Good Morning,
It is the final day of November, 2011. It seems like the last 30 days have been extremely busy and filled with a variety of events. The month started with all of the Breeders’ Cup activities, races, and MY PARTY. (YIPPEE!) It ultimately wound down with an abundance of great racing around the country. Rapid Redux reached #20! Hollywood Park’s Autumn Festival, the competitive 2 year old stakes at Churchill on their closing weekend, and Aqueduct hosting races as the Cigar Mile, Remsen, Gazelle, and Demoiselle all added to the excitement. Many current and future stars performed with such style. Congratulations to all of the victors and their connections!
Additionally, the November HORSE SALES have been very active at Fasig-Tipton, Keeneland, and now Tattersalls in Newmarket. The quality of stock auctioned at these venues has been excellent…and the prices paid for these horses reflected such. People truly love our sport and want to be involved!
In reality, so much action constantly takes place in ‘the horse world’! There is always something new to learn, to study, and to enjoy! I truly believe this is what makes it all so enjoyable and intriguing to people! There is never a dull moment and the pace at which our sport functions definitely keeps you ‘on your toes’.
Santa Anita, ‘The Great Race Place’, as it is often called, opens the day after Christmas. Currently, their staff is extremely busy completing a number of maintenance projects. In the infield, they are installing a brand new high-tech video board. This BIG BOARD will measure 53′ by 29′ offering the best resolution available in technology today. New state-of-the art boards are also being placed in the paddock area to enhance the entire racing experience for the ‘on-track’ fans. In this photo, they are dismantling and removing the ‘old infield board’. All of this is actually a very specific and detailed process…but the workers are making great progress.
When completed…it should be amazing! HMMM! Perhaps they’ll show some videos of ME on it next season! Now that would be TOO CUTE!
Happy November 30th!
With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z
Linda in NJ
@Cynthia H./Where Zenyatta Danced: Yes, I agree with you.
Donna
I apologize if I have upset anyone with my posts about horse slaughter especially Z’s connections and especially Dottie who I admire so much.
we lost our Honeybee on the track 16 months ago. she broke her leg while training and it still hurts very much so I feel very sad for everyone who loved CLOUD MAN.
Z I think about you every day, Honeybee was a big girl like you.
AngelaFromAbilene
I know this may rile some people up but this is a very important issue and to have a blanket ban on horse slaughter has and is just as cruel as many think slaughtering is. Horse slaughter is a very emotional issue. Many who are against it really have no idea what the ban on slaughter has meant to many, many horses in this country.
All over the country, horses are being abandoned because there is no place to go with them. Around Abilene alone, there are places that have become dumping grounds for unwanted horses. In this economy, for many horse owners, it has come down to feeding the horse or feeding the family. Not an easy choice by any measure.
Horse slaughter, when done in the US is the most highly regulated of all livestock slaughtering facilities. It is just as “humane” as cattle slaughter.
Taxpayers are already footing the bill on unwanted horses. Google “government funded horse resue.” Paying inspectores is much cheaper on the taxpayers.
I applaud the effort to save as many horses from the plant as possible. However, you cannot save them all. And for some, slaughter is the most humane act they can hope for.
I currently have 7 that would have otherwise gone to a Mexican slaughter house. At first, it was easy for me to take a horse when asked. As the herd has grown, I have to be selective. As much as I would like to take in every horse people call me about, I just can’t do it. If you really want to end slaughter, adopt a horse. If you are in the Abilene area and want to adopt a good horse, get in touch with me.
(There is no danger any of mine will be slaughtered. I also am not a government funded/donation supported rescue. Every penny of care these horses require comes from me.)
I hope I have not offended anyone. I just think I may have some insight most do not.
Linda from Chicago
@ Delrene from Carlsbad – There is a beautiful photo of Cloud Man in the thoroughbred pedigree – Godspeed Cloud Man – RIP beautiful boy!
Teresa E
THANK YOU ALL for the info. on the horse slaughter bill. Obama makes me sick for signing this as well as any other fat cat politicians that are for it. I would like to see “Zenyatta” and her ‘team’ behind this and come out and state so. This would do alot. For the White House signatures on the petition, did you all have to make an account with the .gov link first? I worked very hard a few years back to get the DeKalb IL plant closed down & to think this disgusting practice will happen again is more than I can take! I also agree with the comment about the over-breeding, and the TB industry, along with the QH ind. too, are the two big problems. We own TB’s and would never think of the yearly breeding and are responsible for EVERY horse we have for the rest of their lives.
