Good Morning,
I am still ‘BASKING IN THE GLOW’ of my GOLDEN TROPHY! What a complete honor! LUCKY, LUCKY ME!
I did want to tell you how GREAT it was when my family came to visit last Sunday. Here are a few photos. I had lots of treats…which I shared with my friends…and hugs and kisses. Those I kept for myself!
Ann and Jerry spent a great deal of time with me both inside the barn and outside while I was in the paddock. They watched me play with my friends and do some very ‘spirited’ gallops around the field with my 3 buddies. We are really getting along beautifully. P.Q., Sea Gull, Alyse and I are great friends. This ‘bonding thing’ is very special and I think I’m getting the hang of it now.
Then John and Dottie each spent ONE-to-ONE time with me. John really wanted to just visit with me…he and I all by ourselves. Dottie did the same. Over the last 4 1/2 years, I have spent so much time with these 2 people…especially my dear John. All of the quiet time visits…1 to 1…really mean a great deal to me. During our time together, John shot several photos of ME…and I’ll share some of them with you tomorrow. (He is just so cute…carrying his cameras around. I’ve seen him do this for years now.)
As you can see in today’s photos, my ‘winter coat’ is growing. This is what keeps me nice and warm while I’m outside. It is all part of nature’s way of helping me to adjust to a colder climate…as it does all horses. I do feel like I am adapting beautifully to my new life at the farm. I also KNOW ALL OF YOU are still in touch…and that makes me feel so, so, so special!
Many of you are asking about my FIRST DATE! I know the options…my family did discuss them with me. Between you and I, I know MY FAMILY is going to LUNCH next week to finalize the details. They promised they’d tell me FIRST…and then all of YOU! This is really too cute! I’m getting so excited.
Breeding sheds open in MID-FEBRUARY around Kentucky! So, it is getting close.
As many of you know, I just LOVE SPORTS…guess it is because I am an athlete. It is a fun FOOTBALL WEEKEND. MY N.Y. Times Buddies, THE JETS, are playing. Gotta’ love Jason Taylor! Not only is he a terrific Jets football player…a few seasons ago, he was also one of the FINALISTS on DANCING WITH THE STARS. He and I have the DANCING THING IN COMMON!
This is also a big secret……a friend of mine tried out for that show! I’ll keep you posted. If it all works out, in my free time, I could offer some of my ‘unique dance steps’ for the program! THEY COULD ALL LEARN TO DO ‘THE ZENYATTA’ !!
Have a lovely Saturday!
With Love,
Hugs to all~
Z
Peyton
Thanks for the update and pictures! Love seeing you so happy. I really wish they would make a movie about you soon, then you could star in it as yourself and continue to show us all of your dance moves! What an amazing team you have!
Catherine Uher
OMG this is the most precious post to date! Thank you for sharing all of the pictures! Can’t wait to see more of you and hopefully some more videos of you running and playing with your buddies. Love, love, love Jason Taylor! I just love that the Jets are your buddies, too. Too cute, Z! Still so unbelievably happy that you won Horse of the Year! I was jumping up and down and screaming so loud I think I scared everyone in my family! Then I started crying! Jerry’s speech was so heartfelt and classy and gracious, and the part at the end where he read that passage from Tranquility Farm’s calendar was just beyond amazing and beautifully written! You are our miracle precious girl and we all love you sooooo much! I’m pulling for AP Indy that way your first baby’s name can be Zapittooya (Z from your name, the AP from his name, then a combination of the letters from both of your names) cause that’s exactly what your little miracle is gonna do when he/she hits the racetrack… he/she is gonna ZAP it to everyone! Please pass this on to Mr. & Mrs. Moss and John & Dottie for me! I think this would be such a great name for your first baby! I love you Zenyatta and hope you have a wonderful weekend playing and just being you! Hugs, kisses & carrots! <3
DEBBIE GUSTAFSON
I KNOW YOU WHERE SO EXCITED TO SEE JOHN AND DOTTIE,,,THEY LOVE YOU SO MUCH, BUT WHO DOESN’T? YOU ARE SO BEAUTUFULL WITH LONG HAIR,ALAO SO GLAD TO HEAR THE NEWS IS COMMING SOON , TO WHO THE LUCKY STUD IS,,I KNOW THEY ARE GONNA GET THE BEST FOR YOU ZENYATTA ,SO NO WORRIES,,YOU ARE GONNA BE A AWESOME MOMMIE~~~~~HOPE WE GET TO SEE YOU AS BEING A MOMMIE,WAITING ON BABY ZEN TO COME,,,WOW WONDER WHAT’S IT’S GONNA BE???? DON’T REALLY MATTER AS LONG AS IT’S HEALTHY,,,CAN’T WAIT!!!!!!
