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
Trish & Mike in Colorado
One of the most remarkable things about you, Zenyatta, is that when you start your move in the race, you honestly do not lose any of your grace and beauty. It’s like you gather your power under you. Mike says it is like watching a huge beautiful cruise ship crank it up to maximum speed . . . viewers and watchers just do not understand how fast you are going because you are so large and wonderfully balanced . . .
S
@Eileen, TVG is covering it.
Jeanie langford
So many lessons. This is the best information ever on horses and racing. We love you Z. We need more video and pictures. I to know about the fence height at Lanes End. You are a tall girl and we do not want you jumping out. Also, How do they pick your horse friends?
Hugs and kisses
Robbie Pfeufer Kahn
Dear mj: I thought your post was so important, especially about the “Sport of Kings” v. the sport of greed.
How Team Z could be at fault for Zenyatta’s performance as a racehorse is unfathomable. After all, they just received an Eclipse Award for their excellence.
Best–Robbie
Heidi Kruckenberg
Ohhh Zenny, You must be soo excited that your Family will be visiting with you on their way to Florida! Please, take a lot of pictures and video so, we all can rejoice with your family! Is Sarah still trying to get a video of you rolling in the snow/mud???
It’s odd that the World Rankings had the outcome that they did. Especially since Zenny is still ranked #1 on the NTRA polls. I’ll have to read the article in it’s entirety.
In my experience, Throwing Reins is the same as throwing a cross. When you’re riding a racehorse, whether in a race or just daily exercise, you ride with your reins crossed over one another. Also, you’ll notice that the reigns are tied in a slip knot at the end. Which, has many aspects. Such as, the reigns not getting caught up in the irons, in the way of “crossing the whip” (switching the whip from left to right and showing or flagging the whip) and, if the rider comes off, the reigns won’t get caught up in the horses legs.
I also heard that Steve Haskins will be visiting with you on the 14th. Can’t wait for his blog about the visit and I know, he’ll have many pics. I love the one of him kissing you on the muzzle at CH! Best of luck with the Awards!! Heck, if you don’t get HOY, who really cares, you are HORSE OF A LIFETIME!!!! We love you soo much and the entire Team on both Coasts!!!
Thanks again Dottie and Mike for the educational posts!!
Denise
To Robbie Kahn: I agree with your dislike of whips. That is one of the very things that attracted me to Secretariat and Zenyatta. Most of the time, all you had to do was ask…and they went…they really went. That to me is thrilling! It’s a true horse/jockey partnership. :-) To Zenny: enjoy your visit with whomever is coming! And thank you for your informative posts and allowing us to ask questions.
Judy Sims
Hi Zenny:
Each day your diary post gives me such a lift. Makes me nostalgic for my growing up years with my horses (Lo & Behold and Zephyr). Lo & Behold was a 3-gaited saddlebred bay mare and Zephyr was a palomino gelding. Zephyr I rode (western saddle) for pleasure and Lo & Behold I rode (English Saddle) in horse shows. My love affair with horses has never waned and following your marvelous career has brightened my senior years. You and your whole team have really carved a big niche in the horse racing world. I love you all. Thanks Dottie & Mike for the good explanations today and for always being so kind and generous to all Z’s many fans.
Keep having fun Zenny and enjoy your visit with your California contingent on their way to Miami. I live on the other side of the state in Southwest Florida but I will be listening for the cheers next Monday evening when you are announced as HOTY!
Hugs & nose kisses.
Judy 8-)
Cheryl Heath
Zenyatta, you are the HOY for me and always will be. If the racing industry misses this opportunity to award this to you, they are missing the point. And they are missing what will be an award from the heart and showing that the voters realize horseracing needs you to have this award. You are what horseracing is all about, you and Team Z! You have brought so many people into the sport and have shown all of us that horseracing can be fun again. It has not been that way so much lately. I was at the Classic at Churchill Downs, at the backside to visit with you and at Keeneland before you went to LEF. You are the best in spirit, racing and class. You dance, you love your fans and you can see the love you have for your team. I have not felt this way about anything in a long time. Pure joy and love. Thank you so much and thank you to your wonderful Team Z. Enjoy your upcoming visit. And best of all luck on Monday.
