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In case anyone is interested, Horse and Hound is running an online blog written by Denman’s new rider, Charlotte Alexander, about his retraining as a team chaser and hunter. For anyone who does not already know, team chasing is a team cross country event, not unlike the sort of cross country race they have round Cheltenham. This is a perfect sort of career for an ex racehorse! It includes pictures of the boy himself. Lovely to see and I hope it all goes smoothly.
Silly me I forgot to add the link:
Thanks for sharing the link and it’s great to see him in his next career and to be able to follow how he gets on. Cheers
Thanks for the link; I’ll really look forward to reading about his progress. And, for once, in his photo he does actually look like a liver chestnut!
Little bit more on the rider, who belatedly got off the mark in Points at Hackwood Park on Easter Monday:
"Neither is racing the priority for Charlotte Alexander, who opened her account in the Maiden at Hackwood Park on gift horse No More Prisoners, who has been team chasing and has hunted for no fewer than 20 days this year.
"I was so excited that I nearly fell off," laughed Charlotte, who works for the bloodstock insurance firm Lycetts, and who is well-known in the team chasing world. She was given the dual Cheltenham Foxhunter winner Earthmover to ride in that sphere, and later this year will take charge of Denman as he sets out on a new career.
Charlotte, whose Pointing is "just for fun," and has been helped by leading rider Mark Wall, is no stranger to speed, as her favoured mode of transport, when not pulling a trailer behind her car, is a motorbike".
Source: http://www.pointtopoint.co.uk/go/news/l … _2012.html
gc
Adoptive father of two. The patron saint of lower-grade fare. A gently critical friend of point-to-pointing. Kindness is a political act.
Silly me I forgot to add the link:
What a wonderful horse to be given for reschooling (I hope), especially after the sad tale in Memorials about losing her good young mare
Denman has quite obviously very much enjoyed his time at grass, let’s hope he’s happy to get fit and active again.Charlotte says that taking him hunting will be exciting. Let’s hope not TOO exciting!
What a thrill it must be to be on a horse with so much proven power and jumping ability. Wow!! 
He could easily have 6-8 or more years in his new sport. Lovely story. Good luck to Denman and Charlotte.
Silly me I forgot to add the link:
What a wonderful horse to be given for reschooling (I hope), especially after the sad tale in Memorials about losing her good young mare
Denman has quite obviously very much enjoyed his time at grass, let’s hope he’s happy to get fit and active again.Charlotte says that taking him hunting will be exciting. Let’s hope not TOO exciting!
What a thrill it must be to be on a horse with so much proven power and jumping ability. Wow!! He could easily have 6-8 or more years in his new sport. Lovely story. Good luck to Denman and Charlotte.
The legend McDynamo was quite fired up when they first took him out foxhunting after he retired, and bucked under saddle for the first time in his life. He’s calmed down now, and hunts on the buckle, but he’s no beginner’s mount! His former jockey (Irishman Jody Petty) still rides him. I think once he gets used to civilian life Denman should do fine.
McDynamo and Jody guiding a field of young riders in the Junior Fieldmasters Chase at a point-to-point:
https://encrypted-tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTFiEJZ27CuGgEDkr6pL61I9u8bPdOAompzU4gw7yGBbO5na1UEzA
It’s great to see such a good horse getting a second chance. I just hope that his tendons stand up to it. Good Luck, Denman
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He could easily have 6-8 or more years in his new sport.
How much different is it to racing over jumps ?
Are they able to race till they reach 20 yrs ?
He could easily have 6-8 or more years in his new sport.
How much different is it to racing over jumps ?
Are they able to race till they reach 20 yrs ?
There is a thread about the oldest racehorses to run. Generally they are retired about 12/13, though quite a few have been (and still are) still running much older.
I know at least one of the Olympic Eventing horses was 19 this year, and well capable for the cross-country. I imagine that team chasing would be more like that than racing, though I don’t know enough to be certain.
He could easily have 6-8 or more years in his new sport.
How much different is it to racing over jumps ?
Are they able to race till they reach 20 yrs ?
There is a thread about the oldest racehorses to run. Generally they are retired about 12/13, though quite a few have been (and still are) still running much older.
I know at least one of the Olympic Eventing horses was 19 this year, and well capable for the cross-country. I imagine that team chasing would be more like that than racing, though I don’t know enough to be certain.
I’ve seen 18yos and 19yos in Foxhunter’s Races and Team Chases.
Many team chasers here are active steeplechasers (hurdle or timber) under rules as well, they also hunt in the offseason. Same with the jockeys.
For those interested, here is the second installment of Denman’s blog:
NEW INSTALLMENT:
Denman’s diary: exploring the countryside and getting fitter
Charlotte Alexander, team chase rider
12 October, 2012
FREE Mark Todd chaps — when you subscribe to H&H today!
The past couple of weeks have been relatively quiet as we start to build up Denman’s fitness, while the other horses have been out hunting and team chasing.
