Zenyatta

Queen of Racing

Z's Diary

Diary Post #155

Here you see the riders breezing horses…each having a nice hold of the reins. Photo by John Shirreffs

Hello,

It is a bit chilly here…but I am having so much fun just being ME and playing outside with my friends. My coat is growing out perfectly which makes me so comfy in this weather. I really feel I have adjusted beautifully to my life here at Lane’s End Farm. I understand I’m getting some visitors from CA this weekend…before they go on to Florida. I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE THEM!

Earlier a fan asked what ‘throwing the reins’ means and Dottie said she would get a direct quote for you from Mike Smith. She met with him a couple times to get this information for you…and it was cute. Mike did all of the actions….as though he was riding me…but it took a bit of time to get it put into a few descriptive words. She said it was adorable to see him explaining it with his hands and all of the movements. Amazing how you can do something a zillion times….and can show it with actions…but putting it into words is another story!

Earlier, we spoke of the RACING BRIDLE. It has 6 major parts: BROWBAND—which we reviewed earlier and REINS…which we are discussing today…are 2 of them. The REINS attach to the bit rings beneath the cheek pieces of the bridle. They should not be so short that a rider needs to lean too far forward to hold them properly…or too long that can get caught up in a rider’s feet or saddle. They should be just right!

Per John, “REINS are what the RIDER holds onto when guiding the horse. They are very important as the reins are a source of COMMUNICATING with the horse. In some ways, they are like a steering wheel…and/or a gear shift to let the horse know to pick it up or slow down. In racing, when you relax your hold on the reins, the horse relaxes with you. When you pick up the reins and take a tighter hold on them, the horse knows to pick it up and go faster. Moderating the reins indicates the speed you want the horse to go! These are all part of the lessons a race horse needs to learn during his/her career!

In the photo above, you see 3 of John’s riders breezing horses in the morning. Breezing…in this instance means a very relaxed type of workout. Each rider is holding onto the reins in a manner to accomplish exactly what John wants each horse to learn in this drill. Horses are learning lessons…all of the time!

PER MIKE SMITH…when you ‘THROW THE REINS’ you may do this for various reasons. The primary 3 reasons include: “1) to get a better hold of them 2) to allow you the opportunity to pull the whip through to switch sticks and 3) to get the horse to go into a DRIVE. This means to encourage the horse to pick it and ‘get going’. Also, by doing this, it moves the BIT around in the horse’s mouth and tells him/her you are asking for something and to pay attention to you.”

When Dottie asked him how I responded to this…he had some VERY SWEET THINGS to say about me. Per Mikie, “Zenyatta was PUSH BUTTON. All I ever had to do was ASK HER TO RUN…and she would literally respond to whatever I asked her to do. She was BIG and POWERFUL…and she was very happy to respond to whatever my body language asked of her!”

It really makes me feel good when someone I worked with so closely gives me a compliment like this! When you try hard to do your best…it is really NICE when your effort is noticed…and appreciated by your peers! Thanks MIKE…for making my DAY!

With Love,
Hugs to ALL~
Z

Reader Interactions

203 Comments

  3. / Reply

    Love this Diary thanks Dottie. It will be Great When She Wins Horse Of The Year. No way Blame will will win cause all the women of Horse Racing, men too will go nutts. Zenyatta is The Love Of Our Lives!!!!!!!!!

  7. / Reply

    Dear Zenyatta, Dottie or Mike: Thank you for explaining what “throwing the reins” means. I noticed that at the very end of a race the jockey seems to move his/her hands way up on the horse’s extended neck to give the horse the best chance to run fast, faster. The reins are often somewhat slack with not much contact with the bit on the part of the jockey. Is that freedom given for the reason I imagined–to let the horse be free to extend his/her neck and just plain run?
    I wondered if you would be kind enough to explain number 2 “to allow you the opportunity to pull the whip through to switch sticks.” Do you mean to switch the whip from the left side to the right side of the horse? Are there two “sticks?”
    I have to say that I would like horseracing a whole lot more if no whips were allowed. In some of the lesser races I see on TVG, so many horse get hit over and over.
    Thanks for considering my questions.
    All the best–Robbie

  9. / Reply

    This is all so interesting, especially straight from the horses mouth. Please ask Mike if he “smooched” or “kissed” to you to encourage you to increase your speed. I’ve always loved that when the jockey “smooches” and the horse knows exactly what it means. Thank you Zenny for all this information and enjoy your California company this weekend.

  11. / Reply

    Good Morning Zenyatta, thank you for sharing this great information. Stay warm and safe today. With lots of love and hugs.

