Zenyatta

Queen of Racing

Ask The Experts

Ask The Experts #3

Q:

What is Zenyatta and Baby Z’s daily routine at Lane’s End?

Haley Van Vleck

Lawrence, KS

A:Currently their routine is pretty simple—they are out in the evenings when the weather is cooler. They come in in the morning to get checked over. We check their eyes, take their temperature, check that he’s nursing and that they’re both happy and have no cuts or bumps from the night before. They get their food in the morning. 12Z is now three months of age so he gets feed of his own, and Zenyatta will have her feed after him. They stay in their stall during the day, where they have fans on them to keep them cool in this heat. They go out again around two o’clock in the afternoon and play all night!

Expert: Charles Campbell

See Charles’s response on video:

Q:

How long do Zenyatta & 12Z sleep, and do they sleep together at the same time? Also, is there anything Zenyatta doesn’t like?

Jan Stein

Cypress, TX

Photo courtesy of Alys Emson/Lane’s End

A:In the mornings they do sleep together. 12Z sleeps most of the day when he’s in his stall, but when he’s out he’s always playing with his buddies and grazing with mom.

Zenyatta is a very easy going horse, but she does seriously dislike flies. We use a fly mask and fly spray to keep her happy.

Expert: Craig Andre de Villiers

Our Experts

Charles Campbell

Broodmare Manager, Lane’s End

Originally from England, Charles has traveled the world working with horses. He has been the Broomare Manager at Lane’s End for four years, and he was with Zenyatta the night she foaled.

Craig Andre de Villiers

Mare Barn One Foreman, Lane’s End

Craig has been at Lane’s End for four years, working mostly within the Broodmare division. He grew up in South Africa on a game reserve and stud farm, and has been around animals his whole life—not just horses, but lions, elephants and everything in between!

Reader Interactions

746 Comments

  1. / Reply

    @ Karen Gogue–Dear DEAR girl,we are all anxiously awaiting news of the outcome of your tests! With all of the prayers and “white light” being directed on your behalf,the news will just HAVE to be good!! May you feel all the love being sent your way and may it help you to be strengthened and to feel,and BE, better!! You are a treasure and I’m so looking forward to meeting you in person at the BC!!!

    @ All the Buddy Holly fans who commented–I had to attend a computer class in Lubbobk (pardon me if I have mentioned this before–but I had such fun there!) Saw his big statuue near Texas Tech–really neat memorial to him.I just loved his music–seems like it was just yesterday that the plane crash happened–but I was in college!! That was a million years ago!! I still love danmcing to his old records ( I know–what’s a record!!)

    Speaking of a million years ago,I was amazed to read that Chantal’s new husband is from Monrovia. When I went there (Class of 1956!!) there was a star football player on our team named Dave Kruse–bet he’s the grand-father of Chantal’s Dan !! What do you think??

    For those interested in Barnaby John–I am more and more convinced that he must be one of the best horses in the world!! How are horse could be so very sweet and so mellow and well-behaved is just so amazing!! I keep asking him if Barnaby 1 and my Lucky have come back from Heaven to inhabit his body!! I can just walk up to him and put his fly mask on without even putting on a halter or lead rope or anything. He will just let me put it on and tighten the velcro and all with no problem at all. He just stands like a rock for what ever I want to do to him. It’s like he says to himself “I know she won’t do anything bad so I’ll just trust her to do whatever!” I put fly spray on him night before last and I didn’t catch him for that either! Traveller heard the spray bottle right away and ran away–Barnaby let be spray him all over,then spray his rag and let me put it gently around his eyes and in his ears and all around his head while I talked to him and told him what a wonderful boy he was!! I’m so looking forward to riding him this weekend–he is so quiet and takes such good care of me! I got him a whole case of Fuji apples!! We have a fridge in the tack room so they are able to stay cold and crist–along with the carrots we keep there too and he is so cute about having his “dessert”!! He gives me so much,it is so much fun to do something for him that makes him so happy!!

