Today concludes our second week of foal watch. We must admit that we arrived a little early! Zenyatta has kept us waiting, but she’s showing signs that it won’t be too much longer. As always, we’ll let you know as soon as there’s news.
We also have a little update on Ziconic from John and Dottie. They say he is doing quite well following his March 25th race. He’s been getting lots of gate practice and learning to be comfortable in small spaces. We can’t wait to see what’s next for him.
Scroll down for photos from the last few days at Lane’s End.
Enjoy!
Team Z
Celeste/ Massachusetts
Thinking of you Zenyatta and hoping tonight is the night!!
Margaret
Do we know the day Zenyatta was bred last year? Vet books give a wide range…330-360 days with somewhere around 345 average. But I know from one book a vet claimed he had a client who’s mare routinely delivered between 310-318 days. And then way back in 2000 if you ever watched Animal Planets THOROUGHBRED…Bonita Farms had a mare who went 13 1/2 months. Patrick was the surviving twin. While small at birth he quickly caught up and became Mr. Boniface’s granddaughter (one of many)saddle horse.
we are in the final days of this pregnancy. Just hang in there folks!
Elizabeth Tobey
I remember Patrick! I actually got to see Patrick when touring Bonita Farm with the Railsitters group in fall 2001!
Margaret
While we wait I thought I’d share Boone’s birth with everyone. Boone is now two years old and the link takes you to his blog from just before his birth to the present.
I need to rate this a strong PG. My Special Girl Boone’s mom had a bit of a rough start with him and Boone did sustain 4 fractured ribs during delivery. Not every birth goes like this one. This is a bit more extreme. But the reason I wanted to share it with you is not because of the dystocia (difficult birth)it’s the joy and wonder Boone is today.
Quickly scanning the page I didn’t see video from the delivery. There may be a link that I just bypassed. You can always choose to just read everything. Oh and this page (blog) is available from UPENN.
http://info.vet.upenn.edu/babybook?utm_campaign=Foal+Cam&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=12398492&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9pl_QNNzKRb7PSluYgIjs2LaZ1M7BgB3FccujqlPEPe4RYBU1pUXxooYREsa094666YSsGgvYxtCLoIum9woSR696goyHwz35ytCE2qX_ykdY4b8s&_hsmi=12398492
Elizabeth in New Mexico
Dear Margaret,
What a v v v very special colt Boone is and his Mom! What a great website . . . so much love and such beautiful stories! You are so right – wonderful and kind blog! Thank you so much for sharing these life stories of beautiful horses and kind and loving people. Going to go back and reread them again.
with love and best wishes to all of the ‘family’ there and to you, Margaret, Elizabeth
Judy Berube from Rhode Island
Dear Margaret:
Great find; thanks for sharing it with us. Very informative. God Bless this beautiful boy and his gorgeous Chestnut Mama. Love and Hugs, JB
Deb E.
Pace…pace..pace…pace…pace…pace…pace… Day 37.
Vampressqueen Sue Colvin
Still nothing yet Z? ?
Pace pace pace
@Elizabeth – loved ur poem for Z. Too cute?
Im off to ?now. Sleep well every1.
HugZ❤ prayerZ vamp
Elizabeth in New Mexico
Dear Sue, Shouldn’t we all have slim thigh muscles from all of this pacing?!! Thank you for your kind words. We all love our Queen Z so very much! Hope you’re catching some z-z-z-z ‘ s . . . pun intended. with love, Elizabeth
Elena Erdman
It is such fun waiting for Z to give birth. Even my fiancé who is not into horses is checking. I love the wait it is exciting. Thank you team Z for giving us such great photos and updates. We love all of you. The world is better because of Zenyatta and her awesome team.
Elizabeth in New Mexico
Dear Elena,
Sounds like a keeper – your fiancé. Can’t go wrong if he loves Zenyatta ‘too’!
with love and best wishes, Elizabeth
Elizabeth in New Mexico
Dear Zenny,
Hoping tonight brings your special very wonderful gift. Love you so much, Elizabeth
Alene
Thank you for sharing these treasures! The picture with ZENNY and Ann with Ann wearing the hat is my FAV…Guys love all of you…Be safe ZENNY…xxxooo
Kathleen Belmonte
Hi, ZENYATTA,
I’m just here to let you know that I adore you. And, respect you so very much, for sure.
