Hello everyone!
What a fun day I had yesterday! The morning was playful and I was in my normal routine. Then in early afternoon…LOOK WHO CAME TO VISIT WITH ME! My dear friend and close pal, MIKIE SMITH! He flew in all the way from CA to see ME! This is so exciting.
At first, Mike went out to the paddock area to see me play and interact with my friends. He brought some great goodies for us…carrots and peppermints. I think it was fun for him to see how happy I am in my new environment!
Later in the afternoon, he walked back with me to my barn. He actually led me part of the way. As you can see here, it is just HE and I standing TALL right there in the barn area. So much fun!
I know Sarah took a bit of video of our visit. She will put it up soon on my Facebook page. You can reach this by CLICKING on the FACEBOOK ICON in the upper right hand corner of my web-site. It will take you right there…my FACEBOOK PAGE.
Oh, by the way, this is very exciting as well…as of 7 a.m. CA time this morning, I have 63,848 FRIENDS on my Facebook page. You guys are really amazing! My numbers are growing every single day! Thank you so much!
Have a special day!
With Love,
Hugs to all~
Z
Yvonne and Maurice Kirby
Hi Zenyatta. I just loved the video and the music. I am so happy that you allow people that are not on Facebook to view your videos on the Wall feature of Facebook. Thanx so much. It was just great – loved seeing Mike feed you carrots and mints. I had to chuckle when I saw Mike trying to open the mints just like hubbie and I do when we visit our horsey friends. We get the puffed ones. Which do you prefer? I, too, loved the outfit Mrs. Moss had on at the presentation. I have never seen a sweater/blouse which attached to the hand – just loved it. Happy Valentine’s Day, stay toasty and have fun with your BBFs – love you so, Angel in Disguise.
Kimberly
MIKEEEEEEE AND ZZZZZZZZ. LOVED THE VIDEO!
Diana_NV
Oh,Zenyatta, you are horse racing’s Valentine!! We love you!!! And it’s truly a statement to the industry that your TEAM members keep coming to see you. This is about putting the equine athelete first, not the buck. This is about enabling potential and achieving greatness, and your TEAM enabled you and we love them just as much as you! You retired sound and happy, and your foals will definitely have the same chance that you had because your TEAM is still there to make that happen.
Carrie
Mike I love to see how much you love her!
Anne
How nice to have such a special visitor. It was funny to see your girl pals stay away from any hope of a carrot. No one comes between a queen and her man. ha…
I noticed someone in the background (David I?)once back in the barn checking you over. I am glad that they make sure you are in purrrrfect condition.
I usually take the paper off the mints before going to the barn, that way I can get to everyone quickly before a revolt. For some reason, they know when a peppermint or two is around just as you do. You guys are pretty savvy when peppermnints are around. :>)
Thanks for sharing your day with Mike and as you would say,”too cute.”
AJ from CA
Borntobreed – After watching the video a couple of times I kind of agree with you on the moment when Z approaches Mike a bit aggresively and then seems to give off a signal with her ears pinned back to the chestnut behind her like “back off girl, I’m not sharing Mike” and after that she was like a little kid asking “Okay, what goodies did you bring me, Mike?” You could really see the love and affection he has for her. Great Valentine video!!
Anita in CA
What a wonderful surprise and visit for you and Mikie, Zenny! So happy you got to get together. I sure miss you and love you, Big Girl! I am trusting God to be able to see you again someday. It would mean so much to me, because you bring me such joy! I’ll bring you carrots and peppermints when I come, too! Goodnight, sweet Girl.
Valeria Cannon
@Mary Mcguire, no Lady Z is not an alpha mare. She’s what they call a lead mare. An Alpha Mare takes control over a band/posse by force and leads by force, a Lead mare is given the authority and leadership by the other mares. She’s given the reponsibility of taking care of the other mares well-being and morale by the others. Some mares are born leaders and Lady Z is definitely one. a good leader will always bring up the rear and leave no mare behind. But then again, there are times when a girl will be a girl…..
Lady Z, thanks for sharing your Valentine with us, what a beautiful reunion! ‘My sweetie’ gave it away, because you only call Mike that. You call Mario, ‘My Mario’. Hope Bernardini doesn’t get too jealous, just means he’s got to step up to the plate and hit it out of the park! Thanks Dottie and Sarah for letting us be ‘flies on the wall’, during this most emotional time for them both. They were so happy to see each other, nothing but love all around!
Keep Dancing, Lady Z….
Valeria
Barb
Loved the video. It was great to see you with Mike.
Nancy
Loved the video of you and Mike.
Theresa Buck
just like old times Zenny and Mike…You know he said there wasn’t a stallion good enough for you …but bernadini is from good stock he might have to take that statement back lmao…good to see you two as a team again…YOU ARE ONE SPECIAL LADY
Dani
@Borntobreed and Valeria – thank you so much for the explanation of the difference between alpha mares and lead mares and also what flicking of the ears means. I thought it was really interesting insight into a horse’s behavior.
.
I kind of thought Mike might be your Valentine. Who better than the two of you, both with such big hearts, to share their hearts with others.