Sue M
Thanks for the info Z. Can’t wait to see new (hopefully) video of your visitors this weekend :) Have fun!
Jenna
Happy Tuesday, Zendotti.
Thank you and Mike for this information. I find it exTREMEly helpful. I’m a horse love but not very knowledgeable about racing. This helps a lot. Plus it brings more people into the sport.
HOY HOY HOY HOY HOY HOY HOY HOY HOY!
It will be.
Any videos coming?
Jenna
Oh, and I am SO SO happy that you’ll have visitors from CA. I get sad thinking how you’re separated from the people who love you and vice versa!
Personally, if you were mine, I’d be in a sleeping bag in the next stall.
Nancy
What a team! Good luck to all you next Monday and in the future.
Robyn Mullhausen
You must be very grateful to have had one of the World’s Best Jockeys taking you to the finish line! I can’t even imagine what a thrill it must have been for “Mikie” to go flying around the track on your back. I guess I know how he felt by looking at the photos of him hugging your neck after the races, at your retirement ceremony and on your arrival at Keeneland. The smile on his face said it all. You and Mike were a wonderful, amazing couple. Hope you get to still see him a lot…I know that will make both of you happy. :)
Suzanne G
Hi MJ and Robbie,
John S. was once asked about the differences between one Grade 1 and another because people sometimes say that one is more important or significant than another. He said something like ‘I thought a Grade 1 was a Grade 1.’ Perfect answer–it’s only people who are trying to rationalize their votes who come up things like ‘mediocre horses running in Grade 1 races’. Until there are designations like Grade 1A and Grade 1B and so forth, GRADE 1 is GRADE 1! The rest is hyperbole.
MaryAnn
Hi Z Girl, Glad you are getting visitors.
Stay warm and have fun .
Love you girl!!
Barbara Wood
Dearest Z–
Thanks so much to you and Dottie for explaining about the reins (although I’m a little slow in visualizing and would love a video of Mikey demonstrating).
I’m so sorry for horses who get in trouble for “misbehaving” when often it’s the human who sends the wrong signal! I’ve seen this happen with our own horse and a “trainer”.
Yes, all this HOY talk can become discouraging. Let’s see, now. If, for some ridiculous reason, you don’t win, there has to be an explanation. I think I have it: since the awards are named Eclipse awards, that must be for horses like Eclipse who have won 18 ouf of 18 OR LESS. Since you’ve won more, maybe that’s why they think you don’t qualify. That must be it–ridiculous by any standard. If they could only see how hypocritical they are. People can rationalize anything.
We want you to get the award, not because it’s a prestigious award, but because YOU deserve it. Love you always.
MD Reynolds
It’s always a delight to hear from you all! Z, I have the picture of you walking in the snow as my desktop picture, so I see you every day! Dottie, God bless you for keeping in touch w/Zenyatta’s fans. We love her so very much and love those love her! Thanks, again! MD
Ingrid in MA
I love learning from you,Zenny! It’s so easy to understand…THANKS,Dottie! And Zenyatta,surely you knew how extraordinary you were on the track! You sound surprised that Mike would say such sweet things about you. First of all, you KNOW he loves you!! Second of all, as sweet as you are and as many wins as you have,you must have known how special you are! The way you responded to Mike is not just a tribute to his fantastic riding of you, but of your attention to and trust in him. I think I’ll miss watching the relationship between you and Mike the most. Love you,Zenny!
Elena Erdman
Good Afternoon Z. This was a great post. So now I know more about reigns. I am learning so much. I go to Santa Anita often and when I watch the horses running I am looking at them differently. When they are in the paddock, I really check them out. It is so much fun when I am there, I think of nothing but horses and you. I come home refreshed.
Good for you growing a heavier coat, wish I could do that, it is so cold in California, but I hear tomorrow is going to be warmer.
