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

    No news yet on BULLET TRAIN’S farm
    So this morning I sent a tweet to Bob Feld, the bloodstock agent.

    Keta Hagen‏@KetaHagen
    @17bob17 Any news on where BULLET TRAIN will stand? Thought there was an announcement planned for Dec.1. Thanks

  2. / Reply

    @Marty R.,Karen Gogue, Darelen Daniels, Brenda Springer, and JAG– I am overwhelmed by my wonderful Z-family!Thank you so much for your kindness. What did we ever do before we all found each other?
    Karen, where’s my video???JUST KIDDING!

    High hoof indeed to Vic.

  4. / Reply

    Before one page turns into another: Diastu, enjoyed your poem of 11/29; Terry Crow, once again with the redneck jokes, yay!; Barbara Wood, happy birthday today and hats off to Trina for her poetry, letting us know more of YOU; and good news about Judy G being home.

    And, Jay Cohen, local trumpeteer is back, after his serious sinus infection. High hoof!

    Happy Sunday to all!! :-) :-)

  5. / Reply

    GREAT LINK TO LATEST UPDATE ON THE LASIX BAN

    (of course it is based on “drug-free racing”, not individual intelligent decisions for
    the equines)

    Lots of really good information, for now things are silent as there has been money lost and limited interest from last year to this year in participation in BC. This issue is
    thought to going to definately impact the financial base of Thoroughbred racing
    and participation in the Breeder’s Cup, which the racing industry does not need.

    http://www.paulickreport.com/news/ray-s-paddock/time-to-give-up-lasix-fight-for-now/

    • / Reply

      Beautiful deer! I hope it ended well for them. Don’t much like the part about strapping one to the top of a truck, but the “call” was cute.

    • / Reply

      They sure looked like the made it out quick
      after taking a spin around the track, did you miss
      the joke about Deer Hunting season !!!

      Everything jest, from a bunch of redneck guys !!!!

      • / Reply

        We saw them jump into the infield. We didn’t see them get out and away. And no, I didn’t miss the deer hunting joke–it is just not funny to me. Different strokes for different folks, I guess.

    • / Reply

      When the deer are over populated, because there are no natural predators to keep the population down and they are destroying crops as well as slamming into vehicles, it becomes a different story.

      A farm behind my property has an unlimited kill license to protect their crops. Two weekends ago they took 10 hunters, 100 rounds of ammo and a half day to take 92 deer with 6 rounds of ammo left. This all on their own property, no where else.

      That is how over populated this area (we’re not far from the Meadows) is with deer.

      The 92 deer were processed and 75% of the meat donated to local food banks.

      • / Reply

        Good point Zenyen.
        I love all animals as much as every one on this
        site, but overpopulation of any species can
        cause harm to humans as well as themselves.

        I am definately not an avid hunter, but there is
        a time and place. Rescuing is important, as I
        have spent a lot of Hours volunteering for the
        Houston SPCA, but time, money and numbers
        become big issues, all of which can be overwhelming.
        which lead to hoarding, starvation fir humans and
        animals, disease and poverty.

        Controlling breeding is the only way to get at
        the problem.

  7. / Reply

    @Darlene Daniels– I really can spell your name–I just can’t type! Hugs.

    @Anne from Paramount–thank you, and a welcome back to Jay Cohen. I remember their mention of his illness at the BC.

    @diastu–thank you so much for the good report on Judy. I got some birthday money which I will send to Heart of Tucson immediately!

    • / Reply

      High hoof, Barbara! Sending ANOTHER donation is so like you! Thanks for all you do, and once again, happy birthday. Love in Dumplinghood and rescue, Trina

  8. / Reply

    Dear All—Thanks for the positive feedback about this year’s birthday poem for our dear Barbara Wood. https://staging.zenyatta.com/experts/ask-the-experts-17/comment-page-7#comment-187748
    I thought some readers might be interested in last year’s poem. Since I’ve made some alterations, I’ll post the poem here instead of just giving a link to the Diary.

