Zenyatta

Queen of Racing

Ask The Experts

Ask The Experts #17

12Z turned out with fellow weanlings in October. Photo by Alys Emson/Lane’s End.

Q:

I was wondering how Lane’s End handles the care of weanlings and yearlings. I know a number of larger operations more or less turn the kids out and only bring them in when it’s time for veterinary care or hoof trimming, with the idea that they’re just letting the babies be babies until the time they need to be prepared for yearling sales or training. I was just wondering if Lane’s End does this or if you guys do give more personal care to the little guys even before they need sales prepping or training!

Kelli Clark

Toms River, NJ

A: At Lane’s End we try to find the right balance between letting horses be horses and that extra bit of professional and personal care.

Our weanlings make the transition from the broodmare side of the farm to the yearling division in the month of December. At this point, we will separate the colts and fillies so the boys have their fields and the girls have theirs. This is a stressful time for these young horses so we keep their routine as similar as possible to what it was like at the broodmare division. This will reduce any additional stress and make their transition that little bit easier.

This routine consists of the weanlings/yearlings coming in from the fields at 7am. We lead them into the barn and run our hands down each horse’s leg. We can then feel if any has a cut, bump, swelling or heat in their legs. This also desensitizes them, so they are easier to touch and handle. They then go into their stalls and eat their breakfast. Feeding them inside allows us to monitor how much each horse eats, and alter their feeds accordingly seen as every horse is different and therefore has different nutritional needs.

Once they are finished eating, we will check their temperatures, pick their feet and administer any medication that is needed. We check temperatures daily. Normally you can tell if a horse is sick simply by observing their demeanor or by the fact that they have not eaten up, but sometimes they will not show any of the obvious signs. This is when taking their temperatures is essential. While we are in their stall taking their temperatures we will also pick their feet. As well as being good hoof care and horsemanship it also makes life much easier when the farrier comes !

After these essential daily chores are completed we have time for the vet or farrier to come if needed. Otherwise we will start grooming the horses lightly so they become used to what is in store during sales prep. As we get closer to prep time, we will start to break the yearlings to plastic bits. We leave the bits in their mouths as we groom them. Using the plastic bits create an easy transition to the metal bits that we use later on during sales prep. We also start to introduce them to the hose so that they are used to getting baths when we start our prep.

These additional tasks take us up until lunch time. At 1pm we will feed them their lunch and turn them out at 2pm. This lengthy turn out time of seventeen hours from 2pm until 7am the following morning is more than adequate time to allow horses be horses. They have that time to run, play and frolic. The concussion on their bones that they create from running and playing mixed with the nutrients that they ingest from our limestone enriched soils helps them to produce strong, healthy bones.

Therefore, I believe that we have the right balance here at Lane’s End between letting horses be horses with their lengthy turn out time and their extra bit of personal care and handling.

Our Expert

Peter Sheehan

Assistant Yearling Manager, Lane’s End

Peter, originally from Co. Kildare, Ireland started his career in the thoroughbred industry at Derrinstown Stud while he completed his education at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth. After graduating with a degree in geography and math he then completed a post graduate study in statistics. Peter arrived at Lane’s End in 2008 and is currently the Assistant Yearling Manager.

Reader Interactions

1,474 Comments

  1. / Reply

    I am so sad this wonderful stallion has passed away. Just heard the news that the Grandsire of Zenny’s 2013 foal, Pulpit, died suddenly in his paddock. A real loss. Condolences to all of his connections.

    diastu in tempe

  4. / Reply

    Claiborne Stallion Pulpit Dies
    By Blood-Horse Staff Updated: Thursday, December 6, 2012 4:24 PM
    Perennial leading sire Pulpit (A.P. Indy—Preach, by Mr. Prospector) died in his paddock at Claiborne Farm Dec. 6, according to an announcement made by farm manager Bradley Purcell. The 18-year-old stallion had shown no signs of ill health in the weeks and days prior to his death.
    Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/74928/claiborne-stallion-pulpit-dies#ixzz2EJJiONiH

    • / Reply

      Very sad news indeed. I read in the article that he had shown no signs at all of being ill. Can some of you experienced folks help the rest of us out here – is this common for a horse to just suddenly die like this? I know that 18 isn’t all that old for a horse.

