Zenyatta at Lane's End

re: Zenyatta at Lane's End

margo — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 18:37:59 GMT

any way you cut it, she is just a delight. will miss her racing.

re: Zenyatta at Lane's End

Jasmine — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 15:04:51 GMT

Love u girl!

re: Zenyatta at Lane's End

RogueRedhead — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 16:00:04 GMT

She is absolutely breathtaking! It is so good to see her looking healthy enough to have dapples.

I don't care for the chain myself, but I have a 2 year old that is her size and you have to be able to handle them when they are excited by new things.

Thanks to Zenyatta and all the people so dedicated to her care! She gave me hours of excitement watching her race (Saw her in person at Oaklawn. What a race!!)

Take care of her and keep her happy!

re: Zenyatta at Lane's End

M-D — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 13:29:28 GMT

Just watched the video of Zenyatta on being turned out in a paddock at Lane's End: She is already a very different horse!

She does look very..relaxed & happy.

She has become a...level-headed horse (you know where that saying comes from), a sure sign that she is trusting & relaxed...& contented.

Nearly brought me to tears watching her kick out & whinny & nicker in celebration as she romped around the snow-covered paddock.

And Zenyatta was obviously delighted to see Mrs. Moss, Mario, & Carmen--& hear their voices!

The weight of the day has been...lifted--& I am grateful to share (however vicariously) in Zenyatta's joyous celebratin of life (in these dark & challenging times).

Happy holidays & best wishes to all!

re: Zenyatta at Lane's End

Ann — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 04:13:08 GMT

Absolutely thrilling to watch her running, romping, kicking, whinnying, snorting! Just like a real horse, fancy that! Thanks Blood-Horse for the great production qualities of this video...I have a widescreen large monitor, and it is almost as good being there--almost. So, so special. Thank you, thank you!

re: Zenyatta at Lane's End

Susan — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 01:56:07 GMT

Thank you so much for sharing these wonderful pictures!

Hugs to you Z

re: Zenyatta at Lane's End

Stacy — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 01:06:49 GMT

Check this out:

www.drf.com/.../photos-zenyatta-play-her-lanes-end-paddock

The Mosses, The Sheriffs, Mario and the hotwalker all flew in from California to see Zenyatta run free in her paddock for the first time. AMAZING!

re: Zenyatta at Lane's End

Stacy — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 00:26:31 GMT

This just in:

Zenyatta was turned loose in her paddock today!! Go to Facebook for the photo. It's my new desk top!!!She looks like she's in heaven running through the snow. It's a sight to behold!!

http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=183254915034767&set=a.146789092014683.33884.142579315768994

re: Zenyatta at Lane's End

Horsefirst — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 02:56:45 GMT

As horse stalls go, Zenyatta's is very nice and quite big. As for the window, that's a nice luxury too and she doesn't see a barren landscape out the window, she sees a farm with other horses and stuff going on. She's only waiting to join the other girls! This is no jail cell. Once she can be out safely, she will be out much, much more than she ever could be at the track and not at the end of a lead shank, either. That is way more natural and relaxing for a horse. Of course John and others took good care of her. But the fact is, Zenyatta will be much happier when she can finally be a horse. Will she miss the fans and crowds? I doubt it, not once she can cavort and graze with her friends. That's the most natural it can be for her. Be happy for her.

re: Zenyatta at Lane's End

zenyatta mondatta — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 00:15:29 GMT

Go to Backside55.com . That is a website straight from John Sherrifs barn 55. In his previous post on there he talks a great deal about Zenyatta at Lane's End, He proclaims that she is fine and everything is going to plan. He says she is happy and that the staff there is doing everything according to the way John himself has instructed them to do with her. I am a staunch Zenyatta fan, I felt a little more relieved after reading John's website and reading Zenyatta's diary post every day. It is updated daily. I think Lane's End, if they thought for a minute that Zenyatta wasnt settling in and she was digressing badly, I think they would be on the phone immediatly to the Moss's and John Sherrifs. I feel the way you do, but we have to give it a little time to let her get adjusted to her new life. Please read her diary every day, Dottie works with the girl from LE and helps prepare her daily diary post. ITs great.

www.Zenyatta.com

re: Zenyatta at Lane's End

JAJ — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 22:52:07 GMT

Gosh Helen S, what did you expect?

