Good Morning,
As I mentioned to you earlier, John took some great photos of the Santa Anita Celebration on February 5th. Here is one he especially liked…Mrs. Chenery, her daughter, Kate, Ann and Dottie…all celebrating the moment!
What an honor it is to have MY ANN and DOTTIE enjoying this day and the entire experience of the Secretariat Award with Mrs. Chenery and her daughter, Kate! A moment to remember and cherish forever! I know MY TEAM will!
John also got a close photo of the trophy that has been designed for this AWARD for you to see. My Team received the first one…but it will be used from this point forward to honor the occasion. The artist is holding it.
I often think about the fact that there are LOTS of people out there doing LOTS of GREAT WORK every single day!
In this month of Valentine’s Day…I am sending a special HUG to all of you. I know sometimes things aren’t easy….and you have to really dig in to get certain things and goals accomplished…but you keep trying hard and working diligently until you get it DONE! I KNOW…I’VE HAD TO DO THIS IN MY CAREER AS WELL. In the end, one hopes the hard work and effort proves to be worth it!
So…on a personal note from ME to ALL OF YOU…KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK! People do notice! I can definitely state this from my personal experiences!
With Love,
Hugs to all~
Z
Tory
Did you see the picture of the mom and foal I posted on your Facebook site? All your fans love it. I just know YOU are going to be a LOVING MOM like that.
Rita Boucher
Sweet Zen, thank your “ghost writer” for me. The inspiration in this post means so much. Life is not easy, but we have to continue to try to give our best. All blessings to you and Team Z.
With love…and Hugs to you !!!
Diane
Zenny, I loved your diary today as I do every day! I really needed that pep talk also; it’s been a long hard winter.
As far as people saying your ears were back when Mike was feeding you carrots; that is ridiculous that they think you have bad memories of him!!!! You were just looking for more carrots! I know cuz you did the
same with me when I gave you carrots a
couple years ago in Del Mar. You and Mike have such a special
and wonderful bond that no one knows
but you and him. I love you Zenny and have such great
respect for Mike…he is such an incredible jockey and a kind and caring individual. Love and Hugs to you and all Team Z, Diane
debbie gustafson
Dear Zenyattta ,your life ahead of you is going to be so awesome girl, being a mom you have achieved so many goals and now the special one is to come,,, you a mommie,,,we will be here with you all the way ,,an in the future,,much love and kiss,,,
Jo-an
I loved you before I met you and after I called your name and you looked me in The Eye, I was Hooked. You are the most Beautiful Horse In The World !!!!!!!! I love you.
J Smith
Somebody said look at Boys from Toscanova’s Facebook page (sorry, I can’t find who recommended it now) but yes, do look, the cutest Valentine picture of him. He is a looker too! Some other great pix of him racing also. http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=134519853277158&set=pu.111565878905889&theater
M2 + Little Bit & Ready Lady (The team from the Little Bit Ranch)
Wonderful post. And in response to the question about a horse’s memory – it is right there with an elephant.
Love to you and the Team Ms.Z. Awesome post & I appreciate you and this diary more than I can say, (thanks Dottie and John too).
Borntobreed
@Robbie
I think Bernardini’s ears back mean determination
and focus. He has a different running style and
Was always in the race. His duel with Invasor was quite
Impressive. Invasor was older and more experienced.
Where’s Zenny was a closer and female more emotional so she “fooled
around a bit before getting down to business on her
Stretch drive. Mares are much more emotional and can be
More difficult to ride. Pinning their ears at other horses,
Biting and kicking. I leased a very witchy mare who
Was always a challenge and had some issue when she
Was ridden. I much prefer geldings. Stallions are a bit
Much to handle unless very experienced rider.
Yes Mike and Mario had very different relationships with her.
Mario was her daily caretaker (12hours a day). Mike was
her Warrior buddy who turned on her competition and drive.
Therefore maybe she got so excited to see him that
She was ravenous. They were very cute together. Especially
When he was trying to unwrap the peppermints. My gelding would
Always do the same.
