Good Morning,
YES…I am very excited to have my CA visitors stop by and see me this weekend. Thank you for mentioning this in your responses. I am sure that JOHN will take many photos. I know he’ll be delighted to share them with you! As you may know, he loves photography!
Yesterday, when we talked about the REINS…(and yes…all of those terms you noted do fit Mike Smith’s basic concept)…John mentioned the REINS ARE THE PRIMARY WAY A RIDER COMMUNICATES WITH THE HORSE.
In conjunction with this, John wanted me to add that “HORSES HAVE A WAY TO COMMUNICATE BACK TO THE RIDER…AND THAT IS THROUGH THE BIT! It is ALL ABOUT A HORSE HAVING A HAPPY RESPONSIVE MOUTH.” In RACING, almost ALL of the communication by the rider is through the reins and the bit. The rider’s legs are not as important in giving the horse clues as it is when dealing with riding other breeds of horses. This is because the jockey spends so much time in a crouching position. The hands and touch on the reins holds great significance.
Thus, it is a very interesting dynamic…RIDERS/REINS and HORSES/BITS. The way a horse communicates back to rider through the BIT is how he/she holds the bit in the mouth: tightly, loosely, or on one side or the other. The rider must pay close attention to ‘how the horse is playing with the bit and responds to it”. This is very important.
There are many different types of bits. To name just a few, there are ring bits, snaffle (D-Bits) and leather prong bits. Perhaps if you have time, go to a tack shop one day and just look at the variety available. How a different BIT is selected for the horse depends on the horse, the horse’s response to the bit, and the type of message that needs to be developed through this communication. The trainer makes this decision while working with the horse.
Per John, the trick is for a trainer to find the bit that is most comfortable for the horse. It must be one the horse likes and responds to well when training and racing. The bottom-line is that the horse learns his/her lessons and responds to the equipment when asked by the rider…relax, change gears or pick-up speed.
A horse’s mouth is very sensitive and plays an important part in the ROLE of the BIT. Horses have dentists who check their teeth often…for general health reasons and also to be sure this equipment fits comfortably in their mouths. My dentist, Sonny Wilson, would check my teeth quite a bit. Horses’ teeth can develop sharp edges due to the fact that when they eat, they grind their teeth back and forth. Sonny would FLOAT (file) my teeth when needed. This was approximately every 3 months. He’d do this to be sure the sharp edges were taken care of properly and to be sure my mouth was comfortable.
As illustrated in the photo, I wore a K-K Snaffle Bit with a Roller. You can see the roller in the middle. It has 2 joints in it which added to my comfort. The K-K part simply notes that a special company made this bit and a metal alloy was used in the product that was really nice in my mouth.
It was also very important for ME to keep my tongue under the bit while racing for breathing purposes. (This is true for all horses.) Thus, per John, the roller in the middle of it also acted like a bit of a ‘pacifier’ for me. I would PLAY WITH IT while it was in my mouth and it would also kind of amuse me to do this. BUT, AT ALL TIMES, I also knew to respect the BIT and BE RESPONSIVE to it. I clearly understood all of the different messages Mike and Steve were giving me and what they were asking me to do…and I responded to them. They, in turn, did the same for me! We had GREAT COMMUNICATION!
Communication, as you know, is so important…on so many levels!
Off to play!
With Love,
Hugs to ALL~
Z
Gloria Jeanne
Hi Zen-
I am so glad to hear that you have great communication skills with your riders Mike and Steve- it is very important and I’m sure it’s one of the things that helped you be so succesful in your career.
I’m looking forward to current pictures of you out in the paddock playing with your friends and seeing John and the gang.
I can’t wait until Monday night when the awards are presented. I know you are getting a few awards, just hoping for the BIG ONE. You should have a seat reserved for you and maybe TANGO you into the room so you can hear and then cheer for your name and team… just an idea!
Love and Hugs
Astrid
Wow. Another great and informative post. Thank you so much!!
Zenny, have fun playing with your friends and your CA family visiting you!
@Elizabeth Tobey – thank you for your additional info. Very intersting!
Pamela J Hebert
Thanks Z another lesson today I’ve learned more. You’ve done so much to help so many horses & people you are simply the BEST!!! Enjoy your weekend. XOXOXO
Linda Deutsch
What is the piece of cotton tied on your bottom lip before a race? Is that to hold your tongue in place? I notice that as soon as the race is over, Mario would remove it. HUGS & KISSES, Z.
