July 20, 2018

Helen Langehanenberg and Leatherdale Farms' Damsey FRH Place in Top Three at CDIO5* Aachen Grand Prix

July 20, 2018/ Julie Tannehill

Aachen, Germany - July 20, 2018 - After impressive CDI performances in the fall and winter seasons, Olympian Helen Langehanenberg and Leatherdale Farms' Damsey FRH were stealing the spotlight and moved into the ninth spot on the FEI Dressage World Ranking list. Though Langehanenberg's maternity leave for her second daughter kept the talented pair on the sidelines since their dominating performance at the CDI-W Neumünster five months ago, they reunited to compete at the world-renowned CHIO Aachen World Equestrian Festival. Langehanenberg and Damsey FRH, a 16-year-old Hanoverian stallion, returned better than ever to finish in the third position with a 77.034 percent in the prestigious CDIO5* Grand Prix on July 19.

"I am so very proud of all Helen has accomplished in the past two years with Damsey," Louise Leatherdale said. "Together, they are really a team. The fact she just had her lovely baby girl, Finja, last month shows me the total commitment, competitive spirit and desire Helen has!"

Selected to represent Germany as a member of their Nations Cup team, they were the highest scoring German combination in the Grand Prix and contributed to Germany's second place team finish after the opening day of competition. The Nations Cup will be awarded on Saturday, July 21, after the CDIO5* Grand Prix Special.

"It was absolutely amazing what happened in the Grand Prix at Aachen," Langehanenberg said. "Today is today and I will enjoy it until Saturday, and then Saturday is a new day and we will see what happens. I have always believed in Damsey. He's an absolutely special horse for me. I'm very thankful that Louise [Leatherdale] and Susanne [Meyer] have allowed me the opportunity to ride him.

"[Prior to Aachen], I had a really good feeling at home and in the training and it encouraged me to compete here," she continued. "If the feeling in the training had not been good, I would not have competed at Aachen, but it was my dream to compete him here in the Nations Cup. I think Damsey did a super job. We have developed so well together over the last two and a half years. I only hope we can continue like that because he has a really strong character. I hope I can keep him on my side and he continues fighting for it, loving being in the arena and doing his job like he loves to."

The duo made their CDI debut in 2016 and have developed a strong partnership over the last two years. At the 2017 World Equestrian Festival in Aachen, the pair topped the leaderboard to win the CDI4* Grand Prix and placed second in the CDI4* Grand Prix Special. Their placing secured them a position on the prestigious German team for the 2017 European Championships.

In addition, they earned top placings at the CDI-W in Stuttgart, Germany, and received scores up to 82.665 percent at the CDI5* in Stockholm, Sweden. To kick-off 2018, Langehanenberg and Damsey FRH swept the CDN Münster K+K Cup in Germany. They earned a 78.08 percent to win the Grand Prix, and they won the Grand Prix Special with an impressive score of 79.745 percent. At their last show before Langehanenberg left for maternity leave, they swept the CDI-W in Neumünster, Germany, winning both classes and receiving their highest score to date, an 83.880 percent in the Grand Prix Freestyle.

April 09, 2018

Leatherdale Farms Concludes Successful Wellington Season

April 09, 2018/ Julie Tannehill

Wellington, Fla. – April 6, 2018 – Throughout the 2018 Adequan Global Dressage Festival [AGDF], Leatherdale Farms performance horses earned top scores and wrapped up the final few weeks of competition with strong performances in both the international and national arenas. Grand Prix dressage riders Diane Creech and her daughter Vanessa Creech-Terauds rode five Leatherdale Farms horses during the last three weeks of competition in Florida to finish out the AGDF season on a high note.

During AGDF 10, Creech-Terauds competed two horses in the CDI arena for the Florida International Youth Dressage Championships. She rode both Fleur de Lis L and Rob Roy in the young rider division and had great scores and placings all around. Her top mount, Fleur de Lis L, a 9-year-old Hanoverian mare (First Dance-EM De La Rosa, De Niro) received consistent scores and placed in the top five all weekend long. In the Young Rider Team test, the mare earned a score of 69.412 percent for fifth place, a score of 67.892 percent in the Young Rider Individual class for third place and a score of 70.417 for third place in the Young Rider freestyle. To conclude the prestigious championship, Fleur de Lis L was awarded the Reserve Champion title in the Young Rider division.

Vanessa Creech-Terauds and Fleur de Lis L

"I was so happy with Fleur and our overall ranking, especially after winning the division last year. I can’t complain about finishing in second!” Creech-Terauds said. “All three tests I was very pleased with. Fleur is so comfortable in this ring now that I’m able to really ride her and not worry about what she’s thinking of the atmosphere. I thought our freestyle was our best ride this weekend, so I’m happy to end on a high note.”

