Leatherdale Farms Supports U.S. Breed Organizations with Damsey FRH, E.H. Herzensdieb and First Dance Breeding Donations for 2021 Auctions

Union, Ky. ­– Feb. 4, 2021 ­– For the fifth consecutive year, Leatherdale Farms is proud to continue supporting the growth of sport horse breeding in the United States by donating stallion breeding and booking fees to three breed organizations. The fees for the Leatherdale Farm stallions will act as a fundraiser during the American Hanoverian Society, the American Trakehner Association and the New England Dressage Association 2021 auctions. For the auctions this year, Leatherdale Farms donated breeding opportunities for two of their most accomplished stallions based in the U.S. – E.H. Herzensdieb and First Dance, as well as Damsey FRH, the No. 1 Hanoverian Dressage Stallion for 2020.

“It is an honor to once again donate to the stallion service auctions this year,” said Louise Leatherdale. “Now more than ever it is important to support American breeders and bred organizations as we all are striving to increase the amount of high-quality sport horses available for U.S. riders.”

The American Hanoverian Society Stallion Service Auction took place online Jan. 22-31. Of the 39 stallion services offered at the auction, Leatherdale Farms’ very own Damsey FRH, E.H. Herzensdieb and First Dance were at the top of the list. All three stallions have a long list of achievements to their name and have produced countless accomplished offspring who are excelling up to Grand Prix. The winner of the bid for the choice of breeding to either E.H. Herzensdieb or First Dance chose First Dance for her Hanoverian Inspection Champion Mare by Decaprio.

The American Trakehner Association (ATA) will be offering a great lineup of stallion services from Feb. 1-14. The auction registration will take place through the ATA’s website. Proceeds from the auction will go toward the promotion of the Trakehner in the U.S. and benefit Trakehner breeders, mare owners and stallion owners. All foals resulting from the stallion service auction will be eligible for the ATA Awards programs. Breeding to Leatherdale Farms’ E.H. Herzensdieb is up for grabs at this year’s auction. The noteworthy stallion was honored with the Elite Hengst (E.H.) title by the Trakehner Verband and was champion at his Trakehner licensing in Nuemünster, Germany. To learn more and to place a bid click here.

The Trakehner Association of North America (TANA) is hosting their Stallion Service Auction online Feb. 7 - 20. Participants will have the opportunity to bid on a breeding to E.H. Herzensdieb, the Trakehner stallion who finished his stallion performance test as reserve champion. Once the 2021 auction has been added to the organization's website, you can place a bid here.

The New England Dressage Association (NEDA) Stallion Service Auction begins January 18 and ends February 16. The auction will take place on NEDA’s website and will raise funds for the $5400 Breeder's Futurity, $2400 Born in America, and 3-Year-Old Prospect Award at the NEDA Breed Show and North East Series Breeders Finals. This is a great opportunity to purchase a breeding to either E.H. Herzensdieb or First Dance. To learn more and to place a bid for either E.H. Herzensdieb or First Dance click here.

The Oldenburg Horse Breeders’ Society’s (GOV) Stallion Service Auction will run through February. A breeding to the 2020 No. 1 World Ranked Hanoverian Dressage Horse Damsey FRH will be available for bidding. All proceeds from the auction will support the North American awards programs of the Oldenburg Horse Breeders’ Society and Weser-Ems Pony Registry (WE).

If you have any questions regarding breeding to the Leatherdale Farms stallions, please contact Barbara Schmidt DVM at her office (859) 485-6000 or email at bschmidtdvm@fuse.net.

Leatherdale Farms Proudly Sponsors American Hanoverian Society’s 8th Annual Yearling and Two-Year-Old Futurity

Lexington, KY. – Sept. 2, 2020 – Leatherdale Farms is proud to partner with the American Hanoverian Society to sponsor prize money for their 8th Annual AHS Yearling and Two-Year-Old Futurity during their inspection tour! Dedicated to providing breeders world-class Hanoverian stallions with both classic and modern bloodlines, Leatherdale Farms is passionate about high-quality sport horses in the United States.

“The AHS is thrilled to have Leatherdale Farms sponsor the 8th Annual Nationwide AHS Futurity and we are grateful for Louise [Leatherdale]’s generous support of the Hanoverian/Rhineland horse,” said Edgar Schutte, the President of the American Hanoverian Society. “Our futurity has become very popular with our members. With uncertainty about many things due to COVID-19, the AHS is fortunately able to be one of the few registries conducting inspections. It is magnificent to continue to offer this prize money to the top 5 placings nationwide. Leatherdale Farms generous sponsorship will be appreciated by many.”

Founded by Schutte in 2012, the AHS Yearling and Two-Year-Old Futurity is judged using a scale from 1-10 with three categories: Conformation/Type, Movement, Foundation/Legs. With a total of $3,000 available, participants of AHS’ Futurity classes will have the opportunity to win prize money in each of the divisions offered. If interested in participating, the inspection tour schedule for the remainder of the year is located below and check here for the most up to date details. COVID-19 precautions will be implemented at each host site with masks and social distancing required at each event. Please contact the individual host site as they may implement further safety procedures.

