SURPRISE, SURPRISE!!
Good Morning All!
What a day I had yesterday…all filled with GREAT surprises! I now know all of my friends here at Lane’s End had a wonderful surprise planned for me…and they filled TEAM ZENYATTA in on it!
For days, as you know, I have been walking around in my new paddock. The Farm wanted me to be totally familiar with every inch of the area. This is all part of my ‘baby steps’ process. Each day, I was given a bit more space to investigate and explore with Charles, Donna and the crew here! They ultimately had me on a very loose hold during these adventures. I was also given ample time to look at all of my beautiful surroundings and thoroughly relax and enjoy my time outdoors.
After several days of this, the FARM felt I was totally comfortable with my new paddock. A plan was then developed to establish the day when I could be ‘on my own’ outside. It was organized for this to take place YESTERDAY. TEAM ZENYATTA WAS PART OF THE PLAN…and they flew into Lexington TO SHARE THIS MOMENT WITH ME!
As I was being prepared for my morning ‘walk’, David and Mike picked up Team Z at the airport. SURPRISE! Within minutes, they were all right here with me at my Lane’s End Barn! SUCH FUN! (Carrots and mints for EVERYBODY!) Yippee!
Barbara Livingston, from DRF, and Anne M. Eberhardt and Alex, from THE BLOODHORSE, were also on hand. Sweetly, ANN MOSS was going to take some of her own videos…….and MY DEAR JOHN brought his new camera to add to the fun!
When I was ready, we all walked out to my paddock together. It was crisp…but not as cold as the last time they were here. For quite a bit of time, I walked around with Charles. We wanted to show everyone how well I handled this. We walked all over this large paddock…and I checked out everything….just like I have been doing for days now. Ann, Jerry, John, Dottie, Mario and Carmen…all thought I was doing very well. I was really feeling very confident in this space and with the footing.
Then, suddenly, (and to my surprise…and delight) Charles took the shank off me. I was allowed to be ‘ON MY OWN’. Lane’s End positioned many people from their staff all over the perimeters of the paddock area as they wanted to be sure I was very logical and safe at this moment.
GUESS WHAT???? I WAS! At first, I just played around with some alfalfa they had carefully positioned in 2 places in the center area of the paddock. I moved from one patch of this to another…walking and grazing. Then I thought…Hmmmm…this is different! I don’t really have anyone right next to me. Suddenly I looked up and saw so many of my friends all standing several feet away. At that moment, I noticed Mario. I walked over to him and stood there. He hugged me and scratched my neck like he has done for YEARS! It was so special! I walked over to the Moss’. Ann and Jerry both hugged me and gave me some great treats from home.
Then I looked at my dear JOHN…and walked over to him. He gave me several loving pats and then looked down and ‘checked my legs’. (Old habits just don’t go away. This is a TRAINER kinda’ thing. John has checked my legs every single morning for over 4 1/2 years. It was like great old times!) For several minutes more, I was able to walk around and greet all of my other friends. THIS WAS REALLY GOING WELL!
Now…I thought…HMMM! Let’s see what happens when I walk farther out to the other part of the paddock. So I did. I walked around looking at everything. I was careful..and enjoyed this. I WAS ALL BY MYSELF! I stood at one edge of the paddock just staring over the fence. 2 squirrels were playing in the tree…and I just loved watching them. I walked over to see the geese playing in the pond. I then went to greet all of my Lane’s End friends standing in each part of the paddock…..making sure they knew I was safe.
This went on for many more minutes. I just walked, looked, stood…and enjoyed every single moment.
Then, the thought occurred to me…CAN I JOG OFF and RUN? No lead pony, no Steve, no Mike Smith…no equipment…JUST ME! I put up my tail and planted my feet in the snow. It felt good. I jogged a bit and felt the brisk air on my skin. I stretched my legs and stepped right out! Hmmm, I thought! This is fun…and it is really going well. I went over to the other edge of the paddock. Donna was there to meet me. WOW!!!! Am I really doing this? I’m all by myself!
