Good Morning,
All of you are SO SWEET! Thank you for the kind comments regarding the photo yesterday. I’ll try to address some of the questions many of you asked here.
Firstly, MY TAIL is fine. I never had a lush tail. It was MY DEAR MARIO who worked so hard to keep it looking terrific. Here at Lane’s End, MATT helps ME with it as well. In yesterday’s photo, the wind was blowing and it was partially hidden. It is just fine…and NO, TASTY does not touch it. WE both always want to look our best…and having a nice tail is part of the LOOK! We respect this with each other.
Many of you asked about the SIZE difference between the two of us. I am a pretty tall girl, as you know, I’m right at 17 hands in height. In yesterday’s photo, I have my head held very high while I’m cuddled up to MY JOHN. (He is 6′ 2″.) I’m also in the front portion of the photo and TASTY is standing more in the background. She is a very well-built horse as well, and per MY JOHN, she is about 16.2 hands. She just appears smaller in this photo due to the fact that she is ‘peeking in at us’ while she poses and not standing as tall as she normally would. I really think it is a very cute picture and shows how sweet we are with each other. I enjoyed sharing MY JOHN with her!
You know photography…sometimes if you are the one in the front…you appear a bit ‘larger’ than the images, horses, or people in the back. I am taller than TASTY but not by as much as it appears in this particular photo. She is a very attractive and well-balanced horse in her own right.
Yes, MY JOHN did check my legs. I have figured it out now that he simply can’t resist the opportunity to do so when he is around ME. In reality, it is second nature to him… and I must say…I really enjoy it! It reminds me of the many special moments I spent with him. Now, though, it is TOO CUTE! He has added a new dimension to this ‘checking up on ME’…and that is touching my BABY BUMP! He gives ME (and BABY TOO) several adoring and loving ‘pats’ on the TUMMY!
What do you think JOHN….is MY FOAL a colt or a filly? Only time will tell!
It is so hard to believe that the time is flying by so quickly. My due date is in early March. TASTY and I are both due to foal then. It will be interesting to see how much ‘we grow’ during the next few months!
I’ll keep you posted!
Have a great day!
With Love,
Hugs to all~
Z
Elizabeth G.
PS: You look GORGEOUS!
dunie
BEST to you both!
Mary
You are so beautiful Z…and so is Tasty…you two have become BFF…and I am so happy you have someone to spend your relaxing time after all your hard work on the track. But we all know you loved racing and your fans…still can see you dancing…making your way to the track. You knew how to work the crowd. :) Hugs to you Z….
Diiana Hanson
You really look fit and beautiful! I always pat my mare’s baby bump too. What’s even funnier…I sing to both of them. You are so loved. Have a great day Zen!
quarterhossgal
Queen Z….looks like the grass in Kentucky is still lush and green, ours here in Nebraska has lost much of its green color and isn’t as lush as it was last month. But we still have crisp days with blue skies and the horses enjoy the cooler weather. Each day as they are turned out they have a good gallop around the fields! Their hair coats feel like velvet as they thicken for our cold winter.
You and Tasty look healthy and beautiful.
Barbara Grimaldi
Once again, I humbly submit the name ZENDINI for Zenny’s foal.
Terri Z/ South Florida
Dottie/Zenyatta & John Sherriffs: Thanks for all of your time and energy in making this website possible. And thanks for all the lessons you have taught us about thoroughbreds and racing. And thanks to David Ingordo for keeping an eye on the queen. By the way, can you please send an update on Zenny’s Barn 55 friend, Life is Sweet? Can you please include pics of LIS and her foal on Zenny’s diary? And does Zenny see her at Lanes End? I loved the adorable video John made of him trying to wake up LIS–she was not an early riser–LOL. To sign of the times: Thanks for the drf articles on Team Z.
signofthetimes
Horse Gestation Calendar (Zenny’s second date with Bernie Saturday night with roses and alfalfa April 9, 2011)
http://horsegestation.com/horse-gestation-calculator/
Date should be March 10, 2011 give or take possibly 10 days; GO JAG MARCH 9, 2012 !!!!
