Zenyatta

Queen of Racing

Ask The Experts

Ask The Experts #18

Q:

What do you feed 12Z now that he is weaned? Do you feed all foals the same way, or is the meal different from one foal to the other according to some characteristics? How do the meals evolve from weanling to yearling?

Alexandra Usimaki

Lyon, France

12Z out in the paddock in October. Photo by Alys Emson.
12Z out in the paddock, October. Photo by Alys Emson.

A: Z12, along with all the weanlings, is fed both concentrates (grain) and a high quality mixed hay. We weigh and measure them monthly to make sure they are on track for growth and weight for their age. Our feed is tailored to the farm so any mineral deficiencies in the land will be made up in the feed.

They are brought in at 7 AM and will not be turned back out again until after their afternoon feed. This allows us to make sure each individual is eating well, and it means the more timid horses will not get bullied by the more dominant ones. During the winter months we have hay feeders out in the fields that are always kept full. As they grow and age the feed will not change aside from increasing the size of their rations.

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

210 Comments

  1. / Reply

    Thanks to all at Lane’s End for being the wonderful caretakers to all the horses. We always are appreciative of any news regarding Zenyatta and her son. Soon enough, possibly mid-January news of her newest baby.

    Trina, lovely poem and I am adding best wishes to Sherry for a very Happy Birthday.

    Happy New Year everyone.

    Please check out the Horse and Man blog and if any can contribute to those wonderful wild mustangs that are less fortunate than our beautiful Zenny. Thank you,

  2. / Reply

    Wishing a VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR to all at Lane’s End. Especially our Queen Z and “Prince”. Thanks so much to everyone at Lane’s End for the excellent and loving care they give to all the horses there at Lane’s End.

  3. / Reply

    Oh what a nice bit of information. Thank you LE you always make things sound so aok.

    Zenny our big days are coming up. Bday’s
    You my dear will be turning horsey 9 years of age .
    Oh Zenny this is a hard one I will be turning in human years oh my goodness cover your eyes hide oh no!! 55. Wow that was a hard one to get out. Yes it is true we are getting older. I still think we have something even greater to accomplish and we are going to God will see to that he loves us. I love you big Z you will always be my biggest horse crush. Happy New Year Big Z, Prince and baby z13 !

  5. / Reply

    TC I want to make sure of the other big day in January. What is the day we are celebrating with the big flush? Was that the 27th or 28th? your RN flush friend Sue

  6. / Reply

    Wanted to give a huge Shoutout to Stonewall Farm Florida. Number one I am so happy that Leroidesanimaux Will be staying there for the 2013 breeding season. Yippee So hope I get to go see you this year

    Huge Shoutout to you I just read where you will give 2% of all stud fees for 20l3 to Florida Thoroughbred Retirement Farm. This is such wonderful news. Thank You.

    • / Reply

      Dear Peggy, that’s so great to hear about their support of the Florida Thoroughbred Retirement Farm. I hope more breeders follow this model in the future. High hoof! Thanks for sharing this good news.

  7. / Reply

    Another great question and answer! It’s amazing what we have learned from this site.
    A huge Thank You to all of Team Z who keep us in the know!

  8. / Reply

    Thanks you, Lane’s End, for being so patient with the fans, and fso informative. I love very post. Happy New Year to all with thanks.

    • / Reply

      Thanks for the link Vicki! Very nice write-up and a beautiful painting. PUP!!! It looks to be a just dreadful day in So Cal – hope they will still be able to have the ceremony.

      • / Reply

        You’re welcome Ann, Max, Sandy, & Janet. I wonder how the award went today. It was pouring rain when I went to a movie this morning, but the sun was shining when I came out of the theatre this afternoon. I haven’t found anything online yet about the award presentation.

        However, I did come across a wonderful story on Penny Chenery, from 2010, detailing the differences between real life, and the movie “Secretariat”:
        http://www.drf.com/news/penny-chenerys-life-unscripted

        • Vicki B. I really enjoyed reading this article. The scenes in the movie of the final stages of the Belmont are very inspirational. Mrs Chenery is a great person as are the other people who were close to this wonderful horse.

