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Raphael Paints the Perfect Picture

End House Stud is celebrating another triumph after their 3-year-old stallion, Thursden Vallye Raphael, won the National Accolade at Ponies UK of first Reserve Champion of Champions. The banners, bunting and champagne were out for 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 two Championships, 1 Reserve Supreme and 10 Reserve Championships. Trudy Goulding, Proprietor of End House Stud says, “This outstanding l4Hh 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 crops 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. Everybody, including the stray chicken, that found its way into his field, who is now his best friend and stable companion, loves him.

To find out more about Thursden Vallye Raphael go to www.endhousestud.co.uk

North West Gallop Nov/Dec 2006 No.27

"In the second of a two-part series on equine artificial insemination, Liz Falkingham looks at the benefits to both stallion and mare of AI and the ways to maximise chances of success.

END House Stud, Gisburn, home to Trudy Goulding and her family, stand a number of stallions that are available for both natural service and AI, as well as offering an AI clinic for mares wishing to use semen from other stallions.

Trudy has seen an increasing number of clients requesting AI from her stallions, rather than using natural service.

"Funnily enough, a lot of these clients are middle-aged women who don't like the idea of their mare being covered naturally. It makes you wonder," she jokes, but adds on a more serious note that many owners are concerned for mare safety, particularly those mares with existing back problems, for example.

The stud works with the Dalehead Veterinary Group to offer AI services and has seen great interest in the specialist clinic set up at End House for visiting mares. Vet Michael Davies says that owners need to be aware, however, not all mares are suited to AI.

"You sometimes hear people cast doubts on using it for maiden mares but I don't see that as such a problem and have used it successfully on my own maiden mares. Really, age, previous breeding history and whether the semen is frozen or not are the biggest factors to take into account," he says."

"ARTIFICIAL insemination in horses has taken considerable steps forward in recent years, with studs now able to achieve 80 to 100 per cent conception rates with fresh, chilled and frozen semen."

"Past difficulties with AI, particularly frozen semen, have meant the science is still considered an expensive and unreliable alternative to natural service. As experience and knowledge has grown, however, equine AI has become a more realistic option for breeders both large and small looking to source the very best genetics from around the world."

Extracts from the Farmers Guardian 22-28 June & 6-12 July 2001