February 07, 2015

Diana C Developing into a Star for Leatherdale Farms

February 07, 2015/ Julie Tannehill

Wellington, FL – February 7, 2015 – Leatherdale Farms’ Diana C is showing off her power and potential as she takes big strides forward in her career. The 8-year-old Hanoverian mare (Damsey FRH-Belinda, Brentano II) is ridden by Canada’s Diane Creech.

Diane Creech and Diana C in the mare's first CDI competition. Photo by Susan Stickle.

Diana C made a successful CDI debut in the Gold Coast Opener Festival CDI1* Jan. 15-18. She then earned high marks in the Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) 4 national show Jan. 31-Feb. 1, winning the Intermediaire I with an outstanding 74.737 percent.

Diane Creech and Diana C. Photo by Susan Stickle.

Creech shared her success at the AGDF 4 national show with her 14-year-old daughter, Vanessa Creech-Terauds, who scored 70.461 percent in the Junior Individual test with her new mount, Leatherdale Farms’ Rob Roy.

Diana C’s sire, Damsey FRH (Dressage Royal-Ria Grande, Ritual), is among the distinguished Leatherdale Farms stallions standing at Hengststation Jens Meyer in Dorum, Germany. The Association for the Promotion of Hanoverian Horses in Equestrian Sport honored Damsey for his exceptional quality with the suffix FRH.

At their Minnesota farm, the Leatherdales have a very promising Damsey son named Dublin L, who is out of Wibranda (by Wolkenstein II), the dam of Creech’s Grand Prix mount Devon L. Dublin L is a coming 4-year-old who will be one to watch as he matures.

The connection to Damsey makes Diana C particularly special to Doug and Louise Leatherdale, who were on hand for the mare’s CDI debut.

“It’s wonderful to have a daughter of Damsey competing for us,” Doug Leatherdale said. “We are excited to see what the future holds for her.”

Creech noted, “Doug and Louise both feel that it’s important to give her time to grow and get more confident and comfortable in the ring. It’s all about the journey with her. Because she’s from their own stallion, it means a lot to them to see her out there and showing.”

Owners and rider alike were happy that the mare had a positive first experience in the international arena at AGDF, and the judges’ remarks were encouraging.

“I had expected her to be a little hot at the CDI because it was her first time in a bigger environment,” Creech said. “But although she was a little bit eager, she always came back to me. She just tried so hard – she gives 120 percent. I got really good comments for her from the judges.”

Diana C is already showing plenty of talent for Grand Prix work, but Creech is taking it slowly with the young mare, keeping an eye to the future and giving her plenty of time to develop.

“She’s so smart and learns everything so quickly,” Creech said. “She just has to go out and get the experience. I want to introduce her gradually and give her confidence. That’s our goal right now, to get her confident in bigger environments and then slowly but surely introduce her in CDIs.”

January 28, 2015

Junior Rider Vanessa Creech-Terauds Partners with Leatherdale Farms’ Rob Roy

January 28, 2015/ Julie Tannehill

Vanessa Creech-Terauds and Rob Roy. Photo by Mary Adelaide Brackenridge.

Wellington, FL – January 28, 2015 – Vanessa Creech-Terauds had a breakout year in 2014, attending her first North American Junior and Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) and earning team silver in the Juniors with Canada’s Ontario team. Now, 2015 is off to an even better start, as the 14-year-old from Caistor Centre, Ontario, has begun a new partnership with Leatherdale Farms’ Rob Roy.

Creech-Terauds is the daughter of Diane Creech, who rides five of Leatherdale Farms’ top competition horses. Doug and Louise Leatherdale generously made Rob Roy available for Creech-Terauds after the horse, who had a successful career standing at stud at Hengststation Jens Meyer in Dorum, Germany, had to be gelded due to health issues. The 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Rubin Royal made the trip to Canada in mid-December and is already off to a great start in his new career.

“We just seemed to fit together really well from the beginning, so it has been nice getting to know each other,” Creech-Terauds said.

On Jan. 8 and 9, just a few weeks after they began working together, the pair competed in the Adequan Global Dressage Festival 1 national show. They began their career together on a positive note with scores of 66.824 percent for the Team test and 66.382 percent for the Individual test.

“When we were showing, he was really good!” Creech-Terauds said. “He definitely knows his stuff when he goes into the ring. The judges all really liked him and left positive comments saying ‘very elegant pair’ and ‘lovely horse.’ I feel very confident with him in the ring and confident after. You can tell he’s happy in the show ring. He loves it, and I love it.”

Creech-Terauds’ goal for her first season with Rob Roy is to compete successfully at the 2015 NAJYRC, and she now has two qualifying scores under her belt. Her mother, Creech, will be working with Rob Roy this winter while Creech-Terauds is back in Ontario at school.

“She really wants to do very well at school, so she needs to focus on that for a little bit,” Creech explained. “We are talking about her coming back for a couple of shows. Now I can spend some time with him and get to know him a little bit.”

She feels the horse is a perfect match for her daughter: Rob Roy has the talent and training to excel in the show arena as well as the levelheadedness to be a safe, confidence-building mount for the 14-year-old.