Terri Z/ South Florida
To all of the Z fans:
Mike Smith wants his fans to suggest charities for each day of the month starting in December. Mike Smith is on facebook. He is asking that all of his fans donate a $1 to each horse based charity to really help out.
We can help some horses out for the holidays.
Dawn Conrad / Colorado
Dear Zenyatta. You are one beautiful lady from the tip of your nose to the tip of your lovely tail. The pictures John has been sharing are wonderful. Dottie, thank you so much for the great posts, you and Zenny are the best ever!!!!!!!
Sweet dreams. Hugs and kisses. XXXOOO
@Shari – Doing very well generally, just have my days every once in a great while. The nerosurgeon checkup appointment is scheduled for the 30th. Hope you and Larry are wonderful! Let me know how Larry’s test goes. Loved that the children are studing the horse. Too fun!!
@signofthetimes – I don’t believe I have seen the links you have provided on Team Z. I am home for lunch, so will check them out tonight. Thanks!
@Patricia – Your story from yesterday was absolutely beautiful. The love between human and horse is remarkable, they understand us at such a deep level. Once, I received a phone call from a neighbor very early one moring concerning my mare, Cinder. They had looked out at our pasture and it appeared that she was caught up in a portion of fence. Well my Dad and I ran for the pasture and sure enough there was my beloved mare with both front legs through the fence. We could see where she had a pretty good gash on one leg. I went to her head to reassure her and my father worked to get everything back so that we could lift her legs out. What was remarkable was she never moved. She could have gone crazy and hurt herself very badly, but she trusted us to help. She buried her head in my breast and waited for Dad to pull her legs out. Our connection was always amazing, she was a part of me, but I marveled at the trust on that day. The love of a horse is wonderful and always the best medicine for what ails us.
@Peggy (N) – I agree sis, heaven just has to have horses!!!
@Trina – The Reckless poem was wonderful!! Looking forward to the rest.
@Sue Fredrick – So glad you have a contact for your picture with AP. He is very kissable. Hugs back to you!
Abigail from Montreal
Miss Zenyatta! How gorgeous you look and HOW in-foal.
Afternoon Dottie & fellow Zensters:
I just love coming here every day, reading Zenny’s diary and all of your responses. John’s “once over” of you, big girl, is just so sweet & loving. I hope that baby ZeeBee is feeling all those caresses from your Z family. S/he MUST know, if it is feeling them, how loved it is already!
I wanted to share this fun thing with everyone. My background is Celtic (Scottish, Irish & Welsh, mainly) and I seem to have gotten the gift of “baby prophecy” from my Welsh grandma. I have predicted (human) baby sex for a number of women over the years with 100% accuracy! (Even when I was in disagreement with their obstetricians, I might add!) Now I made these predictions while standing near mummy & baby-to-be and, of course, I have never been near Zenny except in cyberspace. But my immediate “feeling” looking at this photo is a colt. (Of course, if Zenny would like a totally ACCURATE reading, she needs to invite me to visit!!!!!)
Fun fact #2: When I was in university, I made extra money casting people’s horoscopes and I was REALLY good at it. LOL! No idea why. But just had the “gift.” Sometimes I still have a go over drinks with friends — as you know, everyone just LOVES that sort of thing! Our Zenny is an AQUARIUS (Feb.1) — although without her ascendant this is only a partial “read” — and they are very DEEP personalities who, like Scorpio, never completely REVEAL themselves. AQUARIUS is an air sign, despite the “aqua” in the name. AQUARIANS are not fussy about details, although they DO get VERY FUSSY if an important detail of theirs is OVERLOOKED. They tend to be good, firm parents and do find it hard to “let go” of their munchkins when same is in order. They’re NOT possessive — they just LOVE TOO MUCH at times. AQUARIANS are ALWAYS MUSING — and this can make them seem very magical or mystical — or even distant. They are NO NONSENSE types who get down to what needs to be done ….unless you OVERWHELM them. Then they just FREEZE. They ADORE their families and can be TERRIBLE teases. They LOVE special TREATS and savour each and every one. They tend to need LESS SLEEP than other signs and LOVE the EARLY MORNING best of all. Female Aquarians are basically co-dependant types (in a positive way) because they really do MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR LIFE.
