Happy Wednesday!
Zenyatta and 13Z are settling into their summer routine. As you can see, Zenyatta spends her days grazing and rolling in the grass. Her colt is acclimating well to his new paddock mate. The boys can’t resist a nip & tug of the halter.
Also, at the end of this post, see a short clip Alys took of Zenyatta and her colt a few days after the birth.
Check back later in the week for updates to the Video and Photo sections along with new print additions to the Zenyatta Shop.
Enjoy!
-Team Z
Mary, from Michigan
I do believe I’m turning into an annoying pest with all my novice questions about horses…
This one is about training. I know from reading that back in the bad old days, horses were rather traumatized when they were ‘saddle-broke.’ Now, however, a lot of new techniques have been discovered. Years ago, I went to a live demonstration with Monty Roberts, who refuses to call putting a saddle on a horse for the first time ‘breaking’ a horse. He said that is exactly what it does – break a horses spirit. He prefers a gentle technique he called ‘join up’ where he slowly gets the horse to come to him, and within an hour or two has the horse saddled and a rider up on the horse’s back. Is this technique widely accepted now? Or do large horse breeders still use the older methods or forcing the issue? It seems that, especially with valuable race horses, taking extra care NOT to have the horse start going crazy with bucking or restraints would be a sound business practice.
So, how are horses saddle trained by MOST people now?
Mary, the Pest
Zenyen
Mary,
Different farms have different methods and at the end of the day it comes down to the individual horse.
We introduced tack along with learning ground manners in the stall. Basically we took the saddle and pad into the stall with us, tied the young horse to the wall (this is part of the ground work young race horses need to learn for track life) and set the saddle where s/he could sniff and investigate while we groomed them up.
We did this a couple of times and then we started with the saddle pad, brushing it along their bodies like the rub rag, laying it up across their withers, showing them there was nothing to worry about and keeping it all very business as usual. The saddles used were exercise saddles, which weigh NOTHING like a Western saddle. Those came next, just all part of the routine.
Introducing the girth was an area that required care because this is part of what the horse objects too. We were always told to approach it like someone was putting a belt on you and would you want that person to just put on the belt and TUG IT TIGHT without warning?? Of course not, so the girth was kept lose with lots of rubbing and gentle fussing around the girth, getting them used to being touched there and slowly, over a few sessions (keep in mind we would do this whole routine twice a day) the girth got snug enough to hold the saddle on and be a presence for the young horse but not ‘rider ready’ tight.
Bridles were always flat soft rubber bar bits, to encourage all the chewing and mouthing the youngster wanted to do.
With saddle and bridle on (halter over bridle) we’d let the youngsters move about in their stall (supervised of course) until they showed no care about the tack. Then started long reining.
Long reining (again twice a day) was where we took the most time. Ultimately we wanted to see a relaxed young horse, head down, poll flexed, body bending with the reins, free and forward motion. This was usually weeks, upon weeks of patient, steady work.
When we finished with the long reining and baby was nice and tired, we would come up to their side and pat them on their barrels, jump (gently) against their barrels, notch the girth a bit more tightly, little things that a nice, tired horse, didn’t have the energy to overthink and get excited by.
Ultimately by the time we were done with all of this and the youngster’s mind frame was where we wanted it, we’d have a good, solid lunging session, getting them nice and tired and then ‘pop’ up somebody went on their back. The jumping against their sides, meant that they were used to us bumping and hopping back there and this was just something new, nothing to be worried about.
Never had anyone arch their back, prop or get disconcerted using this method, mostly they just reached back and tried to chew on your boot toe then, with someone at their head, walked on like an old pro.
Terry Crow
zenyen-You could write a doctorate paper on this subject. Very good and complete explanation.
Mary, from Michigan
Wow… that’s a GREAT explanation! I truly appreciate the time you took typing that all out. I’m glad to know that people take a lot of time and patience with a young horse, getting him slowly but surely accustom to saddle, bridle and rider. It sounds like your method doesn’t cause any trauma at all! I’m happy to know that’s the case. Again, thanks a million for your explanation.
Mary
Sandy (Northeast Ohio)
Mary,
No one could have been more of a novice than I was so don’t worry about asking these great questions. There is so much to learn here – Zenny used to provide very educational posts, and now others such as Zenyen, LauraJ, and Keta (to name a few) have pitched in to help us all learn.
Sandy (Northeast Ohio)
What a great explanation Zenyen. I could almost “see” the process. Thanks so much, as always, for taking the time to explain horse stuff to us newbies :-)
Louise Castello
Zenyen is a gem!
