My dear, dear friends,
As many of you may know, MY JOHN and Dottie go to Santa Anita each evening to check on the horses at that barn and walk SOPHIE. It is a relaxing ‘family time’ for them. Last night, they were commenting to each other how very special ALL OF YOU are. John was sharing several emails he’d received during the day with Dottie. The tone in all of them was so warm and tender!
The outpouring of love, sympathy, and kindness you have expressed for Cloud Man and My Team is deeply appreciated! THANK YOU!
One exceptional and charming quality I absolutely ADORE about this web-site is the way everyone rallies around to support each other.
You are constantly doing this when you respond to each other in the DIARY…and you have faithfully done this for ME during my entire career. Additionally, you have expressed the same support and love for MY TEAM.
Life, as we all know, can often present many different challenges. The manner in which all of you share thoughts, kindness, support, and encouragement seems to help make some of these situations and handling them simply feel so much ‘better’.
Thinking of you…and sending each of you a very special HIGH HOOF…for being such a DEAR FRIEND…not just to ME and MY TEAM…but to EACH OTHER!
Enjoy your day!
With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z
Delrene from Carlsbad - (California)
This morning I sent a check to Valley View Rescue in honor of Cloudman. I am reading about the little Colt now that she will name Cloud. there is an e mail address and I will add to be used for “little Cloud”. I’m sure that will work. I love this picture of Santa Anita Racetrack. On a clear day, it is perfection. I live close to Del Mar Racetrack and yes, it is pretty and close to the beach, etc., but I am ever so much more moved by Santa Anita. Don’t know why. Just am. I love the little undiscovered gems, Monrovia, Sierra Madre, all within short driving distance to explore and discover. I can envision myself walking the barns with my dog. What a perfect conclusion to a day. I can see it in my mind’s eye. Thank you Dottie/Zenyatta/John and Team Z & Barn 55 members for giving me this picture of contentment to carry with me. May the days become easier and his memory live in this new little life we can save. Blessings to all that have connected virtually via the world of Zenyatta.
Ingrid Arnone. South Beach.
@ Doreen in CT, I respect your decision, but I think every sport has their own risk, even us we can get kill walking in the street by a car or whatever, Ingrid.
janet Cutting
Hi Zenny and Everyone: A big HUG to all and what a great bunch we have on the Z DIARY– take care, Janet C Wisconsin– Green Bay Packer Country!!!!!!
Debbie G/Kentucky
@Abigail from Montreal – That is such a beautiful, inspiring story. I am so glad that Daisy found her way to you. I had something kind of similar happen to me six years ago. My precious cat Leo died. He was not even five years old yet. He died after bladder stone surgery. I was totally devastated to say the least and all my friends kept asking me if I was going to get another cat. I said I would some day, but I wasn’t going to go looking for one. I said that I would wait for one to find me. Exactly three weeks after Leo died I went to the veterinarian’s office on my mail route and they told me they had a cat they were trying to find a home for. The vet’s wife had found him living in the backyard with a raccoon. He was only three months old and was in bad shape when he was brought in, but they had nursed him back to health. The whole time they were telling me about him I just knew that he was meant to be mine. I’ve never felt anything like that before. As soon as I laid eyes on him the name Amos popped into my head. I had never once thought of that name, but I knew that had to be his name. He looked a lot like Leo. I worried about my other two cats liking him, but it was like he’d lived here all his life. They took right to him. It was destiny! Leo brought him to me, just like Jericho brought Daisy to you.
Sandra Bennington
My heartfelt sympathy to Jerry & Ann, John & Dottie & Zenyatta in the loss of your beloved Cloud Man. I feel your grief.
Sally B. (Wi)
Thank you for such warm compliments for all of us, but it is you and your very special Z team that brought out the best in all of us. I love you Z and your Z team. Z, 2 kisses on your soft nose, one for baby z
@ all I cried this week-end when my friend, Sue F. called breaking such sad news of one of her & hubbies dear older cocker spaniels named Opy. He was a very sweet gentle boy, who was rescued and spent his last 7 yrs. in a loving caring home of theirs. I wish everyone who may be saddened much better tomorrows.
maryp (New York)
I made my donation for little cloud -Please God watch over them and keep them safe.