“They make a pretty picture and fit very well together,” she said. “It’s really great for her to be on a horse with a big heart and a great character, one that she can learn on. It’s nice for him to have a job, and Vanessa spoils him rotten. When I dropped her off at the airport, I said, ‘Honestly, who do you miss more: your horse or your mother?’ I think it was a close one!”

Both mother and daughter can’t say enough about the generosity of Doug and Louise Leatherdale in supporting Creech-Terauds with the ride on Rob Roy.

“They are just such incredible people, so amazing and supportive,” Creech-Terauds said. “When I heard that they would be willing to sponsor me with a horse, I really couldn’t believe it. They always made me feel like part of the team, and to be able to ride one of their horses now is so amazing.”

Creech said she was grateful for the Leatherdales’ interest in her daughter’s success, noting that they truly care about ensuring the partnership will be positive for both horse and rider.

“When I called Doug and Louise after the show, where I was also competing with Robbie W and Hallmark, their first questions were, ‘How was Vanessa?’ ‘Did she like Rob Roy?’ ‘Tell Vanessa we’re so proud of her,’” Creech said. “That makes Vanessa feel so good and so confident. I won’t ever be able to give as much back to them as they’re giving to us.”

January 11, 2015

Diane Creech Begins Winter Season with Strong Group of Leatherdale Farms Horses

January 11, 2015/ Julie Tannehill

Diane Creech and Hallmark. Photo by Susan Stickle.

Wellington, FL - January 11, 2015 - Diane Creech is kicking off the winter season in Wellington with an outstanding string of five Leatherdale Farms horses. She will be competing Chrevis Christo, Diana C, Devon L, Hallmark and Robbie W at the 2015 Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF).

Diane Creech and Robbie W. Photo by STUDIO EQUUS/ Amy E. Riley.

The Canadian competitor and her horses made the trip from her home base in Caistor Centre, Ontario, for the duration of the circuit. At the first show of the year, the AGDF 1 CDI-W, she got off to a strong start with Robbie W and Hallmark in the small tour. Both horses performed well throughout the weekend, and the highlight was Robbie W's personal best 70.026 percent in the Intermediaire I, which earned him a third place finish in a competitive field. With both horses, Creech is shooting for qualifying scores to make the team for the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto.

"I am excited for the upcoming season!" Creech said. "I want to build on the horses' previous experiences and focus on consistent performances in order to present a hopeful, solid Canadian Team horse."

Diane Creech and Chrevis Christo. Photo by Sue Weakley.

Robbie W is a 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Rubin Royal. Creech believes he is coming into himself and becoming much more confident.

"He is really awesome," said Creech with a smile.

She feels training is going very well with Robbie as well as with Hallmark, an 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding by His Highness. The plan is to let the horses come out and shine, and the ultimate goal is to bring out a solid Canadian team horse for Pan Ams.

Creech will compete two horses at the Grand Prix level during the Florida circuit: Devon L and Chrevis Christo. Both are also declared for the Pan American Games. Creech will be aiming to qualify Devon L, a 15-year-old Hanoverian gelding by De Niro, to compete at the Reem Acra World Cup Dressage Final in Las Vegas.

She is preparing both Devon L and Chrevis Christo for the AGDF 3 CDI-W, Jan. 22-25. Christo, an 11-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding by Lavallo, will likely start out in national Grand Prix classes at the Gold Coast Opener Festival, Jan. 15-18, as well as at the ADGF 3 CDI-W before stepping up to the international Grand Prix.

"He had a couple of good national scores last year in the Grand Prix, so hopefully he can continue with that and build up his confidence," Creech said. "Then we will introduce him to the CDI field."

Diane Creech and Devon L. Photo by Meg McGuire.

Alongside the four geldings in Creech's string is the 8-year-old Hanoverian mare Diana C. Competing mainly at Fourth Level last year, Diana C shows incredible potential. While she is declared for the Pan American Games, the focus is on gradually building her show ring experience and giving her plenty of time to develop her outstanding talent.

"Diana is so awesome," Creech said. "This is her first year doing the Prix St. Georges. For her, it is really building up her confidence. Everything else is easy for her. What a talent that one is - she is like a jewel."

Diana C will start her season in the small tour at the Gold Coast Opener Festival CDI1*.

Riding alongside her mother at the first show of the season was Vanessa Creech-Terauds, who was starting her second year of international competition. She won Team Silver in the Juniors at the North American Junior and Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) in 2014 and has an exciting new ride for 2015: Leatherdale Farms' Rob Roy.

Doug and Louise Leatherdale generously gifted Creech-Terauds the ride on the 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Rubin Royal. She will be competing Rob Roy in the Juniors and hopes to qualify him for NAJYRC this year. Both mother and daughter are incredibly thankful and excited for this opportunity.

"His is such a great character with a big heart," said Creech. "They are really starting to build a team. We are so thankful for Doug and Louise to give her the opportunity to do that. You will not find better people than them. They love horses, and they will stand behind you on everything."

With the support of Leatherdale Farms, Creech is ready for another great season in 2015.

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