Max
Louise. I agree. Zenyen’s comments are always great and a joy to read. Very informative.
Keta
Zenyen
One the best step-by-step descriptions I have read.
Should consider publishing it .
Well done!
Keta
maryp ny
Zenyen, Your description answering Mary’s inquiry on “breaking” horses was a great education to those of us who don’t know the training procedures. Thanks, that is excellent!
Maryp
Sue Fredrick Happy as a lark
Zenyen,
Thanks for taking the time to do this in depth article…..I so enjoyed it. I guess when we broke our Saddlebred colt we did it right, and that was 30 some years ago. hugs
judy berube from Rhode Island
Dear Zenyen:
Thank you. What a wonderful, kind, gentle way to get them used to the saddle and being ridden. Hugs, JB
sue and tony
All questions are good ones. That’s how we learn from being a member of this wonderful site. We enjoy reading everyone’s responses so keep the questions coming.
Celeste_in_TX
Thank you, thank you!! What wonderful photos and video. Zenyatta still looks so beautiful in her summer, shiny coat and Z13 is growing more handsome every day. Love them both so much – I deeply appreciate your kindness and generosity in sharing them with us. Thank you!!!!
zfansandy
Great Wednesday surprise. Thanks so much for the updated pics and vid, Alys, Lanes End, Ann & Jerry. Just sooooooper. I’m loving and adoring QueenZ. Z13 is a beaut but CoZ takes my breath away. Wondering what HE’S up to?
Keta
sheena & Max
You may already follow this group-especially since you Follow “New Beginnings” UK equivalent of “Old Friends”. I have for awhile Lots of tweets today.
WY Police Horses @WYPHorses
Official Twitter page for the @WestYorksPolice Mounted Section (#policehorses). Policing West Yorkshire on horseback. This site is not for crime reporting.
Keta Note: Here are two from today–one at work, one at play
WY Police Horses @WYPHorses
Love this video, it demonstrates the ability of our horses to stand
while we deal with an incident
http://telly.com/ODT12C
An oldy but a goody of Connor in the field
http://telly.com/LTVIOG
Sandy (Northeast Ohio)
Maybe they changed the links Keta, but I didn’t get anything about horses for either link, and the procedure seemed foolproof.
Sandy
Keta
Sandy
Telly is similar to YouTube. Think it rolled to the next video when I copied
the link. Standing Is quite short
Try this one http://telly.com/5SV7C5
Here is Play. It is longer with the William Tell Overture as music
http://telly.com/2QFWJY
Hopefully they work. If not, I’m throwing in the saddle pad.
Hugs, Keta
Sandy (Northeast Ohio)
Thanks Keta – the second one worked, and how funny to see that horse racing around with its coat on while hearing the William Tell in the background. The first one was of a white horse rolling in the field – don’t think that was what you meant, but I can see that it’s not easy to capture something on this site :-)
Keta
HRTV @HRTVinsider
Kiaran McLaughlin said Incognito will run in Belmont Stakes with Irad Ortiz aboard.
David Grening @DRFGrening
Incognito confirmed for Belmont. Irad Ortiz Jr to ride.
Will wear Godolphin blue.
“The key is he wants the distance,” Kiaran said.
Sue Fredrick Happy as a lark
Keta,
Thanks for this post, I love him, it’s going to be hard to pick my favorite, love Orb too. hugs
Linda Shull
Love the new pictures and the video. Very protective Mom!!! She really is a great Mom. I hope her babies are treated well in the future and are as successful as she has been.
Debbie G/Kentucky
Thank you so much, Lanes End and the Mosses, for these darling pictures and video. Z13 is growing up to be such a handsome fellow and Z is as beautiful as ever. Love them!
Terry Crow
Debbie-Enjoy the next few months until the misery of Wildcat football starts.
Sandy (Northeast Ohio)
Terry Crow! Tsk, tsk, (poor Debbie doesn’t already have enough misery without peeps pointing it out???)
Terry Crow
You’re right, Sandy. I’ll wait until the season starts.
Donna H
It’s just amazing to me how quickly the babies grow and change. 13Z just looks terrific and loves the camera like his mom. Zenyatta never loses her love for being a ham for the camera. They are just gorgeous!!!
vicki
So happy to see the new photos and video. Zenyatta looks so gorgeous and is such a great Mom. Thanks so much for sharing this wonderful and precious gift with all of the Queens devoted followers.
