Happy Thursday!
We have an exciting post for you today. Dr. Ernie Martinez has written a piece detailing the steps taken at Lane’s End in preparation for foaling. It’s a great example of how Lane’s End leaves nothing to chance. You can follow Dr. Martinez on twitter at @emartinezdvm.
Alys also sent us some great photos of Zenyatta’s first colt playing in the snow.
Enjoy!
-Team Z
Enjoying Late Pregnancy & Preparing for Foaling
By Ernie Martinez II. DVM from Hagyard Equine Medical Institute
As Zenyatta approaches the end of her second pregnancy, we begin to prepare for the arrival of Little 13Z. Very little will change from her daily routine. She will continue to be fed and checked by farm staff twice a day. They will begin to closely monitor her for any signs of premature labor. These might include early udder development or an abnormal vaginal discharge. Thankfully, Queen Z has strided through this pregnancy like a champ and everything has been very routine.
In the last trimester we vaccinate her with a three shot series of vaccinations for Rotaviral diarrhea. This can be a very life threatening diarrhea when acquired in the neonatal stage, and we do all we can try to prevent this disease or at best minimize the severity of any clinical signs. All farm mares receive this series of vaccinations, and we have had very healthy newborn foal crops for some time.
When Queen Z has one month to go we will give her annual series of booster vaccinations. This serves two purposes. First, we provide Queen Z with her annual booster of vaccinations for protection against Equine Herpes Virus 4&1, Eastern-Western Encephalitides, West Nile, Influenza, Rabies & Botulism. Second, and most importantly, by vaccinating her one month before to foaling we will booster the volume and quality of antibodies in her colostrum. Newborn foals are born immunologically naive and must consume and absorb the antibodies from colostrum for their initial immune protection. When 13Z is born we will test her colostrum to insure it is of high quality. If it were to be low, we will give the new foal a pint of colostrum from our colostrum bank. When 13Z is between ten to twelve hours old we will test a blood sample to determine the IgG, or antibody, level. We want all our foals to be above 800 mg/dL. Greater than 1200 mg/dL would be off the charts and even better!
As the foaling date draws nearer, Zenyatta will be brought up to the foaling barn where she will stay until she foals. In the foaling barn she will be under 24 hour surveillance as we patiently wait for her to foal. As she gets closer to foaling, or parturition, her udder will start to develop and the teats will fill. The classic sign that foaling is near is the production of wax or “waxing up.” This is a sebaceous-like pre-colostral secretion that in most cases means foaling is imminent.
Two weeks before Queen Z’s due date we will sample and test her blood for neonatal isoerythrolysis, or NI. We call it an NI Screen. NI occurs when the foal ingests colostrum from the mare with antibodies that react with the foals red blood cells (RBCs). The antibodies are produced by the mare due to transplacental hemorrhage in late gestation. The mare’s immune system identifies the RBCs as foreign because they contain stallion DNA. If the foal were to consume NI antibodies in the colostrum the foal’s RBCs would be coated in the maternal antibodies and cleared by the foal’s immune system, causing a hemolytic anemia. The foal would crash in respiratory distress as it would have no RBCs to carry oxygen. Thankfully, the NI screen allows us to detect NI positive mares. In a positive case we would muzzle the foal and supplement it with tested negative colostrum until the antibodies were cleared from the mares milk. This normally takes 10–12 hours.
So when she draws close to foaling time we will have done all we can do to insure that her colostrum will be top quality, we will have screened her colostrum for NI and we’ve made an easier pathway for the birth of 13Z. Now all we can do is wait.
See you at the Foaling Barn!
Shannon in Cool, CA
We’re standing by waiting to hear about our beloved Queen Zenyatta.
Keta
EHV-1 Confirmed At Santa Anita Park
by Press Release | 03.07.2013 | 5:39pm The Paulick Report
Diagnostic tests at the CAHFS laboratory at UC Davis have confirmed that a euthanized horse was EHV-1 positive. On Tuesday, March 5, a horse at Santa Anita – My Sugar Sugar, trained by Eddie Truman – required euthanasia after developing neurological signs. There have been no other reported cases of EHV-1 at Santa Anita.
