Zenyatta

Queen of Racing

Ask The Experts

Ask The Experts #13

Zenyatta in her paddock. Photo by Alys Emson

Q:

When a racing thorougbred is retired from the track with the intention of being bred, do they generally settle down quickly from all the excitement of the track or does it take a while depending on the horse’s personality? Also, shortly after Silver Charm was retired to stand at stud, I watched a brief special on TV that said that he continued to be ridden and that he enjoyed being ridden. How common is it that thoroughbreds are still ridden after they are retired and are on a breeding farm? Just curious! Thanks for all you guys do!!

Megan Tallent

Indianapolis, IN

A:

Racehorses typically settle into retirement quite quickly. You have to remember we are actually putting them back in to a more natural environment to the one they have been living in at the track. However we don’t just bring them to the farm and put them out in the herd in a big field. The process is gradual and each horse dictates how long it takes depending on their behavior and also the time of year and weather conditions. We will turn them out in a small paddock daily and bring them in every evening. Typically with the fillies we then introduce them to a friend or two before they are eventually put in a larger field with a bigger group.

We do not ride any of our horses here at Lane’s End but it is not entirely uncommon to hear of Stallions being ridden after they are retired. At Three Chimneys Farm they do ride the stallions hence the piece on Silver Charm that you saw. We use a horse walker for the stallions that need additional exercise to help keep them trim.

Our Expert

Alys Emson

Client Management, Lane’s End

Alys has been at Lane’s End for fourteen years. She has worked in every division of the farm and is now in charge of client management, keeping owners up to speed about the lives of their horses.

Reader Interactions

898 Comments

  1. / Reply

    Huge Congratulations to Wise Dan. I can’t forget telling your beautiful Dad Wiseman’s Ferry a huge Congratulations as well. What a beautiful boy he gave us.

  2. / Reply

    Happy Thanksgiving to all in Canada….
    …..
    condolences to all Zentastics…..including me….nobody won a thing ….babies are always a toss up….should have used a dart board

    • / Reply

      Dear Carol,

      Thanks sooo much for the support and encouragement with handicapping the
      “babies”. They are sooo very difficult, when there are soo many and none well established. Mine came in last.

      • / Reply

        Dear sign….my first choice scratched….we will see how he does Sunday…..
        At least I know a couple of the ones who are “probable” for next wks race

        • Dear Carol,

          Maybe you could give us some clues. Where are these coming from??
          Are they late starters???

          My dog did not pick the right paper out of the hat. Will try my cat next week!!! Dart board is a good idea, be careful not to get your HUBBY !!!

    • / Reply

      Dear Carol, Sign and Zentastic Team:

      My choices finished fourth and fifth today. Still not on the board. Sorry, have not been any help to the Team. Will keep trying. Hugs, JB

  3. / Reply

    Also, A huge Congratulations I want to send Groupie Doll. Oh my gosh what a show you gave us today.
    My Dear Girl you could be in Horse of the Year race. Your races lately have just been over the top.
    You have some really nice connections as well. I think I am right that your owner owns Brass Hat. (Really like him) and they have been so generous with him inviting fans to come see him. I haven’t made it yet but I do hope to get to see him. He is I believe close to Old Friends, I believe at his owners farm or connections close to Georgetown KY.

    • / Reply

      Someone called her a “monster in blinkers”….since they added them….no one even close to her …

    • / Reply

      Dear Peggy N and Carol,

      Have not been keeping up with her, but guess I better,
      Jeff Seigel HRTV talks a lot about her.

      Soo glad for the update, Thanks.

  4. / Reply

    Max

    Where are you???????????????????????????????????????????//
    Are you celebrating Canadian Thanksgiving??? O. k if you are we will forgive your absense.

    • / Reply

      Dear Kathy R and Sheena,

      Aussie Denman is also gorgeous he looks sooo much like his sire, Lohnro.
      Can’t wait to see Lohnro’s US offspring, waiting patiently.

  6. / Reply

    GUIDE TO SOUTHERN TALK (N – Z) – Last call, y’all Rednecks!