        • I’m on a roll here — another article about Penny, where she says of her early days running Meadow Stable: But I really knew nothing about racing. That was the hard part. I had to learn the lingo. I didn’t know what a claiming race was, didn’t know what a furlong was. The basics. I had ridden all my life, I was a good judge of horses . . . but racing?”

          And when Riva Ridge won, on her dad: “At that point, he didn’t speak anymore,” Penny Chenery said. “He didn’t respond. The nurse was feeding him dinner at about 5:30 in the hospital, she had the television on. She’s feeding him, she’s looking at the TV and all of a sudden she’s saying, ‘Mr Chenery, Mr. Chenery, your horse has won the Kentucky Derby.’ “He was (crying).”

  10. / Reply

    Happy New Year to Queen Zenyatta and her colt…and all her connections in CA as well as in Kentucky.
    So glad to hear that Paynter and his connections are being recognized. What a valiant horse and kudos to his people for all their efforts to keep him healthy. Paynter’s story is truly miraculous!

  12. / Reply

    @Especially Horses–I just found your comment on the old blog about the BU game. It was amazing. We stayed up until 1 a.m., watching. Thank you.

    To all who commented on the “possum drop” from yesterday. Thanks for being such good sports, especially the NC Dumplings. One of my favorite places in all the world is the Outer Banks.
    @Lisa–you asked the question my memory had fogotten the answer to last year. TC will reply…….

      • / Reply

        Ann,
        I dearly loved that book — Taffy of Torpedo Junction. I remember reading it in elementary school, I think. I bought a copy of it a few years back and enjoyed reading it yet again!
        Hope you had a lovely Christmas Day and are enjoying the 12 Days of Christmas, too.
        Happy New Year!
        Marshall ( and The Dogs)

        • Marshall,
          It is a book for all ages,for sure!
          Hope you are having a great holiday season. The acorn is all polished,saw it down the street from hubs shop,putting the spit shine on it!

          Happy New Year!! We are firing up the fire pit tonight and having some oysters! Now to find ” Old Buck”!! HA!!
          All the critters here say hi.

  13. / Reply

    Thanks for all of these posts. I really love to read them because they are very informative.
    Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to Zenyatta, her beautiful colt, and to everyone at Lane’s End.

  14. / Reply

    Thanks, Delrene, for mentioning the wild horses that have been removed from the range in Nevada and need our help so they don’t go to slaughter. Dawn Diovera of the Horse and Man blog is starting the January “Bucket Fund” early to help these 41 deserving equines. Update: There are safe places arranged for them to go if we can raise the funds for transport. Please help get the new year off to a good start for these horses. Together we can do it, Z-sters! Thank you. http://horseandman.com/

    • / Reply

      Dear Trina,
      Yes, I will help them, do you have and address where I can send the money? Because I do not like to used my credit cards in the computer. Happy New Year dear friend! Ingrid.

  17. / Reply

    Eblouissante (3-Year-Old Filly)

    Date: December 29, 2012
    Track: BETFAIR HOLLYWOOD PARK
    Distance: Four Furlongs
    Time: 53:40 Handily
    Track Condition: Fast
    Surface: All Weather Track
    Rank: 71/71
    Wow what is up?

    • / Reply

      Sue, I noticed that ranking too. I hope there isn’t more to the “bruised hip” incident…be it physical or mental (such as a bruised mindset). It will be heartbreaking if she doesn’t rebound. I don’t see her ready in time for the La Canada. Knowing how fragile and how so many things can go wrong when training these magnificent creatures it just once again brings home how amazing and wonderful it is when a Zenyatta, Black Caviar and Frankel come along. I sure am hoping I’m over analyzing and reading way too much into this workout.

      • / Reply

        That ranking sure looks off to me, too. But, I’ve read that E still has some immaturity and the bruising incident may set her back mentally for a bit.
        She’s surely got the talent but may not have the same drive as her big sis. Steve always said Zenny had so much “want” in her and loved training and her “job” of racing. There are so many hopes that E can achieve much success as a race horse but that not happen for a variety of reasons. We know she is in the best hands possible and every effort will be made for her to reach her full potential.
        It really is amazing that Zenny never seemed to have an off day throughout her career. I wish the best for E. We’ll have to see how things evolve for her.

      • / Reply

        Especially Horses,

        She has worked at the bottom of the rankings before,
        Hope she is not ill. Think her bruise is all healed or John
        Would not have worked her the next day, he would have put
        Her on stall rest.