I pranced to the side of the paddock where all of my other friends were standing. I danced for them…and even walked right over to Dottie and gave her a BIG KISS!
I walked back around and greeted every single person as I made my way to the far side of the paddock! SUDDENLY (my confidence now was really strong)…….. I TOOK OFF!
I stretched, I bucked, I played…and then I RAN. What a lucky girl! As I rushed across the paddock, I squealed with delight. It was my way of THANKING EVERYONE for my wonderful, wonderful life.
What a LUCKY, LUCKY GIRL I AM!
After running free for several more minutes, Charles put the shank back on me. As you know, they have to monitor my time like this to be sure I am safe and don’t get too excited at first. The crew then took turns walking me around the paddock some more. Mario took his turn…and it was ALL FABULOUS!
I HAD SUCH A GREAT TIME!
After all of this exercise, it was time to go back to my barn and have something to eat. My friends and TEAM Z followed me and stayed and visited with me for hours.
What A MOMENT, what A DAY…and what SPECIAL MEMORIES!
I hope to share more photos of this day with you soon. Thank you to Barbara for the one we are using today. This day was all very, very special to me…and I know in my heart it was also very special for all of TEAM Z. They traveled thousands of miles to share this one new stage of my life with me! They all told me…they would not have missed today for anything!
What more could a GIRL want or have…than so many people who love her SO MUCH!
With love,
HUGS to ALL~
Z
Vicki
I was looking at the studs at Lanes End – My first choice would be AP indy (because of age he may not be around later) then After Market (Ohhh Baby!!)Then Lemon Drop Kid and maybe Aragorn. Letsget an AP Indy baby on the ground first!!!
Linda / NJ
Oh my goodness, Zenyatta you are full of surprises these days. I was just thinking about you this morning on my way to work. I was wondering if TEAM Z would come visit you during the Christmas holidays. What a wonderful message to start off my day. I can’t get over that everyone flew out to share this moment with you. You are a very lucky girl–to be so loved, so appreciated!! You are so special Zennie, and your family and new friends know it. I can’t wait to get home tonight and pick up my computer so I can see the other photos and video of you. This post really brought tears to my eyes just knowing that the Moss’ brought the whole team along to witness this special day. I bet there was not a dry eye among them. Love you. Be careful. Love, Linda
Cathleen
Zenny, it absolutely warmed my heart to see you running and so happy! It’s the best Xmas present ever! What made me happier? That your Team Zenyatta family was with you on such a happy occasion. Especially Mario. It was wonderful to see you reunited with him. I know you’ll grow to love Charles just as much, but there’s nothing like your first love! :) Thank you Team Zenyatta for sharing and letting us see how happy our girl is! You all are just as special as she is.
Pat Boig
How great is this – and how wonderful that all of your people were there for your first day off the lead!!! Love you, Zenyatta!
Roseann King
Happy Tears here in Missouri! Thank you Dottie for helping Zenyatta continue to bring so much joy into our lives. May all of you have a most blessed holiday! Be safe!
Roseann
Pat Cannon
Just saw the Blood Horse video of this fun day for you. You look amazing and I could tell you enjoyed the freedom. The love you and Team Z have for each other is so evident. Continue to enjoy your retirement.
Chhris
Your story has me in tears this morning Z. I am so very happy for you. I knew the minute you were free you would love it. What a wonderful team you have. I can only imagine how much each of them misses and loves you. In all the many-many years I have been following racing, you touched my heart in a way I could never imagine. I am just so very happy for you and your new found freedom. Merry Christmas girl. I love you
Christine Coleman
Zenny, I’m crying as I type this. Good thing I can type without looking at the keys. I’m so happy for you! And more happy that the humans in your life love you so much to travel so far to see you.
Tricia Clemmensen
Just can’t stop watching the “holiday gift” video of you and your loving team on Bloodhorse. It is truly so special. You are the luckiest girl alive. Merry Christmas,Zenyatta – you rock!!!!