Sunny Boyd
@ livey
thanks for your input. I tried watching the video again, and I will today from a different comp,the video just didn’t work on my comp last night, it shut down after 10sec. The chestnut’s name is Seagull, P.Q. is the mottled grey, and then Alys who is never seen, she must be a very docile mare. But I thought since her behind, Seagull’s that is, was facing the fence/Mike, there really was no interference from her as far as ‘claiming posession’, also , it doesn’t surprise that she doesn’t kiss Mike, this whip thing is to scare horses to run faster, our Zetty isn’t stupid, Mike /whip : I’m free. Even though this whip isn’t supposed to hurt, still no being/creature 4/2 legged/ fins wants to feel the whip. Being in the racing mode, horses having been declared ‘beast of burden’ by humans Zetty took it in stride/part of the deal. Also according to Mr. Shirreffs she did everything they, Team Z, asked her to do, so she felt the whip less than most, but being tenderhearted she remembers it well. I think she has more of a professenional relationship with him. Not like the horsin’ around with Mario and the others at the barn, those guys were her buddies. Any way this stuff is really interesting, Mr. Smith comes across as a nice guy from the 60 Min. show. but his profession is that of a jockey, and with that comes control/work/anxiety/ stress for her. She remembers that.
Good morning Zetty, eat your oates, I gotta run.
Linda / NJ
Hi Zenny; What a wonderful valentine day present. I bet you and Mike had a wonderful time talking over old times. It was also nice that you had a chance to introduce Mike to your new friends. I did notice in the video that you made sure your barn buddies kept their distance with Mike. It seemed clear to me that you wanted the visit with Mike all to yourself. Lol. So glad you had a great day.
livey
@Sunny Boyd
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Thank you soooo much for putting names to other horses! Your insight into the Mike/Z sounds spot on. Never thought about WHY it would be different.
.
Thank you again for your very insightful response. :)
Z, wishing you a beautiful sunny day.
Elodie
Hi from Belgium! I love the video. It’s cute! And I love you Zenny!
sue
We love you Zenyatta, love the video, love the song, LOVE YOU, too much. You ALSO have over 5500 fans on Zenyatta HOTY2010 site. :)
livey
To: Valeria Cannon:
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Thank you so much for the alpha/lead mare explanation. Because of the wonderful people on this board, today I (again) learned something new. :)
christine
Morning Zen,
Thought you would like to see how mom & dad Bald eagle are taking our snow we got last night. You did so well adjusting the white stuff, you are so smart.
http://www.wvec.com/marketplace/microsite-content/eagle-cam.html
Linda (Canada)
Glad to see Queen Z seems to be paddock queen as well…no-one comes between her and her carrots! :)
Stephanie J Lambert
Mikey Mikey Mikey x0x0x0, next time bring them un-wrapped LOLOL Z eats Fast Fast Fast LOL, she is SO cute smile smile smile, she is stil just a baby girl….:) x0x0x0x0
PerkyGreen
Good Morning Baby girl, was so glad to see Mike with you once again You are such a big girl and Mike is such a small but powerful man it takes a little time to open up thoes mints not to mention the cold weather we humans have a more difficult time with the coldness our hands for some reason do not wish to co-operate. The Racing Royality poster is just drop dead georgous will definately get one I saw you last Sat and you look to be having much fun and are enjoying retirement.I’am so happy for you but miss you terribly.The daily posts are great,butI really miss seeing you come barreling down the stretch,just mowing down the opposition.and of course your wonderful dance moves. What a treasure you are. I hope you are able to transfer some of your beautiful attributes to your off-spring I can’t wait to see them. You know they just have to be georgous,like MOM Have a great day filled with much LOVE
Debbie
so glad Mikie visited you, he probably feels better now that he’s seen you happy! and I want to see you, hopefully, they’ll allow visitors during the summer! love you Z!!! xoxoxo
Kathryn Cogswell
Take the time for yourselves to read or re-read Abigail Anderson`s newly-minted blog, ‘THE VAULT: horse racing past and present,’ all the way through. It is http://racingvault.blogspot.com/ and if it isn`t ‘Horse Sense 101,’ I`ll eat my beach hat. Khc.
Hannah Huling
Why Hello again, Zen. Seems like you had Quite a visit with Mike there. I am very exited to get my Newsletter! ALL about you!:)
I am very exited to see what I get for my Birthday. (Maybe a Z T-shirt!) I Hope to see you!
Hugs and Carrots~
Hannah :)
The Kennedys in San Diego
ENSIGN — we would like to hear from you on Zenyatta being an alpha v. lead mare and your thoughts on the interaction between Zenyatta and Mike in the video.
Suzanne G
@Kathryn Cogswell–very grateful for your link. Enormous amount of information!
christine
@The Kennedys in San Diego
I would like to hear from those who are around Zen 24/7 and how they see Zen in the pecking order. Her fans KNOW where she is.
Soc
Wouldn’t it be great to have a cam in her barn and area outside? Whenever we are experiencing difficult moments in our life or need some peace in our life, all we have to do is go to the LIVE CAM and find peace in seeing our Queen. She has that magic, troubles seem to disappear while in her presence.
Thank you for having taking care of our Queen and sharing her with us. You were given a gift from above and shared it with us. May you all be blessed for your kindness.
HappyHarriet
@christine — THANK YOU for the link to the live webcam showing the bald eagle nest. That is PURE JOY to watch! I’ve bookmarked it and will visit that often.
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@Kathryn — THANK YOU for the link to the blog. SO INFORMATIVE!!!!!