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Lane’s End Video Interviews: Part 2

Happy Friday!

We’re back today with the second installment of our video interview series. This time we’re featuring Donna Vowles, Assistant Broodmare Manager at Lane’s End. She spent some time with us talking about her responsibilities and experience at Lane’s End, including the night Zenyatta foaled.

Donna Vowles: Assistant Broodmare Manager
“I was born in Birmingham, England and spent the majority of my childhood between Birmingham and the neighboring countryside of Worcestershire. My obsession with horses developed around the age of six or seven when I hounded my Dad for riding lessons. From the very first time I got to muck a stall and groom a horse I was hooked for life!

My career began at a young age working and instructing at a riding school, before moving onto managing a Three-day Event yard. I started working with Thoroughbreds professionally in 2002 after a training season in Newmarket.

Kentucky became my home in January 2004 when I first joined the Lane’s End Team. My job title now is Assistant Broodmare Manager and a large part of that role consists of ensuring the health and happiness of all the broodmares and their foals here at Lane’s End, including Zenyatta and her colt.”

Z and Baby Z both love a good scratch! Photo by Alys Emson/Lane's End.

Have a great weekend!
-Team Z

Reader Interactions

335 Comments

    • / Reply

      Definately a Street Cry head; so very unusual for Bernie’s to not give his head to his
      offspring; guess Street Cry is a very strong influence in Zenny’s pedigree.

      “E” definately has Bernie’s most gorgeous royal head.

  3. / Reply

    Hi there Zenny, Z-12 and fellow Zensters:
    I’ve been sick all week with a nasty sinus infection, but still came to Zenny’s site every day hoping for a Z Distraction — and here it is!
    Thank you for the interview with Donna. I remember how we watched a whole series on birthing hosted by Donna in those nail-biting weeks before you foaled, Big Girl. She does a fabulous job explaining the whole process at Lane’s End.
    And Z-12!!! WOW! It’s only May 11 and just look at how BIG you are!
    Peppermint kisses from me, sweet Zenny, just for you and your big baby boy.
    Love & hugs to all

  5. / Reply

    First of all, happy Mom’s day to all (as applicable :))).
    Z12, gosh how you’ve grown! Kids do that as I recall.
    I’ll have to wait until I get home from work to see the video but I’m sure it’s as excellent as the first one.
    Have a great weekend all!

  6. / Reply

    Donna Thank You for the informative video, sounds like you have the perfect job. We really appreciate the pictures of Zenny and the Little Prince, Thank You to everyone at Lanes End. Zenny and Z12 are both looking good. Any idea as to when Ann and Jerry will name Z12? Also congratulation to Zenny and Team Z, on being safe to Tapit. Hope everyone has a great weekend and Mothers Day.

  7. / Reply

    Thank you Lane’s End and all the connections for this fabulous new photo! Zenyatta and Z12 look Gorgeous! Happy First Mother’s Day Zenyatta!

  8. / Reply

    @LE< Team Z., Donna and all–love the new post and Donna's accent too. It has such a lilt. What I love about this picture is not only seeing how big "our" boy is, but to see his Mama wrap herself around him. Z–you are the best mom! I am only sorry all foals can't have the love you give yours.

    @JEANIE—wonderful news. Hooves and fingers crossed, and prayers that the goal will be met. It's only 2 days away, and a bigg weekend coming up. I do so hope people don't get too busy to remember. Maybe today is payday for some?

    It is great to welcome some new people here. I hope you all find this to be a "soft place to land"

    HAPPY MOTHER"S DAY to all who are moms and prayers to those finding this a difficult one. Ashton, I'm thinking of you and your Moma! Every time TC, G.P. posts new redneck jokes, I think of our beloved Kari. And to those who want to be moms and can't, I understand that completely too, as our daughter is adopted. She is a blessing.

  9. / Reply

    Thank you Z Team for the latest news.

    Thanks, Jeanie. Let’s hope and pray you will meet your goal and save the horses.

    Marilu

  11. / Reply

    I had some business to take care of last night so I wasn’t able to get back to the blog. I will review all of the posts and take the appropriate action which will probably entail a vote by the entire membership. Sue, I will post the entire roster later on. At this time I want to give special recognition to Eveline, who is the new president of the Maryland chapter. Eveline-It took you awhile but glad to have you aboard. Also noted is your and Nancy in NJ votes for The Dead Skunk Song. The only chapter president we have not hear from is Susan In TN, who is dealing with an in jury. @Rosemary McCauley-The post you are probably referring to is the one in which I stated that Arizona does not have a chapter president. If you would like to have the job, let me know. Neither Diana S nor Denise in Arizona has indicated that they want the job. Good to see your post. We have missed you here. I will say that anyone who thinks we would actually lobby an owner or trainer to put a certain rider on their horse has sadly mistaken the purpose of this blog and the redneck club in particular. We are just having fun here. Lighten up.