Bobbie Graser
What a day for joy! This long careful process has really been very interesting. We all have to realize what a transition this must be for you. During your racing career you have been under someone’s control at all times. I wish I could have been there to see you enjoy your first day of many days of freedom to come. I can’t tell you how much I respect your owners, handlers and trainers for making the effort to share this momentous occasion with you. Happy Holidays to all.
Jenn
Many people say that they cry when they watch this beautiful mare and don’t know why. The reason is simple, she is heaven sent. A gift from God that is so innocent and unspoiled by the world around her. She was almost perfect but being mortal that could not be. Very rarely in this world today do we see something so beautiful and pure. To see it is to realize that it is something very special and very rare as well. Her simple, ethereal beauty brings most of us to tears.
I never thought another horse would steal my heart like my beloved Alydar did, but this wonderful mare has.
Thank you to everyone connected to her for sharing this wonderful gift from God. May you all have a blessed Christmas.
Isn’t if funny how these wonderful horses like this come along just the right time, usually when the world is facing unsettled times.
Linda Deutsch
Tears of joy are being shed by all your many fans, Z. The world could take a lesson from all the love your team gives to you and what you give back in return. What a better place we would all be in if we cared for one another this way instead of being polarized and angry. Love truly conquers all and I wish you and your amazing people continued success and pleasure with you and for you, Z – A HUGE KISS ON THE NOSE!! The best in 2011.
Patricia
To Jenn- a few posts above-So TRUE!
LouAnn Cingel of Union, Missouri
Zenyatta you are more beautiful being free than I have ever seen you. The pics and video that has been given to us all out here is the most wonderful gift that anyone could receive for Christmas or anytime of year for that matter. Watching you run and play and kicking up your heals brought me to tears but tears of happiness in seeing you enjoying your new found freedom. I am so glad that your family was there with you and that you all had a wonderful time. And yes, what a MOMENT, what a DAY…and what SPECIAL MEMORIES that you Zenyatta and your family have given to me and all your fans.
Sweet Zenyatta, may your and your family have a special Merry Christmas and an exceptionally wonderful New Year!
Zenyatta you are forever in my heart!
My Love & Blessings to you-forever
LouAnn
Robbie Pfeufer Kahn
Dear Zenyatta: First thing this morning I looked at your website. 54 posts when I went to bed. 235 now. There’s a new tone to the postings–an exhilaration that mirrors your spirited adventure being “alone” to run as you please! And tears of joy and relief that you have made the transition from a professional athlete to a thoroughbred racehorse who doesn’t have to race. You are safe and in perfect health.
When I first saw the photo you and Dottie chose, I wondered–why that one? Your photos have tended to be very dignified (excepting some carrot eating and playing with John’s hat). One of the people who posted helped me understand (I can’t find him or her again, there are so many to read)–you are literally kicking up your heels! All four of them! An image as perfect for Diary Post #37 as your words.
You’ll find this funny, Zenyatta. I read people speak of your whinny or squeal and I couldn’t remember hearing anything but music. Maybe they saw an earlier version, b/f the music was added, I thought to myself. So I watched the video again, This time I could feel the brisk air as if I were standing with your family. That sound! I heard it this time, for sure. Do you know, I had thought the sound came from a crying baby someone was holding! Of course no baby was present. Even though I’ve ridden all my life, and have been around horses running free, I’d never heard such a sound. Angry squealing, yes. But squeals of delight!! What a vocalization, Zenyatta! Your language is every bit as expressive as the human speech I keep turning away from yet embracing because of your Diary Posts.
What a haunting sound, that squeal. Elemental, as if it were the first sound of joy ever uttered by a horse since the world began. Perfectly in keeping with “baby steps.” Maybe that’s why I thought I’d heard a baby crying.
