Leatherdale Farm Performance Horses Rack Up Six Wins at Dressage at Devon 2021

Devon, Pa. – Oct. 11, 2021 – With Canadian mother-daughter duo Diane Creech and Vanessa Creech-Terauds, Leatherdale Farms performance horses Chrevi’s Christo (Chrevis Cavallo x Chrevis La VI — Matador), Robbie W (Rubin Royal x Rolling Home), and Fleur de Lis L (First Dance x EM De La Rosa — De Niro) made the trip to the iconic Dixon Oval in Devon, Pennsylvania, for the 2021 Dressage at Devon competition. The talented pairs dominated their respective divisions at the historic show, winning each of their entered classes over the weekend to reach a tally of six total blue ribbons.

Diane Creech and Chrevi’s Christo. Photo by Stacy Lynne Equine Photography.

In their first CDI outing since the conclusion of the Wellington’s Adequan Global Dressage Festival in April, Chrevi’s Christo, an 18-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by Louise Leatherdale and Creech, took to the ring Friday to kick off the Grand Prix CDI3* competition with Creech in the saddle. The pair secured their first win in the Grand Prix to qualify for the Grand Prix Special with a score of 68.761%, earning high marks for their expressive piaffe and passage, smooth transitions, tempi changes and accurate halts.

Returning to the Dixon Oval on Saturday evening under the stadium lights, Chrevi’s Christo and longtime rider Creech also topped the leaderboard in the CDI3* Grand Prix Special, improving upon their Friday performance with a score of 69.659%. Receiving a score of 8.5 for their entrance, as well as numerous scores of 8 for their one and two tempi changes, canter half-passes and final halt, the combination ended their class schedule in Devon on a high note Saturday night.

“It truly was an exciting weekend to be able to have a perfect show,” Creech said. “Six out of six does not happen too often! We are celebrating the moment. As we all know, horses keep us humble. You are only as good as your last ride. So right now this feels very good.”

Robbie W and Diane Creech. Photo by Stacy Lynne Equine Photography.

Creech also piloted Robbie W, an 18-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by Leatherdale and Creech, to a first place finish in Friday’s FEI Test of Choice class with a score of 68.152%. The horse-and-rider combination was awarded the blue ribbon in the Test of Choice class on Thursday as well with a score of 66.466%, but returned on Friday to improve upon their score and snag their second win of the week.

In the CDI Under-25 Grand Prix, Fleur de Lis L, a 12-year-old Hanoverian mare owned by Creech and Leatherdale, made a clean sweep of the division with Creech’s daughter Vanessa Creech-Terauds. The pair has had an illustrious career thus far, first building their foundation in the junior rider division in 2016, and moving all the way up to the U25 Grand Prix division just last year. Earlier in the spring, Fleur de Lis L and Creech-Terauds represented Canada in the Wellington Nations Cup where they earned a team gold medal. The pair most recently topped the CDI U25 division at Caledon Dressage in Rockwood, Ontario.

Vanessa Creech-Terauds and Fleur de Lis L. Photo by Purple Horse Designs.

They kicked off the week on Friday with a victory in the Intermediate II 16-25 test, earning a score of 67.147% with consistent marks given by the judges for their extended and collected gaits, flying changes, halts, and general impression. In the following day’s Grand Prix 16-25 test, Fleur de Lis L and Creech-Terauds took first place once again with a score of 65.897% to close out their weekend.

“Chrevi’s Christo and Robbie W felt so focused, and Vanessa with Fleur de Lis L looked fantastic,” Creech explained. “Dressage at Devon is a very special show. It was great to have the stands filled again and the crowd made the night riding light up. We are very grateful, that the Devon Horse Show continued their tradition even during Covid time.

“Mrs. Louise Leatherdale was very pleased to hear all about her boys’ and girl’s success,” she concluded. “We were very happy to share this weekend with her!”