    • / Reply

      Maybe just letting her stretch those beautiful,long legs that go on and on……
      Hope she is healing OK.
      Best to you pretty girl.

    • / Reply

      This sounds to me to be more of a conditioning workout than one for speed. I’m also wondering about the La Canada. One thing we know for sure is that John won’t put her in a race if she isn’t in top form and, he has patience.

      • / Reply

        This is what I’m thinking as well. Also I’ve never seen Ebby post blistering work rankings. If she’s anything like Zenyatta (and that one race we saw shows that she is) the four furlongs is how long it takes her just to get up to speed!

        She honestly should have no mental reason to associate the training track with the receiving barn before a race. If there is a physical reason (discomfort of some sort) still bothering her then I agree with Marty again that John won’t push it.

        Remember, Zenyatta had the most important thing any racehorse can have. “Luck” Ebby might have all the talent and will in the world but none of her sister’s luck.

    • / Reply

      Some really good thoughts and conversation on Ebby. Thanks everyone. I feel like I’ve been chatting with you all over coffee.

  18. / Reply

    Great story about Stud Muffin today on TVG. 50 something starts. A wonderful group of people got together and purchased him and sent him to his comfy retirement. I think it was Aikendale Rescue? Not sure, anyway, a feel good story for the end of the year!

  19. / Reply

    With Mike Smith up, the Moss-owned Mentor Cane was in the money for John Shirreffs in race 1 at SA, a two-year-old maiden special weight race won by Appealing Tale. Coastal Breeze was second. High hoof, Team Mentor Cane!

        • Especially Horses,

          I watched on Calracing and he didn’t want to enter the gate. They opened the front of the gate and he went right on through and had to be brought back around. He held up the start a little.

          My own opinion is, I still have high hopes for Mentor Cane. He’s young, energentic and things haven’t all clicked with him yet. He needs to learn to listen to his pilot and not just go on his own cruise control, which is too fast from the get go.

          The track was a big sloppy mess, too. Don’t know if that was a factor. I would be interested to hear Mike’s take on the race. Marty R.

        • Thanks Marty for the info. I think that explains a lot. I too still have high hopes for him.

    • / Reply

      Mentor Cane finished 3rd beaten by 12 3/4 lengths, on December 29, 2012, at SANTA ANITA PARK in Race 1. Off odds: 1.10

      This was his second start…he finished a very encouraging second in his debut, so that explains his odds of 1.10 for this race. Can’t help but think there must be a bit of disappointment after seeing him finish 12 ¾ lengths behind the winner.

      When race three comes up, here’s hoping the third time is a charm. No reason not to have lots of high hopes still for this youngster.

      • / Reply

        Trina & Z=strs
        MENTOR CANE RACE REPLAY VIDEO Link to The Blood-Horse
        Race 1 Santa Anita Park
        Purse: $56,000
        Date: December 29, 2012
        Age: 2 yo
        Distance: 1 mile
        Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/race/USA/SA/2012/12/29/1/race-1#ixzz2GVmZ4E1o
        It doesn’t even show Mentor Cane breaking through the gate and being reloaded.
        Can’t imagine what Mike’s shoulders, arms, & hands felt like post-race.
        Interesting that Clocker said Mentor had not shown any of these tendencies
        during his workouts.
        Hopefully, better starts ahead.
        Hugs, Keta

        • Poor , Mike.
          OK,Mentor cane,will have to call him, Smarty Pants. There was no turning back,hold on for life!
          It will be very interesting to see his next go round.
          Mentor Cane, you are so smart and good looking.

        • Keta,

          I didn’t mean to make it sound like MC broke through the gate. He was turning sideways as they brought him up to load. So, as they sometimes do to help a horse enter, they opened the front of the gate. He then went in and just kept on going right out through the front. He was caught right away and brought back around. “Caught” was the announcers word. He wasn’t on the run, just somebody on foot was close and grabbed him and led him. Sorry for any confusion. Marty R.

      • / Reply

        Maybe a little while before this young talented guy can rate,
        He is like John Shirreffs BB, blast off,

        Bet he will be a front runner, just Budget some energy for the
        Finish!!!!

        He is a cutie !!!!

