7:45 AM — Rise and shine! I greet the day, and my neighbor Veronica. The weather has changed towards the drier, but sleeping outside is not my cup of sweet water — I much prefer to luxuriate in a plush stall. So you’ll find me inside in the mornings, waiting patiently for my breakfast.
8:00 — The people arrive. I will give them a few minutes to get settled, because I am very polite, but I do find I have to remind them that I need my breakfast. I hear you asking, ‘but Zuri, have they ever forgotten?’ well no, but I don’t intend to allow it to happen.
8:02 — Knock. Knock. Do you hear me knocking, people? Perhaps you can’t over the sound of my stomach grumbling. I use my voice as well. “Hello! Hello!”
8 something or other, I am so famished so I can barely keep time — My breakfast finally arrives, a warm mash that I have customized (via hunger strike) to my liking. It pays to be picky, and my checks are written in senior feed.
8:15 — Rejuvenated! It’s time to go outside. I am very polite to lead, and I don’t even bring up the fact that I know the way to my paddock very well and could manage on my own. I like my morning commute with friends.
8:17 — Speaking of friends, my girlies Cleopatra and Deja Vu are waiting to greet me at the gate. Every morning it’s ‘where have you been!’ and ‘we missed you last night!’ I love them, but dang, girls! We have a little tête-à-tête and then I boss them around a little, morning routine.
8:30–12 PM — The morning passes. We eat, we chat, we watch the boys next door, we nap.
12:30 — Right on schedule, my personal trainer slash groom (one of many) comes to collect me. We go on walks around the property together, and she keeps me spic and span. You may have noticed that there are a few shavings still stuck to my coat, but I don’t pay them much mind — yes, a lady cares about her appearance, but I have to give the humans who come to dote on me something to do.
1:15 — Today’s outing involved a stop in the round pen. I’m too, ahem, mature for the work some of my friends do, but I still love kicking up my heels every now and again. It’s also too tempting not to have a good roll, so I don’t resist temptation. I couldn’t quite hear what you just said, something about ruining my groom? The sound of enjoying my life was too loud.
1:30 — After my Pamper and Promenade (I’m trademarking that, so don’t get any ideas) it’s back to my paddock for a much needed bit of relaxation before dinner time. I am once again greeted by a chorus of ‘where were yous.’ Those girls!
3:00 — Dinner no. 1 is ready and waiting for me back in my stall, which is also freshly bedded and fluffed. The turndown service at this place is second to none, really. I can hardly wait to dig into my mash (but I do), and when that is all gone I have my digestif of alfalfa leaves to keep me busy. Another example of not settling — turn your nose up at stems enough and they will stop appearing. Funny how that works.
4:45 — After dinner I typically chat a bit with Veronica, hear about her day, etc., and watch whatever is going on in the arena. I have courtside seats to Roundpen #1, and I must say I admire the work my colleagues are putting in.
6:00 — Dinner no. 2. “Why do you get a 6pm feeding, Zuri?” I can hear you asking. And to that I answer, you don’t want to see me when I’m hangry.
7–9 — When it’s quiet in the barn, I typically use the opportunity to get some beauty sleep in. Back when they had a camera on me, I liked to play a little prank on the humans by positioning myself pretty close to the wall. I thought it was funny.
9:30 — Oh could it be time for Night Snack? Rest is important, but a girl has to keep up with her figure.
10:30 — With a full belly, it’s time to hit the hay. And by hay I mean shavings. Deep, deep shavings. Goodnight!
