World-Class Leatherdale Stallions Arrive From Germany to Stand at Bridlewood Farm in Kentucky

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First Dance. Photo by Kiki Beelitz.

First Dance. Photo by Kiki Beelitz.

Union, KY - Jan. 16, 2016 - Leatherdale Farms, Hengststation Jens Meyer and Bridlewood Farm have announced the arrival in North America of four acclaimed sport horse stallions from Germany. Leatherdale Farms' Fairbanks, First Dance, Hampton and Herzensdieb will now stand at Bridlewood Farm in Union, Kentucky, as a joint venture of the three top breeding entities. 

Stallion owners Louise Leatherdale and her husband Doug, who passed away in December, have known Barbara Schmidt, D.V.M, for many years. Doug Leatherdale served as president of the American Hanoverian Society for 10 years alongside Schmidt, a long term board of directors member and the current executive vice president. The Leatherdales and Schmidt traveled extensively to Germany, educating themselves on Hanoverian bloodlines. 

Herzensdieb, pictured with Doug and Louise Leatherdale, Jens Meyer and Prince Donatus Von Hessen, receives the Elite title from the Trakehner Verband. Photo by Kiki Beelitz.

"We had the same philosophy; everything is about the horse," Louise Leatherdale said. "Everything we do is about the care, welfare and well-being of the horse. That's the connection we had."

Herzensdieb. Photo by Kiki Beelitz.

"Everyone had a role at the stallion licensing prior to the auction, where the 2 1/2 -year-old stallions were sold to countries all over the world," Schmidt explained. "Doug and Louise would select their top choices of the equine athletes, the Meyers would add their years of expertise in training and riding, and I would add my equine veterinary knowledge and experience. We formed quite a good team." 

Hampton. Photo by Kiki Beelitz.

Schmidt originally introduced the Leatherdales and the Meyers when they selected the world-renowned stallion His Highness at the Hanoverian Stallion Licensing in Verden. That event would change all their lives. From that time on, the Leatherdales and Meyers continued working closely, selecting, purchasing, training and breeding top sport horse stallions. 

Fairbanks. Photo by Kiki Beelitz.

Recently, prior to Doug Leatherdale's passing, they collectively decided it would be a good business plan to bring the four breeding stallions to the U.S.. They agreed that standing them at Schmidt's Bridlewood Farm was the ideal choice.

"These four stallions are so accomplished in performance and have had such successful offspring," Leatherdale said. 

Hampton. Photo by Kiki Beelitz.

"I don't think we have ever had four stallions of this caliber - proven performance, proven successful offspring - enter into the United States at one time for breeding at one farm." Schmidt added. "I am grateful to Doug and Louise. This is an incredible opportunity for sport horse breeders in North America."

Since 1990, Schmidt and her husband, Frederick Abblett, have owned and operated Bridlewood Farm, a well-known and highly respected Hanoverian breeding operation and the base for Schmidt's equine veterinary practice. The location is less than 40 minutes from the country's finest equine veterinary hospitals and some of the world's most renowned equine specialists and surgeons in nearby Lexington, Kentucky.

Bridlewood has served as the host site for 13 annual American Hanoverian Society Mare and Foal Inspections and as home to eight Hanoverian breeding stallions. Currently, Elite Hanoverian stallion Dacaprio, who has more registered offspring than any other stallion in the American Hanoverian

Society 2009-2014, was also a very well-received stallion at Hengststation Jens Meyer before his purchase and importation to the U.S. by Schmidt and her husband.

For breeders, Bridlewood Farm will offer fresh cooled semen and provide a live foal guarantee. Schmidt shared, "We do everything we can to get the breeder's mares pregnant in an easy and uncomplicated way."

The four stallions sailed through their quarantine process at Holly Oak Farm, near Lexington, where Schmidt said that owner Dietrich Felgendreher remarked on the stallions' excellent temperaments. 

"For our breeders and riders in the U.S., it is important that we have stallions that create offspring with the highest quality of gaits for the professional rider along with the willingness and demeanor for the adult amateur," Schmidt said. "Herzensdieb, Hampton, First Dance and Fairbanks consistently produce offspring with that unique and very desirable combination of superior athleticism and talent along with exceptional trainability and rideability that will produce a real fit for North American riders and competitors."

The stallions are settling in beautifully at Bridlewood Farm. After many years of going from stable to arena or competition venue, all four stallions will enjoy turn-out. As a testament to their extraordinary character, the stallions have started the pasture turn-out process seamlessly. Leatherdale and Schmidt are enjoying watching them in their paddocks and thrilled with their rapid transition to their new life in Kentucky.

"They really like our grass, even in the winter," Schmidt said. "I think they will be really happy here." 

"They will be very happy to live their lives as horses," Leatherdale added. "I believe Doug would be smiling."

Contact Bridlewood Farm:
Barbara Schmidt, D.V.M.
11698 U.S. Hwy. 42
Union, Kentucky 41091
859-485-6000
bschmidtdvm@fuse.net 

EuroDressage – January 2016

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Leatherdale Moves Four Stallions to the U.S.A.

Stallion owner Louise Leatherdale has moved four of her breeding stallions permanently from Germany to her home country U.S.A.

Louise Leatherdale and her late husband Doug are renowned for being the discoverers of the highly successful breeding stallion His Highness. Over the years they added several licensing champions to their line-up, including the Oldenburg licensing champion Fairbanks (by Flemmingh x Inselfurst) and Trakehner licensing champion Herzensdieb (by Tambour x Tivano).

All of their breeding stallions have been based at Jens Meyer's station in Dorum, Germany, and the Leatherdale line-up has added name recognition and prestige to Meyer's station.

