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
Mary
Thank you for keeping us up to date on how you like your new friends. Without you asking your team some questions and passing on extra info to us, your loving fans, we would not know many of these things about you. Hugs and Prayers
Astrid
Awww. What an adorable pic and a special moment with Life is Sweet. Thanks for sharing, Dottie!!
So happy you got new friends Zenny!
nancy
So glad you are getting new bbf’s SG and Alys sound wonderful and that you and PQ have more buddies. Yes 2009 was a wonderful time for both Life is Sweet and you during the breeders cup, will never forget it. I know team Z hears it all the time but we cannot thank you enough for all the info and so forth, Dottie is amazing. Is there any way that a photo could be put up of your BFF LIS with her foal? I know we would love to see the foal. And now we are just wating to see who your date is going to be and just think a little over a year from now you should be a mommy, I know we all are going to want photos of that :) Once again Z happy day to you and all of your new buds.
Carolyn Caswell-Brown
Zenny, LOVE the picture with You & LIS -Great communicating, ears up on both of you, noses touching. How Cool. I had a mare who was VERY ALPHA in the pasture, to the point of anti-social & didn’t play well with others. Then we would all be out riding & “play-racing”. If she started out leading she would stay until another horse came along side of her then she would just down-shift and stay alongside but never ahead. If we started out behind she would simply hold her “behind position” and NEVER pass anyone. She was fast enough but this was her style & I was obviously not smart enough to know what to do about it. After riding, the horses would all get back in the pasture & she would proceed to kick or bite everyone’s butt. Beating someone else was not that important but I wanted to figure out her behavior. She was always kind around other horses during riding. So Happy that You were the other way around. It’s good to be the best at your job but we all need friends. Don’t step on the “Little People” on your way to the top. You are one very smart horse! Z for Miss Congeniality Award – Catherine, Will have you in my prayers. A positive mental outlook is helpful when dealing with illness & it sounds like you already have that going for you! Peace & Love
mj
Dottie-you really should write a book! Your prose is wonderful and full of emotion. A children’s book in the voice of Z would be inspirational and heart warming-more money for rescues.. One of Z’s life would also be great. Thank you so much for the posts for all of us dedicated Z fans!! God Bless.
AZ
I Love You For Ever Zenyatta!!!
Ollie
Cool cool pics of Life is Sweet and Zen!
Thank you Dottie for these diary posts
that I look forward to every day.
Lots of love,hugs to Zen and her new
friends.
Elaine
You are a social butterfly which is one of your many endearing qualities!
Cathy Tyerman
Thank you so much for keeping us in the loop every day!Lovely pic of you and Life Is Sweet!My 4 year old grandson is now a Z fan too! He likes to sit on my lap and watch your races,and videos,I got him a little plastic horse that is a look-a-like,right down to the dark bay and the blaze,and he plays with her in the bathtub,zooming her around the water and tub surround commentating about how fast Zennyatta is!He insisted on taking his Zenny with him when he went home after Xmas
OraJean Stevenson
Queen-Z & Team-Z, So happy to read that you now have 3 girl friends with whom to share “paddock time” and play!! Next, I’ll predict, you’ll all get moved to a larger paddock and add even more buddies. Thanks, Dottie, for sharing even more insight into Z’s beautiful disposition and personality. Take care and keep in touch. Fondly, OraJean
Alexandra Bowdoin
THANK YOU DEBBIE. I TRULY BELIEVE A LOT OF MONEY WOULD BE RAISED FOR HORSE RESCUES WITH ZENYATTA DVD’S OF HER FIRST DAY LOOSE IN HER PADDOCK…I HAVE WATCHED THIS VIDEO MANY TIMES AND STILL CRY WHEN SHE TAKES OFF BUCKING AND RUNNING AND HER WHINNY’S. TRULY BREATHTAKING…AFTER A GLORIOUS RACING CAREER THIS IS TRULY BEAUTIFUL TO WATCH.
CHERYL
Great Picture! Special ladies and good friends! Thanks Dottie for keeping the diary going. We love Zenyatta SO MUCH!
Linda
Thank you so much for this lovely site. Am certainly learning a great deal and being entertained at the same time. Love it!
Anxiously awaiting Kids site and looking forward to sharing it with grand babies. Hugs to one and all.
Lisa
I wish you and Life is Sweet were at the same barn. She is so cute. Is it true that Life is Sweet is not much of a morning girl? I’ve seen the youtube video of her having a difficult time getting up in the morning.
Roseann King
Thank you for brightening my day every single day :)
Roseann
S
@Catherine, Praying you get to feeling well soon and that you will be able to see Z in person when she is ready for her public appearances later this year.