      • / Reply

        Ruptured aorta or heart attack – just like in humans. Can happen at any age. Sad thing is – we don’t do heart work ups on our horses as we do for us humans. Probably too expensive, but I don’t know – – – Pulpit at 18 had good years left. How valuable would that have been?

        diastu in tempe

        • Diana,

          That was my thought too. A complication from long standing breeding.
          Huge pressure in chest at each breeding session and as it continues over years of 100 to 150 mares a year, the aorta thins and ruptures.

          Dynaformer passed the same way and their probably many more
          who pass from this complication.

      • / Reply

        Dear Sandy,

        As Diana Stuart said, “Aortic Rupture”, complication of long standing frequent breeding. Just like Dynaformer and other who breed many mares over many years.

  6. / Reply

    @carol in ky…praying for Thunder…hand in there…he is a fighter
    ….
    RIP Pulpit…..this just floored me….gone way too soon…
    and we just lose Rock Hard Ten’s mom a short time ago…
    ……
    @suenoel…..love to hear about your adventures in the animal kingdom…love your word pictures…almost like i was standing next to you and watching to whole thing happen in front of me…
    …..
    hugs around

  8. / Reply

    OMG, this is horribly, horribly sad, he was only 18 years old. My condolences to Clairbourne farm and to papa “INDY”. He has produced some nice babies and was such a gentleman when we visited last year. RIP beautiful boy.

  9. / Reply

    Very sad indeed. When we visited Claiborne before the Breeders’ Cup in 2010, they were promoting Pulpit as potential sire for Zenyatta’s first foal since A P Indy was likely to be pensioned. Pulpit looked so proud and handsome that perfect, sunny November day.

  10. / Reply

    So very saddened by the loss of Pulpit. Gone way too soon. :(

    Thunder is out of surgery and doing well so far! He was groggy when I went to visit him, so I will go back tomorrow before work and check on him again. They have round the clock care at the clinic, so he is in good hands.

    Great news on Money, Barbara!! So happy to hear that!!

    • / Reply

      Dear Carol, best wishes to you and Thunder. Glad he is doing well as he recovers from today’s leg surgery and gets ready for the throat surgery.

    • / Reply

      I’m so glad that Thunder got his first surgery out of the way, Carole. It sounds like he’s on the right path to getting healthy again. I’m keeping you both in my prayers.

    • / Reply

      Carol,
      Thunder is in good hands.
      Prayers for now & for the next procedure!
      That was such good news about Oscar-it’s been a long journey
      Hugs,
      Keta

  12. / Reply

    Excellent article & analysis with pedigree charts!

    Dynaformer’s Sons for 2013
    Mahubah’s Corner By Avalyn Hunter
    Pedigree Weekly Newsletter The Blood-Horse

    Dynaformer’s death in April left a unique void in the American stallion market. One of the few unquestioned sources of stamina among U.S.-based sires, he was also one of the few with strong appeal to European buyers. Yet he lacks a clear successor in the United States; with the exception of the ill-fated Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Barbaro and the late Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes (gr. IT) winner Purim, who died in January after siring just four crops, most of his best entire sons raced abroad. Nor was Dynaformer’s proclivity for siring late-maturing stock with a taste for grass and distance the kind of thing to make his sons popular with North American breeders. At the opening of the 2012 Northern Hemisphere breeding season, only 16 sons of Dynaformer were listed as being at stud in North America, and none really had the combination of racing quality and pedigree to draw decent mare support.

