Leatherdale Farms Wins Second Consecutive Dressage Breeder of the Year Award

Lexington, Ky. - Nov. 29, 2017 - For the second year in a row, Louise Leatherdale and Leatherdale Farms received the prestigious Adequan/USDF Dressage Breeder of the Year award. Leatherdale Farms has long-since been recognized for its high-quality Hanoverian breeding program both in the United States and in Germany. In addition to their breeder award, many of Leatherdale Farms' young horses received recognition in the Horse of the Year awards and American Hanoverian Society year-end awards. 

With an impressive median score of 192, which was nearly 100 points higher than the next breeder, the breeding program was rewarded by the impressive averages of several sport horses all sired by Leatherdale Farms' stallions. Duchess L, Hero L, Hannigan L, Fleur De Lis L and Fighting Chance L had outstanding seasons that contributed to the farm's success.  

Mike Suchanek and Hannigan L

"The Leatherdale horses are very talented and the top breeding is evident in the creation of very intelligent and athletic horses," Leatherdale Farms' young rider Mike Suchanek said. He also credits the teams' success to the pride Leatherdale and her late husband, Doug, had for their operation as well as their dedication and passion for the horses. 

"Doug and Louise really took their time and did their research to hand pick the lineages, as they wanted to create a line of horses that were talented but also had great minds," Suchanek explained. "Louise is a very special woman - she carries on the passion that Doug also had for this sport and for the horses. She wants the very best for her horses and she cares just as much about the people she hires as she does her amazing animals!  

Mike Suchanek and Duchess L

"To have found such a generous and passionate owner and breeder that I can ride and train horses for has been an opportunity of a lifetime and a dream job!" Suchanek concluded. "I'm so excited I was able to help earn Leatherdale Farms another Breeder of the Year award! I'm so honored to be a part of Doug and now Louise's passionate endeavor!" 

The 6-year-old Hanoverian mare Duchess L (Damsey FRH-De la Rosa, De Niro) placed third in the Adequan/USDF Second Level Dressage Horse of the Year with a median score of 73.300 percent and placed sixth in the Third Level division with a median of 73.141. The mare also took home a win in the Third Level Open and a second in the Second Level Open All-Breed award for the American Hanoverian Society.  

Hannigan L (E.H. Herzensdieb-Pia Colada, Pik L), a 6-year-old Hanoverian gelding, secured a third place ribbon in the Third Level Open All-Breed award for the American Hanoverian Society with a median 70.962 percent.

Mike Suchanek and Hero L

Earning the reserve championship for the Adequan/USDF Prix St. Georges Dressage Horse of the Year was the 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding Hero L (His Highness-Waterlily L, Wolkenstein II) with a median score of 74.935 percent. In the American Hanoverian Society's All-Breed standings, Hero L won the Intermediate I Open division with a median 69.649 percent and won the Prix St. Georges Open division.  

"They are happy horses and I try to instill in them a sense of confidence every time I ride so they can trust me and I can trust them. I think that keeps them happy and successful," Suchanek explained as he expressed his optimism for the coming years. "When the horses are mentally and physically ready to develop, they are eager to learn and it's a lot of fun to be able to keep training them up the levels and have them keep progressing." 

Leatherdale Farms' 17-year-old gelding Devon L's (De Niro-EM Wibranda, Wolkenstein II) experience shone through as he claimed first place in the Grand Prix Open All-Breed award for the American Hanoverian Society with a median 68.292 percent score. Devon L has won the award several times during his successful career and in the 2017 season he earned points with the help of both Diane Creech and her daughter, Vanessa Creech-Terauds, who also began competing in the U25 Grand Prix division with Devon L this spring. 

Diane Creech and Devon L

"Devon L loves to perform and he has taken me so many places - I will always be grateful to him and to Louise, who has supported us all these years," Creech said. "It makes it even more wonderful as he now is carrying on his legacy with my daughter in the U25 division. Although it can be at times a little challenging to work with a professor who knows it all, they both are making compromises, bonding and becoming more and more of a team." 

Lastly, the 8-year-old Hanoverian mare Fleur De Lis L (First Dance-EM De La Rosa, De Niro) and Vanessa Creech-Terauds won the American Hanoverian Society's Prix St. Georges Junior/Young Rider division with a median of 69.167 percent.  

Vanessa Creech-Terauds and Fleur de Lis L with Diane Creech

"Riding and growing with Fleur has been an amazing experience and learning opportunity!" Creech-Terauds said. "At shows, she has such a super mindset and really focuses on working with you throughout all of the movements in the test. She has an amazing natural ability to collect, which is super in the pirouettes and she has a nice hind leg. Fleur is so willing and you know that she will always try her heart out for you!"

Leatherdale Farms Performance Horses Dominate GAIG/USDF Region 4 Championships

Mason City, Iowa – Oct. 10, 2017 – In the beginning of October, the Leatherdale Farms team travelled to Iowa to compete in the GAIG/USDF Region 4 Championships with great success. Mike Suchanek piloted the talented young horses to multiple championship wins and other exciting results at the regional show that qualified them for the prestigious US Dressage Finals held in Lexington, Kentucky, in November.

The 6-year-old Hanoverian mare Duchess L (Damsey – De La Rosa, De Niro) made a great impression in her large Third Level class of over 30 horses, claiming the Open Championship win with a score of 71.154 percent. She also earned a wildcard for the US Dressage Finals after scoring 70.854 percent in the Second Level Open Championship.