My Sugar Sugar had been feverish four days earlier and developed neurological signs on day four. Biosecurity procedures were implemented that day and the California Department of Agriculture was notified of a suspected case of EHV-1. The average incubation period for EHV-1 is 4 to 7 days, with the majority of cases being 3 to 8 days, but with some taking up to 14 days. All horses in the stable are being closely monitored and none of the others has exhibited signs of fever or illness.
Horsemen in the Santa Anita stable area are advised to be especially vigilant in this regard and to immediately notify the CHRB Official Veterinarian if they have any suspicious cases.
http://www.paulickreport.com/news/the-biz/ehv-1-confirmed-at-santa-anita-park/#.UTkyDm4KbEA.facebook
Barbara Wood (Texas)
Oh, Keta. This is terrible news. I do pray it won’t be a major outbreak.
Max
Keta. Very worrying for all of the horses. Pray to keep them healthy, especially Paynter. PUP!
judy berube from Rhode Island
Dear Keta, Max, Barb W. and Z Fans:
Praying this is an isolated case. Hugs, JB
Bev Winters
Am starting to pace the floor waiting. Very impressed with this info! Not like foaling 20 yrs ago.
Keta
horseracinghl tweet
Per @OaklawnRacing, Borel on win No. 5000
“When I started, I didn’t even dream of riding 5,000 races,
let alone winning 5,000″
Keta
Santa Anita Park tweet
Julie Krone will be inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame today!
Go Julie! #GirlPower
Trina Nagele in So Cal --PUR
High hoof, Julie Krone! She rode like a girl!
judy berube from Rhode Island
Dear Keta:
Great news on JK. Always liked and admired her. She was a very talented rider. Hugs, JB
Keta
JustinZayat tweet with FOAL Photo
Born this morning Maimonides- Megalicious colt @zayatstables @jazz3162
#greatday
http://twitter.yfrog.com/h36spaoj
judy berube from Rhode Island
Dear Keta:
What a Doll. Thank you. Hugs, JB
Keta
JustinZayat tweet with FOAL Photo
Born this morning Pioneerof the nile- Everlasting Beauty colt
http://twitter.yfrog.com/h4fr1qtpj
judy berube from Rhode Island
Dear Keta:
Another Sweetheart. Love the white socks. Hugs, JB
carolinarkansas
Hello Zenny…..busy day …
…
Thanks to LE and the doctor for this most informative article….
…
Alys….great pictures ….
…
PURA…..sounds like she came thru this well….and I am sure she was being monitored for this very thing …abscess after bowel surgery not that uncommon
….
Congratulations to Calvin….it was great….sat by the paddock…got pictures of saddling and mounting ….beat it outside….on rail at finish line..got picture of finish …and the place went WILD….the jockeys must have a hard time hiding all this stuff from Calvin …signs posters and a huge cake …I wonder how they kept that cake going for the weeks he has been back…
…….
Big Red Farm has posted a picture on fb of the mare carrying IHA’s first confirmed foal….
carolinarkansas
It is her third foal….in the picture her current baby is at her side….said picture posted because of overwhelming number of requests
Trina Nagele in So Cal --PUR
So glad that you where there, Carol, for Calvin’s 5,000th! High hoof!
Jo
Wonderful photos and information – thank you!
Debbie G/Kentucky
Thanks for the great pictures and the info, Lanes End. Z12 just keeps getting more and more handsome. Can’t wait to see little Z13!
I feel so bad for Rachel, but it sounds like the absess is drained now and everything is normal. I just want her to get better. Power up, Rachel!
Sandy (Northeast Ohio) PUR
Still doing my PUR thing Debbie :-) Sounds like they were right on this which is the good news (as is the fact that the abscess is drained and gone!). Are you going to run over to Lane’s End tomorrow with birthday carrots for Z12?? Sure wish I lived closer.
judy berube from Rhode Island
Dear Debbie and Ann:
Yes, glad those vets at Rood and Riddle on on the ball and RA can begin healing again.
Power Up Girl. Love you. Hugs, JB
Sandy (Northeast Ohio) PUR
Hard to believe that we’ve got a “Birthday Boy” here. HOW could that have been a year ago already? He looks so great playing in the snow. Happy Birthday Prince Z!! Can’t see the other horse’s face well enough to know if this is our buddy “Crescent Moon Guy,” but I don’t think it is.
As has been said a zillion times by now, many thanks to Dr. Martinez for the informative post about the pre-foaling activities, to Alys for the great pictures, to the Mosses for allowing us to be kept in the loop, and to Team Z and all of the folks at Lane’s End for everything they do for all of us.