    Yesteddy’s installment! (Alfa-bet E – M) https://staging.zenyatta.com/experts/ask-the-experts-13/comment-page-3#comment-180589

    Nawth —- Any part of the country outside of the South.
    Nekkid — To be unclothed.
    Ovair —- In that direction.
    Own —— Instead of awf.
    Phrasin — Very cold.
    Pitcher — An image, either drawn or photographed.
    Sebmup — Soft drink similar to ginger ale.
    Share —- Clean yourself by standing under running water.
    Show —– “It show is hot today.”
    Spearmint – Something scientist do.
    Stow —– Place where things are sold.
    Tal —— What you dry off with after you take a share.
    Tar —— Round inflatable object that sometimes goes flat.
    Uhmukin — Someone who lives in the United States of Uhmurka.
    *Untoo — “Do you want to?”
    Zackly — Precisely.

    * contributed by Hoosier (Indianan) Darlene Daniels

    • / Reply

      Dear Vicki B and Darlene Daniels.

      Sooo very need a laugh today and you provided.
      Thanks from the bottom of my heart, laughing !!!!

    • / Reply

      Vicki B. I’ve enjoyed all of your alfa-bets. Way too funny. Some sound like they could be from another country. What a place America is!!

    • / Reply

      sign, Marty, and Judy – glad you’ve enjoyed them! Given more time, I’m sure our Redneck club members could all have probably come up with many more items for the dictionary, culled from every little corner of our vast country.

    • / Reply

      Enjoyed them all Vicki – thanks. Where was this dictionary when I needed it visiting relatives (well, not them so much, they were transplanted northerners, but I DID have some difficulty in the grocery stores, etc :-)

  7. / Reply

    Happy birthday, Signofthetimes, President of the Texas Chapter of the Redneck Club! Here is a slightly re-worked version of your poem from last year.

    A Birthday Poem for Signofthetimes
    October 6, 2012

    Signofthetimes
    Loves the Thoroughbred so!
    ’Tis her favorite breed
    For both its spirit and its speed.
    Sign loves the sublime
    And regal Queen Z
    And forever will be
    Of her a great fan.
    Here I’ve also read though
    Of her cherished Jethro,
    Who lived at one time
    In a long shed row
    And raced at a track in Louisian’.
    Oh my, how Jethro could go!
    But there came the day
    When perhaps he ran
    A little slow…
    Soon he had the good luck
    That someone him from the track
    Did pluck,
    And he never looked back.
    ’Twas for Jethro
    A most welcomed turn
    When he soon did learn
    Hunter/jumper to go.
    The stars for him did align
    When he came to Sign,
    And for her
    As well,
    As she would us tell.
    For sure,
    Jethro’s second life with Sign
    Is a paradigm
    For racehorse “after care:”
    For many years in his prime,
    Sign would happily climb
    On that tall bay
    Several days
    A week,
    And together they’d seek
    A partnership replete
    With attraction
    And mutual satisfaction.
    We’ve been told
    Jethro’s very bold—
    Sign loves that he
    Is intensely alive
    And has that “thoroughbred will”!
    He was ever clever
    In any endeavor,
    And if they should arrive
    Not right at a fence,
    If Sign was too tense
    Or not in position,
    He also had “the Thoroughbred WON’T”!
    He would make his own decision
    To avoid an unfortunate spill,
    And in his equine way he’d say,
    “No, not this time we don’t!”
    For a rider with Sign’s sensitive skill,
    He’d respond just fine,
    As Sign
    Does tell us.
    At a gentle request
    From her,
    He’d do his best.
    This beloved hunter/jumper
    Would take great care
    Not to dump her,
    Of her seat
    Always aware!
    But should the touch on the rein
    Not be quite right–
    It had to be light
    For him, of course–
    Sign warns he’d not act the same
    But would make a fuss,
    And, Sign adds, he’d also prefer
    A gentle voice,
    No if’s, and’s, or maybe’s.
    While he by Sign was ridden
    He was easily bidden
    And kept his other side hidden.
    As for his choice
    In a companion horse,
    Jethro again is one for the ladies—
    He’s bonded with a mare,
    You see,
    And she
    Also for him has long seemed to care.
    Whenever Sign Jethro would take
    From his stall,
    The mare to him would call and call
    Though, for his part, Jethro
    Always was ready to go.
    Sign does recall
    She had no fear
    That, when his mare he would hear,
    He should buck or rear
    Or for the mare’s sake
    Go beserk,
    For Jethro truly loved his work!
    When he turned twenty-three,
    Sign thought it time that he
    To the beautiful farm should retire
    Where he now abides
    With the best of care
    And has been joined by the mare.
    Now Sign no longer rides,
    But she does never tire
    Of remembering how since she was seven,
    She’s felt close to heaven
    When astride
    A hunter/jumper who takes great pride
    In the work he’s been given.

