Zan Chin Zani or Zuki YEA R O F B IRT H: 2005 BREED: Dutch Warmblood S IRE: Chin Chin DA M: Safrane de Messiteri DA M S I R E: Caretello B BIRT HP L A CE : Holland OWNER : Jane Hind RID ER S : Kelly McKnight BA RN N A M E :
When Purchased/Experience before purchase: My wife, Sheila and I picked her out in Ireland and imported her in July 2011 as a six-year-old. She had done a little foxhunting and attended a couple of schooling shows but hadn’t done much, really. I tried her over there and bought her the day before they took her to her first ‘real show.’
Best aspect of the mare’s personality: Her cycle predictability – she’s calm and easy going for two weeks, crazy for a week then paranoid for another. She can be as doe-eyed as they get… but she does cycle, and she’s always right on schedule.
Best aspect of the mare’s rideability: She takes you to the jumps – in a halter! Let her at ‘em! Get on a gallop and don’t take back – just adjust in the line. She sees the quickest route, and likes to take it. That’s what makes her a great speed horse!
Most memorable show ring moment: Falling off during the win picture? Once, after winning the speed derby at Woodside, they tried to pin the ribbon onto her halter and she spooked, and spun me off ! Actually the first time I had success in the show ring after switching to the halter was memorable. I was at Sonoma Horse Park for the classic on Sunday. I was taking a lot of 62 | Mares That Rule
heat about my choice of tack, and Buddy Brown was the only one suggesting they wait before they talk. I thought it was 1.20m, but had been set at 1.40m (my mistake!). She was jumping so well in the warm up, I decided to go for it. And she was fabulous.
Most memorable moment overall –
a quiet moment, a riding moment... Discovering that she would go better in a halter. I had tried every bit I had or could borrow, and every bitless contraption; someone even sent me one from Tasmania! I trail rode her one day in an old nylon halter and a frayed cotton lead rope, and got back to the ring and just tried it. She was better than ever! I love this mare – fun to ride and to try to figure out!
After the summer, what’s the next goal? I would love to win the Gary Ryman Memorial pick your own line class at Menlo. We’ll go back to Blenheim for Scarlett’s Derby in September, and hopefully finish with the Foxfield Derby in October. We do hope to take her to Canada for a run up there sometime – maybe 2018.
Will she/has she been bred?
Some details... Zan Chin is in foal to Valentino Z, due to foal next April. We went for some Darko bloodlines to cross onto the Chin Chin. We would love to get a bit more scope and size but hold onto the fire! Kelly McKnight & Zan Chin; Photo © Alden Corrigan