Good Morning,
I am still ‘BASKING IN THE GLOW’ of my GOLDEN TROPHY! What a complete honor! LUCKY, LUCKY ME!
I did want to tell you how GREAT it was when my family came to visit last Sunday. Here are a few photos. I had lots of treats…which I shared with my friends…and hugs and kisses. Those I kept for myself!
Ann and Jerry spent a great deal of time with me both inside the barn and outside while I was in the paddock. They watched me play with my friends and do some very ‘spirited’ gallops around the field with my 3 buddies. We are really getting along beautifully. P.Q., Sea Gull, Alyse and I are great friends. This ‘bonding thing’ is very special and I think I’m getting the hang of it now.
Then John and Dottie each spent ONE-to-ONE time with me. John really wanted to just visit with me…he and I all by ourselves. Dottie did the same. Over the last 4 1/2 years, I have spent so much time with these 2 people…especially my dear John. All of the quiet time visits…1 to 1…really mean a great deal to me. During our time together, John shot several photos of ME…and I’ll share some of them with you tomorrow. (He is just so cute…carrying his cameras around. I’ve seen him do this for years now.)
As you can see in today’s photos, my ‘winter coat’ is growing. This is what keeps me nice and warm while I’m outside. It is all part of nature’s way of helping me to adjust to a colder climate…as it does all horses. I do feel like I am adapting beautifully to my new life at the farm. I also KNOW ALL OF YOU are still in touch…and that makes me feel so, so, so special!
Many of you are asking about my FIRST DATE! I know the options…my family did discuss them with me. Between you and I, I know MY FAMILY is going to LUNCH next week to finalize the details. They promised they’d tell me FIRST…and then all of YOU! This is really too cute! I’m getting so excited.
Breeding sheds open in MID-FEBRUARY around Kentucky! So, it is getting close.
As many of you know, I just LOVE SPORTS…guess it is because I am an athlete. It is a fun FOOTBALL WEEKEND. MY N.Y. Times Buddies, THE JETS, are playing. Gotta’ love Jason Taylor! Not only is he a terrific Jets football player…a few seasons ago, he was also one of the FINALISTS on DANCING WITH THE STARS. He and I have the DANCING THING IN COMMON!
This is also a big secret……a friend of mine tried out for that show! I’ll keep you posted. If it all works out, in my free time, I could offer some of my ‘unique dance steps’ for the program! THEY COULD ALL LEARN TO DO ‘THE ZENYATTA’ !!
Have a lovely Saturday!
With Love,
Hugs to all~
Z
Cheryl
I THINK you should be designated as a special judge for that show! I mean, who is THE BEST dancer on the planet????? So cute, I just love you! I still keep having that future feeling of your foal winning the Triple Crown! I just know that you are going to continue to affect the sport and the world because..you are ZENYATTA!! There is no other!
Bridget
@Paula Turner
Hi Paula… That was the sweetest post, and it made me cry. Seattle
Slew had a son named “General Meeting.” His son (Slew’s grand son) is my horse’s best friend. I talk about the “Slew Man” daily! He was such a beautiful boy. I think Zenny would have really loved him!
Happy Harriet
How could we leave this Post without a special THANK YOU to Paula Turner who so generously shared her most intimate and heartfelt memories of “Baby Huey” aka Seattle Slew? You are clearly gifted with horses, as well as the written word. You said: “Working and riding him alone those countless hours tied him to my heart forever. He became like my son.” Anyone who has had that special bond with an animal knows how deep that statement goes. The only time my heart hurt physically was when my 18 year old Sheltie died. So thank you for bravely posting and sharing, just as we thank Zenyatta who is Divinely Inspired and Inspiring for loosening something magical in our hearts and bringing to the surface such joy and hope that everything else for that moment is OK. Without the soul of the Mosses and the Shirreffs, Carmen, Mario, and Mike Smith, Zenyatta’s potential would have been lost. As Jerry said in his acceptance speech, He was glad God gave Zenyatta to John. And we can now add, we are glad John gave Zenyatta to us!!
Cara
Please teach them to do “the Zenyatta”
Linda in NJ
Hi Zenny: A little late with my note to this post by wanted to be sure I got all the weekend news. I would love to learn the Zenyatta. It really would be quite a hit. I am very excited to know who the lucky guy will be. Please thank your family for the great pictures. You know we love them! I can’t get over how huge your paddock is. Wow you have lots of room to gallop around with your friends. Well on to the next bit of news with post #64. We love you Zenny–Congrats again on receiving all your awards.
susan calaway
Hey Big Girl! I am so proud of you! Blame KNOWS you ran him down…one more stride! It was your race anyway! Thank you to your wonderful owners for sharing you with all of us. Your page here makes us all feel connected to you and grateful to them for their generosity. So excited about your “mystery man”, a few really good choices out there. Know he will be the “right” one for you. Oh,…and the baby! Congratulations on your trophy. I was watching and hollared out loud! God Bless you and your family!
Carole Cole
Hi, Zenyatta….loved the new photos too! Wish Kingmambo were still available to date….he is my horse, Greatest, grandfather and that would have been very special. I visited Kingmambo at Lane’s End when I flew from California to Kentucky to see you race in the Breeder’s Cup; and now, you’re at Lane’s End also so I’ll visit you both! Say hello to him for me if you can……I know he isn’t his old self and maybe you can cheer him up , especially if you dance for him! I do hope your first date is going to be the man of your dreams! :-)
Kathryn Cogswell
Astrid & RPK: Thank you . .. decorum aside, I still hope she`s getting her aloe vera, along w/ the Guinness & massages a` la Michelle — unless, once settled, the beer would affect the foal`s knitting well, as our O.R. nurse here somewhere wondered; can not find your note, but was also wishing someone would address the dietary changes ‘Z’-in-foal will face. [Not many additives, I hope [courteously]. No doubt things have changed in the decades since I was a barn midwife. Khc.
Val
Hey Z – I hope you get to visit the great AP Indy as he’s getting on in years. If not, maybe just a handsome guy like Lemon Drop Kid…he must be balanced like you first and foremost!
Anna Wiley
Sounds like you had fun. How are you doin’?
Luv,
Anna
Carrie Ragan
AP Indy!! You are a Triple AAA nick with him. Would be an AWESOME colt/filly :-)
Keep the diary posts coming — I love reading them.
Hugs to you Z…….Carrie
Mary
Zenyatta, speaking of your dance moves, do you still do your fancy dance steps at Lane’s End? Perhaps you could get someone to share more pictures of your past and present dance moves? Hugs and Prayers
Sally (B)
Hi beautiful loveable Z. So happy for you with Ann & Jerry, John and Dottie visiting you. Love has no boundry’s. Just loved the pictures. Kisses
Linda / Maryland
Aren’t you a lucky lady to have your California People there with you !
One on One time is so special. I know for sure John Misses you. He loves you so.
Glad to hear the choice is almost made. I hope you have a healthy happy foal. That is the most important thing. Make sure you take your pre-natal vitamins!!!!!!
Love you Zenyatta~!!!!!!!
NancyP
Hello Beautiful Girl,
So glad to hear about Dottie and John’s visit and how happy it made you to be with them again. Love is in the air all around you!
Hugs and Kisses,
NancyP
Nancy B
I’m hoping for A. P. Indy or Giant’s Causeway! But…is any guy good enough for our Zenyatta??
Wendy Bratten
Oh my gosh Zenyatta, you get more beautiful every day.