Thank you all again, my computer not working that well, but please keep us posted. How bout it, Zenyatta Team? Step it up on this horrible thing that is happening to innocent horses that did nothing to face a terrifying death! Not every horse is Zenyatta, but they have just as much right to live as she does.
Thank you again fellow anti-slaughter friends! I will be calling, emailing, and mailing my reps…
Cynthia H./Where Zenyatta Danced
Please, Dottie, if you can tell us if your barn at Santa Anita is okay, and the horses? The wind damage is so extensive and terrible.
LauraJ (Cincinnati, OH)
Boy, I was hoping the thread would have gotten a little more cheerful by now.
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@Angela from Abilene, I appreciate your willingness to give a dissenting opinion, and the care you give your own horses. ITA that the abandonment of horses is a huge humane issue. However, the problems with reopening slaughter plants as a solution, as I see them, are as follows:
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(1) There is NO incentive to reduce the overbreeding that is at the root of the “unwanted horse” problem. Absolutely none. These plants will be operated as for-profit businesses. By their very nature, they will have to have raw materials (horses) to sustain themselves. So what happens when all the “excess,” “unwanted” horses have been killed, processed, and shipped to Europe or Japan? People will start breeding horses specifically for the meat market. Is that what you want? Also, thieves will start stealing other people’s horses and selling them to slaughter. I don’t care how much documentation is required; it can be faked.
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(2) It’s an easy way out for people who can’t be bothered with finding homes for horses that aren’t making money–like those horses your kid rides when she goes to camp. Summer’s over? Send them to the slaughterhouse. Surely poor, hardworking animals deserve better. It is such a betrayal of trust.
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(3) I have yet to be convinced that (a) horse slaughter can be made humane, given the sensitivity of horses, and (b) that the plants will be operated in a “humane” way according to regulations. The meatpacking/slaughter industry nowadays (since the demise of the meatpackers’ unions) is manned primarily by low-paid immigrants who won’t complain if lines are speeded up, won’t file OSHA claims, and won’t report violations. Frankly, I doubt that they or their supervisors will really CARE whether the slaughter process is traumatic for the horses or not. Abuses, including blatant acts of cruelty, have been documented in the slaughter of cattle and chickens, among others. Horse lovers won’t be taking jobs in these plants.
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(4) As regards the Thoroughbred racing industry, slaughter is very bad for business. It keeps butts out of seats and makes enemies.
Joan
@ Teresa
Have you watched any videos of a horse slaughter. There is NOTHING humane about it. Seek out some videos. Canada slaughter which is horrific in itself is much different than Mexico slaughter. Mexico does not kill first, they stab/severe the spine and slaughter while the horse is alive. If that is humane, I obviously don’t understad the word humane.
There is nothing right about slaughter , except for misguided people who see a problem with abandoned horses and their suffering. The breed bred most often is the QH, which does not require a live cover. The rate for QH slaughter is at a much higher rate than the thorough bred. Regardless of the breed, they all suffer tremendously.
For all the advocates of the slaughetr practice, if I had one wish, is that you had to walk in the path of one horse being shipped to slaughter. From the long ride without food or water for 48 hours, crammed in like sardines and then to make that final horrible walk to the end.Until you have witnessed it , you don’t know.
Proponents make it sound like an easy fix, more jobs, etc. It is all about money!!! They are ready to line their pockets and do their donations to candidates for re-election. Occupy wall street is sending a statement, time for the HORSE and the people who love them to make their statement, beginning right NOW!!!
As always love ya Z
Teresa E
To Margaret & other wonderful folks on here that have posted reg. the horse slaughter: I just wrote anc called my US Rep.’s office, and I’m only beginning.
