Good Morning to all,
Yippee! As I mentioned yesterday, I had my first official veterinarian check-up here at the farm. This is done so they can get a baseline on me and get to know everything about me and how my body works. It is equivalent to you going for your regular check-up…just to be sure all is A-OK! Well, I am very happy to report that I am in FABULOUS SHAPE! Everything about me is just WONDERFUL! Great news! (I kinda’ knew this…but it is always great to have this confirmed.)
My feet were also checked…and I am doing very well BAREFOOT! Also good news! These are just the basic things that need to be done for me….just like you. The Dentist will be next…and I will keep you posted on that.
A woman working in our office, Selena, is about to have a baby. I think she is due on Friday…from what I’m hearing. Good luck, Selena! We will be thinking about you and wish you well!
Several of you had questions about ‘my having a baby’ in your comments. Hope the following information proves helpful to you. As we go along, I will explain more things to you about all of this, but for now, please consider this a starting point.
As you know, with humans, a baby is carried for approximately 9 months. For horses, the gestation period is approximately 11 months. Obviously, individual differences always do apply.
In our industry, the breeding season does not begin until mid-February ‘ish’ and lasts until late June ‘ish’. This depends on the individual farm, horse, and owner of the horse. This is a baseline.
Race horses basically have 2 birthdays. I was actually born on April 1, 2004. That is my real birthday and it is recorded on my official records. BUT…with race horses for racing purposes, ALL horses ‘celebrate’ a birthday on January 1st. This way…all 2 year olds will ‘technically be thought of as being a 3 year old’ on January 1st…no matter what date the horse was actually born. As of January 1st, I will ‘technically’ be thought of as a 7 year old…yet, I will really not be 7 until April 1st. (By the way, I just love my birthdate…April 1st. Dottie has a sister, Frannie, who is also born on this date. She calls us her April 1st Birthday EXACTA!)
So, when you go to the race track and see certain races restricted to an age group, this is how the horses fit into that category. For instance, the Kentucky Derby Trail and the Triple Crown is totally restricted to 3 year olds. The individual horses birth dates may vary from January — June, but they are all considered 3 year olds.
Same for the Kentucky Oaks for fillies…all for 3 year olds. Some may be born early in the year…others late…but they are all still considered to be 3. In the Racing Form, they give the MONTH / AGE for each horse. Perhaps when you are looking at the horse and his/her past performance charts in the FORM, this would be something to note as well. Have fun with it!
I’m off to play with Charles. (Several of you have asked, his full name. It is Charles Stewart William Campbell. He is a Broodmare Manager here at Lane’s End.)
Have a splendid day!
With love,
HUGS TO ALL!
Z
Micki Ollman
Morning Zenyatta – This is Fast N Smart, the 27 yr old Thoroughbred gelding whose owner Micki left a post on your Facebook page yesterday. I told her she should have put it here so she agreed to send you another note for me. I am glad your check up went well. My vet was suppose to come yesterday but cancelled due to the weather which I’m glad. Don’t like to take my blanket of when there is freezing rain even if I am in the barn. My pasture pals & I all hope you win HOTY. You have brought alot of attention back to us Thoroughbreds. I and the other guys here at the equine assisted living farm wish you a good day.
As always
Fast N Smart
Rita
Great to hear that you got a clean bill of health Zenyatta. You are so precious to all of us. I wish Selena a joyous birth. I am a labor and delivery RN and I am honored to have a career like this, to witness the miracle of life on a regular basis. Thanks for all the racing info. Stay healthy and happy and a big hug to you Z.
Linda
Actually the check-up probably involved getting stuck with a needle for blood work and palpated. It is not particularly enjoyable for the mare, but necessary.
Evy
Thank you so very much for the thoroughbred horse information. All of horse racing is so intriguing to me. Zenyatta, you are such a gift. You are Zen-sational!!!
Trisha Veazey
There has never been any doubt that you are perfect in every way.
Love hugs and kisses
Marian M.
The information in these posts is very well presented and helpful. It’s clear, concise, and responsive to the questions asked by Zenyatta’s fans. You are doing much to interest people in Thoroughbred horse racing and breeding. Thank you for providing information and for keeping us posted on the events in Z’s life at Lane’s End.