Zenyatta, a child psychologist Donald Winnicott wrote about how important it is for a baby to be allowed to be “alone in the presence of the other.” To be independent within the protective circle of love provided by the parent. Your family provided that presence for you yesterday. I have such respect for your people–they had the wisdom to travel many miles so that you could be alone in the presence of the other(s). You are a lucky horse, a deserving horse, and you have enriched the lives of everyone who knows of you and follows your daily life.
Many thanks to the mother who described the love her son who suffers from autism feels for you, Zenyatta.
Much love and respect–Robbie
MLV
Bravo to the Moss’s for loving you enough to let you be a horse who can run and play. Having had Thoroughbreds of my own and watching them frolic the way you did, I can only imagine how your team must have stood with their hearts in their throats as they watched you in awe…so happy for you enjoying your playtime and saying silent prayers for your safety.
Merry Christmas to Zenyatta and all her connections in California and Kentucky!
Sue Fredrick
OMG what a wonderful treat to share this day with all your peeps. We can’t thank you enough Mosses, and Lanes End for this Christmas present to all of us living vicariously thru this horse. To all who worried about her going to Lanes End and the people there, I think you can rest easy, they have proved themselves. She’s got the best home ever. The only thing missing is her own trophy case for all her awards and especially her ELCIPSE FOR HOTY. Thank you all for sharing. Luv forever
Robyn Mullhausen
Zenyatta, such an amazing video to see you having so much fun and greeting the humans you love so much. Team Zenyatta from CA, and now Lane’s End Team have treated you like the royalty you are. Their love shows in all the pictures and videos they share with us. Tears of joy from me, too. Thank you and all your humans for showing what real love of horses can mean. Merry Christmas to you, all of your humans and your stablemates. Thanks for being so kind and understanding of us, your fans. Also, because of you, Zenyatta, this year instead of cards I sent a donation to a large, beautiful Horse Rescue Farm right here in Maryland.
Mary
What a wonderful news update! I am so thankful you are happy, safe, and got to have your fun, surprise time in the paddock. Merry Christmas Zenyatta!
Lauren
My beautiful zenyatta – you look so happy in the picture. i can’t wait to see more of you. What a happy day it must have been for you. Love and kisses, Lauren
Lanie Johnson
Hi Sweet Girl! Gotta admit I’m in tears too!! What a photo and what a day for you and the team! You sure make Kentucky more beautiful and I didn’t think that was possible!
Treats and friends and running….nothing better in life! You look gorgeous and thank you sooo much for taking the time to post each moment for us!! It’s made my Christmas sooo much happier!!
It’s now “your time”..to be content and safe and healthy! I can’t wait to see video of this…must be breathtaking!
I’m off work this week and busy busy doing lots of cleaning for the big day Sat when my kids and grandkids come…I can’t wait to show the kids the pics and videos! They will be sooo excited! They wanted to send you something but the postal thing is such a rush right now so we agreed to wait until next week and make it a “Happy New Year” thing too!
What a year it will be for you! Just think..one day soon you will be running with a little one and exploring the world anew!
I’m saying prayers for all your friends in CA..they are having some awful bad times with the weather and all…I hope each one stays safe!
Gosh darn it..give Dottie a kiss for me too!! What a peach!!
I kind of wish we could post pics of ourselves for you..maybe they could download them and put them in albums for the Moss’s and John to keep always.
I’m pretty sure I am getting three of your buttons for Chirstmas…one maiden and 2 Breeder’s Cup…family tried to hide it but I think they checked out what I was watching on ebay..next thing I knew the buttons were gone!!
Have a lovely picture on the way of you and Mike at Hollywood when he hugged you!
You are going to be the BEST BEST mom ever!! Who better to teach a little one how to live and dance!!!
Have a Very Merry Christmas..to you and to everyone at Lane’s End and all of your “team”. We are just so thankful that you are adjusting well and having such excitement…what a treat to have everyone there!
God bless each of you..as this year ends..thank you Zen…for making me smile, making me cry, making me scream like a kid again, opening my heart, and remembering that nothing is impossible, for taking me to the heights I’d forgotten were there, making me proud, and..making me young again!