Judy Gadwood Loves Zenny/California
@Sandy – your question was actually answered by several peeps who posted prior to your question ;-)
Sharon
what a cute image, Shannon! Zenyatta “waving” at the crowd with her tongue!! I think you’re right on!
Have a fun, playfilled time, Queen Z.
Best regards to the great communicator – Dottie!!
Henrietta Wolfe
That was a great bit of information. (*_*) Thank you.. It’s always great fun to have visitors. I know you will enjoy. I am so happy that your coat is growing so well and keeping you warm. Soon, spring will arrive and your heavy coat will go away getting you ready for the wonderful warm weather. Spring is when I am planning to visit you. YEAH!!!! I recently mentioned I had not met you but I spelled it meant. I meant to spell it met. (*_*) Anyway, all I can imagine, at this time, is how I am going to feel when I see you standing there in all your grandeur. I believe, it will be the first time in my long life that I will be speechless. (*_*) Oh please, spring get here fast. Your diary posts are just so magnificent and I would be sad if I didn’t have them to read. YOU are the best to keep in touch with all of us. I have a card for you but I have been feeling ill and as soon as I am better I will get it in the mail to you. I LOVE YOU AND YOU ARE ALWAYS ON MY MIND, YOU ARE ALWAYS ON MY MIND!!!!xoxoxxoxox
Kathy B.
Just a note to Z and her team to say her incredible presence continues to inspire good things in my life…it has been difficult these last few weeks with the passing of some dear friends and my beloved dog of almost 15 years. Thank you for lending me some of her courage….
Rosanne Glynn
How is my beautiful big girl doing??
I wish I could watch the Eclipse Awards but I don’t have satelite TV.
Very disappointing for me! :(
Well I learn something new everyday thanks to the Z Team.
Thank you for the blogs and your time. Love you Zenny!!! Enjoy the fresh air and sunshine my sweet baby girl. oxox
Lise BC, Canada
This is a mild bit. The mouth piece is thick. The thinner the mouth piece the more pressure it puts on the horse’s poll and mouth.
Kaiah
@Kathy, that white strip is a tongue tie. It’s a piece of nylon that is tied around the horse’s tongue to keep them from putting their tongue over the bit.
CIndy Johnson
Wow, how exciting to find I use the same BIT on my mare. I have a 6 yr old TB mare who raced but unfortunately,she had great speed but never the right jockey to manage that speed for a win. She is making a nice barrel horse and I can’t wait till she can apply that speed to the run to the first barrel. I use this bit for the same reasons it was used for you Zenyatta. Thanks so much for sharing. It’s a small world.
Andrea from Germany
I love your posts Zenyatta, its so great to hear what happens to you. Thank you so much . Love you Zenny.
CIndy Johnson
I would like to mention also the use of Aloe Vera. I have for years taken Aloe each day for joint pain and stomach discomfort. I saw the interview with John stating you received Aloe each day. Mine was developed by a Doctor/Researcher who I call my “serogate father”. When I started working with the TB race mare I mentioned previously I immediately started her on the Aloe for the same reasons I take it. It also keeps us very healthy. It’s so exciting for me to know I have made choices similar to those that helped make you successful. Thanks again Zenyatta for sharing.
Lola
Nice! Sprenger bit for Zenyatta….nothing but the best!
Cheryl Heath
This is wonderful, Zenyatta. I am learning so much and now when I look at a horse at the track, I think about things like reins and bits and shoes and all…..you are the best to communicate all this information. I know this takes time from your day but I look forward to your posts every day…Thank you. You are magic and wonderful.
Carolyn
I’d like to add that if a horse gets their tongue over the bit, in some cases it causes their mouth to go numb – which renders the bit useless! Not a fun feeling when trying to stop a galloping horse! Thus the use of the tongue-tie. And some horses just hang their tongues out – who knows why? LOL
sue w
I loved this post! It just proves again that there was NOTHING but the best for the Queen. What a joy she must have been to ride….so intelligent and strong yet flexible and swift. Not only are we learning so much about horses but that the touch of a trainer is perhaps the most impart part of all. John is a master of the thoroughbred and knew exactly how to manage Zenny.
Mary Washer
Very interesting about the bit. At a race at Hollywood Park last season on the final turn, a horse from Europe, who was ahead, went straight instead of turning. When I asked trainer Doug O’Neal about it he said that the horse had been so manageable that he had a very used a gentle bit on him. He said he would use a stronger bit in the future. I guess the bit IS very important as you said.