Leatherdale Farms' Fairbanks, First Dance (by Florestan x Donnerhall), Hampton (by His Highness x Rotspon) and Herzensdieb will now stand at Bridlewood Farm in Union, Kentucky, as a joint venture of the three top breeding entities.

The decision to move the four stallions was made collectively by the Leatherdales, the Meyers and Barbara Schmidt while Doug was alive. The stallions went in quarantine in Kentucky in December.

"We had the same philosophy; everything is about the horse," Louise Leatherdale said. "Everything we do is about the care, welfare and well-being of the horse. That's the connection we had. Everyone had a role at the stallion licensing prior to the auction, where the 2 1/2 -year-old stallions were sold to countries all over the world," Schmidt explained. "Doug and Louise would select their top choices of the equine athletes, the Meyers would add their years of expertise in training and riding, and I would add my equine veterinary knowledge and experience. We formed quite a good team."

"These four stallions are so accomplished in performance and have had such successful offspring," Leatherdale said.  "I don't think we have ever had four stallions of this caliber - proven performance, proven successful offspring - enter into the United States at one time for breeding at one farm." Schmidt added. "I am grateful to Doug and Louise. This is an incredible opportunity for sport horse breeders in North America."

Douglas Leatherdale, Business Leader, Equestrian and Philanthropist, Passes Away

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Douglas Leatherdale. Photo Courtesy of Client. 

Long Lake, MN - Dec. 10, 2015 - The equestrian world has suffered a significant loss with the passing of Douglas Leatherdale on his 79th birthday, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015. The owner of Leatherdale Farms along with his wife, Louise, Doug Leatherdale was highly regarded in the dressage and sport horse breeding communities for his kindness and generosity, his unwavering passion for the sport and the spectacular horses he bred and owned.

Douglas and Louise Leatherdale. Photo Courtesy of Client. 

Born Dec. 6, 1936, in Morden, Manitoba, Canada, Leatherdale graduated from United College in Winnipeg (now the University of Winnipeg) in 1957. He immigrated to the United States and built a remarkable career in business, serving as chairman and chief executive officer of The St. Paul Companies Inc., one of the largest U.S. insurance companies, from 1990 to 2001. The founding member of the University of Winnipeg Foundation's Board of Directors, Leatherdale also served on the boards of the Minnesota Orchestral Association, Xcel Energy Inc. and UnitedHealth Group Inc., to name just a few. 

Leatherdale received the 2015 Governor General of Canada's medal for building relationships between Canada and the U.S. in education, commerce, philanthropy, sports and the arts.

With Louise, Doug Leatherdale also made a significant impact through charitable gifts to worthwhile causes. They recently donated $2 million to Assiniboine Park Conservancy in Winnipeg, where the International Polar Bear Conservation Centre was renamed in their honor, and $2.5 million toward the construction of Leatherdale Hall at the University of Winnipeg. Their $5 million gift to the Minnesota Orchestra this year created the Douglas and Louise Leatherdale Music Director Chair in honor of Osmo Vänskä to foster international touring, recording and the artistic growth of the ensemble. The Leatherdales made a major gift that funded the Leatherdale Equine Center at University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

In partnership with his wife, Leatherdale had an immense influence on the Hanoverian sport horse world. They began breeding and showing Hanoverian jumpers from their home in Medina, Minnesota, in the late 1980s. After taking a breeders' course in Verden, Germany, in 1993, they shifted their focus to dressage and began purchasing mares from farms in Virginia and Ontario and importing mares and foals from Germany. Their first stallion, His Highness, was the top selling stallion and champion of the 2002 Hanoverian licensing.

Leatherdale Farms in Long Lake, Minnesota, is home to top-quality mares and a new generation of exciting young U.S.-bred sport horses, the products of the Leatherdales' highly selective breeding program. The farm also owns several prominent licensed stallions who have been based in Dorum, Germany, at Hengststation Jens Meyer: the premium elite Hanoverians Damsey, First Dance, Hampton and Beltano, the premium elite Trakehner Herzensdieb; and the Oldenburg Fairbanks.

Alongside Leatherdale Farms' breeding operation, Doug and Louise Leatherdale have supported talented athletes, including Canada's Diane Creech and the United States' Sue Blinks, an Olympic medalist. Creech rode Leatherdale horses to the team silver medal at the 2007 Pan American Games and the reserve position on Canada's dressage team at both the 2012 London Olympics and 2015 Pan American Games. The Leatherdales generously gave Creech's daughter, junior competitor Vanessa Creech-Terauds, the ride on their stallion Rob Roy after he was gelded for health reasons.

Doug Leatherdale served as president of the American Hanoverian Society from 2001 to 2010, drawing on his business expertise to guide the Society during his tenure. In 2011, he was honored with the Golden Badge of the Hannoveraner Verband and remains the only non-German recipient of that prize. He was named the 2006 Dressage Canada Owner of the Year.

As Creech wrote in a tribute to Leatherdale, "His footprint on this world will be distinct and deep." He filled his life with experiences and accomplishments in many different realms and leaves behind a remarkable legacy; his dedication to horse sport, business savvy, and kind, loving spirit will not be forgotten.

Leatherdale is survived by his wife, Louise; his sister, Sharon Storey; daughter Mary Jo Emfield and sons Christopher Leatherdale (Rebecca), Tim Schock (Heather) and Tom Schock (Wanloe); grandchildren Kendall, Travis and Austin Emfield, Jeb and Bailie Schock, and Mike, Chase and Joseph Leatherdale; and nephew Scott Storey; (Lori) and Eric Benson (Francesca) and nieces Diana Kissick (Roger) and Sara Benson.