I can’t imagine how heavy and blah you must be feeling, and I sympathize!
If only I could hug your beautiful neck, hold you for s bit, rub that huge, beautiful tummy, before the miracle happens!
(Sometimes, it’s fun to be old and act like a kid, agree?)
Alright, my hero, sleep well! The Good Lord does things in HIS time.
May you both be healthy and safe.
All my love,
Kathleenc
JudyInSouthCarolina
Maybe Zenny is waiting for every other mare on the farm to give birth before she does HER “stretch run” LOL!
When everyone’s initial prediction dates came and went and we started with our new ones I predicted April 10th…………I will be ready for a rubber room by then if I happen to have picked the correct date. Oh and also will need a new dining room rug and a new pair of shoes.
I know someone said earlier that there was a new moon on the 7th. Since she obviously ignored THAT cosmic occurrence anyone here know if there are any other “significant” ones anytime soon?
♥ Auntie Judy aka JAG / So. CA ♥
Love it: Stretch run….. ♥
Bev Winters
By now I would be sleeping in the barn. Great to have efficient staff. I would put the cot in front of the open stall door and try to sleep while the mare would go get a drink of water and then come stand over the cot with the water dripping down on me. Great memories. I always roughly figured 11 months plus 5 days from the last cover.
Mary
Pacing and checking every few hours. We know it will be eventually momma Z, but we really want to see this beautiful baby you are carrying. Since you have waited this long, maybe you will wait for Friday. 4.8.16. That is a mathematical date that will never repeat. Love to you and yours.
Sophia Gates
C’mon mamma!
Judy Berube from Rhode Island
Dear Sheena:
Goodnight. Tried to answer your email, but my service was acting goofy. Will try again. Love and Hugs, JB, LM, PC, HT, Cap, Herc, Frank, Bentley and all the Sweeties
Judy Berube from Rhode Island
Dear Beautiful Mama Z, COZ, ZI and DC:
Z, pace, pace, pace! Goodnight. Happy Dreams all and Sweet Baby Dreams Z. Love all of you so much. Hugs, JB
Z Princess, Dubai, will always love you.
♥ Auntie Judy aka JAG / So. CA ♥
♥ Dear Ann & Jerry
If Zen has made it this many days after her “due date” I’m now hoping she can wait until the 8th.
8 is my personal favorite number because it’s my birth number AND it represents ‘Infinity’ = never ends… A nice number for her foal to be born!
Hang in there! Judy
Carla
Ann and Jerry, you do realize Zenyatta has figured it all out right?!?! ? Three times you have come and then left not too long after the birth of the foal. She says, ?”hmmmmm” if I don’t give birth I can keep my favorite people around a bit longer. ?? She’s a smart cookie!
Joyce Daugherty
zenny looks so happy to have Ann & Jerry with her. I wish Ann could be with her always.
Diana Stuart
Pacing, pacing, pacing – – – my shift. Been a long time since all of us had so much fun in virtual foal watch.
I always wait for a text from Auntie Judy JAG to start the process of crashing the net! What fun to know that hoards of Z’sters and Z Dumplings world wide can make the mighty internet wobble to its knees! Tee Hee!
That photo #2 is spectacular for sure, Zenny. We SEE that baby in there, girl. You can’t hide baby any more so – PUSH!!! We’ll all gasp and catch baby for you.
Impatiently waiting and pacing – and pacing – and pacing – – –
diastu in tempe (soon to be Morristown, AZ)
Judy Berube from Rhode Island
Dear Diana:
Baby is getting ready to move into foaling position. Pace, pace, pace. Love and Hugs, JB
Linda in NJ
Good morning Zenny:
I see Auntie Judy and Diana were on foal watch last night. I am checking in this morning and see that I haven’t missed anything.
Wishing you a wonderful day!
Love you!!
Julia Engler
I think Zenny is enjoying the time with her “mom and dad” and is putting off her delivery to keep them around longer! I’m sure they don’t mind.
Kathy
April 7 Cherokee Devotional
If you are looking for Utopia, don’t move: you may be in it. If something is working well, don’t get up and fly off where things do not work well. We dream that if this is good, think how much better it must be “over there.” Stay put until there is reason to move around and change things. Changing things is sometimes like helping a baby chick break out of an eggshell. Sure we can do it, but the chicken needs to do it himself for his own strength. By interfering, we put it in jeopardy. You may be standing on the edge of something truly great, but your need to fling caution to the wind takes you right out of the greatest thing you could do.