Ann Segrest
I noticed the blotchy spots on the side of 13Z’s pasture buddy and wondered if those were 13Z’s hoofprints from the two foals playing like little boys with too much energy and no supervision. I suppose they are not and are just the result of the longer baby fur bunching up.
suew/Va
What I wouldn’t do to kiss that soft nose of Zenny’s. The video just makes me want to hug and kiss her gorgeous self.
Irene Caty
Irene Caty from Calif. Those are some wonderful pictures and I am very glad that you are sharing with us. I have never seen Zenny on her back before she sure likes to ham it up. I hope both of he boys have much of her personality. Z13 is looking Great and I like his red coat with the grey in the leg area. He already has the look of a Champion. I wonder how Co Z is doing, is he in training? I can’t wait until he gets grown up and ready to race. Will the boys be racing out of Cali, I know Ann and Jerry like to keep their Race Horses close at hand. I feel so lucky that I had the opportunity to watch Zenyatta race many times here in Cali. Zenyatta is still my beautiful Girl and I praise her highly for having two very beautiful boys, hail to the Queen. Love you Zenny and will be waiting for the next pictures.
Shari Voltz
Hi Zenyatta I have been showing the children all day your pictures and video. We all LOVE how you put that Beautiful nose right up to the camera. Thank you again for sharing. All the 5th Graders in Mrs. Voltz’s social studies classes LOVE QUEEN ZENYATTA : )
Randy
There’s nothing better than coming to this site and finding a new blog… it’s always an unexpected treat. Thank you Team Z, Lane’s End, Mr. and Mrs. Moss, and Alys Emson for another great entry and sharing more wonderful pictures plus that adorable video… it’s like looking through a window into Zenny’s world.
Also, kudos to the clever soul who titled this one “Rolling” With Mama Z & 13Z.
Marilu Villanueva
Wonderful pictures. Thank you Team Z for sharing!
Made my day!
Roberta
It might be too late, if Zenny has already been bred, but with the beautiful results from their last mating, how could you go with anyone else but Tapit? It looks like Zenyatta and Tapit are a perfect match, I have never seen such a well put together foal; and he has so much confidence and presence; look at those muscles for someone so young! He looks the part of a future champion, and I agree with the person who posted that he looks like another great champion, Secretariat. Better make sure this one has a good name, I believe he is going to be in the history books, right along side his mommy. I was worried about over breeding her too, but seeing how well she carries and foals her offspring, has put those fears to rest. I know the Mosses have only done what’s best for her in the past, and we have to have faith in them, because if we love her like we do, can you imagine the love they have for her. I hope she gives her foals her talent and will to win, because she certainly does her part in producing serong good looking individuals. From the video with her and Z13 running together, she also has them in training; what a GREAT MOM; she does this, just like anything else she has done, SHE IS A PERFECT CHAMPION IN EVERYTHING SHE DOES, WHAT A GIRL! WE LOVE YOU ZENNY!!
olcay
MERHABA zenyata ve yavrularını takip etmekten çok mutlu oluyorum. şampiyon zenyatanın umarım taylarıda şampiyon olur sevgilerle
Jan D./ Texas
Roberta, I couldn’t agree with you more about breeding Zenyatta back to Tapit. Also, that would give Z13 a full brother or sister. Both Z12 and Z13 are just so gorgeous.
Nicki Boyd-Clouston1
Zenyatta’s dapples just show what good condition she is in. The picture of the wonderful health she is in. I’v been racking my tiny mind as to who she has been bred to. With her glowing health apparent for all to see, I see no reason why she can’t be bred again this year. Who could the sire be? any guesses?
maryp ny
Nicki, Check out the Forum side and you will find many guesses on who Zenyatta’s date was. I think that the consensus is that she has been bred….but to who?
Abigail_1849
Good afternoon Tribe-sters, Zenny and The Boys, as well as Team Z and the folks at Lane’s End.
Here’s the latest from THE VAULT. Enjoy!
http://thevaulthorseracing.wordpress.com/2013/05/28/dark-mirage-the-first-winner-of-the-american-triple-crown-for-fillies/
Max
Abigail. Loved it as always. This filly was small like ND but huge in talent. I also compliment you for your choice of photos. Very interesting. A pleasure to see them. Looking forward to your next article. No pressure.
Keta
Abigail
What a walk through history-a small “Tigress” filly, the first female jockey to ride
in a major, a Triple Tiara, great photos & pedigree info, terrific story–everything
but a happy ending. You are an amazing researcher story teller!