    @ Zenny and Baby Z–TALL Baby z__ hope you have a peaceful blessed night in the cool–snuggle up in your stall in the morning and have sweet dreams!! LOVE YOU!!!! P.S.–Wouldn’t we all love to see THAT picture!!

    • / Reply

      Sue,

      Love your post and good to hear from you. Everytime I read about your times and experiences with Barnaby it makes me want a horse so bad. Maybe someday. Give Barnaby a smooch and a hug for me.

    • / Reply

      Sue. Wonderful post. Love to hear about Barnaby especially. What a great companion for you that he must be. Keep those stories coming.

    • / Reply

      Dear Sue:

      Love your post and your sharing stories about Barnaby. He sounds like a very cool dude. How wonderfully he has bonded with you. Hugs, JB

    • / Reply

      Sue, Barnaby sounds like a doll. I’m so glad that the two of you found each other. It was meant to be.

  2. / Reply

    P.S. Clumsy fingers again–Lubbock–not Lubbobk!! Also,the apples stay crisp–not crist!! Yikes!! My fingers are giving out on me!!

    • / Reply

      Always look forward to your posts, Sue. Are you familiar with Mac Davis’ song “Happiness is Lubbock Texas in my rear view mirror”?

  4. / Reply

    Ooops! I tried to put a comment on Pg. 6,but it just rolls to the next one I guess. I’ll figure out just how this all works eventually!

  5. / Reply

    Hi, my adorable Zenny and baby Z, you do not believe this but I am still fixing my new home. Baby Z is getting so big and he look so much like you, and I think very soon he is going to leave to go for training, to start his lessons to be come a race horse, and you know what I think…. that he is going to be the One! Love you Ingrid.

    • / Reply

      Ingrid. Don’t feel badly about delay. I spend a lot of time staring at my things and planning on moving them. Weeks go by. It takes time.

  6. / Reply

    I posted a comment last night about I’ll Have Another’s new owner just buying another American Champion , but i couldn’t remember his name. I looked it back up tonight and it was our l993 Horse of the Year Kotashaan. I didn’t remember much about him but I have been reading up about him and I so like what I have seen. A Beatiful Colt. He’s about 24 now. Born in France in l988. It said he has not been a success at stud. I have read that Mr. Okada (i’ll Have Another’s new owner) has bought him. So I assume he will be going to Big Red Farm as well, too. Kent Desearmo rode him brilliantly that year. I went back and watched that race.
    I believe the more I read about Okada’s Big Red Farm, I am liking what I am hearing.
    I wondered could he have many more years at Stud, I don’t know, it just seems pretty nice his buying him. He is a beauty and looks like he would fit in the roster there Beautufully.

  7. / Reply

    I know, I asked myself the question. The article said he had not been a success at stud……Could Big Red Farm be wanting to take a chance with him???????Hope he will be happy, safe and healthy their as well. God Speed to Kotashaan and I’ll Have Another heading to a new home.

  9. / Reply

    Hi all: Shirlee in Indy and Darlene Daniels, sorry for the mix up but your names are SO similar ..LOL. Regardless, the Secretariat earring story is a good one!
    Keta–what a great story about Emma…
    Sue, same about your post about Barnaby!
    TC, the redneck jokes, well, what can I add–at the very least they make my lips curl upward!
    Debbie G KY–hope this was you—loved the puns!

    KAREN WE LOVE YOU!!!!! High hoof thoughts to you, my friend! :-)

    And on a serious note folks, remember not that long ago–I THINK pre Triple Crown– the NY times ran an editorial in which it was stated horse racing should be banned. So, I do take what is written now with, as my mother liked to say, ” a bucket of salt.” (Nah, what is that you say, my sweet mother, she never was a redneck!) They seem to be stoking the fires, and as many of you mentioned, this emotional roller coaster seems never ending. Some facts are facts, but others are –well, …..I feel they just want to kill racing and will keep ‘”nagging” until it happens.
    I heard this Joe Drape on NPR late yesterday afternoon, talking about this very subject, as he was part of the researchers on that original damning series back at that same time.
    He was very calm- well, it was NPR- but he mentioned breakdowns etc., comparing USA to Europe. IMO there are many facets for serious discussion, but the host was not a racing person, she was just doing the interview in a professional manner, with limited time.

