Taraco Riff-Raff 

(photo of Riff-Raff at 1 day old - click on photo for more photos)

Riff-Raff: This is a word that stems from the old french rif and raf; from the verb rifler (to plunder); meaning rabble; people with a bad reputation.

The sixth of Rara's foals this is the first by Ysselvliedts Golden Boy and is an impressive colt with very flashy markings. Riff-Raff is a maternal half brother to RASE winner Taraco Renegade, Taraco Rockstar (in France) and the prizewinning fillies Taraco Razzmatazz (in Holland), Taraco Rosetta and Taraco Rioja. Like his siblings he was up, feeding and charging about like a hooligan at only 2 hours old! He has a beautiful dished head, bold eye, great bone and feather and the early signs are that he will be a great mover. Although with relatives that include countless multiple supreme champions and prizewinners in both the England, Ireland, Wales, throughout Europe and America it is not surprising! Like his siblings Riff-Raff is a carefully planned foal who combines some of the best bloodlines in the World - His sire is the lovely Dutch bred stallion Ysselvliedts Golden Boy who in turn is by one of the top stockgetting stallions in the UK, Royal Welsh winner Blackhill Picalo. Golden Boy was leased by us in 2008 specifically to cover Vervale RaRa with - he is a fantastic typey stallion, graded in Holland and a show winning stallion that has stood at stud in Belgium, Holland, England and Wales at only 8 years of age. Sire of the prolific winning colt Haverford Imp (16 1sts, championships and medal winner in his first season). Golden Boy is out of Blanche Glisten (by Breachwood Marwyn) who is a half sister to Vervale Stud's foundation mare Blanche Glimmer.

Riff-Raff's dam is one of my best foundation mares, Vervale Rara, a strikingly marked chestnut sabino mare who is impeccably bred being by the Supreme Champion Stallion Vervale Gangster (by Springbourne Caraway and out of Blanche Glimmer) and out of the fantastic mare Neauddparc Welsh Lady. A true welsh mountain pony - deep-bodied, extravagant mover, beautiful head, and heaps of spirit. Rara's sire, Vervale Gangster is full brother to the Supreme Champion's and Royal Welsh winning stallions Vervale Gabanna and Vervale Galileo and Gangster himself was a supreme champion before being sold abroad as a four year old after covering some mares. So this stunning colt has a superb pedigree, combining back-to-back champions and stock-getters in his immediate pedigree, which include some of the best: Blackhill Picalo (three times RWAS winner); Springbourne Caraway (Supreme Champion, RWAS winner and sire-ratings topper); Breachwood Marwyn (Supreme Champion and RWAS winner and champion); Springbourne Boy Blue (Exported to Canada where is has won Supreme Championships); Weston Dixie (RWAS winner); Churchwood Promise (supreme champion); Blanche Glimmer (champion show mare and dam of RWAS winners); Penual Mark (top stockgetter) and many more.

Taraco Stud, Canterbury, Kent

A small stud specialising in breeding quality palomino and buckskin welsh ponies and cobs