Good Morning,
I love this! Look who is at Del Mar having a few days of RNR. It is my dear friend, Jeanne Mayberry. She is the wonderful lady, who along with her daughter, April, taught ME my very first lessons at their training center in Ocala, Florida.
Jeanne is taking a few days off and relaxing in good Ol’ DEL MAR. She is here with her other daughter, Summer, and her family. In the photo with Jeanne is her grandson, BRYAN. Jeanne loves to come to the barn and visit with her ‘students’. I know John and Dottie always keep her up-to-date on how ‘we’ are all doing. It makes it so much FUN for everyone to stay involved.
April went on a vacation a bit earlier…so everyone is taking a moment to refresh before they gear up for another season of ‘breaking yearlings’. Dottie always equates this to ‘going to school’. The yearlings start arriving in late September (after the Keeneland Yearling Sale) to begin the program. They settle in and get acquainted with their new surroundings, and then start to learn their lessons: to wear tack, have a rider on their back and then learn to take the cues from the rider to jog, gallop, and lengthen stride etc. All of this is so, so important to every horse and his / her future.
These lessons progress throughout the winter and then in March, April, May and June, the individual horses… now 2…leave Jeanne and April to go to the racetrack to their respective trainers. When the horse leaves the training center depends on several factors. The most important is HOW the horse is doing and the progress he/she is making. Just like humans, horses develop at different levels and different stages. Some are fast learners and quickly ‘get it’. Others, may need a bit more one-to-one attention to learn a task and and master it. Learning for this horse may progress at a slower pace.
Meeting individual differences, in MY TEAM’S opinion, is just as important for a horse as it is for a young child and a developing student.
Just like school, the students leave each year to go on to a new teacher. The same principle applies here…the 2 year olds leave to go on to the race track, to their new trainer, and the next stage of their career.
I must say, I adore Jeanne and April. They always treated ME with such LOVE and PATIENCE. So much goes into the development of a race horse…and every lesson, every consideration, and every single person who touches you can have such an impact on your future. I’ve been SO BLESSED!
I think they feel I was ‘REALLY A TERRIFIC STUDENT’. I know they are EXTREMELY PROUD OF ME and WHAT I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED.
With Love,
Hugs to All~ (Have fun in Del Mar, Jeanne!)
Z
Abigail from Montreal
WHOOPS! Meant to say “…by making this method the core of ALL teaching practices.”
Ann Maree
Hi, sweet girl,
–
My favorite story about you, told by YOUR JERRY at the Eclipse awards in January: The Mayberrys called David (Ingordo) to let him know that they either had a whole bunch of slow horses, or one REALLY FAST ONE, so they better get a really good name for the fast one!
–
Oh, I wish we could go back in time and you could start all over and we could see you once more out on the track, ears flicking, tail streaming, and “the big girl going wide around the clubhouse turn” one more time! Thank goodness we have all the wonderful racing videos for us to watch whenever we get homesick to see you! Love you, big hugs, Ann Maree
Roxi Cook
Great information! How a horse is started is SO important; the lessons, methods and treatment stick with them their whole lives. And some horses are so immature at 2 years old as well; patience yields the best rewards.
DJ
For “Z” Friends who would like a Morning Prayer:
………………………………
Lord,
fill our hearts with your love
as morning fills the sky.
By living your Way may we have
your peace in this day
and endless joy in the days to come.
DJ
Dearest Sweet “Z” and little “z,”
Thank you for the great hoofprint! Saying Hi to Jeanne and little Bryan as well! Looks like they are having a lovely day together at Del Mar. I like what you wrote about ‘Love and Patience’ ..so true! Together with Kindness is the recipe for success, and it certainly was given to Y.O.U.!
suew
Zenny, you were an exceptional student. As you John told you, there was not one thing about you that wasn’t spectacular. Kindness, love and wisom have guided your path in life and you have returned it to your humans tenfold. WE are the lucky ones to have watched you throughout your journey …on the track and off. I agree it would be awesome to see you tear down that track one more time. Yes, it’s a bit selfish of me, because I know you are at a wonderful place now…where you belong, but the thrills you gave all of us who watched you race are unforgettable.
"Charlie" from Delran, NJ
HELP Z fans. I wonder if any of you can assist me. I’ve never been to a race in my life nor bet on one. I only became really interested in the racing of thoroughbreds after learning about & watching Rachel Alexandra & Zenyatta. I’m a retired history teacher & began researching racing. I now have a collection of books on Secretariat, Seattle Slew, John Henry, Kelso, Man o’ War, etc. However, I do enjoy watching these animals race. I have the dvds of Secretariat & Seattle Slew from their web sites, as well as Zenyatta dvds. I have the John Henry memorial & history dvds as well as most of the dvds on Amazon, Amazon UK,& ebay. There are sellers of dvds on racing, but they usually sell for $100 to $200 or more. I did buy a set on Seattle Slew, but found the dvds to be not of the best viewing quality. They seem to be copies of the televised races. Surely there must be sellers of professionally made dvds other than those I’ve located. Can anyone help me find such sites? I even purchased an all-region dvd player so that I could purchase from the UK, & I have a small collection on Arkle, Nijinski, Istabraq, One Man, Best Mate, Mill Reef,Sir Ivor, & Dancing Brave.
I don’t go to races & usually tape the race & then watch it when I know that nothing horrendous has happened. I unhappily watched Ruffian’s last race & simply stopped watching after that. I got interested in racing again with Smarty Jones & then saw Barbaro’s accident & stopped again. It was Rachel & Zenyatta who aroused my interest yet a third time, but as I said I watch my recording after the race is over.
