We know you’ve all been waiting for more photos!
Team Z and Lane’s End are proud to share these images from the birth of Zenyatta’s second colt. Based on the response we’ve received, it seems that the world is as excited as we are.
We had a spectacular day on the farm, and we are saying our goodbyes for now. Mom and her little one are now relaxing, bonding, and spending some quiet time alone.
There are still more photos from this trip to come. We’ll post again soon with news about 13Z and his older brother!
Enjoy!
-Team Z
Debbie Kent
He is very cute and Z is as beautiful as ever! Our filly was a year old yesterday. Thanks for sharing the pics.
Kat
(THE VERY BROAD BLAZE ON THE COLT REMINDS ME OF RAGS TO RICHES!)
Wishing you all the best!
Barbara Wood (Texas)
That was my first thought as well.
D'Arcy L. Demianoff-Thompson
Seriously a stud chain on a mare!
Liz
Not a stud chain, a shank. She’s a big, powerful mare, it is for safety, and especially so if she decided she didn’t want people around her baby.
D'Arcy L. Demianoff-Thompson
I can understand the ‘big powerful mare’ situation. I have had many! And I have had to use a ‘shank’ on unruly mares in race training. And it makes sense given the ‘value’ of the foal. It was a little surprising and caught me off guard.
Liz, thank you for your explanation.
Kelli
A 17+ hand thoroughbred mare around her brand new baby can be a very formidable thing if she decides she doesn’t want anybody near that baby. Staff needs to be around to make sure mom and baby are doing fine and that baby gets up and nursing in good time. If that big mare suddenly decides the next person that touches her baby is toast, nothing less than a stud chain is going to even slow her down. So yes, a stud chain on a mare.
Notice it’s wrapped around her halter and not flush against her nose or in her mouth, across her gum. Wrapping it around the noseband of the halter is as gentle as you can be with one while still having the added control.
I have used stud chains on mares many times, around the halter, over the nose, and under the lip – never a broodmare, but mares nonetheless. You do what you have to do to keep everyone safe.
Louise Castello
Thank you both for wonderful explanations for the uninformed!
Helena
Thanks for the information about the chains and how they are used with mares that are birthing – makes total sense to me. :)
Kathleen Burnham
What a precious baby boy! You did good Zenyatta!
Yeva
So adorable!!! Congrats and wish the two of them the best of luck!!!
sue and tony
Zenny looks so content and happy in these photos…what an amazing mother she is…13Z is so lucky to have come from her. I can barely wait to see more pics of her, 13Z and of course 12Z. I think the Mosses might just move to Ky. since they have a growing family there. I could never leave Zenny and I know how hard it must be for her Ann to do so.
Suz CA/TX
Such adorable pictures Queen Z looks fab after foaling. She was obviously well taken care of and loved
Christine
Just beautiful!! Zenyatta is just a beautiful horse and she has the most beautiful babies (foals, I know).
Diana Hanson
NEVER tired of seeing Zen! And her babies are absolutely beautiful. She is such a good horse. If only all could have a queen like Big Z!
Jenna
She has a beautiful colt! My goodness you guys will have great racers. hope to see him at Santa Anita one day :D
marilyn
Priceless……….awwwwwww so beautiful like Zennyatta…..What great pictures….thanks for sharing these with us……
Debbie G/Kentucky
Z13 is sooooo cute!!! I’m so happy that Z and Z13 are healthy and doing well. Zenyatta looks so proud. These pics bring me to tears. <3
Susan In Fl
Thanx so much for the wonderful pics! Everyone looks soooo great! Peace & Happiness
PonyPat
May this Little Red grow up to be as great as his great, Great, GREAT grandpappy, BIG red! :)
Pat
Been a long time since I have bred horses… and can’t remember, but with puppies (I breed Basenjis now since I can’t afford land in California for horses, not that purebred dogs are any cheaper, just don’t need the land)…. the white on our breed stays the same as the grow, the main color takes over… is that the same with horses?… If so, this baby colt’s blaze will be much like her Mom. Wish I could remember, been a long time since we had foals.
Wendy
Well done, Z ! He’s a looker ! The girls will go silly for this handsome lad. Could you post a pic or 2 of his Daddy.
AmandaF
Here is a link to a picture of 13Z’s sire Tapit. http://www.gainesway.com/Domains/www.gainesway.com/CMSFiles/Images/Horses/MainPhotos/240/Tapit_resized.jpg
Sandra Bennington
So happy it was a good delivery & Mom & Baby are doing fine!!! Still can’t get enough of Zenyatta & her foals!! Thanks to all!!
Paula Higgins
Oh WOW!!! These pictures made my day, week and year!!! He is precious and she is such a good mother our Zenny!!! Thanks so much for posting them.