Hugs,
Keta
carol in arkansas
Hi Abigail…..read this today ….it is wonderful story with so sad ending ….you have told her story with your usual attention to detail …she was well loved …what a foal she and the doctor could have made …thank you so much for telling her story for a whole generation to read
Sue Fredrick Happy as a lark
Abigail
As usual I loved it. Can’t believe this little filly got so little press for her amazing accomplishments., Good things sometimes do come in small packages. What heart she had. Hope your article does spark some renewed interest in her. hugs
judy berube from Rhode Island
Dear Abigail:
As usual, beautifully done. I wish this little brave Sweetie had a happier ending. She was a feisty little beauty with a huge heart. Thank you for telling her story. Love and Hugs, JB
Janet Newman
Abigail,
Enjoyed the article. very sad that she did not get to pass on that fighting spirit to any offspring.
Marshall (NC broad)
Thank you, Abigail, for this wonderful Vault article! What an exquisite gem Dark Mirage was — she may have been small, but she was fierce. How sad that her injury caused her early demise. She definitely should not be forgotten!
Take care and Hugs
Abigail_1849
Thank you so much Max, Keta, Carol, Judy, Janet & Marshall! I was so proud to write about this GREAT filly on THE VAULT, but it took months of research to piece her story together. I didn’t even know who she was until I spotted a photo of her on EBAY and, as so often happens, I started to poke around until I could find out more about her. I particularly appreciate your wonderful comments because “digging her up” was not easy at all. Dark Mirage really has been almost forgotten, even though she was the Ruffian of her day. The other issue that gets to me is that I’m needing to buy up old thoroughbred magazines just to get the information on these horses because newspapers articles of the day are now charging about $4 USD just to read an article! But: can you imagine what a Dark Mirage-Dr. Fager baby would have been like for racing in the USA? Hugs to all of you, since without your support, it would be tough to stay motivated..and passionate .. about the great thoroughbreds of the past!
Nancy
I know nothing about genetics, and I’m wondering how 13Z got his color, since Z is so dark and Tapit is gray. Is it possible he will turn gray over the years? Or is his color a throwback to others in his background?
Diana Stuart - Chestnut gene
Hi Nancy,
To be a chestnut (and it looks like Little Red will stay that way – dang) a horse needs to get a chestnut gene from each parent because the gene is a recessive. We know that Tapit has the chestnut gene because he has other chestnut offspring (and their moms donated a chestnut gene therefore too). Now we know that Zenny carries one also because she has passed that on to Little Red so he could be “red”. With bay being a dominant gene, had either Tapit or Zenny passed on even one bay gene, Little Red would not be chestnut but would be bay. For Little Red to be grey, Tapit would have had to pass on his one grey gene. Grey is also a dominant – if only one is passed on, the foal will – eventually – turn grey. We know that Tapit doesn’t carry two genes for grey because he has solid color offspring.
dia-hope-you’re-not-confused-stu in tempe
LauraJ (Cincinnati OH)
Minor correction–the “bay” gene is separate from the base coat gene.
All horses have a base coat that is either black or red. Every other color is a modification thereof. The base coat color is determined by the “extension” gene. The dominant form, which produces black, is represented by E, while the red form is represented by e. A horse with a black base coat may be either EE (homozygous for black) or Ee (heterozygous for black). It is not possible to tell which just by looking. Zenyatta is Ee; she inherited an “e” allele from either her sire or dam, both of whom are Ee. I do not know what Tapit’s base coat is, although I suspect he is ee. But for this discussion it doesn’t matter. 13Z inherited a red “e” from both parents, so he is chestnut.
As Diana points out, Tapit is heterozygous for Gray (G). Gray is dominant, so when Tapit is bred to a non-gray mare, 50% of his resulting foals will be gray. (At this point, it does not look to me that 13Z will be gray. In closeups one can see that the hair on his eyelids is red. It would be graying by now if he were going to turn gray. Besides, Lane’s End says he is chestnut and they should know. JMHO.)
Bay is a modifier that acts on black hair but not on red hair. It is believed that there are two forms of this gene, called agouti and represented by A. The dominant form A causes black pigment to be removed from hairs on the horse’s body but not on the legs, mane, and tail. This yields a typical bay horse. Another form At is recessive to A but dominant to “a” (no agouti). At causes the seal brown coloration exhibited by Zenyatta and her Bernardini son, Coz. Since Agouti only modifies black, its effects cannot be seen on a red-basecoated horse such as 13Z.