Rob Roy, a 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Rubin Royal-SPS Glory Dream, Glorieux), and Creech-Terauds have a long competition history together, and their partnership showed during the youth championships. The pair earned a score of 66.912 percent in the Young Rider Team test and a score of 66.422 percent in the Young Rider Individual.

“I’m so proud of Rob Roy,” Creech-Terauds explained. “The first day in the covered arena he was a little excited – he was just so ready to show everyone what he could do, but he does try to listen to me when he’s excited so it’s too bad we had a couple mistakes. The next day was much better and I’m happy with how comfortable he was in the stadium for it only being his second time in there. This horse can do no wrong in my eyes, so I’m so happy with him.”

Joining her daughter in the CDI ring, Creech competed Chrevis Christo in the CDI3* Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special. The 15-year-old Danish Warmblood (Chrevis Cavallo-Chrevis La VI, Matador) has continued to improve throughout the season and earned high scores in his classes. In the Grand Prix, the pair earned a score of 69.978 percent and placed fourth, and in the Grand Prix Special, they were awarded a score of 67.319 percent.

“Christo is such an amazing horse,” Creech exclaimed. “He’s developing and becoming more and more consistent. He’s improving a lot – he can do all the movements, they are no problem for him. He’s very elastic and he swings through his body so well. He’s working towards finding more confidence, but he’s always trying. He’s a really nice horse.”

The two riders also took advantage of the national show during Week 9 to add to their progress with two talented geldings by His Highness. Creech continued to show Hallmark 3, a 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding (His Highness-Lapislazuly, Laucier) in the big tour and saw great improvement with top placings in his open classes. In the Grand Prix, Hallmark 3 earned a score of 69.13 percent to claim a first place ribbon and continued to impress in the Grand Prix Special, earning a score of 70.957 percent to secure second place.

Developing her new partnership with Harley L, a 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding (His Highness-MS Eileen, Expri), Creech-Terauds showed much improvement in the Young Rider division. The pair placed third in a very competitive Young Rider Team Test and in the Young Rider Individual Test they rode to a score of 68.824 percent from the judges’ panel.

After taking a short break during the eleventh week to train, both Creech and Creech-Terauds were selected to represent Team Canada in the Week 12 Nations Cup aboard Leatherdale horses. Creech-Terauds represented Canada in the Under-25 division aboard Devon L, while her mother rode on the senior team in the CDIO3* with Chrevis Christo, earning standout scores of 68.565 percent in the Grand Prix, 65.979 percent in the Grand Prix Special and 65.325 percent in the Grand Prix freestyle. Their scores helped Team Canada win a silver medal in the team competition, beating competitors Team Spain and Team Australia.

“I’m very proud to have represented my country in the CIDO3* Nations Cup,” Creech continued. “It was a great event and I can’t thank Louise Leatherdale enough for her support – she will always be my inspiration.”

With the Florida season complete, the horses will begin to make their journey back to Caistor Center, Ontario, where they will receive a break before gearing up for the summer show season. Creech-Terauds has her sights set on competing at the FEI North American Young Rider Championships in July and will declare both Fleur de Lis L and Rob Roy for consideration. Creech is making a bid for the World Equestrian Games with Chrevis Christo and will continue to show him this summer in Canada to meet the selection criteria.

March 22, 2018

Strong Season for Leatherdale Farms Performance Horses at Adequan Global Dressage Festival in Wellington

March 22, 2018/ Julie Tannehill

Wellington, Fla. – March 22, 2018 – Veteran international dressage riders Sue Blinks, Diane Creech and Vanessa Creech-Terauds have successfully piloted nine of Leatherdale Farms’ performance horses to top scores and placings thus far during the Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) in Wellington, Florida.

Olympian Blinks and her partner Habanero L, a 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding (His Highness-Wolkenfee, Wolkenstein II) have had success in the small tour division in the past, but this season, Blinks and the grey gelding made their Grand Prix debut in the national show ring. During their first test of the season, Blinks and Habanero L earned a score of 66.63 percent and placed second in a competitive class.

“Habanero just keeps getting stronger and more and more capable, and he is always so reliable in the show ring,” Binks explained.

Creech has had a stand out season on four different horses, both in the CDI international ring and at the national shows, including Robbie W, Chrevis Christo, Diana C and Hallmark 3.

Known as ‘Perfect Robbie,’ Robbie W, a 15-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Rubin Royal-Rolling Home) started the season out with a bang during AGDF Week One, claiming the CDI3* Intermediate I with a 69.706 percent. The pair also placed second in both the Prix St. Georges with a 70.098 percent and the Intermediate I Freestyle with a 72.975 percent. The pair returned during the seventh week to earn the red ribbon with a 70.637 percent and a 70.588 percent in the Intermediate I. To finish out the weekend, Creech and Robbie W won the Intermediate I Freestyle with a score of 72.925 percent.

