Garrettland’s Golden Eagle connects the story of American-bred Suffolks with the breed’s British heritage. This developing research feature brings together the pedigree documents shared by Rebecca Smith and historical accounts of his return to Britain.
An American-bred stallion in Britain
In their first-hand account, English Suffolks – Donhead Hall Six, R.J. and E.C. Hiscock describe Garrettland’s Golden Eagle, 3036S, as the first imported American-bred Suffolk stallion in the UK. Their article records his presence at Donhead Hall and foals by him appearing at the 2006 Great Dorset Steam Fair.
The recorded immediate family
The pedigree headed “3036-S – Garrettland’s Golden Eagle”, forwarded by Rebecca on 22 April 2026, records his birth as 29 April 2001 and his breeders as Samuel J. and Barbara Yoder of Oakland, Maryland. It names his sire as Gordon’s Tom Bombadil of Rohan, 2513-S, and his dam as Garrettland’s Golden Rod, 2903-M. These details are transcribed from the supplied chart; direct registry verification remains outstanding.
A route back through the generations
Reading from descendant to parent, the supplied chart gives this route: Garrettland’s Golden Eagle → Gordon’s Tom Bombadil of Rohan → Colony Gordon → Beccles Counterpart → Lavenham Count → Shotley Counterpart. Lavenham Count’s dam is recorded as Lavenham Sunburn.
Rebecca’s All Breed Pedigree printouts extend the Shotley Counterpart branch: Shotley Counterpart (1919) → Sudbourne Beau-Brocade (1912) → Sudbourne Beau-Monde (1908) → Sudbourne Sunshine (1897) → Pratt’s Eclipse (1889) → Garrett’s Cup-Bearer III (1874). From there, the research trail continues through Cup-Bearer II → Crisp’s Cup-Bearer (1864) → Crisp’s Conqueror (1859) → Crisp’s Fairhead’s Boxer (1843) → Manchester Boxer (1841). This is a database-derived trail requiring comparison with the original stud books.
A second research branch runs from Pratt’s Eclipse through his dam Grace, then Garrett’s Viceroy (1873), Monarch, Wolton’s Warrior (1860), Cottingham’s Captain (1850) and Crisp’s Captain (1842). Dates and spellings here follow the supplied database printouts and are not presented as independently certified.
What still needs checking
The two sources disagree in the Colony Babs branch: the chart forwarded in April shows Colony Pearl, by Springfield Commander out of Colony Iris; the September database printout shows Colony Pear, by Morston Connaught out of Colony Maid. These records must be reconciled using registry or original stud-book entries before extending that branch.
The registered pedigree connecting Wyatt to Golden Eagle must also be read and checked before attaching this ancestry to every horse on our family tree. Shared names alone are insufficient to establish that connection. No claim about genetic uniqueness or a numerical diversity benefit is made from this ancestry chart.
Sources and research status
Research documents: Rebecca Smith’s emails of 22 April and 29 September 2026; the supplied 3036-S pedigree chart; All Breed Pedigree printouts for Golden Eagle, Shotley Counterpart, Lavenham Sunburn, Grace and Garrett’s Cup-Bearer III. The All Breed Pedigree records are research aids rather than certified stud-book extracts. Historical context: the Hiscocks’ linked Small Farmer’s Journal article. Research compiled 23 October 2026.
With thanks to Rebecca Smith for gathering and sharing the family-history material.
Explore the pedigree
Open or download Golden Eagle’s research pedigree (PDF). This All Breed Pedigree printout is shared with permission as a research resource; it is not a certified pedigree.