I wanted to say something else regarding this travesty. The horse racing business claims they do not have money. Perhaps the small stables, trainers, those trying to get into it, this is true. However, the large farms, such as Lane’s End, for example, Darley, and many others AS WELL AS the multi-millionaire/billionaire owners that pay millions of dollars for ONE horse at the sales, why don’t THEY speak up, open their pocketbooks and give some of their millions to put forward to stop this horrible act?! Do they care?? Or are they just in the breed, breed, breed state of mind and if they get a good runner out of, lets say, 20 foals, they throw the rest away. I’m sorry, animals are living, feeling, breathing creatures that are not disposable. Let the “big shots” of the business (trainers too)show they care about the business they are in and use the media and power that they have in this industry to stand up against horse slaughter anywhere! I would think a regulation on the chronic breeding year after year of a broodmare until she is too old to conceive, or dies trying to push out another foal is a major problem to the over breeding, over crowding issue of the beautiful, majestic horse. Thank you again everyone who posted info on here regarding this. It keeps coming up every so many years and we have to keep getting together to try to stop it. Shame on Obama too.
Judy Sims in Florida
Good Morning from “Chilly” Florida Zenny.
Hugs and nose kisses to you and Tasty.
In regard to the travesty of horse slaughter. Everyone should read “The Eighty-Dollar Champion” by Elizabeth Letts and send a copy to your congressman and President Obama. Horses have served man from the military to cultivating our land to giving us transportation to our pleasure and most importantly to our understanding of unconditional love. Now it’s time for us to show our compassion and gratitude to them. By the way one of Secretariat’s progeny was discovered here in Florida by his lip tatoo on his way to slaughter and was rescued and is now in a loving forever home and giving pleasure.
Animal lover or not any rational human being should realize that the Horse from Draft Horse to Race Horse to Pleasure Horse to Therapy Horse is an idelible part of our history and has a definite plce in our hope for the future and is truly a National Treasure. I pray with all my heart that compassion will prevail in this matter.
Returning my “Soap Box” to the corner and will now contact the President and my congressman.
Bless you Zenyatta and your baby and all your team and adoring fans. And of course Tasty and her baby.
A million thanks, Dottie, for continuing to keep Zenyatta “talking” to us through good times and bad. And by the way Sophie is way “Too Cute” for words.
Hugs all around.
signofthetimes
@Kari Bussell
Agree with you. Equi-army was created as an advocate site. These issues are so very important. This is Zenyatta’s site for all of us to enjoy racing and all aspects of it. Cloudman’s injury was a part of racing all who work in that field face. Anyone who posts, please don’t take offense to what has been said.
signofthetimes
Dear Zenny,
Hope you arose with to a lovely KY morning, crisp air, your sweater, health food/grazing and you lovely Matt to groom and spoil you. Thanks so much to you and Dottie for creating this site and sharing with us all of the aspects for racing we would never be exposed to. Have a wonderful day, don’t forget your voluntary exercise, hope you win the race today; TT can win tomorrow.
XXXXXOOOOO
dmamaklock
Blessings to you Z and babyZ. The lucky ones indeed. I am deeply saddened by the horse slaughter bill and really hope our voices will matter. If not now then in November. Blessings to all who lovingly care for horses (owners, trainers,caretakers, everyone).
Rosemary McCauley - Southern California
Happy December Zenyatta and Team Z! I hope all of you are well and that you in particular are keeping warm and cozy. We are having unsettling weather here in California, high winds and lots of damage to trees and some power outages. I hope everyone is safe. I had the pleasure of attending the Jack Coady, Sr. Stakes race at Turf Paradise on November 19th. Many of his friends attended the race, as did his his three sons and their extended families. Jack, Sr. was a respected and well liked man.
Delrene from Carlsbad - (California)
@ Cynthia and Kari and all – You both always find exactly the right words and thoughts. This is a site created by Dottie and all things related to Zenyatta and horseracing. We are all passionate about saving horses and a separate website such as Equi-army was the perfect solution. This is not a criticism of anyone who works tirelessly in the trenches for these wonderful creatures, just voicing an opinion. Dottie and all Zenyatta’s connections have shared so much of her with all of her fans and for that I’m so grateful. I hope those in Barn 55 are feeling a bit better today. My respect and love to all who are trying so hard to make this a better world for all creatures, great and small. This site has done so much good and of course will continue to insire and educate.
I’m glad I can do a little bit too, even if its only pledging funds and volunteer work with smaller 4 legged animals. We can change the world and make it a better place for those who have no voice.