Zenny, you would be so proud of your guy – I know you can’t see him, but we will keep watching him for you as we wait for your new little one. Stay well and safe.
Love from your Ohio friend,
Sandy
carolinarkansas
Good Grief Zenny ….I almost forgot…..
PACE…PACE….PACE…..
sleep well lovely
marsha roliardi
thanks to all for the update on zenyatta. she is looking so well and we’re hoping for another beautiful birth and baby, it’s hard to believe that 12z is one year old tomorrow. i still picture his mom on the track, and i miss her so much being there. she is in a better, happier place now. thanks for all of the wonderful updates and beautiful pictures of her and 12z. it gets me though life to catch the beauty of them both. can’t wait for the new arrival. our best to lanes end farm, the mosses, the handler’s, trainer’s , everyone in the background and for everyone in california that made her who she is. can’t believe that a horse has such an affect on me, and i love her so much. she’s a sweet, beautiful, giant. sincerely, marsha & joe roliardi
Stephanie in San Diego
Antother Great post filled with information about our Queen. Also, love the pics of the Prince and his buddy. thank you Lanes End. xoxo
Suz TXCA
My how quickly a year passes. A wonderful informative article and shows how careful Lanes End is with their operation. It will be wonderful to be part of the new foaling for Z this year
Anne from Paramount, CA
GREAT, high hoof photos of Prince. Yes, he does get more handsome. I agree with you, Debbie G Happy Birthday Gorgeous Guy!. And what to say about the post from Dr. Martinez–thank you!!! I can just repeat what everyone has already said, but I won’t.
Hooray and high hoof to Calvin!
Carolinarkansas, how cool it is that you were there for this great occasion. I love when the crowd goes wild at the track, Hmm…wonder who comes to mind?
Speaking of you, Queen Z, we continue to wait and watch, or in the case of Aunties Judy and Diana, text and drive. (It’s an individual thing–some pace, some bite their nails…)
Rachel, continue to get better!!!
judy berube from Rhode Island
Dear Carol:
Is this the photo of the mare confirmed in foal to I’ll Have Another? She’s a beauty and her little foal pictured with her is adorable. Hugs, JB
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=491414297572662&set=a.468786189835473.105909.468779149836177&type=1&theater
carolinarkansas
Yes that is her….saw yesterday that she was his first “confirmed “….looked up her pedigree…some famous folks there….they said her picture was posted due to lots and lots of requests …guess we all wanted to see IHAs date
Alene
Lanes End is “AWESOME”…Thanx for the info and stunning pics of Zenny`s handsome young man,12Z…Well, time is nearing for the next “gift”.. May Zenny have a safe and healthy delivery for herself and her little one!!!! Good luck to the wonderful Mosses…Big hugs and kisses to my girl!!!ALENE
Nancy Wassouf
talking about the colostrum issue is this like an RH Negative human Mom who has Positive RH cells in her system who never received Rhogam after a pregnancy or an abortion when fetus might have been RH positive ?
judy berube from Rhode Island
Dear Z, Prince and Baby Z:
Stay safe and cozy. Love you. Hugs, JB
Marshall (NC broad)
Thanks so much to Dr. Martinez for the informative article! Also, thanks to the LE staff and the Mosses for keeping us in the loop — love the photos of 12Z and friend taken by Alys!
All the Best to Queen Z — Hugs & Kisses
judy berube from Rhode Island
Dear Z Fans:
Todd Pletcher’s undefeated three year old Verrazano will make his stakes debut in the Tamp Bay Derby tomorrow. Hugs, JB
http://www.drf.com/news/tampa-bay-derby-brings-verrazano-new-set-challenges
judy berube from Rhode Island
Dear Z Fans:
Goldencents and Flashback meet in the San Felipe Stakes at SA tomorrow. Hugs, JB
http://www.drf.com/news/santa-anita-flashback-goldencents-go-head-head-san-felipe
Trina Nagele in So Cal --PUR
Race 7 at 3:35 PM Pacific Time Saturday, March 9.
Marshall (NC broad)
To Zenny’s Firstborn:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, 12Z!!!! You are the “ripe age of 1 year old” — hope you have a beautiful day of playing in the snow with your buddy and enjoying treats bestowed with lots of love!
Cheers!!