    • / Reply

      Thank you very much.
      We are just having FUN.
      I have to say I did spend the night in a rest stop once. I was moving from Pa to sunny Florida. My dear husband was still alive. It was the 2 of us, 3 cats, 1 dog and the air conditioning unit for our mobile home in the Ford van. What a night it was. One to remember. Thanks for making me think of it. Sue

    • / Reply

      It will be a heavy responsibility, but I would be pleased and honored to accept the position on behalf of the State of Arizona. After my position is confirmed, please let me know any issues that I have missed voting on while I have been absent from the site. (My job is getting in the way of my life, I have to do something about that).

      In the photo above, Baby Z certainly looks the part of a grown up horse already. He has that certain look about him of greatness.

      • / Reply

        You are hereby named president of the Arizona/New Mexico chapter. The only big issue to be decided is whether we will adopt The Dead Skunk Song as our anthem. You can check it out on You Tube or one of the links that have been previously provided. Voting ends today. Good to see you posting again.

        • I missed the deadline to vote for the song but I am familiar with that particular diddy and I can’t think of a better anthem for us. Who is going to do the honors of singing it at our first National Redneck meeting?

      • / Reply

        ROSEMARY,

        DO YOU REMEMBER LOUDON WAINRIGHT ? HE IS THE AUTHOR AND SINGER OF THE SONG; I HAVE THE 78 ALBUM ALL DUSTY IN MY ATTIC;

        WHEN IT FIRST CAME OUT I WORE OUT MY ‘RECORD PLAYER’ PLAYING
        IT.

        • I remember him now that you have mentioned his name. I was trying hard to remember who sang it and just couldn’t come up with it. All I could think of was Roger Miller. You better get thatl record down and dust it off – we may need it for the first National RNC meeting.

    • / Reply

      THANKS FOR THE CLARIFICATION TC,

      THE QUESTION WAS PURELY RHETORICAL AND IN JEST

      THERE WAS A RECENT INSIDE INFORMATION ON MICHAEL MATZ THAT WAS JUST SUPERB; HE IS A VERY MODEST HORSEMAN BECOME TB TRAINER; WHO HAS RIDDEN SOME FINE HORSES IN OLYMPIC GRAND PRIX EVENTS. HE IS A VERY FINE HORSEMAN AND HAS THE RIDING AND HORSE EXPERIENCE TO SPOT ISSUES WITH HIS HORSE; RIDER AND ANYTHING EQUESTRIAN.

      PERHAPS UNDERSTANDING THESE ISSUES WITHOUT FAULT; REALIZING THAT
      THINGS DO HAPPEN.

      • / Reply

        My comment was not directed towards you. There was a post on the previous blog which indicated that we, as just a bunch of bloggers, did not know our proper place when we suggest that a certain rider should be used. Gee, if a trainer is looking for advice from this blog on who should ride I think it is time for him or her to quit. We are just having fun here.

        • OH OK,
          I THOUGHT MY COMMENT ABOUT ROSIE AND UNION RAGS MIGHT
          HAVE ENTICED THE COMMENT, PERHAPS NOT.

        • Yeah, Terry & Sign, I did not like that post either, it was harsh, with some high & mighty attitude — as if we imagine any opinions of ours carry any weight with a trainer.

  12. / Reply

    HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY, ZENYATTA!!!!! Your baby (who’s getting to be a really big boy now,is SO beautiful!!! You have a wonderful day on Sunday celebrating! Hopefully it will be a beautiful day and you and Prince Z will have the sun on your backs and a soft breeze to ruffle your manes!!

    My vacation plans have changed and my trip back to Wisconsin has been postponed. I am still flying to Seattle this evening and will be back home Tuesday night. The rest of my vacation will be spent at home relaxing and finishing some projects around the house that I have not had time to do—-and—spending some extra time with Barnaby!!!!Therefore,it is all for the best!

    Hope all moms out there in Zennyland have a very happy weekend!! Love to all from me—and from Barnaby John!!!

  13. / Reply

    Happy first Mother’s Day, Zenyatta! You are the best mommy ever and your baby boy is TOO CUTE!

  14. / Reply

    Here is today’s horse joke-In one small rural town the Sheriff also fulfilled the role of town veterinarian. One night the phone rang. The Sheriff’s wife answered. An agitated voice inquired “Is your husband at home?” The wife replied, “Well, do you need him as the Sheriff or as the vet?” “Both,” came the reply. “We can’t get our horse’s mouth open and there is a burglar in it.”