    Happy birthday, Signofthetimes, and many, many happy returns! We all look forward to meeting you at the Breeders’ Cup 2012!

    • / Reply

      Sign,
      Happy happy birthday!
      I am sure Jethro would have shared his apple–had he known.
      Or, since it is after all JETHRO, maybe not.
      Sending you a birthday hug!
      Keta

    • / Reply

      Trina,
      Thank you for your poetic insights & info on our Sign.
      Pretty amazing-isn’t she!!
      And, you always make my day with the Birthday poem!
      Know how appreciated & loved you are.
      Keta

    • / Reply

      Sign,

      I hope you had the happiest Birthday.That was the most beautiful poem Trina did for you. She is just the best.
      Again, Happy Birthday and many many more.

    • / Reply

      Dear Trina and Zenyatta family,

      Thanks you sooo much for the revised sooo nicely written poem.
      My love for TB and everyone on this site is soooo very special.
      Thank goodness for Zenyatta, The Mosses, Team Z and Lanes End
      for allowing us to develop such wonderful relationships. Sooo looking
      forward to meeting everyone at the BC.

      Hugs and Yours in Dumplinghood
      Sign

    • / Reply

      Sign,
      HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
      Many more joyful days and years, too!
      All the Best, always!

      Thanks again, Trina!

    • / Reply

      Sign, Happy belated birthday. I hope you had a great day. Sorry I was late getting on to the blog and missed your actual birthday. I love all your wisdom and caring you share with all of us here. Cant wait to meet you at BC. Only 3.5 weeks to go. Hugs and good wishes for you.

    • / Reply

      Happy Birthday, Sign!
      (one day late) Hope you have a wonderful upcoming year! Trina’s Birthday tribute was lovely!
      Many wishes for happy, adventurous, and inspiring days! With love from NM,
      Elizabeth

  9. / Reply

    Happy Birthday Sign…I hope you enjoyed your birthday show today…what fantastic races and horses!

    • / Reply

      Max

      Welcome back, we wondered where you were. See, if you miss at all posting we get concerned.

        • Yes, I am hoping so hard he brings his A Game. Still so worried about that Outside Post
          Praying safety for everyone
          Go Ofrevre, Stay Safe

        • Peggy (N). The last horse to win from that post was Dalakhani in 2003 riden by the same jockey as O has tomorrow. And O already knows the lay of the land because he won on the same course a few weeks ago in the Prix Foy. He just needs to run his race. Keep the faith.

    • / Reply

      Dear Max, Peggy N and Z Fans:

      Thanks for this link on Pool Play. So glad he has recovered and has come back with a win. Go Orfevre. Hugs, JB

  12. / Reply

    Tapitsfly denies Daisy Devine
    ESPN with Video Replay of First Lady Stakes
    Keta Note; This video has some buffering problems. But, also has some great close footage of Tapisfly
    Frank L. Jones Jr.’s homebred Tapitsfly got up to take the Grade 1, $350,000 First Lady Stakes at Keeneland on Saturday and in the process gained a measure of revenge over rival Daisy Devine, who held her to third when capturing the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley during Keeneland’s spring meet. Daisy Devine had a clear lead in the stretch of the First Lady, but Tapitsfly lived up to her name when swooping in late to finish a mile on the firm turf in 1:35 2/5.
    “She has been a special filly,” trainer Dale Romans said. “She’s probably going to retire at the end of this year. She’s going to have one or two more starts left so we’ve got to pick some place that’s going to count.
    “The Breeders’ Cup is tough because for the fillies, she has to run so far [1 1/4 miles in the Filly & Mare Turf] unless we decide to put her in against the colts [in the Mile]. But we’ve done sillier things.”