For more information on this year’s inspection tour, please click here or call call the AHS office at 859-255-4141. For more information on the AHS or to learn more about Hanoverian horses in North America, please visit their website.

Leatherdale Farms and Olympian Sue Blinks’ International Grand Prix Mount Robin Hood Passes Away

Wellington, Fla. – June 3, 2020 – It is with great sadness that Leatherdale Farms and Olympian Sue Blinks announce the passing of 22-year-old KWPN gelding Robin Hood, the 2003 Pavo Cup winner and Blinks’ international Grand Prix mount.

Bred by T. van den Berg in The Netherlands, the liver chestnut gelding affectionately called Robbie was originally owned by Eugene and Annebeth Reesink-Brouwer. Sired by Jazz, Robin Hood (Jazz-Lionne, Zep) earned a 9.5 for his rideability in the 5-Year-Old Finals of the Pavo Cup, and ultimately reigned supreme over the 2003 Reserve World Champion Hilltop Rousseau.

“Robbie was owned by very good friends of mine and their original plan was for him to be ridden by Annebeth,” Blinks explained. “I would help her train him while I was based in Europe for the summers competing with Flim Flam. He was exceptionally talented and we discussed that when he needed the next step in his training, I would pick up the ride on him to develop him into a Grand Prix horse.”

Following his success at the Pavo Cup with Judith Ribbels, Blinks formed a partnership with Louise and Doug Leatherdale to purchase the gelding. In the summer of 2004, Robin Hood was imported into the U.S. as a 6-year-old to further his development with Blinks.

“He was by far the smartest horse I ever trained and he learned new concepts really quickly,” Blinks recalled. “He had a hot athleticism paired with a really can-do attitude. He never passed judgment and always seemed to say “Ok! Let’s go!” in a total fulfillment of what he believed he was asked to do. I was very lucky.”

Though he was quite reactive and sensitive to his environment, Robin Hood made his international Grand Prix debut as a 9-year-old at the CDI-W in Pebble Beach, California.

“He always performed with a great sense of humor – I had so much respect for his character,” she said. “He didn’t have a weak link but piaffe and passage were his favorite and he could perform super pirouettes. He was so expressive and cat-like – he was able to extend and collect with such ease.”

When looking back at her career with Robin Hood, the show with the fondest memories together was a CDI3* in Del Mar, California. Though the pair’s top three result happened to be a favorable outcome, Robin Hood’s quintessential antics in the ring is what made Blinks smile.

“A mother is overly proud and positive of their horse, but he was quirky and sometimes unreliable in the ring. While many judges rewarded his expression and enjoyed how his character came out in his work, others felt he was tense and unconcentrated,” Blinks explained. “At the Del Mar show, our Grand Prix Special was quite good, but when we were walking toward the transition to piaffe on the centerline he squealed as he picked up a beautiful piaffe. I remember Stephen Clarke was the judge at C and he laughed and was so positive about it. Robbie brought such joy to his work – I loved that quality about him and it kept me on my toes.”

Together, Blinks and Robin Hood racked up quite a few top Grand Prix placings and wins in CDI Grand Prix classes in California, Quebec and Ontario. Blinks also campaigned the gelding in Germany and Luxembourg and qualified for the U.S. Festival of Champions and Olympic selection trials in Gladstone, New Jersey.

“He was such a partner and he was so giving with his energy and work ethic, more so than any other horse I’d ridden,” she said. “I really felt like I was walking around the world with the best partner and we did it together. That is very special. For me, that was a very joyful way to ride.”

Though he was aloof around other horses, he begged for attention for his rider and caretakers, enjoying baths and his grooming sessions. “I cherish the moments I would sit outside the door of his stall with his door open while he’d supervise my rolling of polo wraps – we were simply enjoying our time together in the barn,” Blinks said fondly.

Blinks and Robin Hood rode down centerline for the last time together in 2013, but the special gelding had more in store to become a much-loved schoolmaster to Molly O’Brien, an FEI Junior and Young Rider in Blinks’ program.

“He loved his job right up until the end and he was a generous teacher!” Blinks said. “Molly is a talented rider who started working for me and has enjoyed the opportunity to ride Robbie for three years. She was able to learn and get experience riding all the Grand Prix movements. She was his ‘little girl’!”

A significant influence on Blinks, Robin Hood and her partnership with Leatherdale Farms afforded her opportunities to expand her international Grand Prix career.

“The Leatherdales were so supportive of my time with Robbie and there is not another owner in the world like Louise,” she concluded. “She trusted my decisions on what I thought was right for the horse and she always wanted to provide the best care for Robbie.”

“In the peak of his career, when we were flying to Europe for Nations Cups and flying to Canada for Olympic selection points and also Gladstone for the selection trials of the 2010 World Equestrian Games and 2012 Olympic Games, I couldn’t afford to do those things without the Leatherdales. I think he flew 23 times in his life! Even in his retirement, Louise was incredible in supporting his care in the manner he deserved. I will forever be grateful and I know Robbie was too!”