Beverly Buchert
Thanks Zenyatta we love your postings and photos. glad you spent time with your family. Did Mike visit you and if so are there photos of him with you?
Kathryn Cogswell
Dear Ann Maree Matthews: Back on #62, near the bottom, wondered if you`d bring your words about ‘Z`s’ times & running here from your FB Post. Won`t reiterate a lot, but the first several words were what no one else seems to have written . .. And I have looked everywhere. Thanks, Khc.
Judy Sims
Hi Zenny:
You look great. Jerry looks “cold!” Thanks so much for the pictures. Your coat is still so beautiful. These Diary Posts are the highlight of my day. Dottie, you really have us fans spoiled and I’m grateful for it! Happy Days are really here again thanks to you, Zenny, and your kind and considerate family both in California and Kentucky. Seeing your pictures and videos and all the articles about you is so heart warming. You are the gift that keeps on giving.
Hugs to your posse. I bet they are really glad that you are so generous and share your treats with them. Have they developed a taste for the Guinness too?
Hugs & nose kisses.
Judy 8-)
dunie oneil
Love your post, dear Queen. Stay warm and happy and know how much you are loved!
Barbara Bowen
Thank you for sharing. I know they will find the perfect “mate” for you Zenyatta! What stud wouldn’t want a gorgeous gal like you! Dance on Zenyatta!
Robbie Pfeufer Kahn
To KATHRYN: Karey expressed perfectly the importance of your self-reminder. Karey said, “How gracious of you to keep the lines of information true and clear.
An appropriate way to show respect for the integrity of Team Z and for how deeply this amazing story, and even its tiniest details, will live in our hearts. Thank you for setting that bar.”
I had read about the tag, too, and was able to trace the source—an article by Claire Novak, which begins:
“Ann Moss came to the Eclipse Awards at the Fontainebleau Hotel with a small golden object clutched in the palm of her thin left hand. It was a shiny circular foal tag, the kind placed upon halters to identify young thoroughbreds. Simply, it read, “Zenyatta.”
http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/news/story?id=6032459
I believe that tag is now on Zenyatta’s halter as can be seen in the recent video of her grazing amongst her three friends.
Best–Robbie
sue w
Zenny…I especially love this post. For some reaon I get all weepy when you mention John especially…and of course Dottie and the Mosses. John knew your soul and heart like no other. You were kindred spirits in so many ways. Whenever I think of Jerry reading the words from Ms. Brown at the HOY awards my heart swells with price. For you, for them and us. These posts are sunshine on the coldest day. Love you girl.
Paul
The Zenyatta diary is great! Keep it up! I am looking forward to hearing who Zenyatta ends up dating. I am very happy that she won horse of the year despite arguments that Blame, the horse that beat her in the Breeder’s Cup in 2010, was more deserving of it. I love Zenyatta! Good luck to her!
