A LIFE AFTER RACING.

Byline: STEVE DENNIS

ACCORDING to his owner Dee Lousada, he ``moved too nicely to be a jumper''. So he moved jobs. Now Mr Bojangles is moving nicely through the ranks in dressage competition and has a bright future.

``When he was in training I used to hack him out on Sundays,'' says Lousada, ``but he was such a good mover that we decided he should be doing something else.

``We had dressage lessons and he advanced more quickly than I did, he adapted very well to his new role.''

So well, indeed, that Mr Bojangles has already enjoyed plenty of success, especially last year at the National Dressage Championships, the Winter Championships, the Area Festival Championships and the Trail Blazers Dressage Championships.

Lousada says: ``I hack him out, but he is ridden in competition by Kelly Pullen, although Sabrina Butler partnered him the last two years as Kelly was recovering from a badly broken leg. He has four trainers, who are at different levels and have different techniques.

``Kelly hopes to be able to qualify him for the dressage championships along with his friend and former bumper winner Light The Fuse, who is just starting out on his dressage career. He has been competing at elementary level and is now working on moving to the next level.'' Out of training, he and Light The Fuse spend their time with former racehorses Mr Jamboree, Serious and The Lady Scores, who are all enjoying their retirement together.

Lousada explains: ``Of all equine disciplines, it's most important in dressage for rider and horse to be a partnership, to think alike. Hopefully he and Kelly can begin to click again.''

Mr Bojangles had an undistinguished career on the racecourse, running in bumpers and over hurdles and fences when in the care of Kim Bailey, Ian Williams, Terry Casey and finally David Bridgwater, who was the only jockey to win on him.

His change of direction has been the making of him, but even though his career is on the up and up, he still prefers to take life easy, according to Lousada and her husband Tony. ``He's a clever character,'' says Tony. Dee adds: ``He's a lovely big softy, loves having his ears pulled and has impeccable stable manners. He's a super horse to be around.''

n Retraining of Racehorses - Trained to run, retrained for fun - is a charity established by the BHB. Contact Di Arbuthnot on 01488 72408, or visit www.ror.org.uk

MrBojangles

14 b g Orchestra-Lavarna Lady (Rheingold) Race record (Jumps) 26 runs, 2 wins, 6 places Best performance Beat Eirespray by four lengths in a Southwell novice hurdle in December 1997 Now Climbing the ladder in the dressage world

CAPTION(S):

Mr Bojangles gets a hug from dressage partner Kelly Pullen