  15. / Reply

    Today’s redneck jokes-You might be a redneck if you go Christmas shopping for your mom, sister and girlfriend and you only need to buy one gift. You might be a redneck if your master bathroom has the words “porta” and “potty” written on the sides. You might be a redneck if you wake up with chocolate in your ears after spending the night in a fine hotel. You might be a redneck if you spent a significant amount of your early years in the child care room at the bowling alley. You might be a redneck if you do your Christmas shopping at garage sales. You might be a redneck if you sell tires and concrete statues in your front yard. You might be a redneck if you have ever vacationed in a rest area. You might be a redneck if your idea of a classy bathroom is one with a crescent cut out of the door.

    • / Reply

      Good ones as usual Oh Grand Poobah. Have a wonderful weekend and thanks for all you do for all us. It is greatly appreciated, and not taken for granted.

    • / Reply

      Great jokes again, Terry. I do have a friend who buys stuff at garage sales all the time to give to her neices and nephews for Christmas and birthdays. I guess she qualifies too!

    • / Reply

      HOW DID YOU GUESS; I HAVE A CRESCENT CUT GLASS MASTER BATHROOM DOOR,
      TOOOOOO VERY FUNNY !!!!!!

    • / Reply

      Terry C.,
      Once again you have spread the joy of laughter! Love the horse joke and the funny redneck jokes, too! Some people spread gloom and some spread smiles — of course, there are some who spread “smelly stuff”(euphemism), but we won’t elaborate. You are obviously in the SMILE category. Thanks for the happy vibes!

    • / Reply

      Good grief….my children are all rednecks….because I was the bowler…
      ….
      and while moving from Cal to Utah 6yr ago….spent night on Bonneville salt flats…rest area too classy…in trailer with hubby 3 dogs and a cat…
      ….
      HAPPY MOMS DAY TO ALL APPROPRIATE MEMBERS…AND HAPPY DAY TO ALL
      ….
      peppermint kisses to all soft noses worldwide
      ….
      Zenny …he his growing up so fast …..our Baby Z

  17. / Reply

    Lane’s End seems such such a neat place – I’d love to get a job there or somewhere like there someday! Would love to work with broodmares and foals, myself.

  18. / Reply

    Happy Mothers Day to you Zenyatta..what a wonderful BIG boy you
    have now…can’t get enough of him. Kisses on your soft noses and love always.

    Happy Mothers Day to everyone out there, the weather should be georgeous.

  19. / Reply

    Happy Mother’s Day Zenyatta! Also Happy Mother’s Day to all of Z’s fans.

    Redneck joke: A redneck decides to try horseback riding, even thoug she has had no lessons or prior experience. he mounts the horse unassisted and the horse immediately springs into motion. It gallops along at a steady and rhythmic pace, but the redneck begins to slip from the saddle. In terror, he grabs for the horse’s mane, but cannot seem to get a firm grip. He tries to throw his arms around the horse’s neck, but slides down the side of the horse anyway. Finally, giving up his frail grip, he leaps away frorm the horse

  20. / Reply

    OOPS! Hit submit by accident. Here’s the rest of the Redneck horseback rider joke.

    … to try and throw himself to safety. Unfortunately, his foot has become entangled in teh stirrup, and is now at the mercy of hte horse’s pounding hooves as his head is struck against the ground over and over. As his head is battered against the ground, he is mere moments away from unconsciousness when to his great fortune … the Walmart manager sees him and shuts the horse off.

        • TC GP – Glad you liked it. Can’t beat yours though. But I do have a Redneck true skunk story. We knew a thoroughbred trainer who had a skunk as a pet. The skunk was de-scented. He used to bring it to the barn every day and take it home at night. It ran around the barn like a barn cat or barn dog. For some unexplicable reason, the skunk always seemed to follow me around. I often threatened to steal him. He was a cute little guy (the skunk, that is).

      • / Reply

        Darlene – Thank you and I hope you also have a good rest of the weekend.

      • / Reply

        Oh, I like it, Rosemary! I had a similar thing happen to me at 17, except that “finally giving up my frail grip”, I fell — no one to turn that horse off! They wanted me to “get right back up on that horse”, but I was done for the day. My shoulder was badly bruised, and I had to wear it in a sling for a week and a half.

    • / Reply

      This is a great joke Rosemary, glad you have accepted the President position for
      Arizona/New Mexico.

    • / Reply

      YAY! Rosemary is back!! I am still giggling. Loved your redneck horseback rider joke.
      Very funny! Thanks and welcome back!

      • / Reply

        Marshall and Sign: Thank you for your comments. i am very happy to be president of the Arizona/New Mexico chapter.

        Did you hear about the cowboy redneck who rode into Dodge on a Thursday, stayed three days and rode out on Thursday? How is this possible, you ask? His horse was named Thursday!