Dawn Conrad
Dear, Zenyatta. Thank you so much for sharing such beautiful pictures and wonderful moments with your loved ones. We look forward to hearing from you each day. I know John always said that he talked to you about life often and that you were a very gifted communicator; especially those eyes. I’m sure everyone misses the private moments alone with you, each sharing their own thoughts and feelings. I know talking to my wonderful Bindi (dog) and Sassy (kitty) can bring me such peace, they seem to understand so well. There fur is pretty good at catching tears of joy and sorrow too. Of course the very next minute we may be sharing simple fun, shear sillyness and a great laugh together. The animal kingdom is such a tonic to the human heart, we should always take great care of these beautiful souls. I am so glad you are enjoying your gal pals. I’m sure you are all just gorgeous running around the paddock, kicking up your heels. Speaking of which, can’t wait till you tell us which friend tried out for Dancing With the Stars, so hope they make it. I can actually picture several of Team Z on the dance floor. And of course I’m looking forward to the “special” announcement in the next week or so. Who will be the choosen one? I know someone mentioned Pulpit, who just happens to be a son of AP Indy. I have met him many times and he is one of my favorites also. To actully be able to lay a hand on such a magnificent stallion is a marvelous experience. Goodbye for now, beautiful girl. Stay warm and safe. Hugs and kisses. XXXXOOOOO
Karey and Barbara Wood, I wrote a short note to you both in response to the “chatty” post yesterday, hope you had a chance to read it. Thanks to everyone for making such a fantastic site for the great fans of Zenyatta!!
Linda Shull
Great Pictures!!! More, more, more!!!
Kathryn Cogswell
There you go, Robbie: I knew if I opened it up, one of you would help retrace & access that wiff I mis-heard, and I couldn`t backtrack to the more authoritative comment among the 1,000-plus written as we waited for #62. ‘In a multitude of counselors .. .’ yes? Thank you; Claire will be glad you quoted her correctly, and so am I. K.
Elaine
I’m sure your team will pick out a very handsome first date for you. How exciting!
I would love to see a video of ALL Team Z doing “The Zenyatta”. LOL That would be great.
I’m anxious to hear who tried out for “Dancing With The Stars”. Dottie, Ann, Mike??? You all have great moves!
jo
a happy post to uplift my spirits on a rough day at work. Look at you looking and posing at the camra. I understand the alone time that John wants with you. That must be what you all miss about the most. I know i would. That special time of communicating. And like I said yesterday on your fb page when does the new Zenyatta fragrance come out? I cant wait to see the commercial promotion. Just another way to see you running leaping dancing. Love you Bye
Paula Turner --Slew's first trainer
Long ago a clumsy, crooked-legged colt was sent to me for training. His short, still-fuzzy tail hanging from that big butt, made me laugh and call, “Baby Huey!” His special needs then—mentally immature, requiring endless patience, and using dressage instead of galloping for eight months, to keep stress off that leg—required more of me than any racehorse I’d trained. Working and riding him alone those countless hours tied him to my heart forever. He became like my son. And like Zenyatta, he too was an amazing horse and people everywhere loved him. With Huey gone, I can not write these words without a boulder in my throat. I feel an intense affinity with Zenyatta’s immediate family… the Moses, you and John. I assume you get mountains of fan mail, and dearly hope this does not simply get lost in that mountain, for I’d love to get contact information, to send personal messages to you all. And I’d like to know they would actually be read by each of you.
Though I’ve never met her, I most of all feel intense affinity and love for your Zenyatta, much as for my boy, Huey—Seattle Slew.
Elena Erdman
Good day my lovely Z. I love the pictures with your California family and you look so, so fantastic. How exciting you got to spend 1 on 1 time with John and Dottie. They all sure are good looking people. I went to Santa Anita today and went to a TOC class and as we were walking to a trainer’s barn and seeing all the hoof prints on the way to the barns, I suddenly thought, “Zenyatta walked here too” I got all excited and started to smile as I remembered you racing there. Oh, as we walked passed Clocker’s Corner, I saw a display display in gold and silver of Zenyatta things. Of course I stopped to look. I loved it.
LaurieK
Look at her hamming it up for Ann’s camera. Once a diva, always a diva.