    A Birthday Poem for Barbara Wood
    December 2, 2011

    Alan’s her hubby, she’s his wife,
    And together in life
    They did aspire
    To climb always higher—
    And that’s meant literally!
    They never felt more free
    Than standing on a mountain top
    From where they could see
    Miles and miles of our country
    And feel so close to God’s majesty.
    They did seek
    Rugged peaks
    Soaring a mile or even two
    Up into the blue.
    That activity
    Was good for the soul
    And in part for the body too,
    But after many years,
    I fear,
    It sadly did take a toll,
    So from hiking they did retire,
    Due to troubles of the knee—
    Both have had replacement surgery!
    So now if Barbara ever gets to cash in
    On a big lottery win,
    She’ll use it for her new passion:
    Protection of the domestic horse
    And also, of course,
    Of its wild kin.
    She feels no horse oughta
    Ever go to slaughter.
    In her lady-like fashion
    She’ll give a tongue lashin’
    To each politician
    Of whom she reads
    That they, out of greed,
    Are clashin’
    With her deeply-held belief
    That all equines deserve relief
    From the grief
    Of the killers’ knife
    At the end of their life.
    Barbara has helped to rescue
    Quite a few
    Horses in this nation
    Through donation after donation
    To places such as Valley View,
    Which is tops
    In getting horses out of Nevada feed lots
    And giving them a new shot
    At a happy life and a gentle end too.
    Every time Barbara sees
    A rescue through
    Which a horse frees
    From impending torment,
    She again feels
    A mountain-top moment!

    • / Reply

      Dear Sheena,
      Thought everyone would enjoy this little video,
      missed seeing it before his retirement. he looks
      like king of the pasture when he is laying down
      and relaxing. Great idea to give thrm a holiday and clear
      their head. I bet Kauto is developing strategy
      for his chases, ha ha !!!!

  10. / Reply

    Game On Dude, Nonios in good order after Native Diver
    By brisnet on The Blood-Horsse Updated: Sun, Dec. 2, 2012 5:28 PMAssistant trainer Mike Marlow said Sunday that Game On Dude returned in “good shape” following his game victory in Saturday’s Grade 3 Native Diver Stakes.
    “I thought he was impressive,” said Marlow, who is a longtime assistant to Bob Baffert. “He was tested all the way. Mike Smith’s move on the first turn was a key factor in the race.”
    Marlow indicated that Game On Dude was still at Hollywood Park and would likely ship to Santa Anita Monday.

    Following the race, Baffert indicated his next major objective with Game On Dude would be the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap on March 2. The Awesome Again gelding won the 2011 Big ‘Cap, but skipped a title defense this year in favor of the Group 1 Dubai World Cup, where he wound up 12th.

    Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/74846/game-on-dude-nonios-in-good-order-after-native-diver#ixzz2DwAegoIM

  11. / Reply

    dear ann it’s really lovely to see thehorses enjoying their free time it was the last time they were all together so it was rather special! how are moose and goose these days are they ready for christmas?hugs sheena

    • / Reply

      Moose and Goose are tangled in lights and holiday fun! The farm is busy because the demand for eggnog is at an all time high. Chickens are clucking along too. Group effort.

      Glad the horses could relax together,great looking group! Hugs to you!!

  12. / Reply

    Keta Note; Sometimes you just fall in love…
    Horse Racing News‏ tweet
    Miss Valentine wins the Big A’s Lottsa Talc Stakes (The Associated Press): NEW YORK

    Jerry Bossert‏ NY Daily News tweet
    Good move by Eddie Castro to put Jitney on the front end and it almost paid off
    but chalk Miss Valentine was just too good

    Christophe Clement‏@clementstable tweet
    Miss Valentine after the race with the heart on her face!
    https://twitter.com/clementstable/status/275332257655427073/photo/1

    NYRA news tweet
    Appropriately, Miss Valentine sports a heart-shaped star.
    https://twitter.com/NYRAnews/status/275306396415844352/photo/1

  13. / Reply

    Barbara Wood, A belated Happy Birthday to you! Hope you have an outstanding day and many more to come. Wonderful poems Trina!

  14. / Reply

    Happy Birthday, Barbara! I hope it was your best ever. I’m sure that having your Baylor Bears win in football AND basketball yesterday helped make your birthday a little brighter. (Of course, we won’t mention who they beat in basketball. LOL)
    Terrific poem, Trina! I don’t know how you do it, but you’re constantly outdoing yourself. You’re a treasure.

    • / Reply

      Thank you, Debbie G. Just heard that we are going to the Holiday Bowl in San Diego. Don’t know how that got out before the bowl selection show. That will let us out. We just got back from CA, and I have the bills to prove it–lol! One less decision to make!