You are having so much fun, I just love it and I am having fun with you and the posts. Ah, Dottie, she is great! I remember Merv Griffin used to say to me, Ah, so an so are great! He was such a very nice man.
Many people who write about race horses seem to want to down horses and jockeys. They may have some knowledge but most of it is their opinion and I really don’t want to read about what they have to say. They are paid to write their ideas. I don’t listen to the media. These are people that need to have a rag to chew on or else they would not be writing or talking or get paid. I read your posts and the ones that make me feel happy. I think you are the greatest horse ever and feel lucky to have seen you race so many times. Team Zenyatta is fantastic all the way around and are truly appreciated by all of us. Stay warm and keep on having fun and more fun.
Irene Caty
Hi Zenny, glad to hear that you are going to have some California company this week-end. You will have alot of fun and of course there will be picture takeing going on. I bet they bring some good treats for you also. When the weather gets warmer and people feel more like traveling you will probably get visitors all of the time. I know that people are saying how they cant wait to go and visit you. I’m glad that Lanes End is makeing that possible. You have so many fans that love you Zen that it would’nt be easy to say, no visitors. There is another important factor and that is that you are concidered to be the greatest female racehorse ever. You have a good time playing in the paddock. My thoughts are always with you. Love you Zenny.
Leslie R.
Hi Zenny, I’m happy to hear that you are going to have some California company this weekend. I hope you all have a great time!!
Thanks Zenny, Dottie and Mike for the informative post! It is very interesting.
Have a good night, sweet girl.
Love you,
Leslie
Catherine Uher
My situation with my kidney failure is getting worse and I’ve had the worst day… until now. Reading this has just made me smile and giggle when I didn’t think this was possible. I can just picture Mike describing this to Dottie and you dictating this story for Dottie to type for all of us and that just put the biggest smile on my face! You are a gift from God, Zenyatta and I only wish I could put into words what you have done for me and my spirit! Stay warm and eat some extra carrots and treats! We’re getting a hard freeze and we’re down here in south Texas! How funny is that?! I love you so much beautiful girl! <3
Jan
Zenyatta,
Once again, thanks for all the interesting horse info, pretty soon I can apply for a job at Mr. Sheriffs barn. Lol. A big thanks to Dottie & Mike too. Can’t wait to see you in more photos. Luv & kisses.
Snoprinz
Thanks for another informative post. Zenny, you are such a smart and giving horse that Mike only had to ask once and you were ready to GO and RUN. I pray everyday that you get the Eclipse HOY Award. You worked hard for it and you proved on and off the track that you rightfully deserve it.
Gloria
I love Mike and Zenyatta. They are THE BEST! Thanks for the “reins” lesson!
Ann Maree
Hi, Z-girl, I know you are excited to see your CA family this weekend. Maybe John will get some more pictures of you so we can see what you look like with your winter coat! You are so special, Z. Thanks for the “lessons” and all the information you and your family share with us. Stay warm! Hugs, your friend, Ann Maree
Vicki B.
I kinda think the “World Thoroughbred Rankings” are taking a flying leap at the moon, trying to combine-rank all the horses from different continents, surfaces & conditions, imagining they can get that right! Delusions of grandeur!
Zenny, enjoy Team Z’s visit this weekend, and don’t listen to the trash talk.
Ollie
Zen,
Just like you had to learn your lessons
Iam also learning how much is involved
with the training of championship horses
such as you. I love this diary,it makes
my day everyday!
Keep warm and big hugs to you and your
“family”
Kathy Kimber
Thanks Z, Thanks Dottie, the explanations will be very helpful to people who are not so familiar with the terms, very well put. I love the blog for all these tidbits you share it makes it so interesting for us all.
I’m glad you are staying warm, we have snow and cold in Kansas City. Keeping fingers and horse shoes crossed for next Monday. But love you regardless of what mere motals think. Hugs
Snoprinz
Let’s all have POSITIVE thoughts about the HOY Awards and it will happen. Zenyatta will be crowned HOY.