Vanessa Creech-Terauds Wraps Up Successful Winter Season with Rob Roy

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Vanessa Creech and Rob Roy at the 2015 Adequan Global Dressage Festival. Photo by Susan Stickle. 

Wellington, FL – April 10, 2015 – Canadian junior rider Vanessa Creech-Terauds began 2015 with a new mount: Rob Roy, owned by Leatherdale Farms. The 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Rubin Royal arrived in Canada from Germany in mid-December. The pair got to know each other during the winter season in Wellington, Florida, and they racked up an impressive eight wins in nine classes.

Vanessa Creech and Rob Roy. Photo by Susan Stickle. 

Rob Roy and Creech-Terauds earned consistent marks in the upper 60s, with highlights including a score of 70.461 percent for the Junior Individual test at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) 4 national show and a score of 71.000 percent in their Junior Freestyle debut at the AGDF 10 national show. 

“It was incredible that I was able to compete down in Florida thanks to Doug and Louise Leatherdale,” Creech-Terauds said. “Rob was amazing. He really knows his stuff, that’s for sure. He’s so happy going into the show ring." 

Creech-Terauds balanced showing in Florida with traveling back home to Caistor Centre, Ontario, in order to keep up with her studies. Getting to know Rob Roy throughout the season was a great learning experience for the 15-year-old, who competed at her first North American Junior and Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) in 2014 and hopes to return in 2015.

“Rob has taught me so much: how to do a proper half-pass, how to get an expressive change,” Creech-Terauds said. “We have really developed a nice trot, and our relationship has grown so much already.”

Creech-Terauds is the daughter of Diane Creech, who rides five top competition horses for Leatherdale Farms. Creech worked with Rob Roy throughout the winter as well.

“I was very proud of her,” Creech said of her daughter. “It’s a great learning curve for her to sit on a horse like that, and we’re so grateful to Doug and Louise for that chance, which is absolutely incredible. They’re so excited about Vanessa and so interested in her progress with Rob Roy.” 

Diane Creech Rides Robbie W to Team Silver for Canada at Nations Cup in Wellington

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Canada Team 1 - Diane Creech, Belinda Trussel, Chris von Martels, Megan Lane, chef d'equipe Volker Moritz - show off their silver medals at the Stillpoint Farm Nations Cup CDIO3* in Wellington, Florida. Photo by Mary Adelaide Brackenridge. 

Wellington, FL – April 7, 2015 – Diane Creech put the final stamp on a successful winter season by taking the podium alongside her Canadian teammates at the Stillpoint Farm Nations Cup CDIO3*. She and Megan Lane, Belinda Trussell and Chris von Martels secured team silver for Canada Team 1 over two days of competition at the Nations Cup.

Diane Creech and Robbie W. Photo by Betsy LaBelle.

The Nations Cup and accompanying CDI3*, held March 25-28, marked the close of the 2015 Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) in Wellington, Florida. Creech competed five of Leatherdale Farms’ top horses throughout AGDF with strong results. Her partner for the Nations Cup was Robbie W, a 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Rubin Royal.

Creech and Robbie W finished fourth in the Prix St. Georges with a score of 71.868 percent and then improved their score in the Intermediaire I, taking fourth again with 72.474 percent.

Canadian competitors at the Nations Cup: Jill Irving, Chef-in-Training/ Assistant Chef Alison Martin, Chris von Martels, Shannon Dueck, Megan Lane and Diane Creech. Photo by Mary Adelaide Brackenridge.

“There is a reason why Robbie’s nickname is ‘Perfect Robbie,’” Creech said with a smile. “Doug and Louise Leatherdale and I are so proud that he performed two very consistent tests for our Canada Team 1. He is cool under any circumstance and loves to compete. We congratulate all our team members for achieving personal best scores; it shows high quality performance when your team drop score is over 71 percent! Congratulations also to Canada Team 2 for their great bronze medal finish.”

Creech was thrilled with Robbie’s effort during the Nations Cup and expressed her gratitude to the large support team working behind the scenes.

“Our amazing trainer Lars Petersen did a super job keeping us focused and fresh going into the ring,” she said. “Robbie’s caretaker, Chris Bacher, has probably the most difficult job: making him look white before his performance! It was great having Volker Moritz, our trusted team leader, and Alison Martin from Equine Canada there.” 

She added, “It was an exciting event, and I am grateful to Lloyd Landkamer, Thomas Baur and their awesome team at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival for organizing this wonderful competition each year.”

Also stepping up to the plate and putting in great tests at AGDF 12 was Leatherdale Farms’ Diana C, whom Creech rode in the non-Nations Cup small tour. The highlight of the week for the 8-year-old Hanoverian mare by Leatherdale Farms’ own Damsey FRH was a second place finish in the Prix St. Georges with a score of 69.368 percent.

Now that the winter season in Wellington has come to an end, Creech and the Leatherdale horses she rides are back at her home base in Caistor Centre, Ontario, to prepare for spring competitions.

Robbie W Reaching the Top at Adequan Global Dressage Festival

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Diane Creech and Robbie W. Photo by Susan Stickle. 

Diane Creech and Robbie W. Photo by Susan Stickle. 

Wellington, FL – February 14, 2015 – Robbie W, owned by Leatherdale Farms and ridden by Diane Creech, excelled in the small tour division at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival 5 CDI5*, held Feb. 5-8 in Wellington, Florida.

Diane Creech and Hallmark. Photo by Susan Stickle. 

Creech and the flashy gray 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Rubin Royal began the show with a great result in the Prix St. Georges, scoring 71.526 percent to take third place in the field of 45. They went on to capture second place in the Intermediaire I with a personal best score of 73.368 percent, finishing behind only Olympic medalist Laura Tomlinson of Great Britain on Unique.

Also competing for Leatherdale Farms was Hallmark, an 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding by His Highness. Creech and Hallmark put in consistently strong performances, taking seventh in the Prix St. Georges with 69.632 percent and eighth in the Intermediaire I with 69.763 percent.

“Robbie is such a great guy,” Creech said. “He’s so talented and has a big heart. He goes in the ring and really wants to do it, and he’s very trainable. He’s not one that I have to train for a while to get something. We call him ‘Perfect Robbie’ because he combines everything together: good looks, good movement and desire to work.”

Creech is aiming to make the Canadian team for the Pan American Games, and Robbie’s strong performances thus far at AGDF have put them in a good position.

“We’re all pulling together to try to get our best foot forward and the best team going,” she said. “I really want to have a good Canadian team horse, and one of the biggest things is having a consistent test.”

She is grateful to owners Doug and Louise Leatherdale, whose behind-the-scenes efforts and encouragement give her and the horses the support they need for success in the show ring.

“They’re the best people,” she said. “They love the horses, and it was so nice having them here in Wellington recently to watch the horses go. Doug and Louise are really hands-on and are always excited to hear about the shows. They have stood by me for many years, and now they’re supporting my daughter, too.”

Creech is competing Diana C for Leatherdale Farms at this weekend's AGDF 6 national show.