“Robbie is just so happy all of the time and has a great personality,” Creech said. “Robbie loves to show and you could tell he was proud of the work he did. He knows his job so well. He doesn’t get phased at the show and he always has such a great attitude. He’s so laid back yet so consistent and really loves his job. He was definitely ‘Perfect Robbie’ that weekend.”

The talented 11-year-old Damsey FRH mare Diana C (Damsey FRH-Belinda, Brentano II) made her CDI Grand Prix debut last summer in Hartpury, England, and has continued to gain confidence in the Grand Prix. During Week Three, Creech and Diana C earned a score of 65 percent in the Grand Prix, and moved up to a score of 67.383 percent in the Grand Prix Special to earn seventh place. Joining Robbie W in Week Seven, Creech and Diana C once again rode in the CDI3* where they earned scores of 65.174 percent in the Grand Prix and a 67.383 percent in the Grand Prix Special.

“Diana is such a talented horse and is fun to work with,” Creech explained. “She’s certainly matured and grown up since the last time she was in the international ring here in Wellington. The second test was way better than the first one and I was very happy to see that she came out more settled. I was really happy with the progress that she made.”

After an exciting fall season winning the Dressage at Devon CDI-W Grand Prix, Creech and Chrevis Christo, a 15-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding (Chrevis Cavallo-Chrevis La VI, Matador), competed in his first CDI5* during AGDF Week Five. The pair earned a score of 69.213 percent in the Grand Prix Special where they placed sixth overall. After a few weeks away from the show ring, they returned to earn a 68.931 percent for fourth place and 67.702 percent for fifth place during the CDI3* at AGDF Week Eight.

“I’m so incredibly proud of Christo,” Creech said. “He sometimes worries, and he overcame his fear in the big ring and gave such wonderful rides. He was very expressive and willing in his piaffe and passage work so that was a big highlight for us.”

Balancing school in Canada, 18-year-old Creech-Terauds made the trip to Wellington to compete Fleur de Lis L, a 9-year-old Hanoverian mare (First Dance-EM De La Rosa, De Niro) in the CDI-Y division. Creech-Terauds and Fleur de Lis L have been partners for multiple years, competing up through the junior divisions and into the Young Rider division. During AGDF Week Five, the pair won every Young Rider class they were entered in, earning a 69.755 percent in the Young Rider Team Test, a 68.824 percent in the Young Rider Individual Test and a 70.575 percent in the Young Rider Freestyle.

“My birthday was Wednesday during Week Five, and I couldn’t have asked for a better present!” Creech-Terauds exclaimed. “Fleur always tries so hard everytime she shows. She had great pirouettes and super, expressive changes this weekend. Now that the movements are more confirmed, we’re working on taking more risks in order to gain more expression when performing in the show ring. I’m so proud of this horse, she’s like my best friend.”

In Week Six, Creech and Creech-Terauds showed multiple horses in the national ring at the AGDF. Creech competed Hallmark 3, a 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding (His Highness-Lapislazuly, Laucier), for the first time in 2018, earning great scores in their first Grand Prix competition of the year. They returned in during Week Nine to win their national show Grand Prix with a 69.13 percent and placing second in the Grand Prix Special with a 70.957 percent.

Creech-Terauds had a busy Week Six at the AGDF, where she showed three horses for Leatherdale Farms. Creech-Terauds partnered with her mother’s former Grand Prix mount, Devon L (De Niro-Wibranda, Wolkenstein II), to compete in the U25 Grand Prix. Creech-Terauds and the 18-year-old Hanoverian gelding earned scores up to 66.538 percent.Creech-Terauds also competed Rob Roy, her former junior FEI mount, in the Prix St. Georges and Intermediate I classes. Creech-Terauds and the 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Rubin Royal-SPS Glory Dream, Glorieux) earned a 63.382 percent in the Prix St. Georges and a score of 65 percent in the Intermediate I for second place in both classes.

Creech-Terauds also debuted a new partnership with Harley L, a 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding (His Highness-MS Eileen, Expri). The duo competed in the Young Rider division, in both the Young Rider Team Test and Young Rider Individual Test. In the team test, the pair earned a score of 62.206 percent and earned a score of 66.765 in the individual test.

In Week Eight, the young rider continued to compete Devon L and Rob Roy in the CDI-U25 and CDI-Young Riders, respectfully. Devon L had a fantastic weekend and swept the U25 division winning the FEI U25 Grand Prix with a score of 65.231 percent and winning the FEI U25 Grand Prix Freestyle with a score of 67.8 percent.

With Rob Roy, Creech-Terauds participated in the awards ceremony after all three rides. The duo placed second in the Young Riders Team Test with a score of 68.059 percent, third in the Young Rider Individual Test with a score of 65.098 percent and rounded out the weekend winning the Young Rider Freestyle with a score of 70.9 percent.

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