Jen
Wish I could put kisses all over that pretty little head, and Mom, too… :-)
darlene
Beautiful foal Z has given them two wonderful foals now please give her a break don’t breed her for next year
SunnyB.
Gosh, isn’t he sthg? I am so glad Mom & colt are fine!! Whatta sweetie!!Thanks for all the pics.
Linda in NJ
What precious pictures. Thank you for sharing them with us. He is absolutely beautiful.
I am just curious. Do you think they took Zenny and 13Z out to the paddock today or would that be too soon? Maybe the colt and his Mom need that time to bond in their stall before going out to a large paddock.
Zenny looks so relaxed, and she is really checking her little guy out. I am sure she is making sure he is okay.
Thank you again for sharing the photos with us.
Love you Zenny,
– Linda
Marilyn Lane
Beautiful!
Peggy (N) South Georgia (PUR)
What could be more precious than this. Oh Wow.Just love this little fellow already.
I agree so much Ann and Jerry might just have to move to KY.. How hard it will be to have to leave them. Lots O Love, Peggy
maryann lane
What a beautiful Boy. 13Z will be another stunner. Congratulation Zenyatta and LE and the Mosses. Glad the foaling went well. Please keep us in the loop.
Linda in NJ
I love the last picture of Zenny and her baby. You can still see her dapples.
Heidi Kreizinger
Lovely and beautiful youngster and Z should be proud.
Will she get a year rest from having a foal next year? I hope so. And how long will a mare be able to have foals?
Z I love you!
KatiefromCali
He is beautiful isn’t he? I gasped when I first saw his picture. :o)
As for Z, it has been addressed a couple times in the forum, but the short version is she will most likely will be bred back in a month or so on her next heat cycle. Horses can pretty much have a baby every year (and many times do) in the wild. If a mare’s body senses something wrong or feels it isn’t capable for whatever reason of sustaining a pregnancy they simply will not conceive or will slip the pregnancy after a few weeks/months. Their systems are very smart and will take a break on their own without us humans getting involved. At this point her most basic desire/drive in life is to have a foal at her side as much as possible.
The only time really humans get involved is when the mare starts producing foals later and later in the season. Since all TB’s turn a year older Jan 1 having a foal in May or June can really set some late developers back in terms of maturing (ie right off the bat races like the Triple Crown would not be looking good). So sometimes, and possibly in Zenyatta’s case in a year or two, they might leave a year “open” so that she can be bred in the beginning of the season and start to produce foals in Jan or Feb etc.
As for how long they can still have foals, it really can vary, depending on condition/well being/genetics of the mare and other factors. A healthy, well kept mare can have babies up into the 22-25 range. There are others here who know more on all this, but i believe someone on this site knew of a mare having a healthy foal at 27 or so. So really, its all up to the mare and her body.
But rest assured with Zenyatta’s connections she will only ever have the best, and if they see she needs a break or felt she was at risk for anything major, they will see to it that she gets whatever she needs. She is the Queen after all. ;o)
Hope that answers any questions, or at least helps. Happy 1 Day Birthday to 13Z!
Linda in NJ
They figure 13Z weighs around 145lbs. Is he larger then what 12Z was? I seem to remember that 12Z weighed 130lbs when he was born.
JG
Handsome foal..!!!!! He will definetely turn gray, just look at his ears, that’s the answer!!!! Awesome!!!
Zenyen
Very, VERY nice colt indeed.
I’ll be the lone voice in the wind and say I think he is going to be a chestnut. Nice red gold coat that just sparkles in the sun.
carolinarkansas
not alone…I am with you…the “eyes” have it
Max
Make that 3. If 13Z were a gray, those expert Lane’s End professionals who were present at his birth would have noticed and the Mosses would have said that 13Z is a gray like his sire. If Team Zenyatta calls 13Z a chestnut, he’s a chestnut.
judy berube from Rhode Island
Dear Max, Zenyen and Z Fans:
I agree, I think the little one is a Chestnut as Lane’s End Team said. He’s just beautiful. Looks like Z in the eyes, ears and shape of his head. Here’s a photo of Tapit. I think he looks more like Z. What do you think? Hugs, JB
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=138908096236095&set=a.138905086236396.24540.138904692903102&type=1&theater
Max
JudyB. 13Z seems to favor his momma. He is big and beautiful like her. However, Tapit is a good looking horse himself, a very proud gray. Thanks for the photo.
judy berube from Rhode Island
Dear Max:
Absolutely agree with you; Tapit is gorgeous. So far Z has passed on her beautiful looks to both her sons. Isn’t she just magnificent!
Now just waiting for good news on Vertigineux and TT. Hugs, JB
Ann NC
Your lone voice has grown into a pack.
I’m stickin w/ chestnut!!!!!!
Sandy (Northeast Ohio)
If this esteemed group is saying chestnut, I am hereby giving up on gray :-)