Leatherdale Farm’s Hallmark By His Highness Retired From High-Performance Competition

Long Lake, Minn. – April 27, 2021 – The moment Hallmark joined the Leatherdale Farm family as a foal, the bold, beautiful and black colt by His Highness stole everyone's heart. Growing up at Hengststation Meyer in Dorum, Germany, Hallmark (His Highness-SPS Lapislazuly, Lancier) spent the first few years of his life frolicking in the field with Leatherdale Farm's Hampton and a few other His Highness progeny.

As a 4-year-old he was sent to begin his training with Canadian Grand Prix trainer Diane Creech, and Hallmark competed up through the Young Horse divisions and made his FEI debut with Creech in 2012. Following a wonderful international career over a 9-year-span with both Creech and her daughter, Leatherdale Farms announces the retirement of their 17-year-old Hanoverian gelding Hallmark from high-performance competition.

“Hallmark was one of our “originals” and I trained him all the way from the 4-Year-Old Young Horse classes, progressing into the 5-Year-Old and 6-Year-Old classes up to the highest Grand Prix level,” Diane Creech said. “The journey together with him was sometimes a little more exciting than asked for, but he is smart, willing to work and had a great presence in the show ring. Being an offspring of Leatherdale’s stallion His Highness, we always knew he was special. He proved it many times earning top placings at all the prestigious shows in North America.”

In 2018, Creech and Hallmark placed second in the CDI3* Grand Prix at Dressage at Devon and went on to win the CDI3* Grand Prix Special. The following year, Hallmark found his new calling, teaching Creech’s daughter, Vanessa Creech-Terauds the ropes of the Grand Prix. Creech-Terauds formed a powerful partnership with the gelding, who took her down several CDIU25 Grand Prixs and two Nations Cup. Together, they also achieved a 70% and a win in her open Grand Prix debut.

“In the two years that Hallmark and I were given the opportunity to grow a partnership together, I learned how such a big and powerful horse can require sensitive and correct riding,” Creech-Terauds explained. “When I used to work with Hallmark around the barn while my mom was riding him, he always had a very big personality. He was never shy to give you a nudge with his strong nose and gave off a very “tough guy” vibe. Once I started riding him, I saw what a thoughtful horse he really is. All of my aids had to be tactful and perfectly timed, which helped me take the next step in my education of the Grand Prix work. We grew together, helping me gain more confidence in the U25 and even took the big leap into the open Grand Prix. I will always be thankful to Louise Leatherdale, my mom and Hallmark for giving me the chance to develop this bond with such a special horse.”

Together, Creech-Terauds and Hallmark won multiple CDI-U25 Grand Prixs, including at Dressage at Devon and the Adequan Global Dressage Festival, as well as swept the division at the Gold Coast Dressage Association’s CDI in 2020.

While they will greatly miss competing Hallmark, the team at Leatherdale Farms in Minnesota have welcomed him with open arms as he settles into his retirement.

“We will always be grateful to Mrs. Louise Leatherdale and her late husband Doug for making this possible,” Creech said. “Hallmark has now gone home to Leatherdale Farms to enjoy his retirement, make new friends and charm them up for lots of treats. He will always be in our hearts!”

Leatherdale Farms’ 2020 World Ranking List No. 1 Hanoverian Dressage Horse & Stallion Damsey FRH Retires From Top Sport After Placing Second in Doha CDI5*

Doha, Qatar – Feb. 27, 2021 – Following the Grand Prix Freestyle at the CDI5* Al Shaqab in Doha, Qatar, on Feb. 27, Damsey FRH’s owners Louise Leatherdale, Susanne Meyer and his rider Helen Langehanenberg retired the world-class stallion in an emotional ceremony. At the age of 19 years-old, Damsey is as fit and healthy as ever, and closed out his career with a performance in Doha that earned an impressive score of 82.05% and second place in the CDI5* Grand Prix Freestyle.

Helen Langehanenberg and Damsey FRH at CDI5* Al Shaqab. Photo by In2Strides.

“I could not be more proud of Damsey FRH and Helen Langehanenberg for all they have accomplished together,” Louise Leatherdale, owner of Leatherdale Farms, stated. “He is a once in a lifetime horse, and has made his mark on history as a competitor and stallion time and time again. Keeping him healthy, happy and fit is always our top priority!”