    That may be about to change. While no retirement announcement has been made regarding the Phipps Stable’s multiple grade I winner Point of Entry (see Point of Entry Could Be Dynaformer’s Heir), who at this point seems more likely to continue racing in 2013, three other Dynaformer sons will enter the breeding shed next year. Two, Americain and Lentenor, will stand their first seasons at historic Calumet Farm; the third, Brilliant Speed, will stand at Three Chimneys as a hoped-for replacement for his sire.
    http://www.bloodhorse.com/Thoroughbred-Pedigree-Weekly/?&utm_source=PedigreeNewsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20121206

  13. / Reply

    So sad to lose Pulpit. He, like all the Claiborne stallions, was a favorite. At least we have his son, Tapit still with us.

    He will sleep in the graveyard there at the farm among their other great ones.

  14. / Reply

    My heart is just breaking over this. I am so glad I got to see and take a picture with Pulpit last June. I just loved him. RIP Pulpit. You will be missed.

  18. / Reply

    I am devastated at the loss of Pulpit.
    He was from A, P. Indy’s first crop and I loved
    his look. He has turned out some marvelous
    sons of his own, especially Tapit, the sire of our
    Zenny’s foal to be coming in 2013.

    I was hoping Z might get a date with him too.
    If I remember she nicked with him at an A
    but I am not sure without looking it up again.

    RIP Pulpit and may you run with all the others
    we have lost this year in great joy and abandon.

  19. / Reply

    HANSEN Updates with Photos Thurs. Dec. 6 2012
    KY Tbred Assoc. tweets
    Very much enjoyed charismatic HANSEN(grandsire is Pulpit) today
    and believe he’s well-positioned make a successful sire
    https://twitter.com/KYTbred/status/276870271628087296/photo/1

    HANSEN looks great. He’s been at Ashford for about a month
    but looks like he would do just fine if he started today
    https://twitter.com/KYTbred/status/276869432700174336/photo/1

    A stallion barn at Ashford Stud.
    The farm is breathtaking and has interesting mix of both modern & original structures
    https://twitter.com/KYTbred/status/276862123726999552/photo/1

    • / Reply

      What a sweet face.Those eyes……
      Thanks for sharing those pics. w/ us,Keta.
      He looks better than ever. I am so happy for him.
      Fine looking structures,gorgeous! Now that’s stone work!

  20. / Reply

    Good day for Zayat Stables! Z Apple won 1st Race. Fast Bullet won 7th.
    Steve Andersen‏ DRF tweet
    Fast Bullet (2-5) led throughout Thursday’s 7th race,
    running 6 1-2 furlongs in 1:15.84. He was sixth in BC Sprint last month

    Zayat Stables‏ tweet
    Take a look at Fast Bullet win from today.. Very exciting
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlD6xgm2i3s

  21. / Reply

    Dear Zenyatta and Friends,

    The tears are flowing as I write this. The loss of our dear, wonderful Pulpit is so very, very sad. I loved him so! How I looked forward to seeing him at Claiborne every year. He was such a beautiful, impressive and talented son of A.P. Indy out of Preach by Mr. Prospector. He looked so much like his sire and what a bloodline with so much history in that pedigree. But beyond the recognition received while racing and as a true sire of sire’s; during his lifetime he touched so many hearts, including mine. I will remember that his eyes were deep and dark, drawing you into their intelligent depth. He was beautifully balanced and strong with a graceful arch to his neck. His coat was rich, shining and dappled, with just enough white to stand out. Especially that little snip on the nose. He was kind, allowing us to pet that velvet smooth coat, share our peppermints and get our picture taken. A remembrance of our time together. When I was there this year, everyone had gotten a chance to spend a few minutes with him. As he was still standing in front of us, Rodeo, a very special man who works for Claiborne was answering questions. A small boy moved forward again, drawn to the side of this great stallion. He rested his small hand on Pulpit’s shoulder and looking upward began to make long soft strokes. As we talked, time passed and he continued to pet, never stopping and always gazing upward looking into Pulpit’s eyes. Rodeo finally laughed and said that he believed they would both stay there all day, as long as the petting continued. It was so touching to witness the amazing bond at that moment between a magnificent thoroughbred and a horse loving little boy. RIP Pulpit, you will continue to grace the pages of racing history and live on through your gifted offspring remaining forever in our hearts. My condolences to all those who share my love for Pulpit, but especially to Mr. Hancock, the Hancock family and Claiborne staff. Thank you for your outstanding generousity in sharing Claiborne and Pulpit with all of us.