  17. / Reply

    I feel like there is too much distance from my Zenyatta. I have her in my heart each day, but I never see real current pictures of my love. Since 2010 so many of you have joined in with the voice of Zenyatta on the Z diary. (Dottie) So many have continued on all that was generously provided us to continue the connection.
    BUT, I MISS ZENYATTA, I TRULY MISS HER VOICE. This was the most wonderful extention and closeness I could feel.
    I am grateful for what Ask the experts do and the Team Z, but I am longing for Zenyatta and current pictures and knowledge of how she is!! If I saw her closely just once so I could finally give her the biggest kiss, just perhaps I could sit back and dream of those memories!! She will always be forever gentle on my mind.
    love n kisses to Z and her 12z Auntie Sally B

    • / Reply

      Dear Sally, I echo your feelings exactly, ” She will always be forever gentle on my mind.” Perfectly said and I love the quietness of it. Thank you. Marty R.

      • / Reply

        Well said, Marty, and well said, Sally B. Zenyatta seemed much closer, didn’t she, when we got to hear her voice on her Diary.

  19. / Reply

    Mike Smith to ride Executiveprivilege!

    Executiveprivilege Definite For Saturday’s Starlet
    Stable Notes Posted 12.02.12 at 12:49
    The Grade I, $500,000-guaranteed Hollywood Starlet, which will be run Saturday at 1 1/16 miles on Cushion Track, could have as many as seven participants.
    Trained by Bob Baffert, Executiveprivilege, a two-time Grade I winner, lost for the first time in six starts when defeated by Beholder in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies
    Nov. 2.
    Mike Smith replaces Rafael Bejarano, who had ridden the First Samurai filly in each of her previous starts. Smith worked Executiveprivilege a half mile in 47 seconds Nov. 20 at Santa Anita. The Hall of Famer rode Game On Dude to victory for Baffert in Saturday’s Native Diver Stakes.
    Adding intrigue to the race is Blonde Fog, also conditioned by Baffert. The daughter of Divine Park made quite an impression in her debut, winning by more than 12 lengths against maiden special weights at the Starlet distance.
    Other likely entrants are Midnight Ballet (trained by Tom Proctor), who captured the Sharp Cat Stakes Nov. 11 in her Cushion Track debut, Renee’s Titan (Doug O’Neill), second to Midnight Ballet in the same race, and Scarlet Strike (Jerry Hollendorfer), second to Executiveprivilege in the Grade I Chandalier Stakes.
    Possibles are Pure Fun (Ken McPeek) and Secret Motive (Julio Canani), both of whom would have to be supplemented. Late nominations are accepted until entries are taken Wednesday.
    http://betfairhollywoodpark.com/news/executiveprivilege-definite-for-saturday-s-starlet

    • / Reply

      I guess Baffert realized that there is no shame in coming out second in a big race (the Preakness and Belmont), but you surely don’t want to come out seventh (Breeders Cup Classic).

  20. / Reply

    Barabara Wood

    Sorry I have not been on all day to post a Happy Birthday!
    Taking a phrase out of Maxine’s book ” As you slide down the banister of life,
    may the splinters being pointed in the other direction.”
    Many blessings and wishes for a great year.

    Big Hug to You!

    • / Reply

      LoL, Janet! Had not heard of “Maxine’s book” but I feel it’s all too appropriate! Glad you had a good Birthday, Barbara.

      • / Reply

        Dear Vicki, you’ll probably recognize the cartoon character Maxine when you see her. I’ll e-mail you some. Here’s her bio:
        “As an artist with Hallmark™ since 1970, John Wagner created Maxine in 1986 as a new character line for the Shoebox Greetings™ card division. He created a brazen older woman with a stooped back, a mop of curly gray hair and abrasive personality. Wagner’s mom, grandmother and unmarried aunts provided inspiration for the comic creation.” http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Where_did_the_cartoon_character_Maxine_originate

        • Dear Janet and Trina,

          Great line, and sooo appropriate. After you posted the link,
          I did remember. Here cartoons were sooo funny. The
          link is bookmarked to bring laughter as the days go by

          Thanks Janet and Trina, And of course Barbara, hope your day
          was special.

        • Thanks, Trina. I did recognize her, but had never realized the extent of her published wisdom. Several of my redneck aunts mighta been closely related to her too — even though they were married, they woulda loved her style.

  21. / Reply

    Dear Zenny Fans, Z dumplings and all
    in this holiday season,

    This is another day, O Lord, not knowing what it will
    bring forth, but make me ready, Lord for whatever
    it may be. If standing for the day, help me to stand
    bravely. If sitting for this day, help me to sit
    quietly. If lying low is important, help me to do it
    patiently. And if doing nothing is part of the day,
    let me do it gallantly. Make these words more than
    words, and give me the Spirit today. Amen.

