, that sure brought a smile to my face. And, you have two more friends to play with, Alys and Sea Gull as well as Pilot Queen, what fun you are having, enjoying the days and grazing and running. I love the nominations for the Eclipse awards and look forward to the big night. John, is the best of the best, well then he is married to Dottie, and the Mosses, oooh they are sooo sooo coool and you, oh, the greatest horse and the sweetest. Thanks for making my evening full of smiles again. You are so neat and get along so well with everyone, horses, people, cats and dogs, I just love it. Nighty night.
Jan
Zenyatta,
You go GIRLFRIEND….
Charlotte
Love the picture, so sweet. Love these posts. It is comforting to know that you have transitioned to farm life so gracefully. Thank you Zenny and your team (especially Dottie) for keeping you a part of our lives.
Wendy Bratten
Zenyatta, you are a very beautiful horse, both inside and out.
Jenna
Oh my gosh. Two little girlfriends kissing. How sweet. Animals just know. I’m so happy you have two more friends. A little lady gang. I’m sure they all get along great and that Alys and Sea Gull are happy to have a new pal.
Thank you so much, Dottie for your wonderful updates. I work, I’m in, I’m out but I always check for your update. I love hearing about Zenyatta’s day. She deserves only good and happy days.
I can’t get over that photo with the two of them touching noses. I love it.
Kiss on the cheek, sleep tight. Have a nice night, Dottie.
Nighty night, Z.
Debbie
Dearest Zenyatta, How I love to read all your reports! I love you just for who you are, but I have realized it is even more than that… you have taken me back in time & brought out the kid in me! You take me back to the days when, as a kid, my Dad would take me to the Detroit Race Track. You take me back to the days when I’d sip coffee with my Dad at 6 a.m. as the sun peeked through the kitchen curtains – because my Mom had told me coffee would stunt my growth, so I drank even more “so I could be a jockey someday”. As a teenager, I sat enthralled in front of the TV & watched Secretariat win the Triple Crown. Now Secretariat, and my Dad, have passed on, but you lovely Z have reminded me of those sweet memories and rekindled the excitement of childhood. I have not seen such greatness since Secretariat! But this time it’s personal – I was there at Santa Anita rooting you on in the 2009 Classic, and I was at Hollywood Park for your farewell tribute this year. I just had to see you one more time. Zenyatta, you have taken me back to girlhood dreams, and you have reminded me of who I am. I love you. Debbie
Martha Lydick
I so enjoy the daily posts. Dotty might have been a horse in another life, she has such insight. It is wonderful what you have done with/to Zenyatta all these years. Your patience and love have made her the happy well adjusted mare that she is. I imagine you have taught the Lane Ends folks a thing or two on how to get along with horses. Thank you.
Margie
How lucky Team Z is to have witnessed all these amazing Z moments, and hold the memory of them in their hearts forever.
Great photo, so very sweet – it speaks volumes about this special girl and her love of all friends, horse, human, dog, cat – everyone. Now two more friends to hang with; Life is Sweet, indeed. Love you, always, Horse of my Heart.
Jenna
I hope this diary never ends…
Mary Alice Kier
Dear Zenyatta — I’m so glad you shared this photo from your scrapebook!! It brought back great memories of those memorable 2009 Breeders’ Cup races at Santa Anita. I was there at the rail cheering Life is Sweet as she won the Ladies Cup Classic on Saturday and then on Sunday when you made history winning the Classic – and I’ll never forget those two days! I love the mental visual of you and Life Is Sweet touching noses. Meantime, what great news that you now have two new friends and I look forward to when Sarah can get a group photo to share with us.
LouAnn Cingel of Union, Missouri
Thanks Zenyatta for sharing some of your past special moments, especially of you and Life Is Sweet, the touching of your noses, what precious and loving memories.
Glad to hear that you have some other new friends there at Lane’s End-sounds like an enjoyable ladies circle indeed.
Hope things keep on the up and up for you as you really sound comfortable and happy and that’s good enough for me.
My Love & Blessings to you Zenyatta!
Sandy Twigg
Thanks for posting the picture of Zenyatta and Life is Sweet. Always had great admiration for Life is Sweet as well. Glad to be able to stay in touch with her thru Zenyatta! So appreciate everyone who is taking the time to do these posts and share with all of us!
Stephanie J Lambert
Moments like those Dottie live in our hearts forever and take us through all the days of our lives, Those are the moments we know there is a God :) Love you Z x0x0x00
Jenna
Can someone, maybe Dottie, answer this question:
Why does Z paw her front right leg? I noticed in a video that, when at Barn 55, she’d dig a bitty hole.
Thank you…..
Bobbi
I love the horse high five! Dottie, that is a sweet memory and I hope you will always keep it in a warm place in your heart. You can pull it out now and again when you face a rough patch in life.
Z – thanks for the great lessons on sportsmanship and leadership. You’re the best!
Marian M.
I continue to be charmed and informed by your interesting insights into yourself and your sport, Zenyatta. Thank you for sharing the events that have shaped your life and tell us who you are. I am especially interested in your communication with other horses and with humans. What you share has helped me to better communicate with my thoroughbred mare, a former racehorse.
I have a question for you: When you were in Barn 55 at Hollywood Park, did members of the staff speak to you in Spanish? Are you bilingual in your understanding of human language?