Ray
Zenyatta,
Thanks for the update’s on how you are doing at your new home. I had ordered a ZENYATTA 2009 Breeder Cup Classic Championship Jacket that keep me very warm last night at the Chareger/49er game here in San Diego. I have a big collection of Super Bowl/ World Series/Indy 500 jackets, as I have been to many big sporting events, but this jacket is very special.
Take care and have a very Merry Christmas
Mary
I hope it warms up for you soon, Zenyatta. What a miserable winter the midwest is having!
Carolyn Caswell-Brown
Good Morning Z, Another informative post. Thank you for the age explanation. I believe I read somewhere that Churchill Downs was not going to allow horses to race until reaching their actual birthdate for reasons of health & development. Is this correct? Are any other tracks doing this or trying to initiate it? Would this apply only to younger horses – 2 and 3 year olds – ? Robbie & Bonnie, What beautiful examples of the “communication” that Zenyatta has inspired. This website is a Miracle born of a Miracle. The Guinness toast you mentioned gives me an idea. Why don’t we ALL do an internet New Year’s Toast to the Queen with some Guinness! We have two weeks to organize & get the beer. Maybe get her in the Guinness Book of World Record’s if she isn’t already. Way Cool. . . .anyone on board? Love & Peace to ALL
Karen
Zenyatta, I am a Quarter Horse owner. Love those Cutting horses!!! I have a filly whose birthday is 04/01/2005! We named her April, Imagine that! Best of luck in the upcoming breeding season!
Bob Danna
It’s great to know your feeling sogood..Thanks for all the wonderful memories—- We will never forget you!!
Love always Bob and Marsha Danna
Peyton
Zenyatta, I am so glad to hear you had a great check up!! My mom is a doctor so I know how important check ups are. I just hope they didn’t have to take any blood or give you any shots, I hate that part! I hope to be a vet when I grow up, maybe I can come take care of you! Love you, Peyton
Sue M.
Glad to hear you’re healthy, but I would have bet the farm on it :) You exude health and look marvelous!
Stay warm!
celebrity photos
Very interesting and helpful information in this article. Thanks a lot for posting. I like the way of your thinks and Im lookin’ forward
OraJean Stevenson
Queen-Z & Team-Z, Many thanks for this clear explanation about the “Birthday’s” of race horses. That makes “New Year’s Day” a very BIG celebration, for all race horses !! Also, it was great to hear about your developing bond & friendship with Charles C.. Thanks, Charles, for taking such good care of Queen-Z, along with the rest of Team-Zentucky. Hope to get to meet you all, some day, at LEFarm. Stay warm and happy. Fondly, OraJean
Roseann King
Good Morning Zenyatta :)! I’m so glad you are in good health. I like to read your updates before I go to the barn to visit Robin my OTTB. He enjoys hearing how your retirement adjustment is going. He is pleased that you have such good care and many people who love you. Thank you, too, for taking the time to educate. Priceless!
Have a great day Z, looking forward to hearing about your next adventure.
Much love,
Roseann in Missouri
OraJean Stevenson
Hi, again, Team-Z & Dottie, I just went back to read some of the earlier Diary entrees, and I can’t find them ??? Can you help me out ? Where did they go ?? Please don’t elimminate them from this site !! Fondly, OraJean
Jude Lane (Not the End) LOL!!
Who among your suitors is “worthy” to be your “Colt Daddy”? I say none. I’m sure your humans will choose the best mate possible to make you proud. We will all be waiting for the news that you are with colt!!! Love and sugar cubes to you my Queenie Girl!!!! Merry Christmas and thanks for all the joyful moments you gave us this year!!
Patti
Ms. Z…love your updates. It is a bright spot during my lunch hour that I can check on you and see what you have been doing. You are the “greatest racehorse we’ve ever seen”…has anyone ever told you that…ha! So happy you are doing well and looking as beautiful as ever. Can’t wait to see you this summer.
Melissa
Glad to hear you are in A1 condition, but to look at you and watch you we knew you could be nothing less than perfect!
