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
connie richey
Miss Z u r definitely the Dancing Queen♥ Your family certainly loves u! ~me too♥
Dean Miller
My dream date for Zenyatta would be, Sea the Stars.
Even in winter, Kentucky is the best place on earth to raise a horse. Look at that thoroughbred inspiring land. I can even smell Kentucky’s earth from that picture, from where I live now.
NancyJS
@Deanne Damon
Maybe it is Chantal Sutherland. I also remember
remember she is a contender. How fun if
it is her !!!!
I want to thank every one on this site for so much
sharing. I found TVG and HRTV and I watch
them on and off all day. In the past I have missed
so many equestrian events and now the are all
at my finger tips. Thanks again.
many
OraJean Stevenson
Queen-Z & Team-Z,
I enjoyed reading your Diary entry, this morning. The pictures are, also, terriffic and much appreciated! It looks so cold there; you must be praying for an early Spring, this year. Thanks, Dottie, for letting us share in your visits with Queen-Z. Take care and keep in touch. Fondly, OraJean
Jane in Seattle
Good Morning Beautiful!
I really hope Anne Maree will post her figures about your times. I posted a question a while back about your speed numbers, that I felt they didn’t reflect your actual speeds – and wondering if anyone timed the individual horses in a race, or if it’s only the leader. Because plainly, your speed in the last furlong or two your races is incredible, and I’m still wondering if anyone knows the actual numbers. Can’t wait to see what Ann Maree say =-) I can’t help but wonder if you may have broken some kind of record there, along with all the other records you broke in your career!
XXXOOXXX Have a wonderful happy Sunday!
Lydia Ward
Good morning Miss Z. I really look forward to your posts. What a lucky girl to have Jerry, Ann, Dottie, John; and all of Team Zenyatta. So much love and caring. You deserve the best. And yes, about this secret beau. You deserve the best and AP Indy and you would make beautiful babies. Just think a HOY Matched to a HOY; not only that, a Breeder’s Cup Classic winner to a
BC Classic winner. Can you imagine the little filly or colt that would come from your union. It gives me goose bumps thinking about it. Keep us posted. Love always.
Carole K
Thank you for the link to the Zenyattaeffect.blogspot.com.
@Paula Turner — what a beautiful posting regarding Seattle Slew. He was one of my favorites. I never tire reading about him — I loved his personality and racing accomplishments. Such an intelligent horse — I am sure he never forgot you. When we visited Three Chimneys last November, I made it a point to visit and photograph his stall, then occupied by Smarty Jones.
Wendy in St. Louis
Lady Z, you’re the best. The sire chosen for you should be the best. Naturally, you’re foal will be the best. LOVE YOU
Nancy Marashio
Isn’t it time to change the photos on Zenyatta’s site?
She has extended our thoroughbred commitment to more than winning races, and her photographs should reflect that holistic range of her life transformations.
Nancy Marashio
clarification – the photos needing to show Zenyatta’s range beyond just racing are the entrance-to-site photos.
Carole K
The racing photos are magnificent — they show her heroism and accomplishments. They should stay.
Sunny Boyd
@Gary Moulton
I wondered about having to run after dark on the lighted tracks, that’s not really natural for a horse, is it? Isn’t that when they go to sleep, after dark? They’re not nocturnal, are they? Of course all of them,the racers had to, but our Zetty seems to be a rather tenderhearted soul and I wonder if running under the lights for the first time in her life didn’t make a difference in that evening race. I don’t think they should have night races.
Louise Bland
Zenyatta, sweetheat, listen to me—okay?
Don’t do anything in the “breeding barn” tell John, you’d rather they take the whatever you call it using a needle and handle this whole thing that way—rather than the breeding barn. I know about that stuff! Not fun!
Hugs and kisses to you, sweet little innocent girl!
NancyJS
@Gary
Thanks for comments and opinions. Many people on
this site take comments personally when they are not
Patricia
Zen- You have a lot of exciting times ahead & your devoted fans will be there every step of the way!
I am positive that you are going to handle your next challenge with ABSOLUTE GREATNESS as you have of all of your challenges thus far.
I know the Mosses will be checking in every moment to make sure that this journey to motherhood is nothing but safe & with total care. I know that there are people out there that worry about the stresses & breeding methods etc., etc. but Jerry & Ann will not have any mistreatment on your part whatsoever.
It seems Ann is as excited about your potential foal & I am sure she has relayed the message to the Farrish’s about how she & Jerry want this handled.
We look forward to the announcement in the next few weeks & will keep you close to our hearts & in our prayers. BEST WISHES!
PS Get your rest…you will need it!!!
XOXO
Carole K
Lovely ESPN account about Ann Moss clutching a gold foal tag reading “Zenyatta” in her hand at the Eclipse Awards ceremony. I noted that Zenyatta was wearing one on her halter since arriving at Lane’s End. I presume Ann removed it and took it with her for luck. Very touching.
