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Are you a Turville ‘Golden Oldie’? If you learnt to ride with us, check out the ‘links’ page and take a look at our group on Facebook for a trip down memory lane!
Welcome to Turville Valley Stud a B.H.S & A.B.R.S. approved establishment.
Turville Valley Stud is an idyllic stable yard nestling in the heart of the Chiltern Valley. It specialises in the training of horses and riders by traditional Portuguese Classical methods.
It was founded some thirty-eight years ago by the late Nan Thurman, and was originally a riding school for children. However, for the past twenty years it has been specialising in breeding and training Lusitanos after Nan went on holiday to Portugal and fell in love with this versatile breed.
She brought two mares and three stallions back with her and with the assistance of her daughters, Angela and Diane, and husband Eric, a breeding and training program developed. Return trips to Portugal were made to learn more about this Classical Art and now the centre is one of the leaders in training Iberian horses in this country.
The yard is now run by Angela and Diane and a small, dedicated team.
Angela and Diane possess a wealth of horse knowledge having grown up at the stud and learning to ride before they could walk. They competed at Pony Club, at Wembley in mounted games and were successful in show jumping and eventing. Diane first competed for Great Britain aged 12 in mounted games competitions in Canada and the United States.
Their quiet understanding of the horses becomes evident as you enter the yard which gives a friendly and relaxed feel, upon which their stallions appear to thrive.
Diabo, their most famous Lusitano Stallion, became five times British Champion Lusitano at the breed show, won just about every freestyle to music he entered and went to Belgium and won each of his classes. He retired from competition about six years ago, but took a one off trip to Royal Windsor in 2002, delighted the crowds and won the prestigious Parade class amongst some stiff competition proving he was still the best, even at 19 years old.
Diabo, now 25, has now completely retired and is enjoying his life immensely. He has the freedom of the yard and paddocks and goes round ‘chatting’ to the other stallions over the stable doors keeping them in order. When the sun shines, he likes nothing better than to relax and have a sleep on the back green. A true pet who is deservedly being spolt rotten!