Linda / NJ
Hi Zennie!! So happy to hear your check-up went well. Is this the same type of check-up you received when you were racing or is this more of a prep for breeding? I am also really glad to hear that your tootsies are good. That’s real important! I always wondered how 3 year olds are entered in the Kentucky Derby when they have not quite reached the age of 3. Now I know! The age has always seemed to be an issue when considering bone health vs. maturity. Anyways, thanks so much for the post. I look forward to hearing from you each day. Please let us fans know if there is anything more we can do for you with regards to the HOTY award. Love, Linda
Patricia
Oh! what fantastic news…have fun on your walk with Charles & will check back later. XOXO
Jennifer
I agree with everyone who is suggesting children’s books starring Queen Z. I tell my daughter stories about the greatest horse who ever lived all the time, but it would be great to have pictures to go along with the story. I can see Zenny as the heroine in a series of children’s books. They could be along the lines of Black Beauty, where we read the horses thoughts…
Sharon Call
Hey, Orajean: Go to the bottom of this page and you’ll see a yellow arrow that says “Back”, click on it and it will take you back to the last 3 posts. The arrow will change names to “Older” and you can go all the way back to the very first one. Hope this helps.
Zen-Fan
I like Sony Boyd’s post back there a bit…yes, horses do teach us many great lessons in life. My daughter started taking riding lessons for therapeutic reasons & I too learned so much from the instructor about the benefits of riding. Even though it is difficult, my 5 yeaer old is getting better about the approach to the horse. There definitely is a great relationship being formed
Georgia Harper
So happy that all checked out will and you are so healthy. Thanks so much for keeping us updated I look at your posts every morning. Am just finishing up your beautiful magazine about your legacy and am enjoying seeing the pictures of when you were just a little one as well as all the wonderful articles about each of your races. Take care and let us know who the daddy might be of your little Z
Love and miss you so much
Jennifer
Dear Zenyatta and connections! I love the video of Charles and you nuzzling. You are SO sensual and clearly have his heart now too. I’m home for the holidays now from a frantic business trip. These posts were such good company and a good way to relax in the evening. Also I would like to thank Liza G. Fly for the wonderful song. It was somehow calming to sing to myself stuck in traffic and in crowded airports. I feel so connected to everyone that writes and shares from the heart. Thank you. Are there any bumper stickers out yet? Also love Backside 55. Especially the video of John trying to get Life is Sweet to wake up. That is so special! Thank you Zenyatta via Dottie for this wonderful experience. It makes me love my horses Bodie and Savannah even more. I have been passionate about horses and horse racing
all of my life. I finally feel validated.
Carol Anne Durham
Hello, Zenyatta! I have not posted before but try to read this blog when I have a chance . . . not easy while raising two young sons (you will find this out one day soon!). First, I want to tell you what a fan I have become, and not just for your racing record and late-charging style, but also very much because of your personality (for lack of a better word, as words fail me as I observe you), kindness, spirit and other-worldly qualities that I just haven’t seen before. Growing up a horse-crazy girl, I was fortunate to meet some greats, from Seattle Slew, to Affirmed, to even Secretariat. Affirmed was kind, Secretariat statuesque, but you seem to embody all of those qualities and more. My fervent hope to is to see you in person (please Lane’s End?) just to be around you for a short while. The second reason I chose to write quickly now is to remark upon the brilliant message left by Robbie Pfeufer Kahn above, whose thoughts I second completely. With no studied knowledge on human-animal communication myself, I do believe that there is a language out there in the animal world, and sometimes, we get lucky enough to “see” it or “hear” it, and I feel that you have given that to me and to so many others. Just this wonderful blog alone has accomplished so much by connecting you with the fans, but also by educating us which, in a world where the sport of horse racing seems to have lost its luster for many reasons, is invaluable. I hope that Robbie considers a new project such as this as she nears retirement, and it is just so exciting to see so many so moved by you, Zenyatta! Thanks to all responsible for this blog and what it means to so many . . . it makes me feel that the possibilities are endless.
Jan Doyle
Happy Friday, Zenny. Well big girl sounds like you have had another busy, but fun week. Just saw some new pictures of you, Team Z and Sarah on the backside55. You are so loved, it just makes me so happy. Enjoy your weekend. Love and Hugs
jahlgren
My friend, Claire Norcross, in the last four years of her life became very involved with horses because her daughter was competing. She moved to New Hampshire and developed a line of equine products for horses (Emerald Valley Botanicals) before her death in 2002. There is something about horses (and all animals) that brings you in touch with the magic of life. I appreciate and enjoy all of Zenyatta’s posts for their sweetness, and information about a horse’s needs and caring. Many thanks to all of her loving owners and crew at Barn 55 and Lane’s End. Charles is very loving and sweet to her, and Zenyatta obviously likes him, too! That’s so great! Lotsa love,