Marshall (NC broad)
Note:
The birthday greeting is about 45 minutes early, but I wanted to get ahead of the crowd!
Hugs
judy berube from Rhode Island
Dear Marshall:
I’ll join you. It’s after midnight here in NE. Happy Birthday Prince. Love you. Hugs, JB
carolinarkansas
I am nine minutes early….but….
HaPpY BiRtHdAy….to IAMHALFGROWEDUPZ….
and he looks more like mom every day ….just one opinion
Vicki B. near Hollywood Park
Still an hour and a half away here, until midnight, but I won’t get back til later tomorrow, so Happy Birthday, 12Z!
Trina Nagele in So Cal --PUR
Thank you, Lane’s End and Alys, for these photos of the birthday boy! Here’s a reprise of my poem for 12Z from a year ago as the evening of the 7th turned into the morning of the 8th. Happy birthday, 12Z, and many, many happy returns!
A Birth Day Poem for Zenyatta’s First Born
(March 8, 2012)
Great tidings
To make our hearts sing
This evening
Does bring–
We’ve just been told
Our adored Queen has foaled
The heir apparent!
We’ve long awaited
The first-born offspring
Of our beloved Queen–
Now we welcome this potential king!
Throughout the Queen’s realm
Joy does all overwhelm!
Jubilation
And exultation
Reign o’er the land,
And poets, with pen in hand,
Break out in verse!
The attendants
In the presence
Of the Queen
This evening waited
With breath bated
As you, little one, arrived,
And then all celebrated
When you, looking so grand,
Soon strived
On legs as yet untried
To stand
And unaided
Started to nurse,
Continuing till sated.
What a charming scene!
And, little one,
Though that slender cord
Is now broken
Through which Zenyatta you
Rich nourishment did afford,
You nonetheless forever to her
Will lovingly be attached–
Wherever YOUR name is spoken,
People will with reverence
Recall ZENYATTA’s great feats
And how she their hearts stirred,
And they YOU
Will treat
With the deference
Due
Her flesh and blood.
Whenever YOUR name
By us is heard,
Happy emotion through us will flood.
Your dear mother’s illustrious fame
From her twenty starts
And thrilling victories unmatched
Insures YOU will in our hearts
Forever be latched!
Little 12Z, you surely won the lottery,
For your mother
Is like none other:
Words are not adequate her to praise–
First,
She’s the Queen
Of racing royalty,
And second, she’s as sweet
As can be.
She you will smother
With loving attention
And give you constant protection.
In coming days
You’ll in pastures green
There at Lane’s End cavort
Where your mother, the Queen,
Holds court.
Soon you’ll on fresh grass graze
Under your mother’s watchful gaze.
Of your father’s side
You’re also justified
To burst
With pride,
For the handsome Bernardini
Bestows on you
A star-strewn
Pedigree
Including the great Seattle Slew
And Secretariat, too–
He’s your great-granddaddy!
So you see,
You may perchance
A great racer be
With lasting endurance
Coupled to blazing speed.
But no matter what you do
Or don’t do,
You are born of highest royalty
And will command our love and loyalty
Your whole life through
Even if you no race ever run.
So welcome to the world, young one!
And to your beloved mother, we say
Well done, dear Queen, well done!
Max
Trina. Thank you for this poem. Perfect. Happy Birthday to a much loved colt, 12Z. Enjoy your day. And as Trina says, many more to come.
judy berube from Rhode Island
Dear Trina:
Love the Birth Day Poem for our Prince. Hugs, JB
Trina Nagele in So Cal --PUR
Here is the first part of my poem celebrating Zenyatta’s new motherhood a year ago.
A Poem to Zenyatta on the Birth of her Prince
As soon as the birthing was done
There on your bed
Of deep straw,
You turned your head
To see your son.
When you first laid eyes
On the dear foal
That had come,
Your soul
Filled with awe.
He instantly meant to you much more
Than any prize
You had won
Before.
You discovered
Here was the one
Who inside you had kicked—
And you covered
Him with welcoming licks.
Your heart for him emoted–
In your soft eyes shone
A love most tender,
And you at once yourself devoted
To the little pretender
To your royal throne.
Happy “Mother’s Day,” Zenyatta, and best wishes for your approaching encore!