    http://espn.go.com/horse-racing/story/_/id/8471559/tapitsfly-denies-daisy-devine

    • / Reply

      Thanks Judy! Loved looking at those photos. I love Barbara Livingston’s work.
      You should go back to her blog history and see the great one she did on Go For Wand for the DRF.

      • / Reply

        Dear Janet and Vicki B.

        Janet, I have seen most of her Blogs and that one too I think. I will go back and check it out again. She takes such beautiful photos. Hugs, JB

        Vicki, that one of Alysheba is just stunning. Hugs, JB

    • / Reply

      Thanks, Judy, that was nice, and interesting. Barbara’s certainly got quite an archive. I liked the strong shot of Alysheba.

  17. / Reply

    ARC DAY racing has begun,
    TVG 6:30 am central time

    Does not look too muddy!!!

  18. / Reply

    Ground in the Arc is “heavy”.
    Commentators saying Sea Moon likes this
    Type of ground maybe Camelot too, from post
    One.

    Next race with Gadlikova !!!

  19. / Reply

    Galikova is not running as well as her three year
    Old year, Plan was the Arc now she is in Prix del
    Opera, one step down.

  20. / Reply

    Jamie Lynch from France says Orfrev is favorite
    Despite the post position, however, the heavy ground and
    Pace will be two big factors for him.

  23. / Reply

    dear judy thanks for the video of Z dancing to abba “dancing queen” sshe would have made a brilliant dressage horse!! give papa a huge peppermint kiss from me when you see himlove and hugs sheenaXXX

    • / Reply

      Dear Sheena:

      Yes, she would have been a natural at Dressage. Will give Papa a hug and peppermints from you. Will see him this week when I deliver his last three Winner’s Circle photos to Angela as a thank you for loving him and adopting him for her own. They are 8 x 10’s and they were available through the track photographer at Suffolk Downs. I think she will love having them. Hugs, JB

  25. / Reply

    Solemier wins the Arc
    Wide draw gets Orefev as second

    Another filly wins the ARC !!!!
    Millie Balls pick.

  26. / Reply

    Orfevre,

    What A heartbreaking Loss, But, you did good my boy. It’s tear time so I can’t say to much. You just picked them off one by one Oh, so sad. Love Ya very much. Love Ya. You looked absolutely wonderful out there.
    The filly did do great
    Your the Best Orfevre.
    OK its off to church.

    • / Reply

      You can be proud of your horse. That was a very courageous run by Orfevre, a great disappointment that he was nipped at the end. Solemia was bred and is owned by the brothers Wertheimer who also bred and own Goldikova.
      An interesting aspect of the race is that Sole’s win denies another group 1 victory to Aidan O’Brien and so has helped to protect for the time being Bobby Frankel’s world record.

      • / Reply

        Thanks, Max.

        Duct tape in halloween decor now in stores! Just got some in purple w/ black spiders all over! Folks in my hardware store cut a wide berth, as I was laughing out loud at the display!!! i am a RN!..stirring my brew 4 BABT.

        • Great idea Ann,
          Halloween duct tape !!!
          I found some with horses, hounds and foxes
          To apply to the walls in my Hunt room, maybe
          I could mix it with some with Jack O Lanters !!!

      • / Reply

        Dear Peggy N., Max and Z Fans:

        I agree with Max, you can be proud of Orfevre. He ran a great race. Hugs, JB

        Max, that’s so true; Frankel record holds. Hugs, JB

        • Hey Judy, I am very proud of him. You know it was hard sitting through church this morning. I get teary eyed especially at music so this morning was extra hard with emotions.
          I was thinking, though, I am so happy he done well like he did. So happy he’s with us and that he stays healthy. We have so much to be thankful for. So happy for Paynter to get well.