As far as the whip/bat. They don’t feel it they hear the sound
When it hits their skin so it moves them on more quickly. In riding
Terms it is an aid. In racing they use legs so the use
Reins and bat. Just the site of a crop out of the corner
Of his eye motivated my gelding to move on. As a youngster
He would buck or take off if hit with a crop. Just higher strung.
That is why he did not make it on the track.
Borntobreed
Meant: In racing jockeys don’t use their legs as aids to get
The horse to move forward. The only have reins and bat
To move forward.
Borntobreed
Also very interesting. How many favorites came in second
In Breeders Cup Classic. M del Oro, Bernardini and
Zenyatta. I am sure there are more. I think had she
Had a more challenging races like with the boys she would
Not have “almost” been perfect. But she might have been
Burned out and not sound. There were a lot of fillies/mares
That did not want to challenge her.
Zenny you are awesome. Sweet dreams.
Linda Henderson
I saw people wearing Zenyatta shirts and accessories at Santa Anita today. The sentiment seems to be there will never be another one like Zenyatta. So happy to have witnessed greatness in my lifetime.
Anita in CA
Dear Zenny. Today I stopped by the roadside to look at two new mothers with their days old foals out in their pastures. The moms and babies were so cute because each foal was similar in color and markings to their mothers. They were learning to use their long legs. In another pasture right next to them were several pregnant mares. Of course I thought of you and your future that is soon to be. So precious. Thank you so much to you and Dottie for the special words of encouragement today. I know I needed them. Love you, love you, love you Zen.
Theresa Buck
if every woman in the world was loved as much as you are we would ruled the world lmao, but there’s one and only one ZENYATTA who has captured the hearts of the people…muuah love ya sweetie
Snoprinz
Great pictures and great award from the family of the great horse Secretariat. Yes Zenny, talent, hard work and effort are noticed and rewarded. You deserve the first Secretariat vox Populi Award. Luv you and Happy Valentine’s Day.
Jean Moore
Beautiful Zenyatta, Such an inspiring post from Dottie and you, thank you so much. Pretty girl, you stood in front of the world and displayed your talent, determination, heart and soul and came out on top in those 20 encounters, now you have also worked your way into the hearts of thousands of people. Your hard work did pay off and we are eternally grateful to have you in our lives. You are perfection. Much Love To You from Me.
Amy Davis
Oh Zenyatta, you are indeed, a gift from the heavens to us all. There is something indescribable about your gift, as your connections are also so devoted to you as well, plus to your fans. It is ever so heart warming to go on this site, and read.
You are so deserving, and a total inspiration to all of us.
Amy
Laura B
Definitely great advice Zenyatta! Any idea on when you are going to meet your date?
Suzanne G
@sherpa–thanks for link–‘too cute’–nice that Mikey likes carrots too.
LauraJ
@Trish and Mike in CO, I too was impressed by St Trinians. I became a fan that day. St Trinians is making her first start of the year this Saturday in the G2 Santa Maria Stakes at Santa Anita. Zardana, Zenyatta’s stablemate at Barn 55, is also entered. If you want to watch, it’s on at 4:07 pm PST. You can see it for free on Calracing.com, but you have to register.
—-
@Jane in Seattle, not to worry. The timing of the first heat after foaling varies. If it’s too soon, they’ll just wait until the following heat. Mares come into heat about every three weeks. Also, Zenyatta is in the heart of Thoroughbred country. The top stud farms in the U.S. are less than an hour’s drive from Lane’s End. She’ll go, be bred, and come right home. BTW, did you know that Dick Francis was a jockey before he became a writer?
—
@Michelle, IIRC, she has a barn cat.
L
@Robbie
Borntobreed brings up a very important point about the bat. Look at the way jockey’s are ‘perched’ on their saddles. This effectively takes away the ability to use their legs as an aid. A hunt seat rider you’ll see the legs are down around the barrel, this is where a hunt seat rider can step on the gas and steer with their calves, knees, thighs.