She has a lovely stall with a big window--a heck of a lot nicer than the stall she had in Barn 55! She had no window in Barn 55.

What do you think stalls look like? They are big and squarish with either shavings or straw on the floor. They have a water bucket and a feed tub in them. That's about it for any stall. Some horses have a toy of some sort, but not usually since the toys are not often played with and can lead to injury.

Once she can go out safely in a paddock on her own, she will have a lot more fun.

re: Zenyatta at Lane's End

Helen S — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 22:31:38 GMT

I agree with Merrywriter. Her stall looks like a jail cell, or a hospital room. The Queen's excile to Siberia is going to take some getting used to, for her... but maybe more for us. Culture shock, to be sure. Love you Z.

re: Zenyatta at Lane's End

JAJ — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 19:58:23 GMT

Merrywriter,

At the moment, she might agree with you that she has been put in the Tower, but not for long. Letting a racehorse down is a process that takes time.

There is no better enrichment for a mare than being out 24/7 with a bunch of other mares in a herd. I don't know if Lanes End leaves their mares out 24/7 (I doubt it) but eventually when it is safe for her, she will be out at least all day socializing and walking around grazing and being a horse. Nothing could be better for her mentally or physically than being a horse in a big field with friends.

Much as I believe John Sherreffs and crew did a marvelous job of keeping that great mare entertained and relaxed, being out with girlfriends is better. Humans, no matter how much they love and try to enrich a horse's life, are not a horse. Horses socialize best with other horses. That is assuming, of course, that the horse is a reasonably well grounded individual who isn't too neurotic.

She is getting the best care a horse could possibly get, best for her physically and best for her mentally. Soon she will be out in a paddock, then out with a friend, and finally, out with a bunch of friends. She will be a completely different horse next summer.

re: Zenyatta at Lane's End

merrywriter — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 19:01:50 GMT

The queen looks like she has been put in the Tower to me. All she has to do is look out at a barren white landscape. Lane's End might be able to "let down" the energy (and I have my doubts), but that ain't gunna cut it for a highly intelligent horse with so much curiosity. I am not hearing any talk of "enrichment" during the long cold winter and a controlled walk ain't much either.

I understand she is there to be bred. I understand Kentucky has the best grass full of lime for bone growth anywhere. But I hope for her sake she is allowed to go back to CA after she has produced a foal and reared it (and if not the Mosses buy their own farm in KY for her so she has more freedom and not part of a breeding mill).

The Dodgers knew the truth with their poster of Zen proclaiming My Home Town - Dodgertown.

re: Zenyatta at Lane's End

Baroque — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 08:22:07 GMT

M-D,

I congratulate you on your work rescuing horses, and I thoroughly enjoy your posts. But then, I do have a dictionary and I'm not afraid to use it.

Zenyatta IS an exceptional thoroughbred; she has heroic stature combined with nearly perfect balance. If she can throw a foal who's anything like her, the breed will undoubtedly benefit.

But, I do wonder what she could do with a few years of Dressage training. I can just picture her floating across the ring on the diagonal in a extended trot, or using those powerful hindquarters to elevate in a passage.

Right. The whole US Olympic Team couldn't afford to lease her forelock.

Happy holidaze, all.

re: Zenyatta at Lane's End

Yvonne Baker — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 07:28:31 GMT

Zenyatta--we miss you--you brought a new exuberance to the sport of horse racing....you are the prettiest mare I've ever seen and hopefully you're adapting to your new surroundings....stay safe!!! What a great "gal" ! ! ! ! ! It will be a long time till we see the likes of another Zenyatta, I'm sure!

re: Zenyatta at Lane's End

candie cartier — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 05:49:39 GMT

please continue walking her everyday all her life to maintain her muscukar statue, as well as to avoid developing laminitis and arthritis don't let her to get fat too much.maintain the way she is,she is part of the history concerning horseracing no one can compare with her style she is so beautiful and gentle with people and kids she is lovable gorgeous horse,Iwish I see her.

re: Zenyatta at Lane's End

margaret-from regina Saskatchewan — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 05:41:46 GMT

Oh , what a wonderful Christmas present. To see her again . She looks so beautiful. It makes you just smile from ear to ear to see her.. She is so majestic.

