Leatherdale Farms Claim Four Titles at US Dressage Finals 

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Lexington, Ky. - Nov. 23, 2016 - After a stellar year competing across the Midwest and earning the USDF Breeder of the Year award, Leatherdale Farms made the long trek to the Kentucky Horse Park to compete at the prestigious US Dressage Finals, presented by Adequan. The talented Leatherdale Farm horses claimed two national championships and two reserve championships in Lexington. All five horses are homebreds by Louise Leatherdale's stallions including Damsey FRH, His Highness and E.H. Herzensdeib. 

Rider Mike Suchanek, coach Alison Sader Larson and the Minnesota farm's performance horse manager, Jessi Lash, teamed up to present the horses in top form and conclude their stand out competition season. 

In the large Intermediate 1 Open Championship Suchanek was the final rider down centerline. He saved the best for last with Hero L (His Highness-Waterlily L, Wolkenstein II) as the top spot went to the 9-year-old Hanoverian gelding with a score of 71.798 percent. Suchanek and Hero L qualified at the Region 4 Championships in Mason City, Iowa, where they earned the Prix St. Georges champion and Intermediate 1 champion. 

A bobble down the first centerline in the Alltech Arena did not damper Suchanek's quiet confidence with Hero L.

"I thought, 'You have to pick him up and come together for this. You need to move forward, look ahead and you will get better,'" Suchanek explained. "I focused on my riding and my horse, and I was very proud of his ability to finish the test like he did. The pirouettes really came together for this test."

Having already earned the Intermediate I Open title, Suchanek and Hero L added the Prix St. Georges Open reserve championship honors to their resume. 

"I have a special connection with Hero because he was the first horse I started as a 3-year-old when I began training for the Leatherdales," Suchanek said. "I'm so proud of him. It's been amazing to work our way up to the FEI levels together. We have built a strong bond over the years."

The five-year-old Hanoverian gelding, Hannigan L (E.H. Herzensdieb-Pia Colada, Pik L) lead the victory lap around the Alltech Arena after winning the Second Level Open Championship with a 70.163 percent. The pair had the only performance to break the 70 percent barrier in the class. 

"Hannigan was initially a little excited in the warm-up with the musical freestyles taking place in another ring, but he settled and the ride went perfectly," Suchanek explained. "He likes to perform and I had a lot of fun out there. The Second Level work comes easy for him. He has the gaits and the stature to pull it off. His canter work is very good and he's very well balanced. I couldn't have been more pleased with him." 

The bustling environment at the US Dressage Finals can pose a challenge for even the most seasoned competitors, but Leatherdale Farms' young horses remained undaunted. In the First Level Open Championship, Suchanek rode three horses to top ten finishes. The 5-year-old Hanoverian mare, Duchess L (Damsey-De La Rosa, De Niro), completed a beautiful test and claimed the reserve championship with a 73.627 percent. 

"I am very proud of Duchess," Suchanek said. "I started her last year after I returned from US Dressage Finals, so this was her first year showing. She was uphill and powerful in her mediums today. She was very supple throughout the entire test and more confident today in the show ring. Duchess is such a sweet mare and I can't wait to see how her future progresses." 

Fighting Chance L (First Dance-EM Helia, Hohenstein), a 7-year-old Hanoverian gelding placed fifth with a 71.912 percent, and the 5-year-old Hanoverian mare Delta L (Damsey-Weltbekanna L, Weltbekannt) finished seventh with a 69.902 percent. 

"It is quite an achievement to have three of our horses in the top 10 at the national championships, especially since the two 5-year-olds are competing for the first time this year," Suchanek explained. "I love these youngsters! They really showed off their talents for me this week. I'm so happy to have this success for Louise Leatherdale."

In the Training Level Open Championship, the young mares continued to thrive and show off their talents to the judging panel. Duchess L placed fourth with a 73.561 percent and Delta L placed 10th with a 70.985 percent.

"I had no idea we could top our success from US Dressage Finals last year, but Team Leatherdale certainly did!" Leatherdale Farms' Performance Horse Manager, Jessi Lash, explained. "From our top placings at the Markel/USEF Young & Developing Young Horse Championships and Region 4 Championships to earning multiple USDF Year-End Awards, winning two national championships and two reserve championships here at Finals have been the icing to the cake.

"There is so much talent wrapped up in Mike [Suchanek] and Alison [Sader Larson]," Lash continued. "The Leatherdales have bred top quality athletes and Louise supports our team every step of the way. We are all very proud to bring home wins for her." 

Leatherdale Farms Awarded 2016 Dressage Breeder of the Year

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Lexington, Ky. - October 22, 2016 - The United States Dressage Federation announced their year-end national awards on October 21, and Louise Leatherdale received the 2016 Adequan/USDF Dressage Breeder of the Year award. 

With a median score of 238, Leatherdale, along with her late husband Doug, was recognized for their high-quality Hanoverian breeding program. Each of the young sport horses who contributed their impressive averages were sired by Leatherdale Farms' stallions including Damsey FRH, E.H. Herzensdeib and His Highness. 

"I could not be more proud of the Leatherdale Farms team that made this possible," Louise Leatherdale said. "What a joy it is to see young horses meet their potential at each level they reach in dressage. Our rider, Mike Suchanek, our performance horse manager, Jessi Lash, our coach, Alison Sader-Larson and our grooms has proved to be such a successful team the past few years with their excellent work. They outdid themselves this year!" 

The five-year-old Hanoverian mare Duchess L (Damsey FRH-De la Rosa, De Niro) has had a standout year winning the Adequan/USDF First Level Dressage Horse of the Year with a median score of 77.794 percent. She also won the First Level Open All-Breed Award for the American Hanoverian Society. 