    Dawn

    • / Reply

      Dawn,
      Thank you for sharing this beautiful story.
      How blessed you were to spend time with the magnificent, kind Pulpit!
      I hope you can find some measure of comfort in knowing that he did not
      have a long and difficult struggle at the end.
      All loss is difficult. Unexpected loss is the most difficult.
      Hugs,
      Keta

    • / Reply

      Dawn. This first hand account of your visit with Pulpit was moving. You have some good memories for comfort. Thank you for this gift to others who are also grieving the loss of this wonderful horse.

    • / Reply

      Hi Dawn:
      Thank you for the beautiful tribute to Pulpit. I clicked on the link to the video you included, but right now I am at work and I cannot finish watching it. It is very heart warming.

      Thank you.

    • / Reply

      Beautifully and exquisitely written, as always, Dawn.
      Thanks so much for this loving tribute.
      Hugs to you!

    • / Reply

      Dear Dawn:

      So enjoyed your sharing your visit with Pulpit. RIP beautiful boy. Love and Hugs, JB

  23. / Reply

    Dear Dawn, I’m so sorry that on the eve of your birthday, you and so many others lost a dear friend, Pulpit. Though there is never a good time to lose a friend, one particularly wouldn’t wish it to happen at such a time meant to be one of celebration, yet so it has come to pass. Along with my condolences, I send my best wishes that you will also find joy in this day and in the year ahead. May you not grieve so much for what has been lost with Pulpit’s passing as you rejoice in having known him. Love in Dumplinghood, Trina

    A Birthday Poem for Dawn Conrad
    (December 7, 2012)

    We Dumplings all were so glad
    To personally meet
    The one and only Dawn Conrad
    At the 2012 BC–
    What a memorable treat!
    She’s as friendly as could be,
    Just as we her from her posts had conceived!
    The hugs she gave and received
    Could not have been stronger–
    If only our encounter had lasted longer!
    We fervently hope she’ll be back again
    The next Breeders’ Cup
    To attend
    When at Santa Anita they’ll call
    “Riders up!”
    And the swiftest horses
    Of all
    The championships will contend
    On the turf and dirt courses
    And the crowds will wildly cheer!
    Now permit me please here to append
    My tribute to Dawn from the previous year,
    Which I will slightly amend.
    *************************************
    A Birthday Poem for Dawn Conrad
    December 7, 2011