        • Dear Peggy N.:

          Can’t help getting emotional about this beautiful horses. They just touch your heart. Hugs, JB

    • / Reply

      Dear Max, Ann, Sign

      That was a great great race wasn’t it. If Orfevre had to lose I am glad he lost to Goldikova’s connections.
      I thought he did run just a terrific race. just wonderful. I think he can be very proud and I am very very proud of him. Wow
      You know they said about those blinkers, They sounded like he liked to look around alot going towards the post. I guess he just liked to check out the crowds . He is very use to crowds but I guess they just wanted him focused. Tooo cute.
      Love You Orfevre.

  27. / Reply

    Dear Peggy N,
    Great race by Orefev, seems like the wide
    Trip and maybe getting to the front too soon,
    Looked like he spooked, too.

    A valient effort for this gorgeous chestnut to
    Overcome the post position and the ground.

    He is a spooky guy, wears blinkers galloping to
    The gate and then the take them off.

    • / Reply

      Peggy and Sign,
      Wow, what a race. I could feel those thundering hooves thru my screen.
      Big O ran a great race and to come off the back and into lead…wow,great effort.
      Now, this girl Solemia,what a run. She was right there from the start and had way too much invested in the race for it to slip away….what a gal she is. You must bow to her determination!! 40-1 odds!!! Somebody is a happy camper.

      Peggy, I loved the look on O’s face coming around the turn. I love his face when racing. He is ALL business. He is a very special guy!!
      Another exciting weekend of racing. i am all capped out.

      Sign…the blinkers…like swimmer Michael Gold Medal using his hoodie and earplugs…all concentration…ha!

      • / Reply

        Dear Ann and Peggy,
        Love those spooky TB. They showed one of “O”s
        Races and he veered of to the left really far and
        Amazingly recovered and won the race.

        What a talented guy!!!!

        HRTV has replayed the Arc at least 10 times. Solmenia
        Really loves the soft turf. You can really see all of the
        Horses working really hard to get through the ground.

        Camelot came in 4th, not too bad. Hope Frankie
        Does not get fired by the Shiek. Guess he told him
        By text message he was going to ride for Coolmore.

        News of Camelot lost 2 or
        3 shoes in the Arc, with heavy ground they can just
        Be “sucked” off.

  28. / Reply

    Frankel’s last race October 20,2012
    At Ascot. Coverage by TVG in US.

    Wishing and hoping Sheena, he will TELL
    Sir Henry and his owner, he wants to focus on his racing
    Career and date the girls next year !!!

  29. / Reply

    Had anyone gotten their BC tickets yet? Mine are a week over due and I’m a bit nervous now. My post office has a history of being unreliable and giving houses the wrong mail. Lord help them if the tickets have been sent already and they delivered them to the wrong house. I will burn down this entire retirement town and get every last one of them fired. Bad economy or not. This is a straw too far. First my birth certificate and my new passport get delivered to the wrong house and potenially now my BC tickets?? They are pushing me. Hell hath no fury like Pati scorned.

    • / Reply

      Pati, good luck. Some kind of confirmation is best, to track it. But having to be there to sign off, is a drag. I recently waged a minor war over a package redelivery, I re-scheduled 3 times, with confirming emails, calls, local complaints verbally and online to HQ, with supposed guaranteed response within a day or two — all to no avail. In the end I had to drive somewhere unfamiliar, miles away, and pick it up myself. We discussed, and staff there agreed with me, as to blame. But the P.O. has long been in trouble, with lower-paid temp. staff having replaced many old-timers (like I once was). The service committment just isn’t there.

  30. / Reply

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY SIGN……
    ……
    VickiB….thanks so much for the RN dictionary…..will be useful in Arkansas
    ……
    Sorry O did win but…..GIRL POWER
    ……
    Kisses for all soft noses…worldwide

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