Good Morning,
Well, it has been a relaxed and happy time here at the farm! I love sharing snacks with my pals. Friendship and bonding with others is so important! We spend a great deal of time around the feeders…visiting and enjoying the grass hay that the farm sets out for us. As you can see, it is clear here…but the snow is due to fall soon. That is the reason the feeders are elevated…so we can supplement our diets while outside no matter what type of weather we are having.
Thank you for the kind words about the ZENYATTA LOUNGE. This is really helping so many women. The ladies have also planned a MOVIE night where they will get together on FRIDAY EVENING and watch movies. POPCORN FOR EVERYONE! Some discussion groups are also being organized so they can just “TALK ABOUT STUFF GOING ON IN THEIR LIVES.” This is so helpful. The Chaplain’s wife is going to start these get-togethers off…and then the topics will go from there. All of these activities are meant to be special for these Ladies. It sounds like we are off to a great start!
Maria asked about further donations for the LOUNGE. Please call Santa Anita…and they will give you the necessary information. You are all so thoughtful! Having this type of situation at other tracks would be a wonderful idea. I agree! Let’s hope this sets a good example for others to follow.
ZENYATTA FOR PRESIDENT!!!! Now, Suzen you are TOO CUTE! I am still blushing about this comment!
Baby pictures…Dottie is going through all of John’s files and will get some more for you. I guess this FAMILY HERITAGE and BABY PICTURE THING is really important to me now…with the anticipation of becoming a MOM!
As for my meeting Bernardini earlier this week…NO, that has not happened yet. I know they are ‘getting me ready’ for the big day…but we have not met yet! Dottie WILL LET YOU KNOW when it has happened. I PROMISE!
Oh, the snow is dusting the ground as I’m writing this.
Stay warm and enjoy your Tuesday!
With Love,
Hugs to all~
Z
Mary McQuire
Thank you for being the one bright spot in an otherwise crazy world!
Pamela Zacek
I think you are so funny, You are are munching, away with all your friends, reminds me of My Dashy he likes to eat also hes a tought littel thing, can take me on a ride on a bike, and all i have to do is steer, and make sure I dont run him over, but he does, it he likes carrots also, one of his best foods, Iam so glad your having so much fun in the fields, Love you Queen, Z
Mike
Birthday time is going to be very interesting between the Queen ( Z ) and Rachel.Looks like 2014 could possibly be very interesting.
L
@Barb G,
Unless they chose to pension her completely, it’s not practical to not breed her every year. Just because she’ll go to a stallion, doesn’t mean she will catch and if her body decides it needs a break she’ll come up barren.
To help put it in perspective. Personal Ensign was retired from the track at the end of her 4 year old season and was pensioned when she was 22. In that time, she had 11 foals between 1990 and 2006. So across a period of 15 years, she carried 11 term pregnancies and was barren or slipped 4 times.
caso
Z when u meet bernie show um ur dance moves.. he will adore you as much as we all do. u r one lovely lady. good luck with the breeding and the foaling. best to all.
Jean Moore
Beautiful Zenyatta, Ah, the ladies who lunch but you, dear one, can be picked out in a crowd of a hundred horses, thanks to your beauty. And yes, I think that the title of President wouldn’t interfere with Queen Z so give it some serious thought. You are such a joy to have in my life and please thank Dottie and Sarah for sharing. Love you so much.
sue
Zenyatta, you are in my prayers and heart constantly. God bless you and your team. I hope people realize how serious you becoming “with child” is. I pray for your health and your little one.
Sunny Boyd
Hey Zetty,
what a beauty of a picture. You and your paddaock pals are so fortunate to live at such a beautiful place, just swell. And all of you are always sooo pretty. You like to eat, if it’s not carrots, it’s hay, you always have your nose close to the kibbles. :) :) Sweet dreams tonight <3 <3 <3
HappyHarriet
Hi Queen Zenyatta – What a lovely al fresco ladies’ lunch you girls are enjoying!! We’re getting to know your girlfriends by name and I for one am getting attached to them, too – Pirate Queen has wiggled into my heart. She seems so awfully sweet and easy to be around. With motherhhod hovering, it’s natural to look back at your baby pics and I wonder if there are any pictures available for Bernardini in the public domain?
.
Once your baby is old enough wouldn’t you like to be at least an Honorary Ambassador for Animal Welfare? Hmmmm…. I wonder if that is the germ of a good idea lurking there.
.
To Divine Dottie, Voice of Zenyatta: TVG featured Cooper Sawyer’s beautiful field picture today of the four girls with appropriate credit and lots of oooo’s and ahhhh’s and some funny moments relating to the producer, Jeff Chapman, and his lost sticky note with his scribblings on it. I hope some of the Diary fans saw it!
.
Eat, Drink, Be Merry, dear Zenny, You bring joy.
nancy
All tha wide open space you and your BBF’s have just warms the heart. Comming very soon Mommy hood, we will all be on pins and neddles in wating for the news. I know Dottie and you will let us know as soon as it comes to be cannot wait :) Love ya Z
Sunny Boyd
@ Anne
You’re too funny :) :) :)
Astrid
Zenny, what a cute pic. of you and your friends!! You do like to munch:) BTW, you have almost 66.000 fb friends! Stay warm!