    The first horse Dawn did adore
    Was a dark bay filly
    For her bought
    By none other
    Than her big brother
    In the days just before
    He had to depart
    For the Vietnam War–
    He knew his little sis,
    Who loved him silly,
    Would be sore at heart,
    And he sought
    To give her fortitude.
    Dawn, I bet,
    Did hug and kiss him on the cheek
    Many times that week
    To show her gratitude—
    His kindness she never did forget.
    The filly, named Cinder, was all
    Little Dawn could’ve wished for,
    And more.
    Dawn had a ball
    Every hour that she with Cinder spent.
    They had a game,
    Played always the same:
    Whenever Dawn to the pasture went,
    Cinder would instantly come
    On the run,
    Then stop on a dime
    At the fence line
    To receive the soft caress
    Of her sweet mistress.
    Many a year did pass,
    And then came the day
    When Dawn, that once little lass,
    Now into a woman grown,
    Fell in love with another dark bay,
    This time one who lived far away
    From Dawn’s Colorado home
    And destined to be a great star,
    For who has not heard a lotta
    ’Bout the great ZENYATTA?
    Dawn followed all
    Of Z’s brilliant racing career,
    And then
    In the fall
    Of 2010,
    She thanked God (and Dottie!) when
    Z’s Diary blessedly came along.
    Since then a year
    Has come and gone–
    If you remember,
    ’Twas early in November.
    Z had already raced and won
    Nineteen times
    To the cheers
    Of an ever-increasing throng–
    Her racing days
    Were nearly done
    When Z did pen
    The charming lines
    Of Diary Entry One.
    The BCC of 2010
    In just days would come,
    And then
    Z’s retirement would be at hand…
    Her many fans did fear
    That they’d seldom hear
    Of Z in her broodmare years,
    But on that first Diary day,
    Z was already making plans
    So she with those fans
    In touch could stay
    In a novel way.
    And thus it was
    Before her last race was run
    That this new form of fun
    For Z and many a fan
    Thankfully began.
    Z’s diary with great fecundity
    Soon did spawn
    A society like no other,
    With posts from fans of great variety,
    Offering both fun and profundity,
    And one of the “founding mothers”
    Was our dear Dawn!
    Right from the start,
    Dawn wrote from her heart
    And found the words to say
    What we ALL with ardent zeal
    Did feel
    ’Bout Z’s magical way,
    But which we others
    Lacked the means to convey.
    Dawn, our writer extraordinaire,
    Beautifully expressed
    In eloquent prose
    How Z, that most incredible mare,
    With magnetic personality
    And other-worldly quality
    Us all so impressed
    That love for her inevitably
    In every breast
    Arose.
    Thus ’twas no surprise
    That Dawn to the occasion did rise
    When Zenyatta, inspired by March Madness,
    Did on her Diary propose
    A writing contest
    Meant to end her fans’ sadness
    And dry the tears that in their eyes
    Had quelled up
    When Z’s first foal had failed to develop.
    Each of us did don
    Our thinking cap
    To see if perhap’
    We could come upon
    Words suited to win the prize.
    We tried our best
    In our own words to suggest
    The true measure of Z
    And do honor to the Queen.
    When the Final Four were drawn
    And the texts were by us seen,
    We judged each sender
    To be
    A worthy contender
    To win Nina Kaiser’s Z,
    Number nineteen.
    Then we each got to voice
    Our personal choice,
    And it was DAWN
    Who by a landslide
    Won the prize
    For which so many had vied.
    In this I hope she took pride—
    Surely, it brought joyful tears to her eyes!
    When her prize arrived,
    Dawn a photo did share
    Of herself with that bronze
    Of the beloved mare.
    Z danced as if before a race,
    And we could see Dawn
    With her sweet smiling face
    Framed by a smooth coif
    In soft shades of fawn.
    To our worthy winner, we our hats did doff!
    As summer approached,
    Since she’d known some cancer travail,
    Dawn thought herself to avail
    Of the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale.
    There she the doctors consulted
    And with them broached
    Follow-up care.
    We all said a prayer
    It would go well for her there—
    And I believe it indeed so resulted.
    Leaving there the first week of June,
    She very soon
    Arrived at SoCal’s Hollywood Park.
    Team Z her there did greet,
    And Dawn got to see
    Where Z first had made her mark.
    She Z’s half-sister E
    Did also there meet,
    And Dawn
    Delighted to see her graze
    On what in former days
    Had been Z’s favorite lawn.
    Now the Dumplings all hope Dawn will be back
    For the Breeders’ Cup
    And that at The Derby together we’ll sup!

    Wishing you blessings on your birthday, Dawn, and throughout the year to come!

    • / Reply

      Dawn,
      Happy Birthday! And, many many more!

      Trina-thank you for reposting the poem-a special salute to our Dawn!
      Hugs,
      Keta

    • / Reply

      Trina,

      Wonderful poem for Dawn, thanks for posting.
      Have a wonderful happy Birthday.

      Trina,
      Love your comment about Pulpit’s passing, grieving and
      remembering this wonderful stallion

    • / Reply

      Happy Birthday Dawn. It was such a treat to meet you at the BC. As Trina said, I’m sorry that the context this year is a sad one, but thank you for sharing the beautiful story of your visit with Pulpit. I hope the memories will make you smile again some day soon.
      Sandy

      Trina – another !!!!