Please help me if you know any sites I haven’t mentioned.
Cheryl Smith
Great information as always. Hope your doing well. can’t wait to see another picture of you.
Love you always!
Roberta Smith
Hello Pretty Girl!
It makes me so happy to be able to read your posts everyday – I feel like you are talking to me! I so love you Zenyatta and “your team” – thank you Dottie for sharing Zenyatta with us every day!
Lisa g
@Charlie from Delran, pick up some info on Native Dancer, you are guaranteed to fall in love.
Lisa g
Ms Zenyatta, I learn more and more from you everyday. You are more than likely their best student of all….O, Bucket List, come true soon…I love you, Lisa g
Jeanie
Dear Great One,
I firmly believe that RIGHT NOW, you could set foot on any race track in America and win the featured race of the day. I’ll bet you could. Not that I’d want you to try. But I think you are JUST THAT GOOD! I THINK SO…
Your humble J
Georgia Harper
What a fun job training the little ones and Jeanne certainly did a wonderful job with you.
@Eveline thanks for the link goosebumps indeed. I am sure our Zenyatta would be a GREAT dressage horse with all her dance moves.
@Ann Maree Oh yes wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could go back. I was watching the Breeders cup this weekend and watched that fabulous come from behind move, it was “Unbelievable”
Joanna
Very interesting info re starting the TB babies! Thanks so much!
judy berube
Dear Z,
Good Tuesday to you. Hope you are well and happy in your paddock with TT (weather permitting). Jeanne and her family are just like the rest of your Team, good people with tremendous knowledge and love of horses. Love you and love to all of you, Judy and Russ
judy berube
Dear Charlie from Delran,NJ”
You might want to try this site (click on the link). It’s the brainchild of one of our very own Z’sters, Abigail from Montreal. It’s a wonderful place to learn about Thoroughbreds. Hugs, J.B. http://thevaulthorseracing.wordpress.com/
judy berube
Dear DJ:
Lovely Morning Prayer. Thank you. Hugs, J.B.
Barbara
Eveline,
Thanks for the link on Totalis! Happy Tuesday Zennyatta :)
Lisa B
Hello Precious Zenny,
Hoping your day is a Great one. Thank You again for the info on training a TB. Always learning something new from the teachings yourself and Dottie share with us. You both are GREAT TEACHERS. Love YOU both OOOXXX
Marilu V
Dear Zeny: What a nice picture of Jeanne and her grandson. She has a wonderful profession and I can only imagine the happiness and satifaction she gets from preparing all of the young ones for their bright future. Thanks for new lessons learned every day while reading your post. Hugs and prayers going your way, Marilu
Kathy Kimber
Zenyatta: Love the limited edition print how great of your connections to come up with this and it will help your charities. Thank you dear girl.
Debbie
hi Z! YOU are truly one of the lucky ones and very blessed! love YOU gorgeous mama xoxoxo
Lauren
Dear Zenny – You must have been so cute when you were first training. Do you know if there are any pictures or videos of you in your early training years? I would love to see them. Have a blessed day beautiful girl.
Terry Crow
Zenyatta-This post just underscores the fact that big people, or horses, never forget who helped them on the way up.-@Sue Noel-I remember the ice man. MY mother always called the refrigerator the ice box. @signofthetimes, Brenda S, Marshall, DMCQ and Lil in KY-Glad you enjoyed the jokes. @Trina Nagele-There is a shortage of horses already. I wonder what this will eventually mean to our favorite sport? Glad you got the punch line. @s (in San Diego)-Good idea. About time I updated some of these jokes. In that regard, here is today’s joke-The Pope died and went to heaven. St. Peter asked, “What would you like to do, your eminence?” The Pope replied, “I would like to spend time in the old Alexandria Library and research the background of many of the messages I’ve been giving these many years.” No problem, said St. Peter. Two years went by and finally St. Peter looked in to see how the Pope was doing. He found the Pope rolling on the floor and screaming his head off. St. Peter asked “What has caused all of this?” The Pope replied, “The word is celebrate, not celibate.”
judy berube
Dear Terry Crow:
Very, very funny. Hugs, J.B.
harriett
“CHARLIE” from Deiran: I am like you, in that I fall apart if I see a horse injured in a race. I listen, then, if all is well, run it back and watch it. Do you have HRTV and TVG? I truly couldn’t imagine life without them. HRTV’s Inside Information documentaries are outstanding.
Barbara Wood
@Arlene–thanks. We had a little rain Saturday, but it was just the proberbial drop in the bucket compared to what we need.
@Eveline–Totalis is amazing! I have to say, he reminds me of you-know-who!
@”Charlie” from Delran, NJ–welcome! I think you’ll find a home here.
@Zenny/Dottie–thanks so much for all the info. today. Your comparing the yearlings starting school in September to schoolchildren will make it easy for us to remember. Thank you!
Dottie O. Moore
Eveline: Thanks a million for this exc.
site.
Judy Berube: Thank you for letting us
see Goldikova at her best.
Dottie from CA
Ingrid Arnone
My adorable Zenyatta, thank you for all the information that you always give us… I miss you so much! Ingrid.
sherry drish
WELL SAID ZENNIE, GREAT HORSE PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS LEARNING FROM THE HORSES AS WELL AS TEACHING THEM NEW THINGS. IT SEEMS TO WORK WELL THIS WAY. HOPE ALL Z FANS ARE WELL, SHERRY D. WV.