NancyJS
@Sunny
Horses train at night and can see very well. In the
wild the have to be alert for predators as they are
prey animals. Many of us who ride take lessons at night
and do midnight trail rides. Unfortunately Zenyatta
did not train much at night to learn to use her night
vision on the track and also the fast pace of the field
in front of her put toooo much dirt in her face which she
was not used to. However her fierce competition and
immense talent almost won her the race. She is truly
one of a kind.
Jane in Seattle
@Gary Moulton,
I wondered about those lights too – if Zenny had ever run with lights before. My thought was that perhaps she couldn’t see as well, and didn’t realize where she was relative to the other horses, especially with so much dirt kicked in her eyes. The announcer commented on Mike asking her to run, and her not responding, long before she started her charge. He said he left her too much to do, but I did wonder whether part of it was her own belief that she didn’t need to go yet. I think Miss Z had her own very definite opinions about how she wanted to race, and was more than happy to do exactly what Mike wanted, as long as it was exactly what she wanted to do anyway. But like you say, hindsight is 20/20 and it was a magnificent heart-stopping race anyway. And we already knew who the Horse of the Year should be anyway – Z just had a dramatic finish to that race like all her others. She just has such style! I agree, I’d love to see her in her own movie – who could play her better than she could herself? Probably just a foolish dream, but a favorite of mine.
Richard K
@Gary Moulton — pretty much sums up my own assessment regarding the BCC — no warm up in cold temperatures, lights on the track, distracted by track interview with Jerry Bailey. But Horse of the Year makes it feel so much better.
Richard K
Zenyatta never raced under lights, nor trained under lights to my knowledge. She usually trained after 9 AM. Some horses who train in the early sets are used to lights. But, all said, she was heroic in that race (BCC), she did the impossible coming from more than 20 lengths behind and losing by only inches. What talent, what heart!
Brent Zimmer
Zenyatta. You know the options. We’ll have to await word from your family. I don’t know if Tapit is being considered but each and every year his progeny are impressing more and more.
Sheri Osborne
I’m so excited to hear about your first date! We all are! Thats cool that your friend is trying out for Dancing with the Stars! Maybe they will do “The Zenyatta!” haha! Love you Z!!! :D
ENSIGN
@ Louise Bland,
Zenyatta has no choice but to ‘go all the way’ on her 1st ‘date’.
Thoroughbreds don’t allow artificial insemination (there’s no ‘needle’ involved btw) or embryo transfers. Most other breeds do, but not if you wish to have a Jockey Club registered TB.
Anna Wiley
Hey, Zen! Glad you had a succesful visit with Ann and Jerry! You are such a cool horse, you know? :D
Luv,
Anna
Suzanne G
@Paula, Thanks for posting and for letting us know about your great idea of using dressage to strengthen ‘Baby Huey’!
@Vicki B, Terrific link!
In case you don’t go to Vicki’s link, this is the Magic of Zenyatta with beautiful music and the beautiful words of Priscilla Clark–AWESOME!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6z_AW7Cr58&feature=player_embedded
Barbara Wood
Sweet Z–
I agree with the others questioning the wisdom of running under the lights at Churchill in November. I’m all for it earlier in the year.
But sweet girl, your BCC 2010 was a race for the ages, and I will never consider it a loss. You did more to win hearts that day than in some of your wins. Love you always.
Richard K
@ENSIGN — Good to hear from you again. I would like you to address Steve Haskin’s article (quotes from Broodmare Manager, Charles Campbell) about threats to an in-foal mare by visitors — strangles, herpes, lack of calm environment, etc.
Karey
Yes, I certainly agree it would show more grace and gratitude if the responders here would refrain from asking for more information, more photos, more videos. It seems quite brazen to demand more when we are being offered so much already. The generosity underlying these Diary Posts is really phenomenal, isnt’ it? I’ll even admit I flinch whenever I read someone telling the Mosses who the stud should be and why. Honestly, do they think they’re educating Zenyatta’s Team? On the other hand, I imagine Team Z takes it all in stride, knowing that it’s simply ill-considered, undiluted enthusiasm. The apparently unending patience and understanding offered to us here are certainly much appreciated.
Robyn Mullhausen
My sweet Zenyatta, I am so very touched to read about your visit with Jerry, Ann, John and Dottie. Thanks for the photos here. It really tugged at my heartstrings to read about how John and Dottie each got their own time with you..it made me weep to think how very much they must miss you. You do look beautiful in your winter coat by the way. I look forward to hearing about the “lucky studmuffin” who gets to be your date. Hmmm, wonder who your friend is on Dancing With The Stars. That is one of my very favorite shows and I love the video you did with Judge Len showing what a great dancer you are. Wish YOU would be the next guest on DWTS, but you’ll be busy by then cozying up to your new beau. Love, love, love you.
larry gust
Miss Z…so great to see and hear about you daily and lovely life…..you got it goood girl!! and you deserve it for sure. Congrats on “Horse Of The Year” what a great achievement and honor!! Well deserved. I know part of your family Jerry and Ann, don’t see them very often but think they’re just great and so deserving of having you in their family. They’re just great people and I know take amazing care of you, as they do all the people they love……..Be well, excited to hear about your first boyfriend, you’ll make a great mama!!! keep keeping us posted. pets and a little sip of Guinness to ya!!! Larry Gust