    Good night sweet Zenny, our Queen and to your very much growing Princely colt!

    • / Reply

      Anne,

      No need to apoligize. After all Shirlee and I are both from Indiana, the great state of WE NEED RAIN NOW!!

      I always love your posts.

  10. / Reply

    Dear Max, The Kennedy’s and Z Fans:

    This is a link to a catalog of a yearling auction in Japan this past week. If you click on Sire Index and scroll down to July 10, 2012 listing, War Emblem has two foals listed for sale. One filly, Hip No. 349 and one colt, Hip No 480. So, hopefully he is happy and healthy in Japan. Hugs, JB

    http://www.jrha-selectsale.com/selectsale/catalogue.html#

    • / Reply

      Dear Max, The Kennedy’s and Z Fans:

      If you click on the camera icon, you can watch a video of the foals. Hugs, JB

    • / Reply

      Dear Judy, Thank you so much for this link. Aren’t the yearlings just beautiful. I have to go in and see all of them. You’ve just made my day. Happy Friday to all.

      • / Reply

        Dear Peggy N.:

        You’re so welcome. These babies are just adorable. Love them all. Happy Friday to you. Hugs, JB

    • / Reply

      Judy,

      Thank you so much for sharing this link. I looked at many many records and photos from this and of course I loved them all (afterall, they are thoroughbreds), but I think I am most partial to Sunday Silence.

      Funny thing is I didnt know how or could not find the button for English. I may have to learn Japanese now, especially sinse I’ll Have Another is going over there.

      • / Reply

        Dear Darlene:

        You’re so welcome.
        When you go to the Big Red Farm website http://www.bigredfarm.jp/index.html
        way over on the right hand top of the page in very small letters is “English Page”. Click on that and you’ll be all set. Took me a while to find it. Hugs, JB

  11. / Reply

    Good Morning All.

    Does anyone know an Indian Rain Dance. It is so dry here it is getting scary. Rain forecast is not very promising.

    Karen Gogue, Thinking about you and saying prayers.

    Dawn Conrad, Hope all is well and you give us a post soon.

    Have a nice day everyone and love to my angels Zenyatta and 12Z.

  12. / Reply

    @Sue Noel–we absolutely crave any info. you can share with us about Barnaby. You two are a match made in Heaven! He does know you’ve saved him and that his home is with you. The flies are really bad this tear, aren’t they? (at least down here in TX and I believe in KY also)>

    @Karen Gogue–dear girl, we are still praying that you will be able to be back with us soon. We miss you!

  13. / Reply

    Good article on the Bloodhorse.com by Dr. Hansen about his star. I agree that he needs to not push the horse too much. We have lost so many this year to injury that the 3 year old Champion might be the last one standing. Of course, he will have to face Bodemeister somewhere along the line.

    Love Hansen and Blueeyesintherain!

  14. / Reply

    I won’t be posting for a week or so. Having hip replacement surgery and then off to rehab. All of you take care of yourselves and keep up with the wonderful Queen Z and the Little Prince.

    Hopefully, I will be back home and online by the time Hansen and MMM make their next starts.

    Since I volunteer at a heart hospital 3M and Kathy have a special place in my heart.

  17. / Reply

    Thank you, thank you so much. I love this question and answer time. I only wish that I was able to keep up on a daily basis. I also thank my friends here. I know they always welcome someone back.

    It has been since Nov 2010 that Zenyatta last raced. She is a remarkable one of a kind horse, the one I will always love forever. I was so close to her but never was able to kiss her on her soft nose. This is my goal, my quest.
    love n kisses to Zenyatta and colt z

    Aunt Sally

  18. / Reply

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