Baby ZeeBee is likely going to be a PISCES. This is trickier, because like every sign, the males & females are different + we don’t know baby’s ascendant. But in a GENERAL sense: PISCES is a water sign and, like other water signs, they are impossible to “get to the bottom” of, although not secretive or deceitful or etc. PISCES tend to LOVE their families, who need, however, to never make them feel CONFINED. They are gentle & sensitive souls who MATURE INTO THEMSELVES rather late, compared to the so-called “norm.” They ADORE FOOD but NEVER over-eat. They are FASTIDIOUS about their appearance and can be VERY FUNNY. While not LAZY, PISCES NEVER DO WHAT THEY DON’T WANT TO DO — EVEN IF THEY’RE VERY GOOD AT IT! They tend to be loners although others usually LOVE them and form a FEW close friendships that they keep forever. PISCES is very KIND, however, and can be counted on to take good care of people who may be LONELY or ILL. Last but not least, PISCES puts A LOT of energy into making themselves ABSOLUTELY UNFORGETTABLE! (By your Sagittarius — with Scorpio rising — dumpling, Abigail)
JAG Adores Zenny & John Henry / So. CA
@ signofthetimes
Thanks! March 9th is NOT for me, but for my Beloved John Henry. I feel if he has a “hoof” in it, her foal will be born on HIS birthday ~ after all, he IS her Guardian Angel. I picture him sitting on a star smiling from big ear to big ear (wink wink), and next to him is Eight Belles, his girlfriend :-) They send many blessings and love to The Queen…
Sue Fredrick - Wisconsin
Zenny you give new meaning to the phrase “Big Mama”, wow you are a magnificent specimen. I am giving you a couple of choices as to birthdates, March 9th my daughters bday, March 10 my granddaughters bday, or March 24th my bday, only if your ready of course!! I don’t care if it is a filly or colt and my name suggestion is SINGULAR ZENSATION OR ZINGULAR ZENSATION after the Broadway song and the Mosses music connections!!!
@DStuart went in and voted for Tucson rescue.
@Signofthetimes thank you for the Drf links enjoyed reading those articles.
@Zenny dust off your cheesehead I have to crow GO PACKERS NINE IN A ROW!!!!!!!!!!
Luv you Z and kisses on your nose
Dottie Moore
@signofthetimes: I read every single
article from you. I`ve learned so much
from you. Thank you so much……
Dottie
JAG Adores Zenny & John Henry / So. CA
@ Abigail
Zenyatta was born on April Fool’s Day, not February 1st… ALTHOUGH SHE’S NEVER BEEN ANYONE’S FOOL :-D
Sue Fredrick - Wisconsin
@Abigail/Montreal I thought Zenny was Aries April 1st, I could be mistaken but I remember we talked about her baby could be Aries too? Sorry if I’m wrong.
Kathleen Kimber KC.MO
Allie in Texas:
Thanks for the Omaha update
Sharyn ~ Vermont
Beautiful picture of you grazing. Loved the video I saw last week where you were munching away – pretty neat hearing it!
You and TT gotta love this weather – soon the snow will be flying I imagine!
Be sure to thank John for all the wonderful pictures he shares with us and Dottie too for keeping us so well informed!
Just shows how special these people in your life are! THANK YOU!
Cynthia H./Where Zenyatta Danced
@Abigail: Welsh great-grandmother! Agree—colt.
Pam
The pictures from the last two days show just what a stunning mare you are! TT is also a very beautiful girl. My first horse was a grey Arabian mare so I do have a special place in my heart for the grey girls.
When March rolls around, I will be on pins and needles, waiting for the news that your baby and TT’s baby have arrived and all four of you are healthy! I can feel butterflies in my stomach already. I will barely be able to sleep once March gets here….anticipation of the big event!!!
Hope your good weather holds in Kentucky. It’s a warm day here in NM but very windy. Well, my horses are nickering which means they are ready to come in and eat so I must run. Can’t keep them waiting or they’ll all give me “the look”. You probably don’t know what that is….you’re too sweet to give anyone the look!
Love you! Looking forward to your next diary entry and pictures of your beautiful self.
sharon in seattle
@Barbara Grimaldi – YES! Zendini has always been my first choice for the foal’s name!
sharon in seattle
also, I vote for CANDY IS TASTY for TT’s foal.
