Zenyatta, The Greatest Race Horse In History -or- The Greatest Race Horse In Our Hearts?

By Frankie Lovato

Being a professional jockey myself for 25 years, and my father also a professional jockey for as many years, my whole life has been horse racing. With this being said, never have I gone through the emotion and magnitude I felt when fellow jockey Mike Smith and Zenyatta loaded into the starting gates for the 2010 Breeders' Cup Classic.



You do not have to be in the business or a horse racing fan to have heard of the great mare Zenyatta. She created her fame by never being beaten along with one of the most astonishing winning streaks in horse racing history. A perfect 19 for 19 record which included defeating the best males on the planet in last years Breeders' Cup Classic run at Santa Anita Park. But, like the great Secretariat, this story does not go down in Disney fashion when the seemingly immortal Zenyatta would be defeated for the first time. (all photos copywrite by Skip Dickstein Photography all rights reserved, please visit SkipDickstein.com)

The stage was set for the 2010 Breeders' Cup Classic held this time at Churchill Downs. Zenyatta was flown in from California to begin her final preparations over the Churchill Downs strip. Like a rock star, news media, camera's flashing, fans, posters, and 24 hour security swarmed around her deeply bedded stall, as we watched every move she made. This 6 year old, 17.2, twelve hundred pound dappled bay mare and people lover, carried the presence of a true queen of royalty, even given the nickname "Queen Z".


Hall Of Fame and world class jockey Mike Smith knows greatness in a racehorse when he sits on one, having said, "I believe Zenyatta can go down in history as the greatest racehorse of all time". A strong statement made with the likes of racehorses that have been considered to carry this title such as Citation, Man O' War, and Secretariat to name a few. For many however, it was believable because no one has carried such an amazing record of being undefeated 19 for 19 especially running in the caliber of races she has competed. It was believable for me that Zenyatta could go down as one of the greatest racehorses of all time.

Along with millions of others, I sat and watched with hands trembling, and my heart pounding. I could not imagine what Mike was feeling. As the gates came open, Zenyatta was away badly but no worries, she always get's off sluggishly and awkward. As they headed passed the grandstand for the first time, Zenyatta was climbing with her action and looked a bit uncomfortable as she dropped back further in last with Mike nudging her to be more forward. OK, she did this a bit last year too so still not all that worried. As they made their way into the first turn, I see Mike nudging her more, OK, this is not good, something is wrong. Does she hate the track, having a bad day, the dirt getting kicked in her face bothering her that much? All the above?

Midway down the backstretch she was so far back behind the last horse, I was already feeling, "there is no way she can win from here" and disappointment was already setting in. As they hit the second turn, I see her starting to catch up somewhat with the field and thinking, "maybe she can hit the board", but also seeing other jockeys in position and poised to pounce as they neared the top of the stretch. Then all at once like an accordion from front to back, the whole field came together within a few lengths of one another with Mike and Zenyatta on the move. I am praying that Zenyatta finds her way through traffic (a jockey's nightmare) as she is picking them off one by one. Turning for home, I see Blame and Lookin at Lucky both blast off for the lead and looked like fresh horses headed for the finish line.

When spotting a fresh horse 5 lengths, there is no way it is possible for any horse to catch up with less than a quarter mile to go, but when Mike got Zenyatta out and clear, here she came! Within a sixteenth of a mile, she caught Lookin At Lucky and there was one left to beat, Blame and he was not slowing down. I have never seen in my lifetime a horse full of run like Blame and she was still getting to him with every stride. At that moment, 100 yards to go, I witnessed something I have never seen before. This was true greatness, my eyes began watering knowing I have just witnessed the greatest performance in racing I have ever seen. This mare was wearing down the best male horse in the world with every single stride. Even with jockey Garret Gomez's great ride and with all the run Blame had left inside him, Zenyatta was coming to get him. As they hit the finish line, it was over, she was too late. Blame hung on and reached the finish line first to defeat the great Zenyatta. Could two more strides have changed racing's history forever?


With Zenyatta's defeat, never have I seen the despair, sobbing and heartache from so many fans. Yes, she did get beat and Blame held on, but Blame is not the "bad guy" and Zenyatta is not the loser here, either. She maintained winning the respect and hearts of millions forever and always and people will talk about her for years and years. Although the history books won't quite tell the full story of how Zenyatta was just two strides short and inches away from historical greatness. Two more strides that perhaps would have given her the inches she needed to win, and that would have placed her amongst the greatest racehorses of all time. It is now even questionable if she can be voted the Horse Of The Year? Personally, I think she should be voted the Horse Of The Decade if there was such an award.

Her race record now shows a less then perfect 19 wins from 20 career starts, but her record in winning our hearts and respect remains perfectly intact. The greatest racehorse in history or is she just the greatest racehorse to win over our hearts? Could she be both? Only time will tell and with that, I say "Go Zenyatta!"

