2010 has been another fantastic year at End House Stud the young stallions have been out competing all across the country with some fabulous results. Thursden Vallye Raphael kicked the season off with a win at West Midlands, which resulted in the much sought after and so far elusive Cuddy In Hand Qualifying ticket – Chocolate was finally going to HOYS as you can imagine we were all delighted.

However being the first qualifier of the season the final seemed a long time away and he wasn’t overly impressed with staying at home and watching the others go off to shows without him. Finally his build up to HOYS began and he was back on the circuit with a vengeance resulting in Champion & Supreme Championships wherever he went. Tina was busy watching Cuddy results all season and we were thrilled when Elite De Roulette sired by Grand Prix Dressage stallion Roulette qualified at The NPS Summer Championships. Another Cuddy Finalist was Liz Cross’s fabulous Hack Broodmare Farranella Valencia who is in foal to another End House Stud Stallion the Thoroughbred Redoubtable.

The older stallion’s progeny have also been flying the End House flag for us Arctic Nicoin By Nico and also Aimbry Kymarra by Chester all placed top ten in their respective classes at HOYS & RIHS. Bounty Hunter sired by Chester 1st Premium for Scottish Sport Horse Gradings with highest score for colts and overall highest score throughout Scotland over a three-day grading period. He was Overall Champion Foal for SSH. Also Overall Supreme Champion for SSH for the 2010 in hand champion series. Well done to Sarah Middleton not a bad result for your first foal.

The build up to Hoys was nerve racking but finally he was there and Richard & I managed to go down and watch. I actually watched him go into the ring but nerves got the better of me and we re routed to the Champagne Bar eventually I could stand the suspense no longer and went to watch the judges calling out the top ten in reverse order. Imagine our delight when he was placed third in a very strong line up he came home the following evening to a Champagne reception attended by all his friends who partied on well into the early hours of Saturday morning. The perfect end to his illustrious in hand career. He is now teaming up with Fiona Johnstone to continue with his dressage career.

Many people commented to Mark & Tina “ What will you do without Raphael?” People were not aware we have his two half brothers also by Chester waiting in the wings the yearling Imperial High Command has already proved himself throughout the season with some terrific wins which much to Mark’s dismay actually beat Chocolate in to Reserve Supreme spot at Royal London with Tina & Monkey taking In Hand Supreme Champion & Reserve Supreme Of Show.
The National Foal Show brought Imperial High Order into the spot light Cougar as he is known at home won the Competition pony class took Champion and then went on to win Supreme Light Horse Foal Of The Year and Reserve Supreme of Show again we were so thrilled – what a team of youngsters for 2011.

In March Rotherwood Signature (Treacle) began his ridden career with Jack Starkie. First time out he qualified for PUK Winter Championships he consistently jumped double clears showjumping/open WHP and competed dressage narrowly missing out on qualifying for The NPS Dressage Championships at Addington Manor. In October 2010 we presented at the Sports Pony Society Stallion Grading not only passing with flying colours but also achieving Reserved Champion Placing. He also fulfilled BSJA grading requirements for Competing Pony Stallions. This winter he will stay with Jack and do some hunting.

At the SPSS grading we were delighted with the scores he received which included 18.5/ 20 for temperament, 8.5/10 for jumping loose & under saddle 9/10 for head & neck and 9/10 for general impression. The panel of judges described him as “A super sort of smaller native pony ideal for sports pony breeding – very good & typey that jumped with very good style” I was beside myself with excitement when I rang Liz Mansfield to give her the fabulous news.
Baileys Horse Feeds have been great friends & supporters of us for many years so the Youngstock Futurity Evaluations are something we take very seriously .The Yearlings Imperial High Command & Clearbeck Rembrant both achieved BEF 1st Premiums. Ellerkin Cato had a 1st Premium Reserve Champion in the 2-year-old Eventing section. Greenhow Aitken Drum Reserve Champion foal Eventing section BEF 1st Premium all sired by Aimbry Chester. His son Goodenbergh Goldfinch BEF First Premium BEF Futurity Evaluations Sports Pony Eventing Foal represented Thursden Vallye Raphael. Winterhill Whizz Kid & Winterhill Woodpecker 1st BEF premiums sired by Roulette. Imperial High Flyer a yearling filly by Redoubtable achieved a BEF 1st Premium in the Eventing section. Goodenbergh Sovereign whose dam is a Section A mare rewarded us by gaining a Higher First Premium in Sports Pony Foal Section and scoring Reserve Champion in the overall Showjumping Foal section this was Rotherwood Signatures first foal.

