Good Morning, Everyone!
The BIG DAY has arrived!
Yesterday, I had my ‘mane pulled’ (groomed and thinned out) and hooves polished so I would look perfect for this ‘moment’! I rather suspected that it was getting close due to all of the attention I was getting. The vets were here during the morning checking me…to be sure my system was ready. Charles, Mike and Matt were at the barn helping me to learn some proper MAIDEN MARE Etiquette…so I would be totally prepared for this experience. MAIDEN MARE is the term used for a MARE who has never been bred before. That’s ME! All day…I had so much ATTENTION!
Then this morning at about 7:30, MY LIMO ARRIVED. A lovely SALLEE VAN was waiting outside the barn ready to take me to Darley. It is approximately a 10 minute ride to that farm from Lane’s End. Matt went with me on the van…and Charles and Michael Cline also went along. I guess it was decided that Bernie and I would be the last couple in the Darley breeding shed for this morning’s session.
Well, WE GOT RAVE REVIEWS! It all went very well. In horse terms, it was ‘one jump…and a very good cover’…meaning that everything went perfectly in our first meeting. Per the guys from my crew…”it was TEXTBOOK. ZENYATTA was unbelievably professional…especially for a maiden mare. It was all nice and easy and went PERFECTLY.” Oh, my guys…Mike, Charles, and Matt are TOO CUTE! They really love me! Blush-Blush!
I must say…Bernie was also extremely professional and very focused on his job! WE MAKE A GREAT COUPLE!
By 8:30…I was back in my LIMO with Matt going home to LANE’S END!
What a morning! Life has so many different kinds of experiences for one to explore and appreciate when the time is right for them to happen! Hooves crossed…..that this day, February 23rd, becomes VERY SPECIAL for me and my new role as a MOM!
I’ll keep you posted as we go along! I am so excited!
With Love,
Hugs to ALL~(including Bernie!)
Z
Robbie Pfeufer Kahn
Zenyatta dear: The little round gold tag that Ann Moss held as a talisman for the 2010 Horse of the Year Award seems a metaphor for the moment of conception (even if today is not the day that occurs since, as I understand it, you are on the verge of ovulating). Some day that gold tag will be affixed to your foal’s halter–to be sure some time from now, and I hope from your first live cover by Bernardini.
I hope you had a lively cover–some pleasure or satisfaction for you from breeding (professional at the same time, of course).
The expression in your beautiful, intelligent eye looks resolved and purposeful. In my view, pregnancy, birth, and suckling bring immeasurable joy–and I’m a mere human animal. So much more full and complete, I would imagine, for you, an expectant mother mare (ultrasound notwithstanding).
Many thanks to you and Dottie for the subtle story of your mating with Bernardini.
As someone who teaches a course on human childbearing, I do wish that the gaze of technology were not part of the experience–not that the viewings would be intrusive to you; but we know so little still about the effects of various forms of scanning on the fetus. What comforts me is that you probably were scanned inside Vertigneux and you certainly turned out just fine!
I am in no rush to hear the outcome of your mating; gestate in peace.
I wanted to add that I loved the photo in Diary Post #91 of you and your friends sharing a meal amiably.
May the Paleolithic Great Goddess bestow successful fecundity on you this, your February season.
Joan
HI Z, man glad that is over. Hope one time is a charm. Don’t think most of us can handle a second try, the first one was rough enough. I hope you are well, will produce a beautiful healthy foal. Colt or filly, who really cares, just so you both are healthy in the end. Get some rest and have a great day tomorrow.
Love ya Z.
Robbie Pfeufer Kahn
May the Paleolithic Great Goddess bestow successful fecundity on you in this, your February, season.
Linda in NJ
Hi @L: I am another who enjoys the comments and information.
Robbie Pfeufer Kahn
That last line is still not right. I’ll try again:
May the Paleolithic Great Goddess bestow successful fecundity on you in this, your February season.
Better.
LauraJ
@Jena Hobert and @Barbara Woods, you can find out more about Ball Four on the Old Friends Facebook page. According to today’s post, they have collected about $2000. If you want to help, you can make a donation via Paypal or snail-mail and note that it is for Ball Four. Small donations are welcome. It all adds up.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Old-Friends/36049309669
Kathy
If I knew that this was your day, I would have had trouble sleeping the night before. Now, I will be holding my breath for the next 2 weeks along with everyone elise, then several months after that!!
Barbara Pickett
The sign was in the southern california skies this last sunday night with a Z-cloud formation across the full moon…I knew at that time that it meant good things for Zenyatta!!! Glad to hear the news!
Morgan
Congrats. Good luck. Hope there’s a little foal born in 11 months.
kathyb
Ensign…thank you so much for the explanation. Much appreciated!
Luvhorses
@Linda B
Well said. Perhaps dear Ensign is a fraud or
A 4 foot 11 guy that could not make it as a jockey
And decided to get his rocks off trying to be
A big guy with really bad short mans syndrome. Do
you not have any other women in your life in person
That think you are sooooo wonderful or did you just
Read some books. I won’t not post but be monitoring
Your behavior and comments for appropriateness
And maintenance of confidentiality. You will never know
Who I am. I have been on this site since day one and
Have Been watching your antics at first a buy in but now
Know the reality of your unprofessionalism.
Sandy, New Jersey
Congratulations Beautiful Zenyatta! I have tears streaming down my cheeks! I imagine you and your paddock pals had lots to talk about this afternoon.
