May 23, 2014

Damsey’s Daughter Diana C Will Be One to Watch

May 23, 2014/ Julie Tannehill

Wellington, FL – May 23, 2014 – Diana C, the talented young mare owned by Leatherdale Farms and ridden by Diane Creech, is already making her owners proud.

Diane Creech and Diana C at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival. Photo by Susan Stickle.

The 7-year-old bay Hanoverian mare (Damsey-Belinda, Brentano II) is delivering on the promise she showed at the prestigious Herwart von der Decken-Show in Germany, where she was named champion dressage mare as a 3-year-old. Owners Doug and Louise Leatherdale spotted her there and were immediately drawn to her.

Leatherdale Farms stands Diana C’s sire, Damsey, at stud. Diana C was bred by Charlotte Groenborg.

Diane Creech and Diana C. Photo by Susan Stickle.

“I fell in love with her when I saw her in Germany,” Doug Leatherdale said. “We bought her right away and she arrived at our partner farm in Dorum, Hengststation Jens Meyer, that night. I thought she was spectacular and showed so much potential.”

The lightly competed Diana C demonstrated she has what it takes to perform in the show ring during the 2014 Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) in Wellington, FL. She placed in the top two in every outing at AGDF, where she competed at Fourth Level in the national shows.

Her high scores during the circuit included 72.838 percent on Feb. 1 at AGDF 4, 72.162 percent on Feb. 21 at AGDF 7, and 72.568 percent on March 19 at AGDF 11, all of which netted her first place finishes in Fourth Level Test 2.

“It’s very special to have a daughter of Damsey competing for us and to see her doing so well this year in Florida,” Doug Leatherdale noted. “We are excited to see what the future holds for this lovely mare.”

Diana C will eventually move up to the small tour, but Creech is in no rush with the young mare, whom she feels will excel at the FEI levels.

“We’ll work on making her stronger and confirming where she’s at now,” Creech said. “Once she’s really confirmed in that kind of work, going into the small tour is not going to be hard for her. It’s just taking her to shows and getting some experience.”

“There’s a lot more power in there,” she added. “She’s a very, very special mare. I really love her, and she’ll be something really good.”

Creech, who lives in Caistor Centre, Ontario, and rides for Canada, trains and competes numerous horses for the Leatherdales. She earned top placings this season in Florida with her Grand Prix horse, Devon L, and moved Chrevis Christo and Hallmark 3 up to Intermediaire II from the small tour. She is competing both Devon L and Chrevis Christo at the Kentucky CDI3* and national show in Lexington, KY, this weekend.

Creech appreciates the opportunity to bring Diana C up through the levels.

“I am so excited to have the chance to be working with such a top quality mare!” she said. “She already is showing her super talent for the Grand Prix work and is proving more and more that she will also have the nerve to do it. For now, all she needs is continued good experiences in the show ring and to get stronger and more mature over time. I cannot thank Mr. and Mrs. Leatherdale enough for entrusting me with her.”

May 05, 2014

Spring Stallion Show at Hengstation Jens Meyer Features Fine Stallions and Their Progeny

May 05, 2014/ Julie Tannehill

Damsey X Rotspon. Photo by Kiki Beelitz.

Dorum, Germany – May 5, 2014 – The annual spring show of stallions and their offspring was held at Hengstation Jens Meyer in Dorum on Easter Monday. At 11 a.m., the famous stud farm, this year celebrating its 21st anniversary, opened its gates to more than 500 guests . A large number of foals were shown and dressage trainer Hannes Baumgart provided commentary. Owners Doug and Louise Leatherdale were in attendance from the U.S. to see their stallions presented and to view their offspring.

Leatherdale stallions Damsey, Hampton, Fairbanks, First Dance, Beltano, and Herzensdieb, were on hand as were many breeders who had come to Dorum with their purebreds.

The offspring of Herzensdieb were especially admired by attendees. Herzensdieb was the 2005 champion Trakehner stallion and was ceremoniously chosen as an Elite stallion in 2013. In addition to the success of his ability to sire high quality progeny, he has also proven to be an outstanding dressage horse.

The 5-year-old filly by Herzensdieb out of a dam by Lauries Crusador XX named Harriet and owned by the guest rider Yvonne Reiser was a crowd favorite. This lovely mare was previously owned by the master rider Johann Hinnemann.

Elfenzauber (Herzensdieb/Buddenbrock), already state championship tested, was presented by trainer Vicky Harding.

Hengstation Jens Meyer head trainer Steffen Frahm showed the impressive 6-year-old Hollywood, by Herzensdieb out of a dam by Worldly.

"He's good enough for the big shows," Leatherdale commented about Hollywood.