    Have a blessed day.

  24. / Reply

    @Vicki B.–thank you so much. It was great meeting you at the Z-party.

    @Janet Newman–I laughed out loud at the Maxine reference. What we love about her is that she dares to say what we all sometimes think!

    And speaking of that, I want once again to thank all of you for helping make yesterday my best birthday ever.(If I left out anyone, it was surely unintentional). If they keep getting better like that, I won’t even mind “68” next year!! What I love best about this site (and I do agree I miss our “fix” of Z-news) is that when one of us weeps, we all weep together. When one of us rejoices, we all join in. Dumplinghood is one of the best-kept secrets on the planet, and I am so thankful to know you all!

    Speaking of “fixes”– where are you, Sue Noel??? I need a Barnaby story!

    And where is Amanda Gilliland?

    Dawn Conrad?

    And our dear Susan in TN–if you happen to be lurking, we miss you terribly and are concerned.

    Such great news that GOD and Nonios came out ok after that tough race.

  25. / Reply

    @All: I did not plan to be back so soon, but there is a pressing need in the Northwest (Oregon, to be exact). It appears that 177 miniature horses have been taken from an animal hoarder and will be sent to auction. Equamore Foundation has offered to help, but THEY will need help. Horse and Man is covering the story:
    http://www.horseandman.com.

    • / Reply

      Dear Barbara,

      This is just heartbreaking to see. I saw the catalog
      and cried because I want them all. I know some hoarders
      hearts are in the right place, but their minds are not when they
      cannot provide for so many and the outcome is always
      terrible.

    • / Reply

      So cute! At least all of them look real well, they stand a good change for good homes. Love the mini-donkeys.

  26. / Reply

    dear barbara pray these beautiful little horses will find good homes ! we get animal hoarders over here there was a terrible case in buckinghamshire a few years ago involving horses pitiful to see the state they were in when found hugs sheena

    • / Reply

      @Sheena. Thanks for this information. Hope that Nac does well. He reminds me of Tasty Temptation as well as Neptune C. Those greys are beautiful.
      I hope that you have escaped the recent floods, and are okay.

  28. / Reply

    Maryland Horse Radio ‏ tweet
    Pretty cool…Check out longtime Maryland owner Arnold Heft’s silks
    as most eclectic in racing!!

    Keta Note: Here is the article which includes: Tim Conway, Burt Bacharach, Ron Anson,
    and The Queen (this time Elizabeth II)

    Top 10 most eclectic silks in racing history
    Bill Christine’s top 10 most eclectic silks Daily Racing Form
    1. Arnold Heft
    The National Basketball Association, Heft said, promised to retire his No. 4 referee’s jersey when he put down his whistle, but several years later a new league administration was unaware of the promise and issued the number. So Heft, who has a racing stable in Maryland with his wife, Sylvia, put No. 4 on the back of his silks, which already looked like a black-and-white-striped referee’s shirt. In New York, Heft is not allowed to use the number on the back. The Jockey Club theorized that a number for the silks and a number for the horse could confuse bettors.
    http://www.drf.com/events/top-10-most-eclectic-silks-racing-history

    Keta Note: . On page 5 of this Blog, Sign posted a story RACING SILKS AND MANY PERSONAL STYLES, about jockeys.
    This story is by the same author Bill Christine

    • / Reply

      That’s really cool Keta, also Mrs. Heft silks are a girlie pink, purple, white block combo. It started out as his for the boys and hers for the girls, but over the years they have mixed it up a bit. Their “big ” horse , Eighttofasttocatch ( most of their horses have basketball related names) is a boy and runs in Sylvia’s colors.

    • / Reply

      Thanks,Keta,
      Tim Conway….cute! Do Not Pass. He is a hoot and nice to have him in racing.

      Eveline….the fillies are racing the day after X-mas in MD!!!! Any tips?

  29. / Reply

    Happy belated birthday, Barbara. Here are a few redneck jokes for today. You might be a redneck if you are capable of rebuilding a carburetor while sitting on the toilet. You might be a redneck if your security system is an old hound dog named Roscoe tied to your outhouse with an electrical cord. You might be a redneck if, when your car breaks down, the engine plays Dixie. You might be a redneck if your doorbell looks like a deer’s butt.

    • / Reply

      Are single copies of bloodhorse for sale without a subscription?

      Thanks for information on this article and wonderful little tidbits.

      Eric Kronfeld is a genius breeders, just has such a “gestalt” for
      breeding. WOW !!!

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