Luvhorses
@Robbie PK
A very beautiful and poetic post. You have a
Great literary gift.
Dani
P.S. Dottie – I wanted to thank you for letting we fans be the first to know about Zenyatta being bred to Bernardini this morning. It means alot.
Amanda Gilliland
My Sweet Lady Zenyatta, I just had to write one more time and tell you I told everybody I saw today about you & Bernadini. I am so excited for you, The Mosses, The Sherriffs & evreyone on Team Z at Land’s End & in Calf. I have been praying for a safe meeting and that prayer was answered. Now I’ll pray for the foal to develope, for you to have a safe & uneventful pregnancy and a delivery of a magnificent foal! Zenyatta, you know you will be the most watched expectant mare on earth. Your Fan Family loves you so much and we are all so excited for you. Dottie,I can’t thank you enough for the writing of these posts. They mean so much to me. I love Zenyatta so much because she has helped me in a very special way. I could never thank her for what she’s given to me. A whole new outlook on life! I am so glad Zenyatta is at Land’s End. They have done an absolutely outstanding job taking care of her. I know the best is yet to come as we wait on that beautiful baby’s arrival! Sending Hugs & Kisses From Alabama With Love, Amanda G.
Shari Voltz
Zenyatta I am so happy for you. I am crying but it is that I was worried that you would be scared or that it might hurt. I know your family would never let anything bad happen to you. I am not very educated in all this breeding stuff and I am learning reading the other posts. I pray it was a good experience and you will have a beautiful baby no matter the sex. I love you sweet girl. My students will be happy when I tell them tomorrow. They are excited for you to have a baby. Thank you Dottie for including all of us in Zenny’s life. Rest sweet Zenyatta and I send BIG hugs and kisses from Shari in Ohio XXXOOO
PS Dawn your posts always touch my heart. Feel good my friend God Bless you :)
Caroline
AHHHHH!!!! YES! I can’t wait for the foal! Wow! It seems like just yesterday I had just learned about and was watching you win you 17th race. Then I was praying you would get HOTY and watched you run a great BCC. And before I knew it you won HOTY and were done racing. I miss watching you run and cheering you on so much! But I can’t wait for you to have your foal and pass your racing talent on to a new generation of TBs.
ENSIGN
Luvhorses, gosh but you’re a CLASSY lady! If only I had a smooching smiley face for you :-)
I’m so very glad someone is watching out for ME! I am happy to know I’m just a short man with no women in my life and not a rapist or a murderer!
Julie DuVall
Congratulations, big girl! I’m glad everything went smoothly. Now I’ll keep my fingers crossed that the mating took and we’ll be seeing a healthy foal about 11 months from now!
Debi Hamari
Beautiful Queen Zenyatta,
So glad that your big meeting with Bernardini went well. Praying that your little one is healthy and strong. I know he or she will be beautiful.
Love and hugs!
Katherine
I am so excited for you (and Bernie). What a wonderful mother you will be. I just cannot wait for the news that you are expecting. I’m sure you will be receiving many baby presents. You must tell us what baby horses need.
Zenyatta, you are absolutely magnificent in every way, and I really love you. My household is keeping all fingers and toes and paws crossed for you.
Luvhorses
@Ensign
Pehaps you get your rocks off watching horses
do it. Especially as you describe how all the maidens
Are jumped before going to Darley.You are quite pompous for such a poor
piece of protoplasm.
Signofthetimes
Oh!!! Z
Sweet Dreams. You are such a wonderful
horse. Best Wishes on the beginning of your
Career as Broodmare and pursuit of Broodmare
Of the Year. You can do it !!!!
Paul Ochs
Best Wishes!
Barb
Congrats to all….Team “Z”, Zenny and Bernie. Wishing for a healthy and happy pregnancy! xoxoxo
Margaret Story
YAY Zenny I have tears of joy, and my fingers are crossed that we get to see a beautiful Zenny/Bernie foal, I know it will be an awesome foal.
Please keep us posted and even pics of ultrasounds please!!!!
Much love and hugs Zenny
Always in my heart
Margaret
ENSIGN
@ Luvhorses,
.
You can spew all the insults and childish names you please at me, but if you’d like to actually learn something, go and download the breeding shed pdf form from Darley’s website which clearly states the rules & regulations for every mare going to their shed, including the requirement that all maiden mares must be jumped before arriving to be bred.
ENSIGN
Btw, thanks for the laugh. I’ve not heard (read) the word protoplasm since the days of the Ghostbusters movie :-)
Anna Wiley
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please excuse my immature all-caps writing(ha ha! :D) But this is SSSSSOOOOOOO EEEEEXXXXXXXXXXCCCCCCCCCCIIIIIIIITTTTTTTIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wow! Waiting for the BIG KNEWS with anticipation! When I read that post, my heart almost burst. I YELLED really loud, and Mommy prob’ly thought I was a pig in pain! :D But I don’t believe this! The Big Z-MARRIED! OK, OK, I know horses don’t exactly get MARRIED, but still!!!!! I’ll be praying for you and perhaps-soon-to-be-Li’l Z. Good luck!!
Hugs to everyone @ Barn 55~
Luv,
Anna
P.S.-I think Zendini or Zennydini would be a nice name for LI’L Z when he/she comes. I can’t wait!!!
Julie L.
How great that they chose today Feb. 23rd as this is mine and my husbands’ 26th wedding anniversary. It was lucky for me it will be lucky for Zenyatta.