Zenyatta

Queen of Racing

Ask The Experts

Ask The Experts: Mayberry Farm Pt. 2

Cozmic One in training at Mayberry Farm, March 2014. Photo by Kyle Acebo.
Cozmic One in training at Mayberry Farm, March 2014. Photo by Kyle Acebo.

Q:

When do you put shoes on these yearlings?

Pam Woolley

Wallingford, CT

A: Coz had his first pair of shoes put on in February. We don’t put them on initially because they don’t need them here. There’s no concrete here—it’s all dirt and grass. The trainer gets a pristine foot. There are no nail holes and they aren’t cut a certain way. Also, when they have shoes it’s much harder to let them be out in the paddock. There’s a risk that they’re pull them off.

Q:

What’s the difference between exercise riders and jockeys? Do they have different skill sets? Do exercise riders work for multiple farms?

Sam Shaffer

Albany, CA

A: To start, it’s often their size and weight. The smaller riders usually aspire to be jockeys, to be famous riders. Jockeys wouldn’t necessarily know how to break a baby. They wouldn’t know how to get them nice and quiet, to gallop and stop a lot, to stop and stand. Exercise riders are more attuned to the “kids” as they’re part of the teaching phase.

Most exercise riders work for multiple farms. A lot them will go to the tracks in New York and New Jersey to gallop, and then come down to work in Florida for the winter. Right now, we have so many horses that we have riders who just work for us. Our two main guys have been with us for almost seven years. We have them almost year round—they’ll take a month off in the summer.

Q:

Why did they send Cozmic One to start training at such and early age? Why not wait into he was a full 2 years old before sending him to training?

Abel Hernandez

Phelan, CA

A: It’s a disservice to the horse, to us, and all the people around them to wait. By the time they’re three years old, they’re big and strong and set in their ways. It’s like finding someone who was raised by wolves. You don’t want to wait until they’re teenagers to teach them anything. You can break them early, and if they’re not ready, you can pick up again in the fall. Just because you break them it doesn’t mean they have to train.

The exercise helps their bones develop and strengthen. In Europe horses jog up and down asphalt and cobblestone roads because it makes them stronger. That’s another reason you don’t want to wait longer—that older horse that you waited on is going to be a softer boned horse.

Q:

Do you break all the yearlings the same way? Or is it individual based on their personalities, temperament etc?

Cathleen Siegel

Lake Worth, FL

A: That’s another thing that makes us different from other farms. We don’t put our horses in a program; we develop a program for the horses. You can’t lump them all together. Our horses get a leg up because the training is tailored to them.

Certain horses like certain people. If a rider doesn’t get along with a particular horse then we’ll have someone else get on him; we don’t force it. We take them to the round pens to teach them to turn, to stop, to trot; they learn figure eights and to back up. Some of them don’t like that, and if they really don’t we’ll skip it and go to the field. They jog and trot in the field and do big figure eights.

Our Experts

Cozmic One at Mayberry Farm / Zenyatta.com

Jeanne Mayberry, April Mayberry, Jacki Garcia

Mayberry Farm

Jeanne Mayberry runs her farm in Ocala, FL with her daughters, April and Summer, and their cousin Jacki. Both Zenyatta and Cozmic One received their early training at Mayberry Farm. Jeanne’s assistant, Margarita, is pictured on the left.

Reader Interactions

82 Comments

  2. / Reply

    Dear Team Z and Mayberrys:

    Thanks for sharing this info. Godspeed COZ; safe and sound always. Love and Hugs, JB

  3. / Reply

    Thanks for the Q&A session. I learned a lot about training young horses.

    Know nothing much about the subject but have to point out that John, Jerry and Ann took very good care of Zenyatta and she is sound as a can be. See no reason the same will not be true of Coz. Just because he is with John at the track doesn’t mean he is going to run anytime soon.

  4. / Reply

    Thank you for the informative post. I would love to see more trainers and owners have paddocks/pastures for their horses. I think what the owners did for California Chrome was a great idea. Give him some pasture time.

    I feel sorry for the horses that are in a stall day in and day out for years. They must be so bored.

    Love you Zenny. Looking forward to Coz’s first race.