Diana Stuart - "Bay" gene
Of course you are correct – red and black are the color genes – but I was trying to keep it simple. :-)
What’s your take on brown? (Zenny’s actual color.)
diastu in tempe
Diana Stuart - "Bay" gene
Well duh, Diana – read her entire post. She discusses the At modifyer that (probably) causes brown. I say probably because I remember reading a U.C.Davis article that said they weren’t 100% sure.
dia-going back to my glass of wine stu in tempe
Terri Z
Many thanks to Lane’s End, Team Z, and Alys for the beautiful pictures.
It’s just so amazing that Zenny had a chestnut colt (with the famous 3 white socks) on the 40th anniversary of Secretariat’s Triple Crown. She’s truly a magical being.
And Z13, is so special; he, like his dam, is an old soul. Oh my, what will see in three years?
sheena.davies(wales)
dear judygoodnight sweet dreams God bless lots of love and hugs sheena
judy berube from Rhode Island
Dear Sheena:
Don’t think I access Moose’s tweets. Don’t belong to Twitter. So cool that he has so many fans. Love and Hugs, JB
sheena.davies(wales)
dear max have you seen moose’s hilarious tweets since York? he’s getting more followers by not racing!!! I remember the hamlet cigar advert he was referring to.I wonder what plan nigel has got for him.what do fancy for the derby? cant see dawn approach getting beat but who knows. was sad to hear that encke the st leger winner was one of the horses tested positive at al zarooni’s stables.he denied Camelot the triple crown!!! hugs sheena
Sandy (Northeast Ohio)
Sheena, how does one find Moose on Twitter? Never tried to do this before.
Sandy
Keta
Sandy
If you are on Twitter, here is the info
Mad Moose @MadMooseNTD
This is my Official Twitter Account, accept no imitations.
I’m a Dual-Purpose (Flat & Jumps) Racehorse, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies. Adore my fans & owners.
Hope this helps.
Hugs, Keta
Max
Keta. That’s correct. There are a number of others, but this one is Moosie’s own.
Sandy (Northeast Ohio)
Thanks Keta. It’s that “if you’re on twitter” part that might hang me up, but I’ll give it a shot :-)
Max
Sheena. Moose is a legend now. Mares are seeking him out for admiration. It’s amazing. Royal Ascot may still be on the cards, but they may have to do what Pati suggested: lure him out of the starting gate with carrots or mints, or in his case, polos.
I heard about Encke. He also beat Big D’s boy, Thought Worthy, in that race. Don’t know what to say.
Not sure about the Derby. it was too soon for Magician, but one of those other Ballydoyle horses might upset things. Still very happy about Joyeuse and her win.
Wonder what is going on with Morpheus?
Keta
HallmarcStallionsLLC tweet with PHOTO
The Americans are coming! The Americans are coming…..!
AK by LEROIDESANIMAUX #TheMidnightRideOfAscotRevere
https://twitter.com/HallmarcLLC/status/340219860384641025/photo/1
Loved Pati’s Reply Tweet
Yep, and we’re bringing our World Cup winner with us. :-)
Max
Keta. AK looks magnificent. Training in England must agree with him? Grand ole chestnut.
Janet Newman
He looks great. Go! Animal Kingdom Go!
Peggy (N) South Georgia
Speechless. He’s just beautiful
Trina Nagele in So Cal
Very cute.
Keta
Mr. Bossy Pants (7-Year-Old Gelding) Workout
Date: May 30, 2013
Track: BETFAIR HOLLYWOOD PARK
Distance: Four Furlongs
Time: 48:20 Handily
Track Condition: Fast
Surface: All Weather Track
Rank: 5/44
Keta
Interesting tweet by Tim Wilkin
Mike Repole, who may run 3 in Belmont:
“NYRA treats me better than Churchill Downs.
They actually called me and asked me what I needed.”
Keta
Ray Paulick tweet Thurs. May 30
Halsey Minor files bankruptcy. Major Thoroughbred farms among creditors.
Guess he won’t be buying any racetracks
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-30/cnet-founder-minor-files-for-bankruptcy-after-selling-art.html
Bobbie --- Elkhorn WI
Love the pictures and video! I just took another look at Tapit and Z13 is almost a clone of his Daddy conformation wise and his head. He also reminds me of Hansen, another Tapit son. There is a video of Hansen on Bloodhorse.com where he is playing in the sand. Same compact body and pretty head. I do believe however that he inherited his awesome rear from MOM Z, ha.
judy berube from Rhode Island
Dear Z, COZ and Prince 2:
Sweet Dreams. Love Ya. Hugs, JB