The Leatherdales were just as enthusiastic about Helmi, the 3-year-old filly by Herzensdieb out of a dam by Lauries Crusador XX. By the day’s end, the couple purchased the filly

The 2009 7-year-old champion Oldenburg stallion Fairbanks’ offspring were also presented. Felicitas, a 3-year-old mare out of a dam by Wolkenstein II, put on a great performance. In addition, an imposing colt by Fairbanks out of a dam by Flemmingh and another beauty out of a dam by Inselfuerst were shown.

The foals of Damsey, considered the flagship of the Dorum stud farm, were very strong. Johann Hinnemann examined his filly by Damsey out of a dam by Lauries Crusador XX, who energetically ran laps.

After the two-hour event, an Easter brunch was held. Sponsors of the event, Doug and Louise Leatherdale, expressed their thoughts about the quality of the horses shown.

"We are happy to be in Germany to see our stallions and their progeny,” they exclaimed. “Our next visit is already marked on the calendar for this summer."

April 03, 2014

Diane Creech Wraps Up Successful Wellington Competition Season for Leatherdale Farms

April 03, 2014/ Julie Tannehill

Wellington, FL – April 11, 2014 – Diane Creech earned high scores and top placings throughout the 2014 Adequan Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, FL. After three intensive months of training and competing her string of horses owned by Leatherdale Farms, the Canadian rider is heading back to her home base in Ontario.

Diane Creech and Devon L. Photo by Susan Stickle.

Diane Creech and Chrevis Christo. Photo by Susan Stickle.

Season highlights for Creech include several top finishes in the Grand Prix Freestyle with Devon L, who racked up many of the highest scores among the Canadians competing in Florida. Creech and the 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding (De Niro-Wibranda, Wolkenstein II) scored an impressive 73.175 percent in the Freestyle at the AGDF 3 CDI-W Jan. 24. Their performance earned them second place behind only Creech’s trainer, Lars Petersen, and ahead of a competitive field including riders from six countries.

Devon L also finished fourth with 72.300 percent in the Freestyle at the AGDF 1 CDI-W and took fifth with 71.950 percent at the AGDF 5 CDI4*.

“This year is the first year that he was really getting into the freestyles and enjoying them, so that was a big step for him,” Creech said. “I think he’s starting to mature a little bit more. It doesn’t take him so much by surprise, and he likes performing for the crowd.”

Along with competing Devon L against the top horses gathered in Wellington for the winter, Creech focused on making steady progress with her other mounts, moving several of them up the levels during her stay. Two Leatherdale Farms owned horses, Hallmark and Chrevis Christo, worked on the transition from small tour to Intermediaire II. The goal for both horses is to eventually join Devon L at the Grand Prix level.

Diane Creech and Hallmark. Photo by Susan Stickle.

Chrevis Christo, an 11-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding (Lavallo-Chrevi’s La Vi, Matador), won several times and placed in the top two every time he competed at Intermediaire II. He earned consistently high scores, including a 72.105 percent and a 70.592 percent.

Hallmark is a 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding by the Leatherdales’ deceased stallion His Highness and out of SPS Lapislazuly by Lancier. He collected scores in the high 60s at Intermediaire II and placed in the top four in large classes each time he came out.

“I’m really excited and happy with them,” Creech said. “It’s a big step up from the small tour to Intermediaire II. I think they did really well. They pulled through, tried hard and demonstrated the great abilities that they have.”

Also moving up in the ranks was the promising Diana C, a 7-year-old Hanoverian mare by the Leatherdales’ stallion Damsey and out of Belinda by Brentano II. She stepped up into Fourth Level in her first time competing in Florida and accumulated several scores in the 70s, indicating she will be one to watch in the future.

“I’m so proud of Diana C,” Creech said. “The Florida season is not an easy task, and she showed that she really fits in. I’m very excited about her.”

While the intense show schedule kept Creech busy, she also devoted plenty of time to educating herself and her horses, working with Lars Petersen to fine-tune her efforts.

“When I come down here, it’s really my training time – we take the horses to the next step with Lars’ training help,” she explained. “Now, they can all look forward to a break when we get home, and then I’ll continue their training. We’ve brought the horses up another level, so my big goal is to confirm what they’ve learned and make it easier in the ring for them.”

“The learning curve here is incredible,” she added. “It’s very important to be here in Florida – that’s what makes you a better rider and trainer. It’s a very competitive environment. You have to come out of your comfort zone and work and improve.”

Creech’s family steps up to take care of her barn while she’s away, making it possible for her to spend the winter developing her horses in Wellington.

“I’m very thankful for the people at home,” she said. “My mother and my sister run my barn while I’m gone, and my mother takes care of my daughter. I also appreciate everyone here who works so hard to run these shows – they need a big thank you in making this happen for us.”

She added that she could not thank her horses’ owners enough for giving her the opportunity to train and compete in Florida each winter.

“I’m so grateful to my owners, Doug and Louise Leatherdale, for all their support and understanding,” she said. “It’s absolutely incredible every year.”

Press