      • / Reply

        Dear Janet: Thanks so much for the post about Lord Avie: had not heard of him Downunder; you folk have a lot to be proud of in the way you honour old champions – the piece on Lord Avie and his former trainer was just magnificent. Here the industry is a much harder beast and there tends to be little emotion (except at a very individual level) for the horse. I just really admire the way you all respect and honour the champion. Well done. Hugs, KathyR.

    • / Reply

      So very glad he lived out his pensioned years at Lanes End,
      And his trainer was able to visit.

      These old guys are really something special

    • / Reply

      Janet,
      Thanks so much for this link. How touching — such a sweet horse and equally devoted trainer. What a fine horse! RIP dear Lord Avie.

    • / Reply

      Trina and Janet,

      I’m so sorry to hear about Nana Beach. I was watching on Calracing and it looked really scary with two horses and jockeys going down. That was supposed to have been a turf race and John Shirreffs had an entry, Market Quote, but scratched her when the race went to dirt. RIP Nana Beach.

    • / Reply

      Janet. Very interesting slideshow. We sadly have lost a lot of great people and horses in 2012. I miss Big D in particular. The photo shows what a giant of horse that he was. Big D, always near in my thoughts. That kind of a love never goes away.

      • / Reply

        Max, yes we have lost a lot of people and horses. I know that not all (horses) from this year made it. Big D’s son Purim left us early on in January. Difficult to keep track of them all. But they are all a part of us and will always be loved as you said.

    • / Reply

      Janet, thanks for posting a great slide show. It was heartwarming to see that so many of the retired racers lived to a ripe old age. It’s a blessing when horse people take really good care of their equine friends.

  23. / Reply

    @ Vicki B near Hollywood.
    Got to watch the Vox Populi award. Penny Chenery was under the weather and her son Christopher presented the award to Bob Baffert accepting for the Zayat family. They had a nice video presentation on Paynter before the presentation.
    Definitely brought tears from my eyes.

  24. / Reply

    dear Z family wishing you all a happy healthy and prosperous new year but more than that one filled with love and friendship love to zenyatta and 12z it’s going to be a fun year for you!what a wonderful story about lord avie such a good age RIP over the rainbow bridge hugs sheena

    • / Reply

      I have a questions about this. It looked as if Mikie was struggling so hard to hood him back that a lot of energy might have been wasted in the pulling from both man and horse. What if he had just let him run? Don’t some horses (Shackleford comes to mind) love to be out front the whole way. How do you tell early on in a horse’s career?

      • / Reply

        Dear Barbara,

        2 year olds tend to use everything up early on as Mentor Cane did in this race.
        He was not rank and pulling, Mike wanted to have some horse left for the finish.
        Remember most horses are not even ridden until they are 5 or 6 and a 6 year old
        Is considered a baby. So riding a two year old as Mike Smith says is YEA !!! HA,
        Anything can happen

        Did you see the video of John Sherriffs with mare BB “blasting off” and
        he said BB you have to save some for the finish. Will post this video for you.

        Shack’s style was to go to the lead, he always, when he did not ” throw a
        Clunker” was in the money and always had enough to finish and win.

  26. / Reply

    Happy Sunday to all! First, thanks to the many who responded on previous pages of Rightful Image’s second place finish on Opening Day. Much appreciated. It was a lot of fun being there screaming our lungs out for him. He did well!! And Karen, thanks again for that neat video. So great of you to do that. Good to chat with you that rather cool (cold?) afternoon by the paddock, but much nicer in the sun! So glad it–and we– came out in the afternoon, although due to the crowd, Rod and I could not find two seats together, so we roamed around until our backs, legs and knees said NO MORE! Then I found Karen and all was well. I could sit! We were never 100% sure if R.I. was going to be scratched, as three others were in that race, but no, he did well on dirt. That afternoon the track seemed to be fine. (Yesterday, as observed on TV, it was a MESS! ) So all in all a very fun, invigorating and exciting time on the 26th. Being a holiday week, traffic was not bad, although we had the advantage of the car pool lane. P.S. If this cold weather (for us locals) keeps up, next time we go to the track I will wear my sweat shirt I got in Alaska last summer! (What’s wrong with that sentence? Hmm..Alaska, summer..sweatshirt…hmm.)

