Foaled in Connemara (bred by Luke Nee of Derryinver, Letterflack), *Tooreen Laddie was selected by Colonel Hume Dudgeon at the Dublin Connemara show as being the most promising sire at the time. Colonel Dudgeon most certainly "had an eye", for *Tooreen Laddie became one of the most important progenitors of quality Connemaras in North America.
There were, to be sure, some holes in the pedigrees of those Connemaras selected - even as late as 1947 - for inclusion in the CPBS (Irish) Stud Book. Inchagoill Laddie (21) CPBS was sired by Rebel (7) CPBS, of whose parentage we have no record, and was out of Dooyher Lass (188) CPBS, whose pedigree is also unrecorded. On the distaff side, we have still less information. Although Grey Swan was herself registered (475) CPBS, we have no record of either her sire or her dam. There must clearly have been visible quality, however, and thus quality has bred on.
*Tooreen Laddie's first American owner was Mrs. Charles Z. Case of Avon, New York. He remained with her rather briefly, and then moved to Hideaway Farm in Geneseo, New York, where he was first owned in partnership by Mrs. Edward Harris and Mr. William (??) Pavilion, New York, and then solely by Mrs. Harris. His sojourn at Hideaway was both lengthy (13 years) and successful. In addition to his impressive sire record, he was active in his earlier years as a field hunter (Geneseo Valley Hunt) and as a show horse. A high point his show career was being pinned Grand Champion, at the 1961 Timonium (Maryland) Pony Show, which time his then two year old son, Erin Laddie S 52 l I, was pinned Reserve Champion. Like several other sons, and now grandsons, of *Tooreen Laddie, Erin Laddie himself became a successful sire.
After siring great numbers of foals at Hideaway Farm, *Tooreen Laddie was moved to Lytle Farms Middletown, Pennsylvania, where he completed a phenomenal career.
In the opinion of Mrs. Harris, who is certainly qualified to know, his best foals were those from *Erinbay - M 89 II, who was herself a remarkable producer: 16 registered foals, 11 of which were by *Tooreen Laddie. This venerable (now 26) matriarch, is still alive, still at Hideaway, and, according to Mrs. Harris, "she takes an interest in all the new foals and becomes convinced that they are hers."
In total, *Tooreen Laddie sired 72 register~foals, of which 57 were purebreds and all but (??)were grey. Countless others were never registered. Probably the best known colts among his get, each which also became a successful sire, are An Tostal S 17 I (*Clare Dun), Tourbillion - S123 (*Miss Purvey), Erin Laddie - S 52 (*Erinbay) and Hideaway's Erin Tooreen - S 278 *Erinbay)
Outstanding among *Tooreen Laddie's fillies (are Alydun - M 91 I1 (*Clare Dun) and Flying Cloud - M 9?2 II (*Clare Dun). Some of the younger ones, such as Happy Holidays - M 358 ??(*Happy Lady) look as if they, too, may become top producers.
This 13.3 hand grey stallion was foaled in Letterfrack, Ireland, in 1947, sired by Inchagoill Laddie, a son of Rebel, by Cannonball. His dam was Grey Swan. *Tooreen Laddie and Gil, also sired by lncnagolll Laddie, are the founders of two major Connemara lines, according to Caroline Nesbitt in her magazine, CONNEMARA COUNTRY.
*Tooreen Laddie was purchased by the Society in Ireland as a two year old, but, according to Pat Lyne in SHROUDED IN MIST, he was reported to be rather a "clumsy mover who hit his toes on the road". In the winter of 1950 he was turned away on Killoa Island. This indicated to Lyne that he was a rather overgrown immature colt who needed time to finish. A year and a half later, Laddie was described by Patrick Joyce as "old-fashioned stock", strong boned, with a good head and shoulder, never carrying much weight." (Page 157)
In 1955 *Tooreen Laddie was sold to the United States, and Mrs. Edward Harris bought him from Mrs. Charles Z. Case. He hunted with the Geneseo Valley Hunt, and competed in shows. High point in his career was winning Grand Champion at the 1961 Timonium, Maryland, Pony Show, when his two year old son, Erin Laddie, was pinned Reserve.
*Tooreen Laddie stood at Hideaway Farm in Geneseo, New York, for thirteen years, siring 75 foals that were registered with the ACPS. They excelled in many disciplines: An Tostal (x Clare Lune by Lavelly Rebel) in eventing; Tourbillon a good performer and foundation sire at Three Creek Farm; Erin's Shamrock (x *Erinbay) and Karen Lende at the the upper levels in Combined Training.
Other get of *Tooreen Laddie, out of *Erinbay, are Hideaway's Erin Smithereen, Hideaway's Erin Tooreen, Erin Laddie, Erin Lassie, Erin Grey, Happy Holidays, Happy Afterthought, Toomeric.
"The *Tooreen Laddie line of Connemaras are generally bold, very forward, brave and independent," says Catherine Mack of Aladdin Connemaras. "Sometimes they can be too strong for beginninq children, but they are great athletes and have very klnd natures."
C86 Tooreen Laddie (Inchagoill Laddie C21 x Grey Swan C475)
Clifden 1954 2nd place Stallion Class, shown by P. Joyce