Paula Higgins
Zenyatta is just thriving and having a great old time!!! These pictures are wonderful. Thank you Dottie and to all the people who help with the photos. It keeps us in the loop and a part of her life in a little way.
Kim S
Just love seeing you and the girls doing everyday stuff. Stay warm, hopefully Srping will be here soon. Love Team Z for all their hard work on everything. Lotsa love to all.
Megan S
Oh Z! I can’t wait for your little foalie to be running around, that will be TOO CUTE!!
ENSIGN
Reliable source says she WAS bred today….
ENSIGN
Still waiitng on confirmation though ;-)
cheryl
Retired healthy and happy and loved. Now with friends and soooooo many long-distance friends too. What a special girl you are and how we love you.
Sarah Powell
@Dawn – so glad you got good news – hope that continues over the next check-ups.
Love the pictures – can’t wait for John to share more with us. I would vote for Z for prez but like the Ambassador for Animal Welfare idea – she would make a wonderful “spokeshorse”.
Luvhorses
@L
Those are the traditional broodmare rules. The Mosses
may not chose to breed Zenyatta every year as they
Chose to only race her against the boys once in a year.
She raced against mares most of her starts. They are
definately out of the box decision makers. I doubt they
Will sell any of her foals as well. Chosing Bernardini was also
an out of the box decision. But how many of those who
Breed can see the possibility in the flesh; meaning
EBE. Eric Kronfeld is an exceptional breeder and is also
Very out of the box. He got Zenyatta from Street Cry an unproven
Stallion at the time. Lots of great decision making with much
Compassion and thought by The Mosses, the Sherriffs and
David Ingordo.
ENSIGN
@ Abigail from Montreal,
.
“L” has been doing their normal, fantastic job of fielding questions so they may have answered this one & I missed it, but if not…
They’ll be able to scan Zenyatta about 16 days post breeding to determine if she took or not. There’s no need to wait another 3 weeks to see if she comes back into heat or not. That’s not the most reliable method for checking anyhow, particularly in a maiden. Some will be pregnant and show signs of heat throughout a pregnancy, though it is rare.
L
@Luvhorses,
Actually Bernardini was a no brainer. He carried all the lines they wanted from AP Indy, his fertility is strong for getting a maiden in foal, he’s got runners on the ground making a name for themselves and they have a two year old half sister to Zenyatta, BY Bernardini in the barn looking to burn up the track herself.
Bernardini was a given if not even a stronger contender than AP Indy himself.
Denise
ZENYATTA – WE LOVE YOU more than you will ever know – we have all been so very blessed to witness the GREATEST athlete to ever walk, dance, run & fly on earth. You are truly one of a kind and the Queen of Hearts. Thank you Dottie & Team Z for all the amazing pictures and info on QUEEN Z. Best wishes Z on your “date” with Mr. B.
Peggy
Hi Zen, what a beautiful picture of you girls lunching.I hope you get in some good play time before the snow comes back. @Dawn so glad you got good news, I’ve been praying for you and know I’ll keep you in my prayers. I was worried when I didn’t see a post yesterday. @ Abigail or anyone who knows is Chapel of Dreams still living? Zen please let us know just as soon as you go over to see Bernardini. Sweet dreams, Love Ya peggy
Luvhorses
@Barbara G
Rest assured Zenyatta will not be bare foot and
In foal every year. The Mosses and Sheriffs have
demonstrated much compassion as we have seen
Over the years and will therefore be considering
Z the entire years of her retirement.
Laura B
Good luck Zen when you meet Bernardini! On a side note, have any of your pasture mates been bred yet? If you know? You look so relaxed and happy!
ENSIGN
@ Luvhorses,
I wouldn’t tell anyone ‘rest assured’ regarding Zenyatta not being bred every year. When her body needs a break, it will take one.
.
HOTY Azeri has been busy having foals by HOTY winning stallions with no fanfare, and she’s been consistently in foal. She’s now delivered 2 foals to US HOTY winners, 1 by a Euro HOTY and is in foal to a Japanese HOTY.
Luvhorses
@L
I am not sure the selection of Bernardini was a
“no brainer” for the Mosses and the Sherriffs. It seems
there was quite a bit of discussion with many people over a
Number of months with
a proposal of three options before making the final
choice.
Luvhorses
@Ensign
That does nor mean the rule is she will be bred
Every year. It is the owners choice and physiology
Is not a part of human decision making.
L
@Luvhorses and Barb G
Well, I suppose if she turns out to be a failure in the breeding shed that might be true. If she turns out to be strong in the breeding shed, her genes will be too important to let just pass a year.
A broodmare is not like a stallion. She can only have one foal every 11 months. Zenyatta’s breeding career is starting late to begin with so they’re already looking at *maybe* being able to have 8 foals on the ground before breeding her does become a risk to her health.
Giving a mare a deliberate year off, is not like giving a human a year off. Giving her a year off, greatly decreases her odds of getting in foal the next time they try to breed her. So a year off can become two years and so on.
This is horse husbandry 101. It is her natural state to be in foal or with a foal on her side. If her body says enough she’ll come up barren or she will slip her foal.
Also you enjoy her time with her paddock mates. If she is a barren mare, she will not be fielded with pregnant mares, she won’t stay with Pirate Queen, Sea Gull and Alyce.
So it comes down to this. Do we want her genes, her heart, her strength to continue into the Thoroughbred lines or not?