For more information with Frankie Lovato, visit FrankLovatoJr.com or Equicizer.com

Photos by Skip Dickstein Photographer all rights reserved.

In relation, Frankie Lovato interviews jockey Mike Smith on a sneak peek preview from his "What It Takes To Be A Jockey" DVD

I Got A Pony! ... What?

I Got A Pony!.. What?
By Frankie Lovato Jr

Something you would expect to hear from a horse crazed eight year old child that gets the greatest birthday present in the world, not the case here. Would you ever suspect a 47 year old retired professional jockey that's ridden thousands of race horses for years and years? That's me! And yes, I actually got a pony!!! The greatest father's day gift in the world from my wife Sandy. Whether you know me well or not at all, everyone's reaction is the same, “why in the world would you want a pony?”


Well to start off, I must clarify one small stipulation, I have to share the pony with my 4 year old grand daughter Allison and I promised I would share fairly (wink) OK, so if you have read this far, you are still wondering why in the world would I want a pony, I can explain and you can decide if I lost my marbles?


(photo on right, is Allie practicing with Popcorn & Sandy (Grammy) for the county fair)

So here goes, I have always wanted a pony since I was three years old, where we lived in New Jersey and my dad raced, (who was also a jockey), were not able to have horses especially a horse to "bond" with. My childhood was short though as at age 13, I left home to work on a thoroughbred horse farm in Ocala Florida to prepare for my career as a jockey. There were not ponies but lots of big strong strapping race horses. There was never a time for me to have my own horse at all and as I started racing professionally at age 16, a pony or any horse was the furthest from my life. My career would take me to New York to ride at tracks like Belmont, Aqueduct and Saratoga. Riding races year round (barring injuries), an active jockey literally may ride a thousand different horses a year between morning workouts and races for many different stables, but never a time to raise, bond and care for a horse of your own. My wife and I started our family in Long Island NY approximately 25 miles from New York City, tough place to keep a horse, our 3 children did not show much interest in horses so there was never a priority there.

My wife Sandy however grew up in small town Norwalk Ohio where from the age of 8, had her first pony named “Cindy” Cindy was a Painted Shetland that Sandy could show at the county fair and ride off into the sunset for years of her childhood. Sandy then had her quarter horse gelding “King” as she got into her teen age years to do much of the same. From the photos and conversations Sandy and I would have made me yearn for passion and relationship and that "bond" she had with her horses.

Doing the math, I figured I have ridden approximately 40,000 horses in my life time, not one of them my own or any time to bond with really. So maybe I am starting to make sense of why I would want a horse, but a pony?! Well, I think I can come up with a ton of reasons that would make sense. Of course there is the old “bucket list” of things I always wanted in my lifetime, also, my 4 year old grand daughter has a love for horses that Sandy and I both would love to see her with a pony. The next thing is once I retired from racing, we did move from New York back to Sandy's home town in Ohio. We do live in the country about five miles out of town but the property we purchased was conducive for our Equicizer business. Not quite a horse farm but a wooden horse farm where I build my Equicizers with an acre and a half with our home and shop in the back yard. Maybe not big enough for a horse, but for a pony!

There is another part of the story that really kicked this dream to reality, and that is our Stampede Of Dreams Therapeutic Riding Program. There we have horses that are specifically trained and have the right disposition to conduct riding lessons for the disabled also know as equine assisted activities and therapies. Sandy is a NARHA Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor. The sessions are conducted and the specifically trained horses are on a small farm that is not at our property. The horses also belong to the program and not for our personal use. Recently, Sandy was doing an evaluation a mini paint mare someone wanted to donate to our Stampede Of Dreams program, I went with Sandy to evaluate this pony and those feelings came back to me as if I was a child.. As we drove away from that barn, my heart was right back to where it was when I was 3, “I want a pony!” For weeks after, I would stare into our backyard visualizing and muttering the words out loud (was my answer to everything partly being humorous) “I want a pony, I want a pony, I want a pony”

Father's Day was coming and Sandy initially planned on getting me that new grille we needed, but my constant “I want a pony” had her change gears. I was not sure if I could really get a pony, I was fine with waiting realistically for a better time, after all, I have waited this long. I just knew I wanted one someday in my life. For the hay of it, Sandy searched online, there she found Greener Pastures Equine Rescue in Mt Pleasant Ohio. There was posted, a yearling Palamino Shetland named “Popcorn” needing a good home. He might as well have had a big red bow on him. Sandy showed me the listing and asked me, “you want him, he's yours!” I was frozen in my tracks, can it be that easy? Then I thought how could we fix up the yard for him? Make the shed in the back into his barn? How can I make a little paddock for him? Will I be a good father? Ha ha! YES! I can do it all!!


