In Memoriam: His Highness – Now the Fruits Are Harvested

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Hampton. Photo by Kiki Beelitz. 

Dorum, Germany – Aug 7, 2014 – Here comes the nostalgia: His Highness is now on everybody’s lips in the world of national and international competition. Not, however, as a protagonist, but rather as a stallion, as his offspring are now bringing him honor in the sporting world. 

Hendrix. Photo by Kiki Beelitz. 

His Highness, a son of Hohenstein out of a dam by Donnerhall, was the Hanoverian licensing champion of 2002. He had to be put down at the age of 7 after a tragic accident, which was devastating to owners Louise and Doug Leatherdale, as well as to Jens Meyer’s breeding station in Dorum, Germany, where he had been stationed throughout his life.

His Highness. Photo by Kiki Beelitz. 

 His career had begun so strongly, as a stallion as well as a sport horse. Today – seven years after his death – it is certain that this stallion made a very important contribution to sport horse breeding in his mere five years of action. 

His Highness’ progeny include 16 licensed stallions and 45 state premium mares, as well as an ever-increasing number of superior performers in upper level dressage. His sons Hampton and Haydn were finalists last year at the Nuremberg Burgpokal in Frankfurt. 

His Highness’ offspring achieved a total of €138,165 in winnings by the end of 2013. More than 430 of them, the oldest of which are now 10 years old, are successful sport horses. 

For example, Hendrix, a licensed son from a Regazzoni mother, won the Inter I dressage in Redefin this year and achieved an excellent third place finish in the Hamburg Dressage Derby. His Heini, a 10-year-old son of His Highness and Woermann, was, along with his rider Silvia Busch Kuffner, a serial winner in dressage competitions, earning the title of Oldenburg Reserve Champion as well as the Golden Riding Badge. 

At the Nuremberg Burgpokal Tour this year, Holly made a name for herself. The daughter of His Highness out of a dam by Walt Disney qualified, along with her rider Bianca Baum, in Mannheim for this popular dressage series for young dressage horses. 

Beyond that, we have Harley, Harry Potter, Heartbreaker, Helena, etc. etc. etc. – the list of His Highness’ successful offspring is long. Even in a completely different sporting sector, His Highness’ offspring make a splash: at the CHIO in Aachen, AHA, son of His Highness and Sunlight, was named the most successful vaulting horse this year. 

Hannah, the 3-year-old daughter of His Highness out of a mare by Damsey, incidentally the only His Highness offspring of the year 2011, qualified as a state premium candidate for the Herwart von der Decken-Show in early August in Verden. 

“His offspring simply have priceless values when it comes to readiness to learn, rideability and character,” reported Jens Meyer a bit nostalgically, and he looks forward to breeding even more.

Helmi Qualifies for the Prestigious Herwart von der Decken-Show in Verden

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Helmi. Photo by Kiki Beelitz. 

Dorum, Germany – July 18, 2014 – Leatherdale Farms’ promising young mare Helmi has qualified for the Herwart von der Decken-Show, where she will compete against the best 3-year-old Hanoverian mares selected from regional shows across Germany. Helmi is by Leatherdale stallion Herzensdieb out of a dam by Lauries Crusador XX. 

The Herwart von der Decken-Show, scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 6, in Verden, Germany, serves as the opening for the International Dressage and Show Jumping Festival with the World Breeding Dressage Championships for Young Horses. Mares will be separated into dressage and show jumping divisions and presented in various classes at this important competition that breeders and sport horse enthusiasts follow closely.

The main criteria for success at the Herwart von der Decken-Show are quality of movement, conformation and type, all of which Helmi has in spades. Doug and Louise Leatherdale were so impressed with the mare at this year’s spring show of stallions and their offspring at Hengststation Jens Meyer, home of the Leatherdale stallions, that they purchased her by the end of the day.

Helmi recently attracted attention with a stunning exhibition at the mare show in Elmlohe. She competed in the class for 3-year-old mares with a performance test, and she not only won the class, but went on to be recognized as the overall champion mare.

Leatherdale Farms was well represented at Elmlohe. Along with Helmi’s victory, many offspring of Leatherdale stallions were recognized for their high quality. The 2-year-old fillies class was won by a Damsey filly that was bred and owned by Walter Wöhlke.

The top two spots in the class for 3-year-old mares without performance test went to a First Dance mare and a mare by His Highness out of a dam by Damsey, and Herzi’s Hatari, a mare by Herzensdieb bred and owned by ZG Ursinus, finished fifth. Taking third behind Helmi in the class for 3-year-old mares with performance test was another mare by Herzensdieb.

Helmi will be joined at the Herwart von der Decken-Show by Hannah, a His Highness/Damsey mare owned by Jens Meyer. 

Leatherdale Farms’ Young Stallion Beltano Qualifies for the Bundeschampionat

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Dorum, Germany – July 14, 2014 – Leatherdale Farms’ stallion Beltano (Belissimo M/Hohenstein) took an important step forward in his breeding and performance career by qualifying for the Bundeschampionat, Germany’s national championships. 

Beltano. Photo by Kiki Beelitz. 

"That hurdle has been cleared," said Susanne Meyer, the manager of Jens Meyer Hengststation in Dorum, Germany, where Beltano stands at stud alongside an impressive line-up of Leatherdale stallions.

The 5-year-old Hanoverian earned his ticket to the Bundeschampionat in Warendorf with a standout performance under Steffen Frahm at the competition in Schenefeld in early July. The qualification is a milestone for each stallion manager because it also allows stallions to bypass the requirement of completing a 70-day trial to remain in breeding usage.

"Each stallion performance test is a huge burden for the stallion, and there are always risks and dangers,” explained Susanne Meyer.

Doug and Louise Leatherdale purchased Beltano in 2011 through the Hanoverian stallion market. The striking bay is the youngest of the Leatherdale stallions, and he is already showing plenty of promise for the future.

Beltano is preparing for his career as a dressage horse under the guidance of Frahm, his trainer. Meanwhile, the majestic stallion is attracting notice for his offspring. His first foal crop was a great success with modern, charming types and large, supple movements.

Doug Leatherdale jokingly referred to Beltano as “Best Buy” at the time of his purchase, and the stallion has proven that to be the case with his numerous achievements.