S.B.
God bless Cloud Man. He will be greatly missed.
signofthetimes
@Sally B
Thanks for sharing such a heartwarming story about your friends lovely cocker spaniel, the geriatric dogs are very special and bring something warm and different to their masters.
M. Kern
Yes! High hoof to all! We love you Queen Z!!! Say hi to Tasty for me!
Barb Zylbert
RIP Cloud Man. We had to put down my first jumper three weeks ago due to the infirmities of old age. He was almost 30 years old. He was bred to race, a grandson of Exclusive Native, but was large framed and looked like a warmblood. His breeder did not want him to breakdown racing since he really was not built to race, so he embarked on a new career in show jumping and became a star. He was the embodiment of heart and work ethic so typical of the TBs. RIP Packer, too.
signofthetimes
@Abigail
What a touching story and now another wonderful dog. Animals do tell us a lot, they have a sixth sense because they don’t speak, but they know more than we do in a different way. Hope you enjoy your new dog. Please post a picture, would love to see her.
christine from Va
I do not know how to write this except to just do it> First my sincere sympathy to all who loved and cared for Cloud Man. To loose an animal is a great pain.
Next, I do not watch racing except after the fact on line. I was 5 when I first saw a horse hurt and can only watch. AFTER I know all are safe and it is o.k. I followed Zen after she retired on line. I fell in love with her and can not go one day without a look at her. She is God’s HORSE.
She has brought to me a joy I had lost in my life. I have a rescued grey and I see in both their eyes a joy for living. Jerry & Ann have cared for and loved their animals. GOD BLESS Team Z. I am sad for your loss I know you feel it very deeply. I pray for your healing .
JAG ~ Zenny & John Henry in My Heart / So. CA
Eagles’ freedom flight ‘a really joyous moment’
http://news.yahoo.com/eagles-freedom-flight-really-joyous-moment-172439865.html
Jug G
signofthetimes
@Barb Zylbert
Lovely story about your jumper. So funny how TB’s bring all of their wonderful qualities to work other than racing. Jethro had such a work ethic, and always excelled (taking a 4 stride line in 3); was always bold before a jump, and often challenged himself going long. It was a challenge to stay on, but it gave him variety and control over how he worked. Lovely, lovely, lovely animals the TB.
RIP Packer
Linda in NJ
Hi Zenny: This picture Your John took of Santa Anita Park is beautiful. I have never visited the Santa Anita racetrack, but I am planning to be there for the 2012 Breeder’s Cup.
Zenny, yesterday everyone’s messages of love helped all of us through a very sad day. We think so much of Your John and Dottie and Mr. & Mrs. Moss. This site is such a blessing.
maryann
Z there is the family you are born with and the family you choose. Through your page and the Moss’s gracious sharing of you with us and Dottie being your “secretary” and voice we have formed our own Z family. We celebrate our victories and rally ’round to comfort each other in our hard times. I don’t know of any other athlete or entertainer that has brought so many people toegther in one site as you have done. You dear Zenyatta are beyond amazing.
Prayers to all connected with Cloud Man. Only time will ease the pain of his loss.
What a nice thing to do in his memory than to rescue a horse in his name. Blessed Be!
Barbara Wood (Texas)
@Dottie, Z., and all of team Z–who in this world could have imagined a year ago what this diary would become? To me, you all are just reaping what you have sown: kindness and love, and it is spreading far and wide.We love you.
@All who are affirming the gift of life by donating to Valley View. I KNOW Marlene will be overcome. I am too. Thank you all, and thank YOU, Jeanie for alerting us to this need.
@signofthetimes–I forgot to mention I posted on my FB page about the rescue you reported earlier.
