Leatherdale Horses Take On Three Countries in One Weekend
/Long Lake, MN – June 26, 2015 – The international influence of Minnesota-based Leatherdale Farms was evident last weekend as Leatherdale horses went down centerline in three different countries – the Netherlands, Canada and the United States – on two continents.
Competing in Europe for Doug and Louise Leatherdale was Damsey FRH, a 13-year-old Hanoverian stallion (Dressage Royal-Ria Grande, Ritual). He stands at Hengststation Jens Meyer in Dorum, Germany, alongside several other Leatherdale stallions. Damsey and rider Steffen Frahm traveled from Germany to the Netherlands to make their German team debut at the Rotterdam Nations Cup CDIO5*.
Damsey’s offspring have earned much acclaim, and one of his daughters competed over the weekend in Canada at the Equivents International Classic CDI-W, which was sponsored by Leatherdale Farms. Diana C, ridden by Diane Creech, finished fifth in both the Prix St. Georges and Intermediaire I at the show in Cedar Valley, Ontario. The promising 8-year-old Hanoverian mare (Damsey FRH-Belinda, Brentano II) just began competing internationally at small tour in early 2015.
Also at the Equivents CDI-W, Creech rode Hallmark, an 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding, to second place finishes in the Prix St. Georges and Intermediaire I. Hallmark is a son of another Leatherdale stallion, His Highness, who died in 2007 but lives on through his many successful offspring.
“We are so proud of Hallmark and Diana for achieving such great results in the small tour,” Creech said. “Hallmark showed his strong work in a very consistent way. Youngster Diana C, still being a little exuberant at times, showed so much quality and talent one can only dream of.”
She added, “Louise and Doug Leatherdale are such wonderful supporters of dressage and had sponsored this CDI, which was organized beautifully by Cara Whitham’s Equivents. I am very grateful for Louise and Doug’s generosity, not only to me, but also to our sport!”
An exciting young gelding by Damsey was among a group of young horses who earned impressive scores at the Dressage Lite I and II shows in Mason City, Iowa. Dublin L scored 81.200 percent on Friday and 80.000 percent on Sunday in 4-year-old tests with rider Mike Suchanek.
“Dublin is calm in the show ring and gets the job done really well,” Suchanek said. “I’m very impressed with his demeanor all the way through. He has the Damsey breeding; the reach of his shoulder is getting better and his movement is really coming along.”
Other highlights at the show included strong performances by Fleur de Lis L, a mare by First Dance who scored 80.600 percent in a 6-year-old test and 73.077 percent at Third Level. Suchanek also made his Fourth Level debut with Corenzo and scored 75.000 percent.
All but one of the eight horses competing in the U.S. and Canada were offspring of Leatherdale stallions.
“It shows the fantastic breeding program that they have,” Suchanek said. “The horses are so rideable and trainable that they show really well.”