Thankyou for sharing.

Merry Christmas to ' the Queen " and all that are looking after her.

re: Zenyatta at Lane's End

rjm — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 23:30:41 GMT

Zenyatta truely is the most beautiful horse there is. She loves all that loves her. She is adapting well. Her personality and charm always shines. She is the greatest horse in many ways that this sport has ever seen. No other horse compares and her millions of fans prove it. Please keep the pictures coming. they are great, then again you would expect nothing less from the QUEEN.

re: Zenyatta at Lane's End

diana — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 19:11:24 GMT

Im looking at the one and only SMART STRIKE baby to get on the ground!Good luck to ya Zen,only pick the best for this grand lady!

re: Zenyatta at Lane's End

M-D — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 14:24:44 GMT

JAJ: My first exposure to the thoroughbred racing industry goes back to summertime in the late 1970s when I briefly worked on the backstretch of The Spa & occasionally on a nearby layup/training farm in Saratoga.

I started out mucking out stalls & “graduated” to hot-walking & even acting as a part-time groom.

Being at The Spa in the summer was…unfortgettable.

Many, many years later, I again rubbed elbows with the "industry" when I got caught up in the Smarty Jones story--& that led to my meeting a number of industry connections & a few trainers & having access to the backstretch East Coast/Mid-Atlantic) throughout that spring/summer/fall of 2004.

All of that changed after a traumatic visit to the backstretch at Charlestown...where I witnessed (literally) a vibrant & healthy thoroughbred being dragged on the ground to the back of a stock-style trailer...into which he was "tossed"...& then transported to a slaughterhouse.

Then I became intensely involved in thoroughbred & other horse-breed rescue--& I have not looked back.

I have attended numerous auctions--including many at the dreaded New Holland (PA) auctions, & have stood impotently & tearfully by as slaughter buyers & their stooges swooped into to buy healthy, young thoroughbreds (a number of them registered with The Jockey Club) & other breeds of perfectly healthy horses—for a price as low as $150, & then stood along the fences watching in horror in an impotent rage as they beat the terrified horses mercilessly to get them to load onto the two-tiered stock-style trailers.

This is the definiton of…horror.

And, in addition to doing what I could to help in the purchase/rescue of thoroughbreds at auctions-for-slaughter, I have sponsored thoroughbreds & other breeds who mercifully made their way into rescue.

Finally, a little over 4 years ago, I took the lunge & fully adopted a great grandson of Foolish Pleasure (sire = Bold Ruler) whom I was sponsoring at a local horse rescue. Since adopting him, I have dedicated myself to learning as much as I possibly can about equid ethlogy & classical horsemanship.

He is a beautiful solid bay with one socklet (& double-stacked swirls on his fore-head, which some horse whisperers identify as signs of exceptional ability--& complexity of personality) & is also a beautiful soul & a magnificent teacher—although he is his own individual & I do not pretend that he was put on this earth to teach me or any other human anything.

His life is valuable in its own right & does not need any association with mine—or that of other humans, to be justified & recognized as having substantive & intrinsic value.

This intense study of horsemanship led me to attend clinics & even enroll in horsemanship training programs with a number of well-known horsemen & women, some of whom are recognized as “masters” of so-called “natural horsemanship.”

“Natural horsemanship” no longer resonates with my own aspirations & I look to the rich European classical horsemanship (read: Dressage) traditions, particularly those emanating from the French Legerete School (one modern master I greatly admire is Phillippe Karl).

So much of my “horse time” now focuses on training (as Chris Irwin observes: “Training precedes schooling”) in the fundamentals to develop horses who can move efficiently, effectively, & biomechanically soundly while under tack & with a human on their backs (something that is not at all “natural” for a horse—of any breed).