Hannigan L (E.H. Herzensdieb-Pia Colada, Pik L) placed second in the nation for the Adequan/USDF Second Level Dressage Horse of the Year with a median score of 74.086 percent. The five-year-old Hanoverian gelding came away with the win as the highest placing horse for the Second Level Open All-Breed Award for the American Hanoverian Society. 

Delta L (Damsey FRH-Weltbekanna L, Weltbekannt) placed seventh in the nation for the Adequan/USDF Training Level Dressage Horse of the Year with a median score of 76.364 percent. In the Training Level Open All-Breed Award for the American Hanoverian Society, the five-year-old mare placed third in the nation. 

The nine-year-old Hanoverian gelding Hero L (His Highness-Waterlily L, Wolkenstein II) earned a median score of 72.009 percent and placed tenth in the nation for the Adequan/USDF Prix St. Georges Horse of the Year. Hero L also placed eighth for the Adequan/USDF Intermediate 1 Horse of the Year with a median score of 71.119 percent.   He won the Prix St. Georges, as well as the Intermediate 1, Open All Breed Awards for the American Hanoverian Society. 

"Our entire team at Leatherdale Farms is really excited," Mike Suchanek explained. "I'm so honored and happy to be working for such a great owner and breeder. It takes a whole team and I'm so thankful to be surrounded by great people who work hard to show off these remarkable athletes! I'm very proud to be able to train and show Leatherdale Farms' amazing horses and continue their legacy of breeding such high quality Hanoverians."

Leatherdale Farms' Horses Claim Seven Titles at Region 4 Championships

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Mason City, IA - Sept. 20, 2016 - Leatherdale Farms has had quite the summer with high scores for their young horses. Their progress culminated at the Great American Insurance Group/USDF Region 4 Championships Sept. 8-11 at the North Iowa Events Center in Mason City, Iowa. Mike Suchanek rode five Leatherdale horses to an impressive total of five championships and two reserve championship titles from Training Level up to Intermediate I.

The team at Leatherdale Farms entered the Region 4 Championships after a successful showing at the Markel/USEF Young & Developing Young Horse Championship in August at Lamplight Equestrian Center in Illinois. Hannigan L (E.H. Herzensdieb-Pia Colada, Pik L) placed seventh in the large 5-year-old division with an average of 7.376, and Delta (Damsey-Weltbekanna L, Weltbekannt) earned an average of 7.192. Hero L (His Highness-Waterlily L, Wolkenstein II) qualified and competed in the Developing Prix St. Georges division and finished the championship with an average of 67.524 percent.

"Hannigan was very through in his back and coming from behind very correctly, which the judges rewarded," Suchanek explained about his rides. "The judges really loved Delta's walk and my second test on her was beautiful."

Suchanek enjoyed the championship atmosphere as it provided the opportunity to learn judges' expectations for young horses competing in the international level.

"I am thankful for the guidance of Christine Traurig [USEF Young Horse Coach] and the young horse championship because it allows me to bring back new knowledge to my training program," Suchanek said. "I also want to thank my coach, Alison Sader Larson, for her expertise and helping me develop my riding and Louise Leatherdale for giving me the support and opportunity to train her amazing horses."

The Leatherdale Farm team only had a week in between the two championships to make subtle improvements before competing in Iowa for the Region 4 Championships, but they continued their domination, winning a total of five championships.

Duchess L (Damsey-De la Rosa, De Niro) won the Training Level Open Championship with a 72.045 percent, and her sister, Delta L claimed the Reserve Championship with a 71.477 percent. In the First Level Open Championships, Leatherdale Farm horses swept the top three placings. Duchess L earned her second tricolor ribbon of the week with a 78.824 percent, Reserve Champion Fighting Chance L (First Dance-EM Helia, Hohenstein) earned a 74.412 percent, and Delta L claimed third with a 73.676 percent. 

"Duchess has come along way this year and really coming into her own in the show ring," Suchanek said. "She is beautiful, her gaits are very fluid and she looks very similar to her sire Damsey."

Fighting Chance L, a 7-year-old Hanoverian gelding, won the Second Level Championship with a 74.939 percent and Hannigan L earned third place with a 71.463 percent. Fighting Chance L had an injury last season after finishing in fifth place in the 6-year-old national championships, but Suchanek has enjoyed forming a partnership with the gelding through rehab and he is back better than ever. 

"He loves to work and it was a bit tough to hold him back during rehab," Suchanek laughed. "He is much stronger now and he is so confident in the show ring. He listens really well and he has fun in his training." 

Hero L, a 9-year-old Hanoverian gelding (His Highness-Waterlily L, Wolkenstein II) became the Region 4 Prix St Georges Champion with a 73.421 percent, as well as the Intermediate 1 Champion with a 72.105 percent. 
 
"Both Hero and I are relatively new to the FEI ring, but he did a great job!" Suchanek said. "He was very uphill and forward. The judges loved his fluid trot and his extended trot scores were high due to his reach in his shoulder." 
 
Each of the horses headed home with at least one championship or reserve championship rosette, qualifying them for the US Dressage Finals, presented by Adequan. The Finals will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, Nov. 10-13. 
"We are all very proud of the performance of the Leatherdale horses at both the Markel/USEF Young and Developing Championships and the Region 4 Championships," said Alison Sader Larson, a trainer for Leatherdale Farms. "The judges have been very complimentary of Mike's preparation, presentation and quality of training that was represented in each of the young horses. I am very excited about the future of the Leatherdale horses, and I am thankful to be a part of this wonderful team."