So it's official, Popcorn is officially ours, he's at his new home and he is amazing! What a wonderful job they have done at Greener Pastures Rescue, Popcorn is the sweetest pony and not a thing in the world seems to faze him. When he came off the trailer, he took a quick peek around and started grazing, was about 10 minutes he let out a little whinny. After a bit of walking him around letting him graze and look around, we led him into his new pen and barn and unsnapped the lead, it was as if he was there all along. What a great feeling that was!

So now this 47 year old jockey has his first horse to "bond" with and the adventures have begun! The other day, Popcorn was laying in the shade taking a break as a living lawnmower duties, so I went and sat with him caressing his forelock, mane and back, talking to him telling him all about my life, Popcorn was so relaxed, he actually laid all the way over on his side and fell asleep, I swore he was snoring! I know I am a new be at this so let me ask you, did we just "bond" or did I just "bore" him to death? Stay tuned!

Photos below shows Frankie & Sandy Lovato with Allie & Popcorn showing at the 2010 Huron County Fair.

Allie did a costume class with Popcorn

Sandy(Grammy), Megan(mommy), Allie & Popcorn

Frankie Lovato is also the creator of the Equicizer. For More Information visit
Equicizer.com or Email: Equicizer@aol.com

"Pythagoras" The Equicizer In The Netherlands

Pythagoras!!
by Anna & Ina Zeinstra

For almost two years now the Equicizer has been in use in the Netherlands. As far as we know, there is only one Equicizer in our country. When Pythagoras, named after a famous Trakehner stallion, arrived at Schiphol Airport, people were quite amazed about a horse in a box. Not a sight you see every day.



We (family Hoogsteen and Anna Zeinstra) use Pythagoras for our workshops ‘Sitting and Balance’. In these workshops various attributes are used, like balls, balance articles, and balance crutches as Hipsimo™ (http://www.hipsimo.nl), wooden carriage horses (http://encke.info/index.html) etc. and the Equicizer, of course. The workshops are for adults and children who want to learn riding, or who want to maintain a more solid seat and more balance. With different exercises we teach people how to sit in the right way and how to find their balance, which is very important for riding. Pythagoras is very helpful for this, because people can find out their imperfections without having to cope with a horse which has its own ideas. People can feel what is happening and have the time to adjust to the right feeling and body position.

When we give workshops we also use mirrors, so that a course member sitting on Pythagoras can see what he or she is doing with his or her body.

When, for instance, people lean forward too much, they are so used to the posture that they think they are sitting straight. When they see in the mirrors that they have to lean backwards, that feeling is very strange for them. Without the mirrors it would be very difficult for an instructor to make clear that they are not sitting straight.
We also put springs between the reins and the bit. With these springs people learn not only the feeling for a light based connection when they move on the Equicizer, but they also can see how much pressure they put on the reins, which can be very confronting.
A lot of things can really be improved by sitting on Pythagoras. Some people find it very difficult to go up and down in trotting. Practicing on Pythagoras teaches them that they don’t need to push themselves up with their feet and legs. They should let themselves be lifted from the saddle by the horse.
Pythagoras teaches people to follow the movement of the horse. You don’t need to push the horse or make the movement yourself. By following the movement of the horse the movement made by the hands is very important. A lot of people try to follow the movement of the horse’s head, however, they only do it in the wrong way. Trying to follow the movement in canter we sometimes use a helper who makes Pythagoras move, then the rider can follow the movement. If the rider is in the wrong rhythm or if he stops following the movement, it isn’t possible for the helper to move the horse. That is very clearly experienced and felt. Also people learn to understand how the light seat for jumping should be, a lot of people open the angle between the upper leg and the under leg. That is not right, this angle should be smaller.

We also put springs between the reins and the bit. With these springs people learn not only the feeling for a light based connection when they move on the Equicizer, but they also can see how much pressure they put on the reins, which can be very confronting.
A lot of things can really be improved by sitting on Pythagoras. Some people find it very difficult to go up and down in trotting. Practicing on Pythagoras teaches them that they don’t need to push themselves up with their feet and legs. They should let themselves be lifted from the saddle by the horse.
Pythagoras teaches people to follow the movement of the horse. You don’t need to push the horse or make the movement yourself. By following the movement of the horse the movement made by the hands is very important. A lot of people try to follow the movement of the horse’s head, however, they only do it in the wrong way. Trying to follow the movement in canter we sometimes use a helper who makes Pythagoras move, then the rider can follow the movement. If the rider is in the wrong rhythm or if he stops following the movement, it isn’t possible for the helper to move the horse. That is very clearly experienced and felt. Also people learn to understand how the light seat for jumping should be, a lot of people open the angle between the upper leg and the under leg. That is not right, this angle should be smaller.

Anna & Ina Zeinstra
Instructie, training en advies
Hooiveldssteeg 10
9755 PW Onnen
06-51959892
Email:info@annazeinstra.nl
www.annazeinstra.nl
www.hipsimo.nl