    Love

    Linda

  6. / Reply

    Thanks for the great questions and answers.
    Mayberry Farm, thanks for sharing and taking great care of these beautiful horses.
    Say hi to Miss Kitty Daisy.
    Hugs!

    • / Reply

      Dear Sheena:

      Goodnight. Love and Hugs, JB, LM, PC, HT, Cap, Herc and all the Sweeties

  8. / Reply

    SA Press Box Thursday June 26, 2014
    @DesormeauxKent off two mounts in today’s 7th and 8th here at SA.
    No official comment or explanation from stewards-
    Meeting tomorrow w/rider.

    Steve Andersen ‏Daily Racing Form Thurs. June 26, 2014
    In Thursday’s 7th, MIke Smith rides Heat du Jour.
    In the 8th, Irving Orozco rides Dark Timbers.
    Kent Desormeaux is off mounts. #santaanita

  10. / Reply

    What a wonderful surprise after a challenging day!!!! Mr. & Mrs. Moss, Team Zenyatta, and Team Lane’s End, I have learned so much from reading this posting. If I ever have a mare and baby, I know where they will be!!!!

    Love to All,
    Mary in Boone

  11. / Reply

    To the Mayberrys…thank you for taking time to answer these questions. I have learned so much about all phases of horse racing from this site and the education never ends. I especially likes the answer to why you start training as a yearling. It makes perfect sense. We don’t know if Coz will ever have a measure of his mother’s astounding success but he certainly has been managed professionally and carefully which is the best anyone could hope for. I love the Queen and all her offspring but Coz will always be special because he is Zenny’s first.

  12. / Reply

    Kudoos to the Mayberrys for taking time to answer these questions. We appreciate everything this site has to offer and admire Team Z for their willingness to share so much with us.

    Queen Z, sweet dreams. To Princess Z, Coz and Ziconic…enjoy every day and know you are special to thousands of people who love everything about you and your mom.

  13. / Reply

    You did a great job with his mama and your nonprogram program sounds like the best way to help the horse develop to the best of their ability.

  14. / Reply

    I liked it when Summer was training in so cal, caught some great winners at Del Mar and the roi was great. when are you coming back to cali Summer

    • / Reply

      Dear BGG:

      Saw this video before. Thank you for posting it here; enjoyed it again. COZ is a very special boy. Love and Hugs, JB

    • / Reply

      Thank you BGG,
      Love this video, he is a special guy and he knows it, seems to get his way a lot, ha, ha. John will straighten him out, although colts have a tendency to be nippy anyway. It sure didn’t stop Big D, he even took a finger off a groom and had to wear a muzzle. I just love the confidence he seems to have, comes from Mama Z for sure.

  21. / Reply

    Dear Mary Kaye:

    Just saw your post to me on Page 7 of the previous Blog and I was incorrect. You are absolutely right, the colt (Hip 93) in the upcoming Saratoga sale was born on 4/21/13 and is not COZ’s paddock mate. I left you a post on Page 7 as well. Hope he is purchased by a good, caring person. Love and Hugs, JB

    • / Reply

      Dear Max,

      Thank you so much for our Hovis update. Oh, the images his descriptions conjure up! Loved the 007 reference. My hat’s off to anyone willing to take up the challenge of cleaning a horse’s teeth. Some I am sure are very well-behaved, but it’s those other horses you have to watch out for! Happy weekend everyone. Free the Moose! PU all who are sick, Yay, Dan! Where are you, Tasty???

    • / Reply

      Wow! Hovis really had quite the week. Sort of discouraging when a horse has a way more interesting life than at least this human :-) Thanks, as always, to Sheena via Max for our Friday treat.

    • / Reply

      Max,
      My deepest condolences on the loss of your beloved Tasty.
      If it had not been for your love and concern, we may not have found out.
      See the new Blog which is a salute to Tasty Temptation.
      Here is the Lane’s End statement published today Friday June 27, 2014
      Lane’s End Farm
      At Lane’s End Farm we have always prided ourselves on the exceptional care given to all of the mares boarded here. It has never been our practice to report the status of any of the mares beyond their owners and the people directly involved with them.
      Recently through Zenyatta.com we have become aware that fans are inquiring about the status of Tasty Temptation. Sadly we must report that she passed away in October of 2013 of an apparent heart attack. I hope that fans will accept this as closure and respect the privacy of the owner and the farm.

