Hello,
It is another beautiful day in California….about 78 degrees, sunny and wonderful. I had a fabulous time this morning going out and jogging a bit on the training track. It is great to get some exercise, graze, and visit with friends.
Wow…here comes my blacksmith, Tom Halpenny! Tom is such a great guy. He is from Ireland and has worked with horses most of his life. He has worked on my feet since I came to California at 2. Tom has also been the blacksmith for some other amazing horses you might know: Flawlessly and 2 Kentucky Derby Winners, Giacomo and Sunday Silence. I’m in great company!
When the blacksmith trims your feet, it is like a person getting a manicure. They file them like filing your fingernails. Then they trim them, make them nice and healthy and put on the new shoes. Today, Tom is taking off my aluminum racing plates and putting on my new steel shoes. These are great for everyday type activities. Usually a racehorse gets shod about once a month.
I wear a size 7 shoe. From what they tell me, size 5 is average. My, My!!!!! What does this say about me?
I guess…that I am one lucky girl!
Hugs to all. I’ve got to prepare for my photo shoot this afternoon. I get to show off my new shoes! Such fun!
With love,
Z
Mary
Please don’t retire yet. Please don’t go to Kentucky. Please stay in California. Please stay as happy as you are today.
karsyn
congrats on a great breeders cup! you will be a great mother. don’t feel bad about being bigger and more proud about yourself. Im size 7 and im 9 1/2. you are a buitaful horse. I bet your baby will be as pretty and fast as you are. glad you exsist. without you my grandma would have nobody to cheer for. you are a very sucessful horse and we all love you.
Judy Sims
Like all your other fans I love to read your diary posts and know that you are well and happy and being treated like the special girl you are. I wish your owners would consider touring the country with you but that is probably not feasible. I can’t imagine a day without my “Zenyatta Fix!” Please keep letting us know how you are doing even if you are sent to retirement and motherhood. You are so adored and so adorable.
My father always said that everything starts with a good foundation (he was a construction engineer) and your size 7’s surely live up to that statement!
Stay safe and happy and enjoy all the accolades you certainly have earned them.
Love you, gorgeous girl.
Jill Mabry
Hi Zenyatta,
Thanks so much for the diary posts, I love hearing from you. It’s great to know that you are doing well and are being treated like a Queen which you so deserve. I hope you will be able to keep the diary posts up after you retire and go on to motherhood. Seeing the pictures from your photo shoot would also be great(can’t get enough of you). Take care pretty girl. Hugs and Kisses to you.
We love you,
Jill
Karen Sweatman
Why do I get the feeling that you are not going to like retirement as much as everyone thinks you will. In order for you to run like a freight train, you have to love what you do. You love being a working girl, and we just may see you back on the track in 2011 if they let you have your way!
Robin Nelson
Hi Z!! Thanks for sharing that, I learned quite a bit about your feet from reading that post! Now all you need is some pretty polish! LOVE you Z!! XOXO
Helen Rasmussen
Good morning Queen Z! I so look forward to these posts of your daily activities and want to thank the person who helps you write them! Size 7 isn’t so big when you are such a big girl! I hate the way they have made halter stallions in other breeds with small feet and pretty much unsound!
I think no matter CA or KY wherever you are people will treat you with upmost respect and pray they will keep you in the publics eye. No matter where you go I sure hope Mario goes with you! Mario will always make you feel safe and loved!
Racing could learn from your connections because the public loves hearing about their favorites! Racing needs the public and the public loves updates! We will never put racing back in the same light if we continue to encounter snobery from connections.
I am glad you continue to be safe, well, and happy!
Mari J Flippen
Zen To You and ALL your connections thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you have given racing! you are truely unlike any other animal I know. On BC day I was screaming so loud (you may have heard me all the way from Calder! ) my husband said I was acting like you where my horse :-) becouse of your wonderful connections I think he was right ! but most importantly you have taught me the will to keep going even when it seems impossible I have enjoyed watching you for the last 3 years and am sad to a degree that its a new chapter but you will make a big splash in your new life as well becouse simply put you are Zenyatta
Kathleen Marsh
Thanks for the post. I love reading about your day. Did you know that William Fox-Pitt who is a very famous eventer in Britian said you were the horse he would most like to own! You would have been a GREAT event horse—everything you do is magic.
Kim Soleau
Hi Zenyatta, all the way from Monroe, Michigan! Love reading your diary postings to see how you are doing and read about your daily adventures. Would love to meet you in person. Hey, maybe you should take those big feet of yours and tour! Love you Zenyatta!
Patricia Emery
Zenyatta! Like many, I love reading your daily posts. I wish that Jerry & Ann would just keep you with them in sunny CA-I know that you are super strong & could handle the move to the Eastcoast. If I were them, I would have a very difficult time letting you go. I know wherever you go, you will be loved greatly. Please make sure you keep your fans updated through the next part of your journey.
With love XOXO
Carolyn Caswell-Brown
Love reading your posts. Sharing “a day in the life” has been a fun learning experience. I don’t know if the Moss’s have a breeding farm operation but perhaps keeping you near them surrounded by all the “familiars” & love that you are accustomed to would be a good thing to help you adjust to retirement. It can be a difficult transition for many. LOVE LOVE LOVE Wishing you THE BEST!!