His saddle is back from Sydney Free Saddlery and Sarah Stafford (pictured below) has checked his back to make sure all is well, so we can now crack on with his work.We’ve started trotting and Denman is beginning to move really nicely — the power that’s coming from behind is wonderful. He’s learning to go forward off the leg and on the bit. He has a sensitive mouth so I’ve been trying to find a bit in which he is happy to take the contact — a rubber or plastic eggbutt snaffle seems to do the trick at the moment. However, I know I might need something stronger in his mouth once he is fitter and starts cantering!
Denman has much to learn and is doing a good job of taking it all in as we explore the countryside. He does not mind cattle, but is somewhat surprised by sheep. I’ve just started taking him over gaps in walls — the first time we tried this I had to get off and lead him as he was unsure about going through the stinging nettles. I only had to show him once, though, and now he is walking over the gaps and through the ford by the yard without hesitation.
He is great to lead off and Rival (his second best friend after Fred), who has joined them from his summer grazing, keeps him amused both in the field and on exercise. Rival is a little tyke, but is utterly wonderful, talented and the most fantastic jumper. He used to event, but was rather naughty. He is my best hunter and also team chases a bit, but he lacks the speed of a thoroughbred in open classes. Denman, Rival and Fred (pictured above) all get on like a house on fire and very happily graze together. Rival would like to think he is the boss, but Denman coolly tends to ignore him.
Before my next update, I will be introducing Denman to the school, complete with mirrors and the resident peacock (who has the most wonderful tail!), so watch this space to find out how we get on.
Charlotte
Check out the link for some lovely photos.
NEW INSTALLMENT:
Denman’s diary: exploring the countryside and getting fitter
Charlotte Alexander, team chase rider
12 October, 2012
FREE Mark Todd chaps — when you subscribe to H&H today!
The past couple of weeks have been relatively quiet as we start to build up Denman’s fitness, while the other horses have been out hunting and team chasing.
His saddle is back from Sydney Free Saddlery and Sarah Stafford (pictured below) has checked his back to make sure all is well, so we can now crack on with his work.We’ve started trotting and Denman is beginning to move really nicely — the power that’s coming from behind is wonderful. He’s learning to go forward off the leg and on the bit. He has a sensitive mouth so I’ve been trying to find a bit in which he is happy to take the contact — a rubber or plastic eggbutt snaffle seems to do the trick at the moment. However, I know I might need something stronger in his mouth once he is fitter and starts cantering!
Denman has much to learn and is doing a good job of taking it all in as we explore the countryside. He does not mind cattle, but is somewhat surprised by sheep. I’ve just started taking him over gaps in walls — the first time we tried this I had to get off and lead him as he was unsure about going through the stinging nettles. I only had to show him once, though, and now he is walking over the gaps and through the ford by the yard without hesitation.
He is great to lead off and Rival (his second best friend after Fred), who has joined them from his summer grazing, keeps him amused both in the field and on exercise. Rival is a little tyke, but is utterly wonderful, talented and the most fantastic jumper. He used to event, but was rather naughty. He is my best hunter and also team chases a bit, but he lacks the speed of a thoroughbred in open classes. Denman, Rival and Fred (pictured above) all get on like a house on fire and very happily graze together. Rival would like to think he is the boss, but Denman coolly tends to ignore him.
Before my next update, I will be introducing Denman to the school, complete with mirrors and the resident peacock (who has the most wonderful tail!), so watch this space to find out how we get on.
Charlotte
Check out the link for some lovely photos.
I must stand out and say that I oppose Denman’s new career as a team chaser. I don’t think this challenge is suited to the horse’s personality. I fear that he will not be the reliable servant of Charlotte Alexander that Earthmover turned out to be.
Denman was a temperamental horse on the track. Although never ungenuine in a finish, he often required plenty of persuasion at the start. See every race he took part in after the 2009 Hennessy, where he tried to plant himself at some stage of the preliminaries. Sam Thomas also remarked of Denman that he constantly "takes the mickey" in a race, always needing a nudge and a change of hands to keep him interested.
I think the tight turns and hustle of team chasing will not be Denman’s cup of tea at all.
I must stand out and say that I oppose Denman’s new career as a team chaser. I don’t think this challenge is suited to the horse’s personality. I fear that he will not be the reliable servant of Charlotte Alexander that Earthmover turned out to be.
Denman was a temperamental horse on the track. Although never ungenuine in a finish, he often required plenty of persuasion at the start. See every race he took part in after the 2009 Hennessy, where he tried to plant himself at some stage of the preliminaries. Sam Thomas also remarked of Denman that he constantly "takes the mickey" in a race, always needing a nudge and a change of hands to keep him interested.
I think the tight turns and hustle of team chasing will not be Denman’s cup of tea at all.
I don’t think team chasing is that formal, though? Remember, Denman’s not in "race-mode" anymore,; once off the track for good, his temperament may settle. Few Thoroughbreds can resist the thrill of a hunt, or a team chase. Even horses who are otherwise difficult/lazy seem to perk up once they see the open field and the "herd".
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