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Thursden Vallye Raphael In the press

Raphael goes Royal !!! (Press Release)

Thursden Vallye Raphael triumphed this weekend (25/3/07) in qualifying for the Royal International Horse Show, in only his third outing under saddle, he performed beautifully to secure first place and his ticket to the RIHS, then returning to the ring for the championship resulting in Reserve Champion, at BSPS area 9a Hereford Marches Spring Show.

Raphael holidayed from the end of last season until Christmas, when he was introduced to his Jockey for this season Laura Thomson (a day release student at End House stud from Craven College). This partnership was short lived as Raphael was away for the month of February on stud duties at an AI centre, as there is interest in him as a sire all around the world including Australia. However Earlier this month Raphael was back under saddle, and two weeks ago came a very respectable third in his first ever ridden competition, against a very strong field at Southern Counties spring Show, RHIS qualifier Part Bred Arabs.

Trudy Goulding (owner) commented “We are absolutely delighted Raphael has exceeded all our expectations, we where over the moon with his In Hand Results last year, but this weekend I was left speechless when I got the phone call to tell me he had qualified. He is certainly proving to be a performance pony, he loves showing, and has certainly made the transition from in hand to ridden with remarkable ease!” Raphael’s foot perfect performance and his exceptional manners belied his age, and lack of experience (and his stud duties) in classes made up of a high quality ponies with many more miles under their belts. Judge Miss Szutowicz, commented what a fabulous pony he is, and how she would love to ride him! Raphael’s producer Mark Carswell joked “I only hope that Laura will hand the reins back to me for the odd in hand class I’ve been relegated to the position of groom for this season!!!”

Thursden Vallye Raphael Photo courtesy of Colin Nicholas

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Raphael Paints The Perfect Picture

End House Stud are celebrating another triumph after their 3 year old stallion, Thursden Vallye Raphael, won the National Accolade at Ponies UK of 1st Reserve Champion of Champions. The banners, bunting and champagne were out for his homecoming this weekend as well as special celebrations and thanks to his producers Mark and Tina Carswell.

This youngster has proved himself to be truly amazing in this his first season of showing to not only qualify for Ponies UK, a prestigious Show at National level, but to then win 1st and Champion in The Cedarwood Competition Horse/Pony Class and then go on to win 1st Reserve Champion of Champions.

He has also won at every County level show he has attended throughout 2006 including 2 Championships, 1 Reserve Supreme and 10 Reserve Championships.

Trudy Goulding, Proprietor of End House Stud says, “This outstanding 14Hh bay stallion was bought in as a foal, being by our own resident stallion, Aimbry Chester and out of a Yealand Nightowl mare. As a five day old foal he just oozed star quality and that incredible X factor, he was everything I wanted in a pony stallion and we purchased him immediately from breeder, Miss Cath Billington. He has rewarded all the faith we invested in him by surely becoming one of the top In Hand young stallions of 2006. There has been a lot of interest from clients in Europe wishing to purchase him and we have turned down several substantial offers for the sake of British Breeding this pony will remain at End House Stud indefinitely, as his first crop of foals born this year are truly outstanding.”

Chocolate, as he is known at home has an incredible following around the County level shows, children are often heard chanting “Chocolate, Chocolate!!” as he comes into the ring. He is loved by everybody, including the stray chicken who found its way into his field and is now his best friend and stable companion.

End House Stud, have yet again proven themselves one of if not the best Competition Stud in the Northwest having had four winners this year at Cheshire County by their resident stallions, and 2 in the top seven at The RIHS Coloured Ridden Class, as well as many winners and champions around the county circuit. Established in 1988 in the heart of The Ribble Valley, End House now stands 10 stallions including the incredibly famous racehorse Redoubtable, who has also never been out of the press since his arrival Autumn 2005.

Both Redoubtable and Thursden Vallye Raphael will be the star attractions when they are paraded at the forthcoming open day at Whalley Corn Mills on 24th September.

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Raphael is Right First Time

Thursden Vallye Raphael's first competition in 2008 was the BSPS Scottish Branch Show at the Scottish National Equestrian Centre, This was the UK's first round of Part Bred Arab Ridden RIHS qualifiers, and he was delighted to be back competing giving a superb performance beautifully ridden by his young jockey Emma Dewhurst, the pair stood top in a class of quality ponies, Raphael impressed the Judge Miss J McLean not only winning the class, but went on to take the Part Bred Championship. His Owner Trudy Goulding was absolutely delighted with the five year old pony, "The Champaign corks were already popping to celebrate my father's birthday, when we received the phone call to say Raphael had qualified, it then became a double celebration. This is truly fantastic as he (the pony not my father) can concentrate on his stud duties in the spring now, and in the summer when Emma finishes her exams at school the pair can reunite in time for the Royal International, It's planned out perfectly."