Olympian Guenter Seidel Joins Leatherdale Farms Team Aboard Beltano

Del Mar, Calif. – Feb. 14, 2018 – Leatherdale Farms is thrilled to announce three-time Olympian Guenter Seidel has joined their extensive high performance team aboard their 9-year-old Hanoverian, Beltano. Originally based at Hengststation Jens Meyer in Dorum, Germany, Beltano (Belissimo M-SPS Heavenly, Hohenstein) was recently imported to the United States with the goal of developing him as an international Grand Prix prospect.

Guenter Seidel and Beltano

“We are quite pleased to welcome Guenter to our team of high performance riders,” Louise Leatherdale said. “One of our riders, Sue Blinks, was on the 2000 Olympic team and two World Equestrian Games teams with Guenter. Also, Damsey FRH’s rider, Helen Langehanenberg, coached Hengststation Jen Meyer’s young trainer aboard Beltano for several years so this new partnership is a very natural fit with our program. We are a worldwide team and we cannot wait to see what Guenter and Beltano achieve together!”

Standing at 17.2 hands, Beltano earned impressive rideability scores of 10.0 from both test riders during his 30-day test in Schlieckau, Germany. He also received a 9.0 for his interieur, 8.5 for his trot and 8.75 for his canter, which qualified him for the Bundeschampionat.

A German-native, Seidel moved to the United States in 1985 and soon became one of the best dressage competitors in the country. He helped the United States win the team bronze medal at three consecutive Olympic Games with different horses: the 1996 Atlanta Games with Graf George, the 2000 Sydney Games with Foltaire and the 2004 Athens Games with Aragon. Seidel also earned a team silver medal at the 2002 World Equestrian Games (WEG) and a team bronze medal at the 2006 WEG. The United States Equestrian Team Foundation also awarded him with the prestigious Whitney Stone Cup in 2002.

“After riding Beltano for a few days in Germany last fall, I saw what a nice horse he was,” Seidel explained. “He has three quality gaits, has great bloodlines and has a very nice training foundation. He is the entire package! Now that he has settled into my program, I have been working on the basics and learning more about him with each ride.”

As they continue to develop a partnership throughout 2018, Seidel’s goal is to showcase Beltano in the small tour, while working on strengthening his training towards the Grand Prix.

“I am very excited to compete Beltano for Louise [Leatherdale],” Seidel said. “I have admired the Leatherdales for many years and I am honored to be a member of her team. To have someone like Louise, who understands the ups and downs of the sport and who has been instrumental in supporting dressage, behind you, is unbelievable. I’m looking forward to seeing what the future brings for us – it’s going to be really fun!”

Guenter Seidel and Beltano

Helen Langehanenberg and Leatherdale Farms' Damsey FRH Break Top Ten on FEI World Individual Dressage Ranking List

Münster, Germany - Jan. 15, 2018 - After impressive CDI performances this fall, Leatherdale Farms' Hanoverian stallion, Damsey FRH, and Olympian Helen Langehanenberg have moved up to the ninth spot on the FEI World Individual Dressage Ranking list, announced on Jan. 2 by the Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI). 

"It is really quite amazing to me that we are now ranked ninth in the world!" Langehanenberg said. "I always believed in Damsey. He's an absolutely special horse for me and I love him. I'm very thankful that Louise [Leatherdale] and Susanne [Meyer] have allowed me the opportunity to ride him. 

"I have had many horses, but I think the team gold medal with Damsey at the European Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden, in August was really special for me," Langehanenberg continued. "Honestly, I am very proud of him. It's not always normal that you get a 14-year-old stallion and start a career like this. He feels really young and strong in his work. He is the whole package."  

Helen Langehanenberg and Damsey FRH. Photo by Elena Zobova.

In November, the pair had a stellar performance at the CDI-W in Stuttgart, Germany, where they received a 76.060 percent in the Grand Prix and second place as well as third place in the Grand Prix Freestyle with a 79.615 percent. The duo headed to Stockholm, Sweden, next to compete in the CDI5* in December and placed fourth in the Grand Prix with a 77.76 percent. They improved in the Grand Prix Freestyle and received an impressive score of 82.665 percent for third place. 

"He had no weakness in Stockholm - he had a super walk, a super trot and a super canter," Langehanenberg said. "He can do every moment for high scores. He was so fresh and easy to ride. He was light off the aids and focused in competition mode. If he wants to compete, he has no weaknesses. He showed us what he can do.

"When we competed in Stuttgart, Damsey was really hot, maybe too hot in the end, but I loved it!" Langehanenberg exclaimed. "He was so funny, fresh and happy to be at a show again. To get these improvements and have him so hot and fresh at these last two shows gives me an amazing feeling. I was proud that I got him going that much. He really fights for us." 

Most recently, Langehanenberg and Damsey FRH swept the CDN Münster K+K Cup on Jan. 12-14 in Germany. They earned their highest Grand Prix score to date to win the Grand Prix with a 78.08 percent and they won the Grand Prix Special with an impressive score of 79.745 percent. 

With a standout year in 2017 and a great start of the 2018 season, Langehanenberg looks forward to competing in more World Cup qualifying shows though the FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final in Paris will be up in the air as she is pregnant with her second child.