The new ACPS *Tooreen Laddie Trophy, offered to an outstanding foundation stallion, was won by Whitewood Galway Bay (1958-1991) owned by the Rutters, Tower Hill Farm, Vermont.
Galway lived at three farms in his thirty years. He was foaled at Whitewood, Stud in Virginia, out of *Keane's Selection, who was bred before her departure from Ireland to Clonkeehan Auraturn at the Clonkeehan Stud.
In 1964, when Galway was six, he was loaned to the Cloughs at Spring Ledge Farm, New Hampshire for a year. At year's end the Cloughs realized they couldn't send him back and so arrangements were made for Galway to stay at Spring Ledge, where he sired many foals. Later he moved on to stand at Tower Hill Farm in Vermont.
Galway was a 14 hand dark bay pony, who "represented both the simplicity and the complexity of the Irish character," according to Mary Rutter. He has always attracted people of all ages with his gentleness and his presence. He would stand quietly with no halter or rope while as many as twelve kindergarten children were in his stall, patting him all over. In the pasture, a child could be lifted on his back for a walk around. He was kind to bus loads of developmentally impaired adults who visited Tower Hill Farm on a monthly basis. Many of his get inherit this temperament.
As a performer, Galway showed for twenty years in New England, New York and the Mid-Atlantic states, winning many ribbons in the 60's to 80's in New England, including the Champion Stallion and Champion In-Hand at Woodstock in 1975. He was well trained as a hunter and pleasure pony. He won adult pleasure classes. He has hunted with the Myopia Hunt and paraded in many parades. He was last Champion Stallion and Champion In-Hand at Woodstock in 1975. He's also been a lesson pony. Rogers Rutter considers one of Galway's best performances was in the Sanbornton, NH, Bicentennial Parade, when "George Washington", Sanbornton's oldest ambulatory citizen, chose Galway to be his mount.
Whitewood Galway Bay has sired 62 registered foals, mostly purebreds, who have done well for the Connemara breed. Some of his distinguished foals are: Spring Ledge Bridgette, owned by Dr, Marian Molthat, Arizona. Bridgette was the first winner of the ACPS Camlin Trophy. She was a show hunter, trail pony and wonderful endurance pony, placing 9th in "The Great American Horse Race" across the United States, and the Tevis Cup. She is the dam of Custusha's Cashel Rock. Spring Ledge Bantry Bay, now owned by Candy Verhulst in Mass. Bantry Bay is a well known producer of a fine line of versatile Connemaras with a wonderful temperament. The article showed a photo of him winning the Stallion Championship at Woodstock with Pat Keough. Spring Ledge Irish Clover, an AHSA Large Pony Working Hunter and AHSA New England Large Pony Champion Spring Ledge Widget, Tri-State (Ohio) Champion Small Working Hunter. Tower Hills Tippertry, showing for the Platais family's Concord River Connemaras, Massachusetts. She has won 31 Championships and 17 Reserves as a show hunter in 8 years and 6 Championships and 5 Reserves in equitation. According to Betty Platais, her owner, Tippy is never overlooked and "She can fence over anything." Concord River Roaringwater Bay, a producing stallion owned by Donna Duckworth at her Balmullo Connemara Pony Farm in Florida. Spring Ledge Irish Twig, Large Pony Working Hunter Champion Washington International, Toronto Royal Fair, Fairfield County Hunt shows; Large Pony Champion at the Fairfield County Hunt Club Show.
1992 *Toomen Laddie Trophy Committee Chair: Dr. Marian Molthan, AZ
AMERICAN CONNEMARA FOUNDATION STALLIONS - WHITEWOOD GALWAY BAY, 1958-1991
The American Connemara stallion with the fifth most foals registered with the ACPS is Whitewood Galway Bay with 62 foals.
Galway was sired by Clonkeehan Auratum out of *Keane's Selection, by Dun Lorenzo; bred by Miss Lee Norman, Clonkeehan, Heath, Ireland. But Galway was foaled at the Whitewood Stud in Virginia, as his dam was imported by the Ohrstrom family. He is 14 h, dark bay with a star.
In 1964 Louise Clough took Galway to her Spring Ledge Farm in New London, New Hampshire, as stallion for her growing herd of Connemara mares. Later he moved to Mary and Rogers Rutter's Tower Hill Farm in New Hampshire, now Vermont.
"Galway attracted people of all ages, and he has made a difference in their lives," says Mary Rutter. As many as twelve kindergarden children have been in his stall at the same time to love him.
Vanloads of mental health patients and retarded people have visited him and felt better for it. "Galway created trust from fear, being mannerly and kind, not telling anyone he was a stallion," adds Mary Rutter.