Damsey FRH with Louise and Doug Leatherdale

Damsey FRH’s achievements both in and out of the arena are innumerable. As a youngster Damsey was a premium stallion at his Hanoverian licensing and finished his 30-day-test in Adelheidsdorf in 2005 with the rideability top score of 9.25. He was also champion at the 2006 and 2009 Danish stallion licensing in Herning. After winning a series of young horses dressage classes and being a two-time finalist of the Bundeschampionat he was nominated for the World Breeding Dressage Championships in Verden in 2008.

Damsey FRH first got his start in the international arena with rider Steffen Frahm in 2013. After Louise Leatherdale and her late husband Doug acquired Damsey FRH and made him a new home at Hengststation Jens Meyer, Langehanenberg was given the ride on Damsey, and the stallion’s talents blossomed from there. 

With Langehanenberg, he climbed the FEI Dressage World Ranking list to reach the third highest standing in the world and consistently stayed in the Top 10 throughout his career. The pair helped Germany earn gold in the Aachen CDIO5* Nations Cup in both 2018 and 2019, and finished with the bronze medal at the 2019 FEI Dressage World Cup Finals in Gothenburg, Sweden. Competing across Europe with great success since 2016, Langehanenberg and Damsey FRH have always been a captivating crowd favorite wherever they set foot. 

Although the trials of 2020 caused competitions around the world to be put on hold, Damsey FRH racked up impressive scores in World Cup Qualifying competitions with Langehanenberg, securing him top placements on the 2020 World Ranking List of the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH). On the prestigious ranking list against the best horses in the world, Damsey FRH (Dressage Royal—Ria Grande, Ritual) was named the No. 1 Hanoverian Dressage Horse, as well as the No. 1 Hanoverian Dressage Stallion for the year. 

Most recently, Damsey FRH and Langehanenberg were unstoppable in European competition throughout 2020. The pair was awarded a score of 84.38% for their freestyle performance in Amsterdam’s CDI-W in January, an 85.22% for their freestyle in Neumunster in February, and returned from the break in competition to earn 83.865% for the freestyle in Mariakalnok in June. In October, Damsey FRH and Langehanenberg earned 82.105% for their freestyle in Vilhelmsborg, Denmark. All of their competitions in 2020 offered FEI World Cup qualifying points and their impressive scores moved Damsey FRH the top of the WBFSH ranking list.

Helen Langehanenberg and Damsey FRH at CDI5* Al Shaqab. Photo by In2Strides.

Outside of his career as a Grand Prix dressage competitor, Damsey FRH has made a mark on the breeding world with world-class progeny around the world. At the 2010 Herwart-von-der-Decken-Show, he drew attention to himself with his first offspring crop, siring the overall winner. From Young Horse division winners to international Grand Prix sons and daughters, owners are thrilled by the rideability, elegance and work ethic of his offspring. He continues to sire impressive offspring, and will return to Hengststation Jens Meyer in Dorum, Germany, to stand at stud and enjoy his fruitful retirement.

His rider, Helen Langehanenberg, reflected on their partnership and said the following of Damsey’s retirement. 

“Even though we've been considering when and where to retire Damsey, the decision for it to take place in Doha was quite spontaneous. It would have been nicer and certainly preferred to do this in Germany in front of ′′his′′ audience, but in times of coronavirus, his owner Louise Leatherdale, his co-owner Susanne Meyer and I agreed that it simply cannot be planned. 

“He’s in top shape with so much power. He still is so happy to show because he loves when everything revolves around him,” Langehanenberg laughed. “Though the papers say 19, there is no 19-year-old stallion in front of us, which is why we want to leave the backdoor open to ourselves and Damsey – maybe we'll show him again at a show or two this year if it fits.” 

Damsey came to my stable in 2016 and I can say that it never got boring during my time with him. He was and always is good for a surprise. Just like at the 2019 World Cup Final in Gothenburg, where we came on the final line with jet drive and greeted the chief judge's table. With our personal best of 86.572%, we became third [in the world] at the time. Damsey is a very special horse with an absolutely brilliant charisma and remarkable character. I learned a tremendous amount from him. He gives me everything.”