Hengststation Jens Meyer’s Young Horse Training Program Contributes to Leatherdale Farms’ Success

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Helmi in Verden, Germany. Photo by Kiki Beelitz.

Dorum, Germany – March 24, 2016 – For the past 15 years Leatherdale Farms has forged a partnership with Hengststation Jens Meyer as their dedicated young horse training program in Europe. Located in Dorum, Germany, the breeding farm and training center strives for excellence in the development of young dressage horses. Louise Leatherdale attributes the success of Leatherdale Farms’ German operation to her teamwork with Susanne and Jens Meyer’s program.

“It is very important to start a young horse slowly and give them time so that they are not afraid,” Susanne Meyer explained. “It is crucial that they trust you. The horse always comes first, and we let the horse be a horse.”

Hengststation Jens Meyer prides itself on its commitment to the proper development of a young dressage horse. The Meyers believe it is imperative to provide a solid training foundation for each horse. They understand the challenges young horses often face as part of the process, such as giving too much of a response to the rider’s aid, and they keep the focus on steady progress without losing relaxation or throughness.

“We have Sebastian Langehanenberg come once a month to train all the horses and to check that they are on the correct training path,” Susanne Meyer said. “It is important to have someone on the outside come to help.”

Hengststation Jens Meyer and Leatherdale Farms’ base in Minnesota follow parallel strategies in bringing along young horses. At both farms, once horses have progressed through their basic training and are ready to move forward with their competitive careers, they are matched with a top rider who furthers their development into international Grand Prix horses.

Leatherdale Farms works with several internationally successful riders, including Diane Creech of Canada and Sue Blinks of the U.S. The Leatherdale team recently paired their world-class Hanoverian stallion Damsey FRH with German Olympian Helen Langehanenberg.

Damsey (Dressage Royal-Ria Grande, Ritual) had been standing at Hengststation Jens Meyer prior to beginning his partnership with Langehanenberg, and the farm also stands the young stallion Beltano (Belissimo M-St.Pr.St. Heavenly, Hohenstein). In both breeding and training, Hengststation Jens Meyer and Leatherdale Farms have worked closely to reach their shared goals.  

“Leatherdale Farms has had a unique partnership with Hengststation Meyer since the wonderful purchase of our young stallion His Highness in 2002," Louise Leatherdale explained. “The professional handling and training of His Highness developed further with the addition of more exceptional Leatherdale stallions.  

“Now, with the offspring of these stallions, we once again look forward to the superior training of the young horses in the Meyers' care with correct and caring supervision,” she continued. “I can not imagine a better environment than Hengststation Meyer to train a young horse, whether it be a stallion, gelding or mare.”
 

Diane Creech Begins Season With Top Finishes for Leatherdale Farms

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Diane Creech and Diana C. Photo by Mary Adelaide Brackenridge.

Wellington, FL – February 22, 2016 – Diane Creech is off to a strong start in the first several weeks of the Adequan Global Dressage Festival, riding Leatherdale Farms’ horses to great results. Her competitive focus early in the season has been giving Diana C and Hallmark seasoning at the medium tour level, preparing both horses for a smooth transition to Grand Prix.

Diane Creech and Hallmark. Photo by Annan Hepner.

“With Diana and Hallmark, it’s a little early to put the full pressure of the Grand Prix on them,” Creech said. “There’s no sense pushing forward when they’re not ready because you take away confidence. They are both becoming more and more comfortable with the different movements, and I’m so proud with the way they are developing.”

Vanessa Creech-Terauds and Fleur de Lis L. Photo by Ilana Cramer.

Diana C, a 9-year-old Hanoverian mare (Damsey FRH-Belinda, Brentano II), has had a string of positive efforts at medium tour. Intermediaire II wins for her thus far in 2016 include an FEI Test of Choice class Feb. 13 at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) 5 national show (scoring a 67.5 percent) and an Intermediaire II class Feb. 6 at the AGDF 4 national show (scoring a 68.816 percent).

“I think over the summer she has taken a nice big step,” Creech said. “She’s gotten stronger and more confident, so I’m really happy. She tries so hard and always gives 150 percent. It takes time to build a team, so we are slowly but surely developing the bond, and being together all the time certainly helps.”

Leatherdale Farms’ co-founder, Doug Leatherdale, sadly passed away in December, and Creech notes that his influence is very much felt as his wife, Louise, continues to guide the farm’s extensive operations.

“I’m so grateful to Louise, and I’m sure Doug is watching,” Creech said. “I know Diana was so close to his heart, and he was so proud to have found her. Both Doug and Louise recognized instantly how special she really is when they saw her as a 4-year-old. They always had that same belief in her sire, Damsey. It’s nice to have a daughter of his so close to home, showing all the talent he passes on to his youngsters.” 

Hallmark, a 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding (His Highness-Lapislazuly, Lancier), began the season by scoring a 69.236 percent for the Intermediaire A test at the Gold Coast Opener Festival. He went on to win an FEI Test of Choice class with a score of 67.763 percent at the AGDF 5 national show. 

“He is getting more used to it and becoming confident in the movements,” Creech said. “He loves his job and tries very hard; he’s a typical His Highness baby. I’m very happy with how he is developing.”

Creech’s daughter, Vanessa Creech-Terauds, traveled from her home in Caistor Centre, Ontario, to ride Fleur de Lis L in the AGDF 5 national show Feb. 11-14. Competing at First Level to get to know each other better, the pair showed they already have a natural connection. They earned consistently high scores and capped the weekend with an impressive mark of 76.029 percent. 

Fleur, bred by Leatherdale Farms, is by the farm’s stallion First Dance, who arrived in the U.S. this winter from Germany to stand at Bridlewood Farm in Union, Kentucky. At 7 years old, Fleur has plenty of potential, and she has already captured a championship and a reserve championship at the U.S. Dressage Finals with Mike Suchanek in the saddle. Fleur recently joined Creech’s group of horses in Florida, and Creech is working on building a relationship and developing the promising mare. 

“Fleur loved the way Vanessa rode her and was quite comfortable with what Vanessa was asking her to do,” Creech said. “I was quite proud and happy that they clicked so well. Fleur has not been with our group that long yet, and it takes a little while to build up a partnership. I love the mare; I think she’s really nice, and she is honest as can be.”

After several years based at Lars Petersen’s Legacy Farms in Loxahatchee during the winter seasons, Creech made the decision to come to Palm Beach Equine Sports Complex in Wellington for the 2016 season. She found that the peace and quiet of Legacy Farms provided a relaxing training environment, but wanted the horses to experience a more bustling atmosphere on a day-to-day basis so they could have an easier transition between home and show. 

“It’s hard but good for them to have so much thrown at them,” she said. “If you deal with it in a trusting way, they figure it out. Being at Palm Beach Equine is like being at a show every day, with all of the horses and activity. After training with Lars at his farm for so long, it was a tough decision to make, but we felt it was important for the horses to experience a busy environment and learn to settle in there.”

Backed by the support of the Leatherdale Farms team, Creech looks forward to continuing a successful winter season with the horses she trains and competes.