Dottie and Z…amazing the joy the two of you bring to the world. I have followed your career since your 2nd race and been blessed to see you run 3 times and then be at your Hollywood Park tribute..but I never would have thought I would be this involved and look foward to this diary each day.
Barbara
Hello Lady Z! This picture is adorable!! Thank you so much for sharing it with us and I got my postcard in the mail yesterday with your beautiful black and white headshot on it! I love it and it is proudly displayed. Along with your special picture from the Bloodhorse and about 10 magazine covers as well!! You are the supermodel of all time!!! Love, Barbara
Nancy Love
Zenyatta———-the world should be as kind as you are.
Lisa g
@Sally: The FB is on this page, upper right hand corner. I cannot get it at work, so I rush home everynite, FB is restricted, but I can get this web page, and check in on our Queen from time to time throughout the day.
Jenna
I want to be the 200th comment!
Happy Friday, Dottie and Z. Zendotti.
Lisa g
Ms Zenyatta, I remember the 2009 so very well, when they interviewed John. He said Life is Sweet is his Princess and you are his Queen. The reporter said that John must be the King, as he made his own record that day! He is so shy and modest, which just makes him even more lovable. What a guy. Talk with you tonight, Queen Z, almost time to go home. Still looking for some videos that somebody mentioned earlier. Love and Hugs, Lisa g
Lori K
ZENNY, I LOVE THIS PICTURE OF YOU AND LIFE IS SWEET. IT IS SO CUTE. I AM SO GLAD YOU ARE DOING WELL AND MAKING MORE FRIENDS. I HOPE YOU ARE ALL HAVING A FUN TIME TOGETHER. I LOVE YOU Z LOVE LORI XOXO…
Kathryn Cogswell
‘. .. Eblouissante, “dazzling” in French.’ [*See: ‘Fond memories of Zenyatta`s family’ by Glenye Cain Oakford, TVG COMMUNITY, 08-06-2010, posted by iBi11]. This is, ” .. . an absolutely wonderful piece ~ where in the world did you find it?” — LouAnn
Vicki Riechers
Dottie you need to write a childrens book about Zenyatta and her acts of kindness you share them so well in her diary. Thanks so much!
NancyJS
@Linda. Z in her Ladies Classic blanket was to show she was a female
in the Breeders Cup Classic. (political). If she was in 09 blanket would
have had much more aggressive meaning. “I won last year and will
this year”. John always plays up her feminine side.
Yes, I believe Mike talks of her competitive side. For a horse to eye
another coming down the home stretch is saying. “This is my race
and it has a very powerful and intimidating meaning to other horses”
He has also said he had to keep from letting her bump other horse
because she gets aggressive and when she goes between other horses on the track when racing she gets aggressive. Z is a horse that
can be gentle and kind with a very competative spirit. In her paddock, she may not be with other competitive mare. I wonder if she was if
there would not be any challenges. Probably not biting and kicking but
must be safe. Queen Z is a very very expensive mare. Remember
at the track the horses are never free in a paddock. The are always tied
to a human.
@Deanne d
Found a pick of Bernardini, no white but beautiful. A little
lighter than Tiege. EBE is definitely a combination. Bernardini
was a late bloomer so maybe that is why EBE is doing a little more
of the basics. Can’t wait to see her race!!!!!
Patty M
So happy Zenyatta and her friends are having a great time.
Cathy P
Hi Zenyatta, the picture with you and Life is Sweet is fantastic; it’s really nice to see great pictures like that, warms my heart. I have a questino for you Zenyatta, do you know how many horses can be in the paddock with you at one time? Congratulations on being one of the final est in HOY (in you fans eyes you are the HOY) and John congratulations on being a finalest also. Dottie, what a great sight to see Zenyatta and Life is Sweet touching noses, that must be one of the greatest, biggest, and best moments in your life, I know it would be mine. Lots of love and hugs to you Zenyatta and Team Z.
Dr. D.
Zenyatta is Horse of the Year, Horse of the Century, Horse of the Millennium, The Closer, Tops in the Universe, Queen For A Day and Forever, and the Sweetest Sweetheart on Valentine’s Day or Any other day, and now a Fantastic Friend.
Robyn Mullhausen
Glad to hear you now have more friends to play with when you are in the pasture. It’s good to have horse and human friends and I know you will always be a lady and have good manners. This is so a sweet photo. Thanks for the post dear Zenny.
Tamyatta
Hi my darlin’,I was eating a chicken sandwich when I read the part about you and LIS touching noses! Tears started falling and a huge lump in my throat came up causing my chicken to get stuck…I had to have an emergency Margarita to save me:)I love you Z more than words can say. Stay warm sweetheart!