Jill in Jersey
God made thoroughbreds to run. I believe every horse needs a job – it makes them happy. And if they’re not running on the track, or in a show ring, dressage ring, they keep us company on a beautiful day enjoying a trail ride. I often hold my breath when i watch my beautiful unraced TB, Louie, run in his paddock. He leaps, bucks, rears, prances, and literally floats with his tail held high. I keep my fingers crosses that he doesn’t hurt himself. But, this much i know, he couldn’t be happier. I know of people who don’t turn their show horses out so “they don’t get hurt.” We have to let them be horses and hope and pray for the best. I trail ride my spirited TB, some days it’s a challenge, but I think we both love every minute of it. Zenny, you and your team love your horses – and this is such a great place to share everything, the good and the bad. It’s a great feeling of support to share your feelings with so many wonderful horse lovers. God bless Cloud Man.
signofthetimes
A look toward 2012 with the return of a number of talented “older horses”
http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/breeders-cup-chat/archive/2011/11/29/a-lot-to-look-forward-to-in-2012.aspx
signofthetimes
@Barbara Wood
Thanks for sharing the post of the rescued horse, highlighted in Bloodhorse; all of these rescues are very special
signofthetimes
@Jill in Jersey
Lovely story; anyone who owns a horse worries about them so very much; TB are well know for acting “silly” at time. Jethro was out at night as usual and when he came in one morning he had a “hole in his neck” (nothing serious, thank goodness, but he could have hit the jugular vein or something); he spooked and impailed himself with a tree branch when he was running. SILLY BOY !!!! Also was jumping in a muddy ring and left front foot went deep into the dirt; no lameness just a bump on this left front leg; turned out to be a fractured splint bone, went to Texas AM equine hospital had surgery and was fine (those ballerina legs); rehabilitating a TB without aquatics and some of the other sophisticated exercising devices available (treadmill) is a real challenge; often time end up with way tooo much horse until they get back into shape and calm down from all the stall rest. LOVE THE TB!!!!
Sue Fredrick - Wisconsin
ABIGAIL IN MONTREAL oh thank you so much for your heartwarming post it has lifted my heart, for a similar thing happened to me. I have been on Petfinder all day and keep coming back to a darling little cocker named Precious who was abused and rescued and has just survived a heartworm treatment! My heart just told me this is the one, she is available but is an 8hr drive away. It’s like I really have to have her!! Thank you so much for your touching story and I believe in everything you have said.
Thanks to all for your condolences on the loss of my Opie it truly is a wonder that we can survive with all the holes in our hearts from losing these dear souls. It must be a wonderful sight to see Cloudman
meet up with all the greats in heaven. Hugs to all.
Janis
@Doreen–Just keep on loving horses. What a tonic. Whether it’s racing, dressage, jumping, whatever…We need you, Doreen and so do the horses.
Cynthia H./Where Zenyatta Danced
Dearest Zenyatta,Today was one of the most exquisitely beautiful days I have ever seen in L.A. There was not so much as a baby’s breath of a breeze, and there was a splendid luminosity to the light, as if one were viewing the world under glass. The cloud formations were especially spectacular. I could not help but feel that Cloud Man had somethng to do with this. Godspeed, and God bless.
carolyn kolseth
RIP SWEET CLOUD MAN and ALL:(RUN FOREVER FREE ON THE WINGS OF ANGELS❤❤ Tears:-( This post makes me cry >>>>>>>>LOVE TO ALL and GODBLESS ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Karen Gogue
Zenny,
Here we are trying to cope with the loss of dear Dumplings, and now this…it is outrageous! All of Congress should be voted out next year, and, or, when their terms are up!
http://newsok.com/u.s.-horse-slaughter-plants-in-the-very-early-stages-of-planning-proponent-says/article/3626718
Karen Gogue
I found this very interesting…
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/deputies-raid-horse-racing-gambling-operation/nFn6Q/
Julie DuVall / Ontario, CA
Dear Zenny, Dottie, John, Sophie and everyone else at Barn 55: Nothing anyone can say will make the hurt go away any faster, but it helps to know that others share your pain. We can all shoulder a little bit of it to make the burden lighter for you.
Karen Gogue
The grief that all stable employees suffer when a loss of their horse friends occurs…from 2005
http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/horse-health/2005/november/19/grieving-the-loss-of-a-friend.aspx