Mike Suchanek and Duchess L

“Duchess is great and keeps proving she is ready for the next step,” Suchanek said. “She continues to prove that nothing is too hard for a Damsey! She did amazing in our test with expressive flying changes and she really showed off her medium trot.”

Hannigan L (EH Herzensdieb – Pia Colada, Pik L), another talented 6-year-old bred and owned by Leatherdale Farms, earned his qualification for the US Dressage Finals placing third in the Third Level Open Championship with a score of 70.577 percent.

“Hannigan is doing well and progressing right along,” Suchanek said. “He’s ready for more and he’s starting to really show off his ability. I expect him to be at Prix St. Georges next year.”

Mike Suchanek and Hannigan L

The 8-year-old Hanoverian gelding Fighting Chance L (First Dance – EM Helia, Hohenstein) collected multiple tricolor ribbons at the championships, clinching the competitive Fourth Level Open Championship with a score of 71.389 percent as well as the Open Prix St. Georges reserve championship.

“It’s his first year competing at a FEI level,” Suchanek explained. “I didn’t go into this show with high expectations, but he came out and earned the reserve championship. He really showed off his abilities! He’s like a sports car and is very easy to adjust in the show ring. On Sunday, he was really listening to me and on the aids. I can’t wait to see what his future holds.”

Following such a great performance in Iowa, the Leatherdale Farms team is thrilled to have qualified all three horses to the US Dressage Finals, which will be held in Lexington, Kentucky, Nov. 9-12.

Mike Suchanek and Fighting Chance L

“We are very happy all three of them qualified and we are expecting to go to Finals,” Suchanek said. “A big thank you to Louise [Leatherdale] for her generosity. We love the opportunity to make her proud each time we go in the ring. We are very proud of these horses and it’s going to be an exciting future for all.

“I also want to thank Alison Sader-Larson for another great year of learning from her, as well as Jessi Lash and my grooms for all their hard work,” he continued. “I’m very fortunate to have such a great team.”

Diane Creech and Leatherdale Farms’ Chrevis Christo Win Dressage at Devon CDI-W Grand Prix

Devon, Pa. – Oct. 4, 2017 – Canadian Grand Prix rider Diane Creech and her daughter, Vanessa Creech-Terauds, had a whirlwind summer training and competing throughout Europe on multiple horses owned by Leatherdale Farms. The experience helped them raise the bar in the ring, which paid off over the weekend with impressive wins at the prestigious Dressage at Devon in Pennsylvania.

On Friday, Sept. 29, Diane Creech claimed the CDI-W Grand Prix with a 70.92 percent aboard Chrevis Christo, a 14-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding (Chrevis Cavallo-Chrevis La VI, Matador). The win was special for Creech as she had competed at her first Dressage at Devon 10 years ago and came home then with a Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special win with Leatherdale Farms’ Wiona.

Diane Creech and Chrevis Christo. Photo by Sue Stickle.

“Louise Leatherdale and I are so proud of Chrevis Christo,” Creech said. “This was his first time at Devon as well as his first time competing under the lights. He was super in the atmosphere and steady with me during the Grand Prix. Our time in Europe was amazing and helped to develop Christo into a stronger competitor. Riding amongst so many great riders sharpens both yourself and your horse.”

The pair returned to the Dixon Oval on Saturday evening to earn a 73.15 percent and finish second in the Grand Prix Freestyle.

“It was only our second time showing his freestyle so it still feels a little unfamiliar to the both of us. With a little more routine I believe we can improve our performance much more!” Creech continued. “We will take a few weeks to rest and enjoy hacking in the beautiful Canadian fall weather. Then we will gear up for our Wellington season and hopefully, if the stars align, the World Equestrian Games.”

Vanessa Creech-Terauds and Fleur de Lis L. Photo by Stacy Lynne Photography.

Her 17-year-old daughter, Vanessa Creech-Terauds, also picked up wins during her first time competing at Devon. Though it is her first season competing the 8-year-old Hanoverian mare Fleur de Lis L (First Dance-EM De La Rosa, De Niro) in Young Rider tests Creech-Terauds swept the CDI division. The successful duo won the Team Test with a 68.289 percent, the Individual Test with a 66.816 percent and the Freestyle with a 72.35 percent.

“Sweeping the Young Rider division with Fleur was very exciting!” Creech-Terauds explained. “I was very happy with all three of my rides on Fleur. She stayed focused in the big ring and I was able to confidently ride through all of my tests. I am so grateful to Louise Leatherdale for the incredible opportunity of traveling to Europe recently as it has helped Fleur and I develop our training, which I believe showed in the ring this weekend!”

Creech-Terauds has also been gaining experience in the U25 Grand Prix division with Devon L (De Niro-EM Wibranda, Wolkenstein II), a 17-year-old Hanoverian gelding. The gelding has had a successful Grand Prix career with Creech and during the winter season in Wellington transitioned to teaching Creech-Terauds the Grand Prix ropes. The pair earned solid scores in Pennsylvania and kept improving as the weekend went on with a 63.632 percent in the Intermediate II, a 67.884 percent in the U25 Grand Prix and concluded the show with a 68.775 percent in the Freestyle.

Vanessa Creech-Terauds and Devon L. Photo by Sue Stickle.

“Competing Devon is such an amazing learning opportunity!” Creech-Terauds said. “It has been a big step moving up to the U25 division and I am very thankful to both Louise and my mom for allowing me to take this step on such an experienced horse. Devon has helped me progress my riding and showing at Devon, with Devon, was really a dream come true! I was very happy with the improvements we made with each test and look forward to continuing to grow and learn from him!”