Elena Erdman
“The Zenyatta.” Wow, that would be so cool. Yup, going for the Jets too.
Carol M
I hope your date is prince himself, Zenyatta…. You’ll make a great mom.
Snoprinz
Thanks for the update and the pecious pictures. I would like to learn a few dance steps from and with you. I bet it will be a hit. Mid-February is coming soon and I’ll be so excited to learn about the lucky first date. Have fun Zen and best wishes on being a broodmare. Maybe the next award will be Broodmare of the Year just like your beautiful Mom.
Adele Williams
The Zenyatta dance will be a hit. Thank you for posting in your diary. You have a family & many fans that love you.
Patty Smith
Posts from Zenyatta make my day! This one is especially great! Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to more pics!
Adele Williams
I am glad they didn’t start to race you before you were 3 yrs. old. By than your legs were much stronger.
Kathryn Cogswell
Dear Paula Turner, for Seattle Slew: Please also write http://www.backside55.com/ . ..Backside 55: ‘From The Field,’ by tapping the ‘Write’ tab along the top of the page. There is a good connection between the author & ‘Z`s’ HP Family & when we faced some questions here, an answer came quickly. The ‘Write’ is different from the ‘Comments’ alternative & seems somehow more private. Thank you so much for your note here, though.
Margaret
Oh Z I’ve already tried to do the Z. I got the pawing part and bending the knee but NO ONE could replicate you! I have to admit I’m not very co-oridinated so that could have a whole to do with my inability to mimic you. And by the way mimicking in this case is a compliment cause you are just so outstanding.
I think Team Z should release a video on how to do the Z dance. Proceeds could help offset cost for LE having the additional costs of guides getting us out to see you. I was thinking about this the other day…
Somewhere on the net I read that visitor’s could possibly bring all sorts of problems to you–most accidentally. Perhaps there could be a way to have us park someplace that is regularly disinfected. And possibly LE could have coveralls for visitor’s–re-usable ones that they can wash with bleach. And then of course booties for us humans. I don’t know about others but I would be happy to do whatever I could to ensure not only your safety but that of your friends. And if someone is ill they should be REQUIRED to wear a surgical mask. This is for your protection as well as any baby on board. Maybe that should be a requirement period. That way no one will fill singled out.
I don’t know about petting you. I know you love pats and to give hugs. You gave me one last Nov that I still haven’t forgotten about. It was so spontaneous. But with lots of people that might not be the best thing for you.
Hay Z I’m not knocking people. You have done so much for horse racing and for bringing awareness to this sport. This about YOUR safety and well being.
I’m sure some of it has been thought of and more thinking will be done. Maybe some of it will have to be done spur of the moment–like bigger groups than they were expecting or something. Or if you’re having a fussy day (don’t feel bad–we all have them)!
I’m sending you lots of air hugs. That’s where you hug the air around the person without actually touching them–just like an air kiss. And lots of air kisses!
Mary Stanford
I can tell from the photos your family sure does love you Z. Mrs. Moss has the biggest smile on her face when she is around you..like I said ..you have her wrapped around your hoof. :) We are all excited about your first date. I am so glad you are so happy…makes all your fans feel good.
Hugs to you Z….. glad you got that new winter coat to keep you warm….nature take care of things like that for sure.
Diana
Great post! We are all waiting anxiously to see who the lucky man will be. Z, you are just such a loving horse so no wonder everyone loves you. John is such a superb trainer to have managed your career so successfully, and more importantly keep you so sound and the picture of health. We know his Barn 55 connections played a huge part in all of it. The Moss family made sure you got what ever you need and the best of everything. And Dottie, we fans can never thank you enough for keeping us hooked up with our girl. Thanks so much!
Maria
Queen Z, I love reading your blogs. It’s very touchy when you talk about John Shirreffs. I know you miss him and he probably miss you so dearly. Oh my goodness I cannot hardly wait to find out who will be the lucky stallion. He better be nice and sweet to you. I love you Zenny!