    Other things: Hoof ray for Paynter!!!! Only caught part of the interview on HRTV yesterday, with Baffert and Kurt Hoover. Janet Newman, thanks for letting us know it was Mrs. C’s son Christopher–I missed hearing who he was. Anyway, hoof-ray again!!

    Celeste, sending good thoughts to your husband (and you!) from SoCal.
    Ann NC, loved your Outhouse magazine story! Really a kick!! LOL. Any foldouts?

    I, too wondered about “Ebby’s” recent work. Perhaps, as was suggested, it was more of a leg stretcher than anything else.

    Yes, RIP Lord Avie. What a great story about this horse and his trainer. He did have a good life, though. Janet Newman, thanks for the link.

    @Kathy R: I have meaning to tell you I enjoy reading your feedback from Downunder. Thanks, from this side of the globe.

    In case I don’t revisit here before the new year (I hope to do so, but one never knows), happy new year to ALL Dumplings, scattered though we may be. This is the place “where horse lovers gather.” And I would be remiss if I did not send the same greetings to our QUEEN, her first born and the soon to come foal. Also to the Mosses, John and Dottie and Lane’s End, all of you VSP–Very Special People.

    • / Reply

      Thanks Anne – always nice to hear from you (movie star or not – ha, ha), and best wishes to you, Rod, and Rightful Image for 2013!

      • / Reply

        Dear Anne: Thanks for that – second you with the New Year greetings to all who love and care for the wonderful Zenyatta. Hugs, KathyR.

    • / Reply

      Dear Anne from Paramount CA,

      So glad RI did so well, really enjoyed KG video of him, now we
      Know what he looks like in person. The weather was tracherous today,
      With hale. Hope all the Dumplings survived.

      RIP LORD AVIE, a very special boy.

      Keep us posted on RI NEXT RACE.

  28. / Reply

    WHOO HOOO !!!

    CARABA WINS THE BOBBY FRANKEL STAKES

    A REALLY NICE ENGLISH MARE,

    Congradulations to Simon Callahan !!!

  30. / Reply

    Kathy R. Such sad news! I am so sorry. Hugs, Keta
    Jockey’s death hits NZ racing industry
    Posted by: AAP Filled in: Australian Horse Racing | 31/12/2012 at 11:30am
    Trainer Lisa Rae says New Zealand racing has been hit hard by the death of Gold Coast-based New Zealand jockey Ashlee Mundy after a fall at Sunday’s Kurow races.
    A freelance jockey, former Cantabrian Mundy returned from Queensland in mid-December to ride the South Island’s summer circuit.
    She had been working at Rae and husband Kenny’s Riccarton stable in Christchurch during her stay and planned to return to Australia in February.
    Her mount Elleaye fell with 600m to run in the seventh race at Kurow in North Otago.
    Nigel McIntyre of the New Zealand Racing Integrity Unit (RUI) told NZ Newswire it appeared Elleaye had clipped heels with another horse.
    Mundy, 26, was flown to Dunedin Hospital in a critical condition with serious head injuries and a hospital spokeswoman confirmed she died on Monday morning.
    Rae said Mundy had returned from Australia to contest the southern holiday circuit for the past couple of years.
    She spent Christmas with her parents in Westport, then had six races at Wingatui on December 28, including a win on Fintorro for the Raes.
    “She’s the wrong person – she’s been taken too soon.
    “She’d rock up every morning ready to ride – she was just one of those people who have a natural way with animals,” Rae told NZ Newswire.
    “Our owners are broken, they’re distraught. Ashlee was just lovely. She’s touched so many people’s lives.”
    McIntyre says the RUI will conduct a full investigation into the incident, including talking to riders and viewing the race video, and will be working in conjunction with the police who will prepare their own report.
    Deaths at New Zealand race meetings were rare, McIntyre said. The last one was in 2005 at Riverton when 16-year-old Sam McRae died after his foot became entangled in his horse’s riding iron and he was dragged for 900 metres.
    Mundy had ridden 232 winners in New Zealand and 43 in Queensland.
    Read more: http://www.justhorseracing.com.au/news/australian-racing/jockeys-death-hits-nz-racing-industry/181503 #ixzz2GaRRr7xJ

    • / Reply

      Deepest condolences to all who knew and loved Ashlee Mundy, gone much too soon. May she rest in heavenly peace.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.