"Raphael" is the result of the very first AHR “Gold on Gold” cross by the well known sire AHR GOLD classified stallion, Aristocrat TOF, and out of the AHR GOLD classified mare, Rivella TOF.
Raphael’s sire, Aristocrat TOF, bears little introduction. Aristocrat was imported from Austria in 1993 and is an AHR GOLD classified stallion and a former AHR National Champion stallion. Aristocrat TOF is descended from the strongest and easily the most outstanding mare line in Europe, most notably: Rikka (his grand-dam), Rialta (his dam), and Rimalda (his full sister). Based on the performance of his offspring at AHR inspections, siring to date two gold classified offspring and 13 silver classified offspring, he has also earned the distinction of being an “Elite” stallion according to the AHR.
Raphael’s dam, Rivella TOF, also bears little introduction. Rivella was imported from Austria by Tudor Oaks Farm. When she was 2-years-old, she was named Junior National Champion Mare. When Rivella was a 4-year-old, in 2000, she won her first National Grand Champion Mare title. She then went on to claim this title two more additional times, in 2001 and then again in 2003. Rivella was also the winner of the Haflinger Breed Class at Dressage at Devon in 1999, the first year that the class was ever offered. In the year 2000, Rivella was AHR inspected and classified as GOLD.
“Raphael” was the 1st place weanling filly at the 2000 AHR National Show out of a very large field of entries. She also was the 1st place AHR Futurity Filly and then went on to be named AHR Futurity ‘Champion Weanling’. In 2001, Raphel was the 1st place Yearling Filly at the AHR National Show and Reserve Junior National Champion Mare. Since that time, Raphael has not been competing in the haflinger circuit but has received extensive riding training.
In July of 2009, at 9 years of age, Raphael was classified silver through the AHR Inspection and Classification system.
Raphael is in foal to our imported two-time AHR ‘National Champion Stallion’ and three-time AHR ‘Stallion of the Year’, Arno van het Nieshof for a February 2010 foal. We look forward to seeing what this mare, a product of an AHR “Gold on Gold” cross will produce when bred to Arno, who himself is a highly decorated AHR ‘Star Stallion’.