  12. / Reply

    Hi Zenny!
    This is all so very interesting! I’m a beginner horse rider and although I’m not racing thoroughbreds, it does help me understand the equipment and how it works. Stay warm… I’m stuck in my house in Georgia because we had a big ice storm. Good luck on Monday! I’ll be watching on TV. I’m glad your family will be visiting you this weekend. Hugs!

  13. / Reply

    While I have accumulated a library of more than 40 books, have a subscription to Blood-Horse, read at least three industry websites daily, talk as much as possible to horsemen since I became fascinated by the world of Thoroughbreds ten years ago, I am learning more every day from your posts. Thank you, Zenyatta and Dottie.

  14. / Reply

    Love the updates and continued involvment with our Z — in a way, we feel she belongs to the world — her being in it and sharing with us so much of herself (thanks to the one and only Z Team) has brought so much happiness and inspiration to so many. Cheers!

  15. / Reply

    You are so thoughtful to keep in touch with your fans like you do along with
    educating many! You and all of your connections are considerate and wonderful!

  16. / Reply

    Always learning something, thank you so much for this blog. Thank you for all the pics of the Queen. She will never be forgotten.

  17. / Reply

    Love your posts Queen Zenny! Although your team and magnificent YOU made your career look easy,as a longtime racing fan and rider myself, I am sure it took a lot of sublime horse smarts,and horsemanship at it’s very best to enable you to stay sound,mentally happy,and that in the wrong hands ,or if not managed in a way that helped you blossom at the right pace we might have missed the miracle that is YOU thank you team Z.

  18. / Reply

    Dear Heather MacMullen: I don’t know whether you will be writing a post today but I wanted to repeat a message I sent to you yesterday, which came at the very end of hundreds of posts. Here’s what I said:

    Robbie Pfeufer Kahn said:
    January 11, 2011

    Dear Heather MacMullen: Thank you for your gracious tribute to Dottie for acknowledging those workers often unmentioned and often unrecognized, even by their employers.
    Team Z has a gift for inclusivity, which extends to fans as well. Think of the access Zenyatta’s fans had to her during her racing career. Now, I learned from one earlier post that fans can visit in July. Remarkable.
    Best regards–Robbie

  20. / Reply

    I always try to read these posts without shedding any tears; which is hard for me to do, and this one was no exception. Enjoyed hearing from Mike Smith, it’s been a while. Gosh, what a spine tingling thrill to sit on your back….for any reason. Thank you again Ann and Jerry, John and Dottie and Mario too. Please tell Mario to smile more, it’s was always fun to catch him smiling. It’s been a helluva ride~!

  23. / Reply

    Thanks to you, Z, I have some new things to dream about in this life. My new dream is owning a horse. Not for racing, for loving. I love you and your kind. <3

  24. / Reply

    Morning Z. Nice information for everyone to have! At the end of the race is it hard for Mike to get you to slow down? Is the reason you continue to run at the end of the race is so you can make the transition slowly in order to eliminate the possibility of injury? It is cold, again, in the Central Valley (CA). The sun was out for two days and it was so nice. Cloudy today with the possibility of rain. I hear you may get or are getting more snow. Would love to see more video of you. Oh, I hear Steve Haskin is visiting you soon-I asked him to give you a hug for me. I hope he remembers! xxoo

  25. / Reply

    Queen Z Good Morning to you! So glad you and Mike are such great friends. I know he loves you dearly and you feel the same. You are his #1!! He had lots of faith in you and you in him. WOW, what a combination you two were on the race track. You are full of heart so you gave your best every time you steped on the race track. We all love you “Z”. So glad you are adjusting to your new home and all your new friends. I am soooo happy for you. I get tears in my eyes just thinking about you. Hope you have another great day with your new friends. Look forward to hearing from you again soon. Love ya.. Lou
    Oh Dottie…a great big THANK YOU for these informative diary entries. Good luck in Fla. We’re all rooting for Zenyatta and Team Z.

  27. / Reply

    Is “shaking the reins” synomous with “throwing the reins?” I have often heard the track announcer comment that the jockey is asking the horse for more run by “shaking the reins.” I thought it was the visual — strange it did not occur to me until now that the bit movement was a signal.

  28. / Reply

    Hi Zen! I have missed a few posts, but plan to go back & read through…glad to hear all is well & thank you for sharing all of your “words of wisdom” with us! It has been enjoyable & love that you are answering some of the questions from your fans…you are the BEST!
    With love & affection

  29. / Reply

    So happy to hear that you are expecting a visit from Team Zenyatta on their way to Florida for the Eclipse Awards. Good luck to you and Team Zenyatta.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.