Roberta Smith
Hello Pretty Girl! You (and Tasty too) look amazing and I look forward to the next 3 months to see how much more “your bump” will be growing! Enjoy that Kentucky bluegrass…it is good for you AND your baby! I love you Zenyatta!
Barbara Wood (Texas)
@Terri Z–thank you for the info. about Mike Smith’s charities. If I can negotaite the FB part, I”ll feel like a kid in a candy store!
@Dawn Conrad–thank you for sharing your story about CInder. Lovely. I’ll bet you’ve read “Chicken Soup for the Horse Lover’s Soul”.
@Diana S–thanks for the link. I had already voted, but I hope they get some help too!
ENSIGN
@ Anita in CA,
.
Regarding grey, to say it’s dominant isn’t entirely correct.
Grey is really a modifier color gene. A horse is still born bay or chestnut or buckskin, etc. but the grey gene acts as a modifier on that base coat and causes the whitening you see. A horse MUST have atleast one grey parent to be grey, but a horse can also have two grey parents and NOT be grey. If the grey gene is passed on from a parent, the resulting foal WILL be grey, it will always be expressed.
.
Not knowing Tasty’s grey status, if she’s Gg she may produce a foal that is non-grey or she could pass along her G gene. If she’s homozygous grey (GG) she will always produce grey offspring.
Jo
You look wonderful, Z! And I must admit I was one of those wondering whether your tail had been bobbed. Glad all is good in the tail department! Some of us were wondering about how big Tasty is, so thank you for that info. Love and hugs to Z and Team Zenyatta!
Pam
Z, you look so happy and content grazing on that wonderful Kentucky grass. I have a question: When your John comes to visit, does he ever visit with Life Is Sweet? I assume her foal has been weaned by now. Are there any more pictures of her with her foal as he grew?
Abigail from Montreal
@ ALL: GEEZ GUYS! YOU ARE RIGHT…..AND ZENNY’S HOROSCOPE IS WRONG!!!!! Lord knows why I thought Feb.1…OKAY. Here’s the ARIES female:
Feelin’ kind of foolish, Zensters. But here we go:
ARIES is an ASSERTIVE, TAKE CHARGE LADY. This is a FIRE sign and probably GREAT for a thoroughbred, since they can be VOLATILE but then find it easy to forget about. ARIES doesn’t hold a grudge nor do they hang on fore long to life’s annoyances. ARIES is not aggressive but ASSERTIVE — WELL, YES! She is a FORCE OF NATURE for spouse & children and will not brook outright defiance without a response of equal “burn level.” However, the ARIES mother is protective & nurturing, although she will expect INDEPENDENCE at an EARLY AGE from her offspring, since she has THINGS TO DO! ARIES is the champion of the underdog as well, as long as they are deserving of some DIVINE INTERVENTION. ARIES is passionate & loving and their favourite time of day is either sunrise or sunset, since they are deeply attuned to matters of renewal and rebirth. They LOVE food and can over-eat if they’re not watched. However, ARIES is also sensitive and can even be fragile emotionally if overwhelmed, since they always want to do THE BEST POSSIBLE for everyone which is, of course, impossible. So even though ARIES likes to think it’s IN CHARGE OF EVERYTHING, they need OTHERS to make them feel happy, safe & secure. ARIES appreciates being humoured — you can’t get them to go along if you confront. They tend to be WITTY and don’t MISS A TRICK. But they don’t enjoy EXCESSIVE PAMPERING, since they tend to be rather “basic” in terms of their actual needs. I did say “EXCESSIVE” — ALL ARIES need to be pampered! Just don’t over do it! The other remarkable trait of many ARIES is their LONG-TERM MEMORY, giving you the impression that they remember absolutely EVERYTHING! Fortunately, as I said, fire signs are quick to anger/quick to forgive!!!!!
Carole #42 Wisconsin
Beautiful Zenyatta with a beautiful belly…you look georgeous..have a great day and kisses on your nose. XOXO
JAG Adores Zenny & John Henry / So. CA
@ ABIGAIL :-)