Stand still and see. Have the strength and fortitude to hold the line. You may be a big fish in a little pond, but go ahead and swim there until it is clear that it is time to move elsewhere. If you move when you are truly ready, you will thrive-instead of drown-in a bigger pond.
We are content to preserve what we already have.
-Tecumseh, Shawnee
Jan Overman
Dear Kyle,
Your photos have so much emotional content, I just keep going back over and over again.
Thank you for your artist’s “eye” and the joy it gives me to just look and be there.
Celeste/ Massachusetts
Have a nice day Zenyatta!!! Hoping for some foal news SOON!!!!
Kathy
Dear Sheena,
I hope you’re day is going well. Steve is home today and tomorrow. Changes up my schedule! The FB furbabies I’ve visited are fine. Love and hugs from me, kisses from Angel Holly, Nikko and Sugar. Kathy XOXO
Kathy
Dear Sheena,
Oh my gosh, Grammar Police here…make that “your day…”
Hugs, Kathy
Elizabeth in New Mexico
Dear Zenny,
Love all of your photos. Hope Baby Z arrives soon. Love you, sweet girl. Elizabeth
shirleeinindy
Texas Red, my boy, is entered in a 7 F race at Santa Anita Saturday. Be safe sweet boy. Time to get the T shirt out of the closet!
Judy Berube from Rhode Island
Dear Shirlee:
Godspeed TR; safe and sound. Love and Hugs, JB
beverly ballard
Good luck and bless you Zen and your foal! What’s up with Coz?
sheena.davies(wales)
Dear Kathy.Oh,Steve is naughty to disturb your routine.Wonderful devotional.Very cold here today and a grey start to Aintree.Mullins has had a winner with Apples Jade but shorty fell on Footpad.Moose is looking magnificent pics on his FB I have shared but not sure if you can view.They are busy upgrading the Dyfi website bound to be a few teething problems still quiet at the nest.Betsy has spent an uncomfortable night after surgery and is on ketamine and methadone Viktor has over 27,000 likes now.Hope you have a good day and still the pacing continues!Love and hugs to you,kisses for Angel Holly,Nikko and Sugar.SheenaXOXO
Kathy
Dear Sheena,
Will look for Moose. Best wishes for a good day for all horses, ospreys and prayers for all animals and humans who are hurting and need a healing touch.
Hugs, Kathy XOXO
Max
Jade’s Apple was more than just a winner in the Juvenile Hurdles. The filly absolutely crushed the opposition males. She won by 41 lengths. Mullins is elated.
Footpad, one of my favorites, fell but Mullins says that he’s okay.
sheena.davies(wales)
Dear Max.I know she was absolutely AMAZING.It’s been such a wonderful afternoon of racing at Aintree today.Shame about Footpad but he got up right away.Mullins is eyeing that UK title!!Sheena
Max
So thrilled about this filly that I reversed her name. Her sire family is top class, but I don’t know too much about the distaff side in France. Apple herself is fantastic. She’s only a baby yet, but she’s got a wonderful career ahead if she continues to improve like this. Mullins thought that she was sent out too fast but she wowed everyone including him when she took off like Secretariat. She clearly liked the soft ground.
Cue Card got his win, but with a second and third in that race, and the wins by Apple and Annie, Mullins now has a good shot at the title.
I see that the Moose is at Aintree. Better to stick to the parading. Annie is way out of his league. And she towers over him at 17+ hands.
Judy Berube from Rhode Island
Dear Max and Sheena:
Wow, 41 lengths; incredible! Glad Footpad is OK. Love and Hugs, JB
Sally B. (Auntie cherishes Z and her young)
I had pains in my side last night as I went to bed. I thought what the heck!? ( Perhaps it was a gall bladder attack or something). I had to check in with you this morning. I thought maybe I was feeling some of your discomfort Z!
Praying your delivery will be easy for you and both will be healthy
love you with kisses
Auntie Sally B
Sally B. (Auntie cherishes Z and her young)
Dear Margaret, What a great find on the web. Thank you! I am not sure if I was watching the delivery of Boone, I thought I was. It was located on the right side of the page to click on. Happy for Boone.
hugs, Sally B