Peyton
Thanks for all of the info. I love learning more and more from you all. You should write a book someday or have all of these diary pages put into a book. Have fun this weekend with all of your Team Z family! I hope you all sweep the eclipse awards! ZENYATTA—HOTY!!
Robbie Pfeufer Kahn
Linda B: Your late post under #55 was heartrending. It doesn’t matter that you are almost 70 or where you live. You simply must find a way to touch a horse. Are you mobile enough for a friend to drive you to the nearest stable? You could call ahead and explain your wish. I am sure any stable would be happy to accommodate you.
The presence of a horse can be healing–as you must know horses are used in Animal Assisted Therapy. For that matter you could contact NARHA.com to find out if there is a therapeutic riding program near you. You don’t have to ride. Some participants simply groom a horse or lead them around the ring or just stroke them. I hope you are able to find a way to touch a horse!
Elizabeth Tobey: Thank you for making us aware of the book you are translating from Italian. Imagine–1550. It must be an exciting project!
Best regards to Linda and Elizabeth–Robbie
Zenyatta dear: Thank you for the fascinating information about the bit you wear and for insight into how you and Mike communicate reciprocally.
As someone trained in dressage, I am used to thinking of all kinds of “aids,” legs, back, seat, and hands just about last. Of course, Mike is crouched on your back and so you are constrained to communicating through the hands and bit. Perhaps constrained isn’t the right word b/c that limit gives you so much freedom and requires trust on both sides. A heavy hand on the reins would hold you back and distress you; a hard mouth would make communication with you for the rider difficult. Steve Willard commented in an interview that you have a soft mouth, which is not a surprise given what a sweet horse you are for all your power as an athlete.
Much love and respect–Robbie
jahlgren
Boy, Zenyatta, am I getting an education from you, Team Z and Lane’s End! How come sometimes your tongue would hang out so far and at other times, your tongue was tied. Did this have to do with your “excitability” about the race that day or maybe just temporary mouth discomfort? Can horses “foam at the mouth” when they are excited before a race (it seems like I have seen that at the track in addition to “sweating” on their inner legs)? I’ve never quite known how to judge that when I am handicapping a horse for a current race. Sometimes their sweating and foaming seems like an advantage and other times not when it comes to winning a race. Thanks for any info, Jan Ahlgren
Bailey J.
Very helpful Zen, but I thought you wore a tongue tie. From my knowledge, which could be wrong since I’m kind of new to horses and riding and such, tongue ties are used on horses that put thier tongues over thier bits, so if you used a roller bit, how come you needed a tongue tie?
dunie oneil
My horses love KK bits with rollers.
Have fun playing, dear Z!
Ingrid in MA
Another lesson learned! Thank you Zen and your fabulous team! Maybe you can answer a question for me – everyone “in the know” made a BIG deal about you,Zen,finishing your races with your ears still pricked. I have the idea that pricked ears are a sign of being relaxed and comfortable. With that in mind,was racing that “easy” for you? Like a “No Sweat!” kind of thing? You certainly made it look like racing was no big thing, yet exciting at the same time. Just one more reason we all love you, Big Zen!!
Suzanne G
Dear Zenyatta,
Are you a dyn-o-mite dressage horse masquerading as a race horse??? Seems you’ve got the moves and the bit down pat!
Hugs to you, your 4-legged friends and your teams who take such good care of you and share you with us.
Roxanne Cook
This was great! It looks like your bit is also made of copper, and horses love that taste so it keeps their mouth moist. Sometimes it makes the horse look like it’s foaming at the mouth, but that’s what it is. A moist mouth is a happy mouth.
Linda
I hate tongue ties. I think it interferes with a horse’s ability to swallow. A horse has to be able to move their tongue to swallow properly. None of the European trainers do it. They don’t do it on American tracks when they bring horses to race here.
Barbara Wood
Dearest Z–
So much to learn, so little time! How in the world did John (or any good trainer) learn it all?? Thank you so much for sharing this “bit” of info. with us.
Yes, horses are definitely healing. Ours helped me so much after the loss of my mom at 94. I have strong faith, but he helped give me something to focus on besides my loss! I think one of the most beautiful and relaxing sounds in the world is the clip-clop of a horse walking through the barn.
And, dear Z, look how many you have helped by just being YOU! Love you always.
Lilly Roach
Hey zen, zenny, z;
thanks info
bye yatta
talk to you soon
xoxo coco, hope to race you soon.. in my dreams