I have worked with a number of rescued thoroughbreds & PMU foals, starting them & preparing them to be worked under saddle. Many of these horses could not even be haltered, let alone handled & administered to by a vet (for such basic procedures as vaccination, etc.).

Most of my work & training have been done from the ground. I am a terrible rider & a little over a year ago I started taking periodic riding lessons, mostly with teachers who situate themselves in the classical (NOT modern) Dressage tradition.

The work I now do is focused on developing my own riding skills-to complement my ground-work to help in the rehabilitation & development of rescued thoroughbreds (& other hose breeds). IMHO, the gymnastic flat work (& even some low-level jumping) of classical dressage is very good for both the body & mind of the off-the-track thoroughbred (OTTB).

Soon, I hope to be working with a Maryland-based thoroughbred trainer who also has a farm where she re-trains OTTB for other careers. She has a galloping oval (3/4 of a mile) & my primary interest is in learning how to gallop thoroughbreds (in the European tradition, which among other differences means that the stirrups are dropped lower than they are traditionally in North America).

So, JAJ, this is the “place” from which my perspective on thoroughbreds & horsemanship arises & is formed & informed.

Ms. Zookeeper: Very glad to correct my gender mis-attribution. I read your widely-placed comments/posts across a number of blogs & Internet sites. It is rare to make the acquaintance—however distant & technological, of a blogger such as you (& JAJ for that matter).

I am of the “old school” & prefer face-to-face &, if necessary, toe-to-toe interaction ☺

Again: Safe & happy holidays.

re: Zenyatta at Lane's End

PJJ — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 01:00:04 GMT

Rachelfan, Its not no one's fault that you don't hear of RA anymore. The fault lies on her owner's head, HE is the one that took her out of the equation and therefore, she is out of existance. I am sorry to say, he never cared for her only for the award, and he dont care for her fans either, IF he did, he would let you all say goodbye to her as the MOsses did with Zenyatta.

I think he done her and her fans wrong, very wrong.

Another thing, Steve Haskin just a week or so back answered someone's post about him doing something on RA, He said, He wasnt worrying about it because when he called to talk to someone about her he got the cold shoulder so he said forget it. Go over to his blog and ask him again or look back over his most recent blog , Or one one of his most recent ones. I hope that helps, but JJ doesnt want any visitors I guess, Look, His wife before NOvember said on a interview that RA wouldnt be sent to the farm until the middle of NOvemeber, and they were working on a farewell for her, What happened? they swept it under the rug and wisk her on to the farm without letting any of you say goodbye.

Thats a damn shame. She deserved better than that.

re: Zenyatta at Lane's End

Zookeeper — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 20:38:15 GMT

M-D,

Glad to hear you have a sense of humor and also that you have forgiven me...(I think).

For your information (and to provide contextual detail) it is "Mistress" Zookeeper, if you don't mind. (Although "Meister" sounds a lot better.)

As to body language, I must resort (for lack of better) to a smiley face, (expressed thus: :) in blog parlance) as I relay to you my appreciation and enjoyment of the knowledge you have contributed to the discourse. :)

re: Zenyatta at Lane's End

JAJ — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 20:20:54 GMT

M-D,

I certainly understand your point that complex ideas and information do not lend themselves well to 30-second sound bytes. However, where else does the novice Thoroughbred racing fan get any information about the inner workings of the industry?

Other than Preston Burch's bible, TRAINING THOROUGHBRED HORSES (and that is almost 60 years old), there isn't too much written about what goes into the day to day making of a racehorse.

I get a lot of my information from the people I am in contact with inside the industry, but I'm already "in" the industry. Where do you get good information if you aren't already in the business?

I can remember how little I knew when I first started in the business. I wish there had been blogs around to help steer me in the right direction. I would have saved myself a LOT of money and heart ache.

re: Zenyatta at Lane's End

RachelFan — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 20:14:17 GMT

when will we get a Rachel photo shoot? Ive only seen 1 pic of her(and no news on her) since her retirement, and she looked rather loney and sad in the picture :( maybe your next article can be on her? it would make my day! the 9th and 11th pix on this article are great