Debbie Trujillo
Miss Zenyatta,
Love reading your posts and thank you for keeping us informed on your welfare! I think Tom Halpenny used to be a farrier in Colorado. I remembered his name and then asked my farrier, Del Slaugh, if he remembered Tom. He said yes he did. You are in good hands my lady.
We love you~
Jan Glover
Hi Queen Zenyatta Rockette!!! I am so glad to read the great news that you are enjoying yourself!!!
I just found out that you will be retiring in December on the Thoroughbred Times?? I hope you will enjoy your retirement–you have earned it!!! And when the time comes, I hope we’ll be seeing little zenyattas!!
Please don’t forget all of us because we love you so much!!! Please continue your diary posts and let us know how you are doing!!!
I love you lots big girl!!!
Ann Maree
One other thing your shoe size says to me is you have a firm foundation! Helped keep you safe and sound! Mr. Shirreffs did a wonderful job before he let you go out and race….he helped your ankles, your legs and your feet grow and get strong to support your large size. He’s a wonderful trainer, and represents the very best of the sport. Yep, you are special….no doubt about it! Hugs!
Gloria Jeanne
Who will Zenyatta be bred to? Will Zenyatta have a retirement party at Hollywood Park or Santa Anita Park? Being one of her biggest fans – we need to be able to say goodbye to Zenyatta!
http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/racing-news/2010/november/17/zenyatta-retires.aspx
Trisha Veazey
Queen Z,
I wear a size 7 shoe too! How about that! Have fun at your photo shoot. You need not worry about which side is the most photogentic, because no matter how we look at you, you are the most beautiful girl in the world.
Love hugs and kisses pretty girl
Georgia Harper
Just heard my sweet Queen is going to Kentucky. I hope you will be so happy grazing in those beautiful fields. I was being selfish wishing you would go one more year but understand it is probably time. I will watch for your babies and hope Mike will also ride them to history. Please let Mike know that we think he is great, I watched him ride last weekend and he seemed to be sad and have his head down. Please let him know we all appreaciate all he did with you.
Much love to the Queen I have too many tears in my eyes now to go on.
Audrey
The diary posts are adorable, and I also enjoy reading comments. I have a question that you might be able to answer. It is regarding your “pony”, who has been retired. Perhaps you can tell us about his/her retirement in a diary post. I also wonder if you have a close equine or other animal friend. I have seen the incredibly close bond some horses will forge with another(as if they were soul mates or soul friends). I witnessed a breath-taking reunion of two mares. When they spotted each other, having been apart for 4 months, they immediately ran to one another, whinneying, and began mutual grooming, never to stray far apart. What made it so amazing, was that these two were PMU mares, from a former PMU farm in Canada, that had over 100 horses. All were in need of rescue – or going to slaughter. The number of mares that this sanctuary was able to rescue, arrived in Arizona, in two small groups, four months apart. They all knew each other. Yet – the exceptional affinity between these two particular mares, months long separation not withstanding, was truly something to behold. I remember a horse, years ago, in a stable, who became very bonded with a barn cat. The cat had kittens in his stall, and when the horse (Jasper) would lie down to rest, the tiny kittens would snuggle against him…very heart warming. There also was a race horse at San Luis Rey Downs (again, years ago), that I remember had a rooster as a friend! All horse people personally know of such stories. If you have also experienced a like-wise special bond, I am sure fans reading your posts would love to hear! I am still amazed how everything about you resonates with so many people. Of all racing’s memories, I believe (just my thoughts) that history will most closely align the incredible, whole story of Zenyatta, to that which encompasses Seabiscuit.
Marcia Sexton
Love you Z! But kind of sad hearing that the steel shoes are taking the place of the racing plates! As long as you are happy though! Keep us posted on the photo shoot and where you are going next!
Diane
Z, we love you and like all great super stars, you take our breath away. Your fans adore you and you adore them right back. We need you and I think you still need us. That cold,snowy paddock can wait till you’re ready. Maybe you’re not done yet?
Eileen
ZENYATTA!
YOU ARE THE GREATEST.If you retire I will be very sad. Hope you will be back racing in 2011.
Jan Glover
Hi, again, Big Girl!!
Sure do wish you would go on tour and come to Atlanta-i’d be there in a flash to see you with carrots and sweet potatoes for you!!!
Carrots and hugs!!
Love You!!!
Stephanie J Lambert
New Shoes always rock :) x0x0x0
Sharon Doone
Has Zenyatta been sold to Lane’s End or will she just be there for breeding purposes? Will her owners, trainer or jockey ever get to visit with her? Won’t she be heartbroken to be uprooted from all her family, friends and familiar surroundings? I worry about her so.
Jeanine Coogle
Z,
I just wanted to say thank you to your owners for letting you run until the age of 6. It is not very often we see a horse run after age 3. You have provided us with so many fabulous moments. It has been a joy to follow your career. I hope you enjoy your retirement…you will be so missed!! Thank you for everything you have done for the sport of horse racing!!
Theresa Buck
somewhere i either heard or read you a bigger than secretariat….is that true? oh well shoe size doen’t matter just enjoy your new shoes i am sure they will fit well