A jockey is stripped of these aids so different aids are employed. This blog discussed the reins a while back and how much communication goes back and forth between the jockey’s hands and the horse’s mouth. The bat is an extension of these aids. It can be used to straighten a horse out, an aid of ‘we need to hit the gas now’ many different uses.
If you feel like doing some research, look up how a whip is used as an additional aid to people who ride sidesaddle, dressage also can employ a whip for additional aid. It has nothing to do with beating a horse or forcing a horse to do something.
A whip/bat/stick is a tool, just like a bit, noseband, martingale, any piece of equipment. Certainly it can be abused, just like any piece of equipment but it is not in and of itself solely abusive.
Jenna
@ Barbara! Thank you so much for your response. Is it weird to worry she might forget the people who love her? That’s just me! I really appreciate the information. I mean, look at that lion who remembered his owners after not seeing them for 20-odd years. Horses are quite smart…and Zenyatta seems to be exceptionally smart and conscious.
Barbara Wood
@Jenna–you are so welcome! I think you might be able to search the article in thehorse.com archives(I forgot to mention that). Yes! The lion’s name was Christian. I have the movie about him. It was wonderful to see, especially the youtube to the tune of “I Will Always Love You.”
livey
@sherpa
thank you for link. here it is again for those that missed it in the thread. Like sherpa mentioned, you’ll see mike with Z at end of video. But aside from that, it amazes me how much pleasure i get from simply watching Z in these videos…jogging, walking with mario and being washed down. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wyz0GIrhx6k
.
.
@borntobreed-thank you for your post. always very imformative
.
.
Z hope you are having a beautiful day.
.
My only (selfish) wish is that we could see more videos of you at LE. I’d be happy of a simple video of you being groomed, out in the paddock or your nails being trimmed.
Jane in Seattle
@LauraJ,
Thanks for the response. I didn’t know Dick Francis had been a jockey, but it’s obvious he’s deeply familiar with many aspects of racing and equine life most of us never see. I like his books for all that as much as for the stories, which I think are quite good, too.
I’m hoping Zenyatta books will soon be forthcoming. The Barn55 team, Mike Smith, a book of Barbara Livingston’s photos – I’ll buy them all just as soon as they can get them published!
And of course there’s the recurring dream of a movie of her life starring HERSELF! You can always hope =-)
Lauren
Thank you Zen!
You always make me feel better..I just got told today by my job of 2 years that they have to let me go due to the horrible economy =( .. then i get on your site and see your inspiration note, it made me smile! Thank you so much!
Much Love,
Lauren
Sharon Call
@livey. Thanks for reposting that link. I could watch the “behind the scenes” videos all day and all night. They give so much insight to the relationships Z has with all of her team. She’s so elegant and such a lady! She knows who she is, what she is and what she’s supposed to do at any given moment. Priceless!
Jo in CO
Wonderful pictures, Z! Of your special ladies at Santa Anita last week-end and of you and your special guy Mike! Valentine hugs to you, beautiful lady. You look so happy at Lane’s End. This week-end when St. Trinians and Zardana meet up I’ll be thinking of that amazing Vanity from this summer – being there to watch you in an amazing race! St. Trinians ran her heart out and is forever part of the Legend of zenyatta. My legs were shaking as you were coming down the stretch..but you had it under control, all along! Memories of a lifetime…Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day week-end!
Any chance of the t-shirts with the crown and big Z under being offered with the available merchandise? They were sold at teh Hollywood Park retirement celebration and were sold out by the time I went in the gift shop to buy one!
Sandra Ryan
Zenny, Did you tell everyone you wanted a diamond tiara for Valentines Day? After all…..you are the Queen!
Love you Girlfriend!
Anna Wiley
Happy VALENTINE’s month, Big Z!!!!!! I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE
The AWARD!!
livey
@Sharon Call–I hear you….I have many of her videos bookmarked I could watch them all day if I had time.
.
.
You many also like the following link of Z’s vet (back at 55) talking about Z…everything from her health, racing to how she’ll adjust to her new life at LE. Here’s linky: ;)
.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGMw8c0LID8&feature=related