    • / Reply

      HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAWN! And “Bonne Anniversaire” from Eblouissante.

      Another lovely birthday tribute, Trina, and I do remember last year’s poem from which we learned the origins of Dawn’s love of horses.

    • / Reply

      Dear Dawn:

      Happy, Happy Birthday. Love and Hugs, JB

      Dear Trina:

      Another lovely poem. Love and Hugs, JB

  24. / Reply

    ORFEVRE WILL TRAIN FOR NEXT YEAR’S ARC

    Orfevre misses Arima Kinen and done for year
    By Masakazu Takahashi 11:25AM 7 DEC 2012 Racing Post
    JAPAN: After a long and slightly frustrating season trainer Yasutoshi Ikee has decided to skip the Arima Kinen with Japanese superstar Orfevre in favour of preparing his charge to go one better in next year’s Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
    The Arima Kinen is the end-of-season championship race in Japan and the single biggest betting race in the world, but it will be without Japanese racing’s star attraction after Ikee conceded a long season had caught up with Orfevre.
    It has been a slightly frustrating year for the five-time Group 1 winner. Despite winning a Group 1 in Japan and a Group 2 in France it was a year more of note for near misses, with the four-year-old finishing second, beaten less than a neck, in both the Arc and Japan Cup.
    Trained to peak for the Arc, Ikee maintained the horse’s condition for the Japan Cup, but after a severe duel with Gentildonna Ikee feels the horse lacks his usual sparkle now returned to work.
    Ikee said: “He’s just not quite himself, he lacks that buzz, he’s a bit flat. He’s had a long season and it’s caught up with him. I trained him for the Arc and while he would run well and could even win the Arima Kinen, I feel running him would leave its mark for next year.
    “He’s staying in training so next year is important and I don’t want to jeopardise that now so we’ll give him a break.”
    Ikee added that Orfevre’s main target next season will be the Arc, with connections determined to win Europe’s richest race.
    http://bloodstock.racingpost.com/news/bloodstock/yasutoshi-ikee-japan-orfevre-misses-arima-kinenand-done-for-year/1165584/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

  27. / Reply

    Dear Zenny fans, Dumplings and all who
    have enjoyed, Pulpit and his “children:

    We have reached the inner vision
    and through Thy spirit in us
    We have heard Thy wonderous secret.
    Through Thy mystic insight
    Thou hast caused a spring of knowledge
    to well up within us,
    a fountain of power,
    pouring forth living waters,
    a flood of love
    and of all-embracing wisdom and love
    like the splendor of eternal light.
    Amen

    RIP Pulpit, your legacy will live on.

  28. / Reply

    Bloodhorse : AORTIC RUPTURE IN BREEDING STALLIONS (see link below)

    “Older horses are predisposed, especially older stallions,” Bright said. “For reasons that aren’t clear, it does tend to occur more commonly in the spring after the stallion services the mare. But while this is more common in older breeding stallions, this is a problem that can occur in younger horses, as well.”

    Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/524/aortic-rupture-is-rare-but-deadly#ixzz2EMz6tCdt

    • / Reply

      Thanks so much for the link, signofthetimes. As in humans, it appears genetically-linked. Although in humans, smoking is also a predisposing factor. But I am surprised that they state that “for reasons that aren’t clear.” The act of breeding causes the blood pressure to rise, more pressure on the aorta.

      • / Reply

        To the Kennedys,

        It is very sad that this lovely stallion has so suddenly passed.

  30. / Reply

    This is truly such very sad news. I never met Pulpit, but I sure wish I had had that opportunity. From reading Dawn’s beautiful tribute, it sounds like Pulpit was not only a magnificent race horse, but such a kind horse. May he R.I.P.

    My deepest condolences to all Pulpit’s connections at Claiborne Farm.

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