  24. / Reply

    June 27 Cherokee Devotional

    Gentleness has amazing strength. Where some would dominate, others are sweet and compassionate and this gives us hope. A gentle person is cool, clear water on a hot day-a refreshing change from hostile attitudes. How many times we have met someone we wanted to admire but couldn’t. They would not trust us to see beyond their protective walls. Caring and friendship was sorely needed but bitterly ignored. To understand these things makes us gentle. It gives us the touch we need with every age. Young and old yearn to hear a voice that tells them they are so important, so loved, that nothing could make us turn from them. A gentle word is warm sunshine to every heart, a touch that is never forgotten.

    Truly, it is a pleasant sky above our heads this day. There is not a cloud to darken it. I hear nothing but pleasant words.
    Mongazid

  25. / Reply

    Thank you so much for the wonderful update and explanation of the processes at Mayberry Farm!! Jeanne Mayberry and her crew obviously care so much about starting the young horses off in the right way and we need no more proof of this than the wonder of our beautiful Queen and the results of her racing career. Mayberry Farm is doing things the right way and I am so appreciative they have taken this time to explain some of it to us. We are so fortunate and so blessed to be able to not only continue to follow our Queen Zenyatta but also to be given access to follow the lovely young prince Cozmic One. Thank you so very, very much.

  26. / Reply

    Oh, poor Hovis! Life is certainly full of perils, and somehow they all happen to find you!
    Say, if you can manage a cell phone from Mum (while she’s not looking), you could ring up Zenny over here and maybe arrange for a spa vacation at a wonderful place called Mayberry Farm. I’m sure Zenny could get you in. You would be in heaven, with lots of lovely ladies to woo, and best of all, they will not make you ponce for an hour in the hot sun. Horsey heaven.
    Max–you start off our Fridays with a bang.
    Hugs o all.

  27. / Reply

    Dear Kathy.Wonderful devotional today feel at peace just reading it.So great to see Joey out in his garden!Hope they can find out what went wrong.Poor Dolly,they had temps of over 112F the other day Harry’s eyes have been sore but he’s much better!Klaus the naughty kitty is still invading their garden!
    Fubu didn’t have a very good day yesterday but he’s back on his pain meds now so hopefully?Nerissa was a well-behaved taking his antibiotic unlike his auntie Primrose!!!We had quite heavy overnight rain the chicks were “cwtching”under Mum but it’s turned out far better today than I thought.The primary feathers are coming through now “pinning” it is called they will be able to cope with wet conditions far better then.Off to read Hovis now!Have a great day.Hugs to you,Kisses for Holly, Nikko and Sugar.Sheena.Boo’s on his way to 14 million!

    • / Reply

      Dear Sheena,

      I’m relieved that Joey is doing better but will be anxious to know what triggered this episode. So sorry for the heat in Tripoli. Poor Dolly! We know the prognosis for poor Fubu is bad. It’s hard just observing from the sidelines. I feel bad for his mom but for him, too. Prayers for them. I’m proud of Nerissa. Primrose needs to emulate his behavior! That’s good the chicks’ primary feathers are coming in. It’s tough out there for the wildlife! Hovis has minty-fresh breath. Always lots of challenges. Boo will reach 14 million any day now. Incredible! Have a good Friday and a wonderful weekend. Hugs from me, kisses from Holly, Nikko and Sugar. Kathy.

  29. / Reply

    Dear Mayberry Farm folks,
    Thanks for the very interesting information. This is all new to me so I am learning a lot. Coz has been in such good hands with all of you, and I am absolutely sure that John will keep up the good work. I saw in a video clip somewhere (John speaking) that Coz had been turned out for a while before he arrived at John’s stable at Belmont. It’s great that he had some time to just “be a horse” before starting the second phase of his training. Can’t wait for the next chapter.

    Team Z – I join the others who would love an update on Ziconic and some video of Princess Z.

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