I don’t think that that is all you have done of course. You have changed history. Reminded me of my respect and admiration for all horses..present and past. This country was made on the back of a horse…their strength and willingness to let us be in their presence and not the other way around. Thank you so much for that…I remember now…how to dance when the cold wind is at my back. A beautiful filly never gave up..never saw an obstacle that couldn’t be conquered…had a heart bigger than all of us..and remained humble and believable.
It’s been a thrill to be alive during this time..to have lived to share each race…..to somehow be able to cheer you on. You are special and history will indeed place these times as ones that can never be replaced.
Merry Merry Christmas! I’ve donated to my horse charities for you too…every single horse should be loved…as every animal should. We have to make that happen..and it will. People everywhere are contributing more than ever..you have inspired the goodness in people.
I hope Santa visits the barn and makes everyone full of joy!! These are the best times…I love you…again..all I can say is “Thank you” Sweet Girl!! You and me..here…under the Kentucky skies..with great expectations of the future!!!
Cara Ezzell
PRICELESS!!! Yes, I have tears in my eyes to be able to see you so happy & sound!!! It was an undescribable feeling to watch you run, play, buck, kick your heels up & just be a horse!!! At one point my own horse had been lame for a long time & had a terrible abscess in his front left hoof (he’s an 8 yr. old gelding who is off the Arabian track). When he was finally sound, I remember letting him into his pasture & watching with tears in my eyes as he ran, bucked & kicked his way across the pasture to his best friend Copper (a Paint gelding) & them rearing up & playing with each other!!
Your entire family is wonderful & I’m so happy for you!!! John, thank you for helping Z retire sound & healthy!!! I wish all trainers would follow your example!! God bless you & “Queen” Z!!!Merry Christmas to you & your family Z & love you much!!!
Janet
I’m so happy to see that you’re enjoying your new home Zenyatta. You’re a beautiful and amazing girl. It was wonderful to see the video with the people who love you sharing in your joy. Merry Christmas to you and team Zenyatta!!
Jenna
Mirroring what Jenn said above, I think we all need something good instead of the endless bad we see and hear. I never was a fan of horseracing because a horse doesn’t choose this job. But to see a horse treated to well by her owners and handlers, I am so impressed. I have literally been pulled into this sport. And I barely watch baseball. But I’ve always loved horses. Their kindness and beauty. Z..is something else. She’s like a person in the shape of a horse! The Guinness pushed me over the edge.
I hope these posts go on forever. People will never forget Z so–to Team Z, be prepared. I’m checking on her every day (who’d have thought!?). And I’ll visit her if I can (who’d have thought!?).
Merry Christmas to everyone and happy holidays to those who don’t celebrate. I just love this horse!
Thank you, Team Z.
Roxanne Cook
This is the most awesome Christmas story, Zenyatta! One of my mares squeals with joy when she gets turned out in her pasture, and it just fills my heart with love every time. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! I bet there wasn’t a dry eye in or around that paddock then. You’re the best for sure.
Maureen Feely
Hooray, Zenyatta! Free at last!! Enjoy it. It’s so exhilerating.
Lisa g
Ms Zenyatta, everytime I read this and see you free, the tears of joy just flow. I cannot describe what you have done and what you are doing to my heart. I am so happy you have Team Z. All owners/parents should follow their example, not to mention John and Dottie (D, ur so cool). Talk with you later…Love and Hugs, Lisa g
Janet
Team Zenyatta – PLEASE PLEASE release a DVD of Zenyatta’s racing career and include this video. We would all love to be able to watch it over and over again.
Kim
Zenyatta, you are a very lucky girl. There was an article about abandoned horses in the NYT yesterday that is terribly sad – if those horses could have just a sampling of your life, they would be in heaven. You gives as much as you get – keep it up and enjoy the life that you have.
Jay
Good to hear your doing great at your new home Zenyatta!