        • VERY VERY VERY FUNNY ROSEMARY; LOVE ALL YOUR FAMILY/PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AS A JOKESTER.

        • Rosemary,
          Love it!! LOL Maybe you remember: “On the road to St. Ives, I once met a man with seven wives; every wife had seven cats and every cat had seven kits, etc…” At the end, how many were going to St. Ives? Answer: One
          I am sure that I left somethings out, but it is a pretty good riddle.
          Thanks!

    • / Reply

      Rosemary, I have a real one. In an effort to impress a young man I requested a quiet horse since “I hadn’t ridden for quite some time” A huge lie, I had never ridden a horse, only a donkey on Blackpool sands. I mounted, and did quite well until we came to the point in the trail where experienced riders were encourage to canter and gallop. My horse had on quirk, it liked to be at the front. Needless to say, it set off after the gallopers with me hanging on for dear life, reins flying, arms thrown round the horse’s neck and bouncing up and down like a pea on a drum. The handsome young man gallantly came after me and stopped the horse as it was heading towards a fence.
      Needless to say, I was incapable of walking the next day and I was not asked for a second date.

      • / Reply

        INTERESTING, THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME WHEN I WAS A KID;
        I WENT TO SUMMER CAMP AND WAS AN ADVANCED RIDER ACCORDING TO
        MY CAMP GROUP.

        WENT TO RIDE AT A STABLE WITH SOME FRIENDS AT WHICH I NEVER RODE;
        TOLD THE GUY WHO ASSIGNED HORSES I WAS ADVANCED AND HE GAVE
        ME A VERY DIFFICULT HORSE; DON’T REMEMBER FALLING OFF, BUT GOT
        SLAMMED IN THE FACE WITH HIS NECK (ALMOST BROKE MY NOSE) ON THE WAY BACK TO THE BARN.

        IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO GO RIDING ANYWHERE WHERE ONE DOES NOT KNOW THE PEOPLE; LOTS OF THINGS CAN HAPPEN; ONE NEVER KNOWS THE SOUNDNESS OTHER OTHERS HORSES.

        I RODE AT A PLACE WHERE THE OWNER BOUGHT; A “6-PACK” OF HORSES AND THERE WERE SOME REALLY MENTALLY DERANGED HORSES THAT
        HE AQIRED IN THESE DEALS AND THEN GAVE THEM TO THE LEARNERS TO RIDE; HE WAS ABLE TO DISCIPLINE THEM BUT HE WAS A PROFESSIONAL RIDER; MANY WOULD JUST PLAIN TAKE OFF AND BE IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP.

        • Ouch – hit in the nose! Did you end up with a black eye?

        • This reminds me of the story about Tonto’s horse. I have posted it before, but if enough want to “hear” it I will repeat it.

  21. / Reply

    Lane’s End and team Z thank you so much for the up dates especially about our adorable Zenyatta.

    Happy Mothers Day dear Zenyatta. And to all Z’ fans, love Ingrid.

  22. / Reply

    Thanks Lanes End and Team Z for the special video.

    Donna, you are a lucky girl!

    Zenyatta and son seem to be doing so well which means you must be taking really good care of her.

    Happy Mothers Day to all of you out there and a special wish for those of you who are far away from your children this holiday. The phone lines will be hot!

  24. / Reply

    Hi Zenyatta and Baby Z. Thanx to all at Lane’s End and Team Zenyatta/Baby Z. Just love the interviews. Whoa, Baby Z is gorgeous and growning every day. He is so handsome. God bless them both. Any chance of seeing photos of Tasty’s baby?

    Have a great weekend.

  25. / Reply

    Gosh Baby Z is big. He’s growing like a weed. Does he have an umbilical hernia? I noticed that area in some other pictures that were taken.
    Zenyatta looks like the best Mom ever. She is quite the lady. Just love her!

  26. / Reply

    Happy Mothers day Zenyatta and to everyone out there……. of course to Mrs Ann Moss and Dottie (miss you voz).

  27. / Reply

    Happy Mothers Day Zenyatta! Prince Z is getting to be SO BIG. Thank You Lanes End for the wonderful interview and keeping us up to date on her Majesty.

  29. / Reply

    Queen Z…..what a handsome young son you have! He is a great combination of you and Bernie! That long neck of his will help him win the close races!! He looks like he might be a blood bay when his coat sheds out.

  30. / Reply

    BLACK CAVIAR races tonight around 11:20 PM California time! Go, Black Caviar, and may ALL come home safe!

    • / Reply

      Go Black Beauty herself!! We don’t have any fillies now to really fall in love with – they all retired! Looks like the ‘guys’ are back on top again – UNTIL EBLOUISSANTE starts racing, but I am already in love with her!! Hope all racing tonight race home safely!

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