Delrene from Carlsbad - (California)
“inspire”
Jeanie
Dear ALL
Marlene posted last night that she still needs $435 by TODAY to make the full rescue she planned. That will now be 3 very pregnant mares and as many others as she can fit in her trailer and can ransome w/ the money she has. If anyone can contribute today, that would be very appreciated. Looks like we will have Little Clouds 1-3! Thank you all.
On another note, I would certainly be willing to move discussions of horse slaughter to the EquiArmy site if I felt I could reach the same volume of people I can reach here. Is everyone here registered on the EquiArmy site? Also, I didn’t see a place on that site where we could have discussions like we do here.
Regarding rescues, again, I don’t know if all the people who would want to help would be checking the EquiArmy site?
Any thoughts?
j
Gloria Jeanne - The O.C.
https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions/fb/petition/petition/ban-horse-slaughter/GnNH1pS4
wwws.whitehouse.gov
JAG ~ Zenny & John Henry in My Heart / So. CA
WOW!! We had some major wind last night!! Trees knocked down. The schools in Pasadena are closed!!! I hope the stables at HP and SA are okay! Dottie, I hope you have power, too!
tony and sue
Kari, thanks for the link to that video. We love it!
JSmith CA
Keep up the good work all. I do know what those who would like this topic moved mean, I have, on occasion, asked people to email me when I thought a topic was not appropriate here. But in this case, if you could just give it a couple of days so the word is out, I would appreciate it. It is so important that everyone contact their gov. reps. & the White House to voice their opinion and there are 1000’s of people that read this diary that would have been unaware that the bill to allow the return of horse slaughter to the U.S. had passed. What is that saying I like, ‘If nobody does anything, nothing will get done’, and I’m sure no one wants a horse slaughter plant opening in their back yard. Thank you for your patience, and taking a stand for what u believe in. Btw, did anyone determine if Sen. Khole (can’t spell) is a part owner of the store?
Barbara Wood (Texas)
@Kari B–we could never be mad at you! I have tried to find you on FB, but the only Karina Bussell I could find had a North Carolina logo. It hurts my heart that this topic even has to come up because it is so evil. It came upon us with such startling suddenness out of the blue that many of us who love horses are in shock. We have repeatedly asked for those who are anti-slaughter to join us on the other site. There is much to be done. I pray Marlene can get all those safely home. Please bear with us for just a bit while we are working very hard. Love you.
Brenda S..Ontario, Canada
Happy December 1st Zenny. I hope that it’s warmer in Lexington than it is in Fort Erie and that YOU and Tasty have your sweaters on. I’ve seen Cigar out in his paddock but can’t see whether he’s got his sweater on.
This month will bring to an end a very exciting and different year for you, but it’s been just a prelude to an even more exciting year. You’ve adjusted so well to all the changes of 2011 and we are all looking forward to 2012 when you become Mommy Z. Stay healthy and happy, many hugs and kisses to YOU and Tasty.
Brenda S..Ontario, Canada
Cigar has moved closer to the camera and he does have a sweater on.
Jeanie
Is that Cigar? Wow. He is looking right at the camera! Wow!
I just had to take my mind off all this slaughter crap and look at a thing of beauty — like Cigar, and of course, the Dancing Queen!
j
sharon in seattle
I always seem to miss Cigar!! darn!
JAG ~ Zenny & John Henry in My Heart / So. CA
LOL Cigar wasn’t wearing a sweater he wears his blue blankie :-) I just spotted him a few minutes ago, too. :-)))
Judy A G
Linda in NJ
Hi Zenny: I hope you and Tasty are enjoying this nice crisp weather. It is a beautiful, sunny day here in NJ. I understand CA got some pretty severe winds last night. Please let us know that YOUR John and Dottie and your Barn 55 friends are okay.
Zenny, what is everyone talking about with Cigar? Is this a webcam that all of them are watching.
@JAG: Please let me know what you folks are watching.
LauraJ (Cincinnati, OH)
@Jeanie, any further news on the total needed? I already donated but could put in some more. I’d rather not have to pony up $400+, though.
LauraJ (Cincinnati, OH)
@JAG, it is definitely blankie weather now.
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@Linda in NJ, there is a webcam outside Cigar’s paddock at the Kentucky Horse Park. The Hall of Champions, with his stall opening out into the paddock, is toward the upper right of the picture.
http://www.kywebcams.com/index.php?cam=9
It is a still cam, so you have to refresh to update the image. It doesn’t refresh itself.