Sandy (Northeast Ohio) PUR
Oh Trina!!! My eyes are going to be red for the rest of the day. This is magnificent! I’m not sure if you’re saying that this is a reprise . . . even if I DID read it last year (how could I have forgotten this?), it is even more touching now. Thank you so much!
Hugs,
Sandy
Trina Nagele in So Cal --PUR
Thank you, Sandy. It’s the first part of a longer poem that I posted for Zenyatta on Mother’s Day, May 13, 2012, but I just couldn’t wait to post this part again! Love in Dumplinghood, Trina
judy berube from Rhode Island
Dear Trina:
Lovely poems for Z and for Stephanie. Hugs, JB
maureen phi-llips
Happy Birthday Prince, hope you are always Happy and Healthy and may God’s Blessings and Favor be with you always. So Proud of you, you are a big boy now. I hope you have lots of fun with your friends playing in the snow and kicking up your heels. Will you be having any visitors?, no matter, have fun.
Alys, thank you so much for the pictures of Prince, I was just about to take my last breath from missing him.
Congratulations to C. Borel on his historic win, I hope Mine that Bird sent him a congratulatory note, was actually thinking of Mine that Bird the other day. Hope he is doing well, he is such a good boy and am always so proud of the little Tyke.
Praying for the horses at Santa Anita for continued good health. Must be scary for everyone concerned.
Good night Queen Z, hope you have a peaceful nigh as we start to count down the time until our little Princess gets here, oh, she will be so fine. Good night Prince and little Princess.
To all Z nation fans, good night and may tomorrow be the best day yet. It is well.
carolinarkansas
mine that bird is going to the museum in Kentucky for the race season…someone posted the link above somewhere….the article in on drf or bloodhorse…he will be the first derby winner to be there…now I just have to find that article again
Trina Nagele in So Cal --PUR
We also have a Dumpling birthday girl to celebrate today! Here is an updated version of last year’s poem for Stephanie, aka “S in San Diego.”
A Birthday Poem for Stephanie in San Diego
(March 8, 2013)
Almost from birth
Our dear Stephanie
Equines did see
As God’s gift on earth.
Through all her years of school,
The Quarter Horse did for her rule!
She rode
And showed
All over this land
And found it all grand.
When she
In college
More knowledge
Sought,
She two horses
Along with her brought,
And some might allege
She with those horses
More time spent
Than with her head bent
Over books for her courses.
Her whole world
Around horses twirled,
And she thought
’Twould ever thus be,
But marriage and a lovely family
For a good long while
Intercepted
That projected
History–
Her focus on the equine
Was for a time
Forsaken.
But now her darling daughter Ashley
Is out of the nest
And even has taken
That walk down the aisle,
So Steph does find
That her mind
Has again turned
To what she once loved best,
And Z
Especially
Has earned
Her interest.
Through Z,
Dear Stephanie
Has learned
To treasure
The Thoroughbred,
And that in turn has led
Our Stephanie
To a second epiphany:
It now her does give
Much pleasure
To plan her return
To the warm sun
Of Kentucky
Where once she’d been lucky
To live
When very young.
Feeling for horses much compassion,
Steph wants there to pursue
Her growing passion
For equine rescue.
To those ends,
It seems
She now dreams
Of a little Bluegrass farm
Which she as a rescue will fashion
To be dubbed “A Few New Friends.”
There, she’ll take in horses at risk
And save them from harm.
For her it will be sheer bliss!
Happy birthday, Stephanie, and many, many more!
Sandy (Northeast Ohio) PUR
Happy Birthday Stephanie! I don’t think we ever talked, but I know you were in the group at the BC – I see you in the picture – so we breathed the same hallowed air of Santa Anita! Best wishes for a great year.
Sandy
Max
Happy Birthday, Stephanie.
carolinarkansas
Happiest of Birthdays….Stephanie….hope you have the bestest day ever
judy berube from Rhode Island
Dear Stephanie:
Happy Birthday. Hugs, JB
HeidiK Vallejo,Ca
Happy Birthday, Stephanie.
Marshall (NC broad)
Dear Stephanie,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! Hugs
sheena.davies(wales) waiting for Z's big day
dear 12Z is it really a year since the magical day you came into all our lives? a very,very happy birthday to you the 1st of many ,many years of happiness have a great day with your buddies thinking of mama on mother’s day (march 10th) love and hugs sheena
@trina you’ve excelled yourself this time!!!!! hugs sheena