Once again the stallions became models for Matchmakers International advertising Masta and Caldene Rugs to be featured in their 2011 Spring/Summer/Winter catalogues. All the stallions were involved and we had great fun with Becky and the Matchmaker’s team during the summer running round the fields while photographer Nick Gill took some amazing pictures. December brought the snow fabulous just what the catalogue ordered once again we were out in the snow filming for several days the shots were incredible – look out for them when you are buying new rugs this season. However I never realised just how hard work it is to get those fabulous pictures of rugs that you see in the adverts, many thanks to the girls for all their hard work we certainly ran a few pounds off in the run up to Christmas at one point it was all hands on deck and even the cleaning lady had to get involved I’m sure anyone driving past End House Stud that day must have thought we had all gone mad. We have been thrilled all year by the full-page advert of The Humerist every time it appears in The Horse & Hound wearing that lovely rug.

The stallions have been regularly used in the Bailey’s adverts, Siren’s Missile starred in the Everyday High Fibre cubes, it seemed every magazine you opened there he was walking through the woods. Chester and Raphael starred in the Baileys Outshine and Avalon is still on the Digest Plus feed tubs, I even think Loki my old dressage horse got his picture on the Paddock Lick tub. Chester & Chocolate achieved nation wide exposure as their portraits now features on the new Baileys Horse Feeds delivery lorries how amazing is that!

The British National Foal Show is always our last show of the year and some how signifies the end of the season and the fact Christmas is just around the corner. Two lorries rolled out of the yard at 4am to travel to Solihull with their special cargo of End House babies. Imperial High Order who after winning at Myerscough two weeks before and then refusing to board the lorry to come home had redeemed himself by walking straight in. Many thanks to the kindness of my great friends Jonathon & Kate Lace who dropped everything to bring their trailer to Myerscough to collect Cougar when all attempts at going into the lorry failed. It is typical that he walked straight in to their trailer with a very smug expression I remember Kate looking at him and turning to me and saying “ I told you double Atlantus was going to be fun.” He is in fact out of All At Sea who was by Atlantus sired by Chester who’s Grandfather was Atlantus and of course Atlantus was the sire of my still sadly missed Heatley Avalon.

Arriving safely in Solihull we had a great show. Sirens Silhouette Dancer by Siren’s Missile - Amateur home produced horse filly foal not ex 158cm – 3rd Show riding horse not ex 158cm – 3rd. Show hack - filly foal not ex 160cm – 1st. Imperial High Renaissance 2nd Partbred Arab. Moonstrike Revel Dancer Amateur home produced pony not ex 138cm – 3rd Sports/Competition pony - not to ex 138cm 2nd Goodenbergh Goldfinch 1st & Reserve Champion Show Hunter Pony, 1st Sports/Competition Pony all sired by Raphael. Inch High Private Eye by Conrhenny Inch Square placed 4th in Sports Horse class. The high light of the day was of course Imperial High Order winning the Competition pony class taking Champion and then going on to win Supreme Light Horse Foal Of The Year and Reserve Supreme of Show. A fabulous day out for everyone and many thanks to everyone involved.

Also a huge thank you to Minty at Baileys Horse Feeds for their continued support. To Michael Bradley our stud vet from Dalehead Vet Group for doing such an amazing job throughout the season and never loosing his sense of humour. To our show producers The Indefatigable Carswells of Paddocklow Stud and our team of riders Emma Dewhurst, Sarah Moorhouse, Lisa Marriott, Lara Whiteway, Ian Holt, Allan Birch, Fiona Johnstone & Russell Wright. Their professional, motivated and driven attitude has been unwavering, and we look forward to the 2011 show season.