Leatherdale Farms' Fleur de Lis L Wins Two Silver Medals at NAJRC with Vanessa Creech-Terauds
/Parker, Colo. – August 2, 2016 – Leatherdale Farms’ Fleur de Lis L (First Dance-EM De La Rosa, De Niro) and Canadian youth competitor Vanessa Creech-Terauds represented the Canadian Junior Team with standout rides at the 2016 Adequan®/FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) presented by Gotham North at the Colorado Horse Park.
Creech-Terauds, 16, daughter of Canadian Grand Prix competitor Diane Creech, picked up the ride on Fleur de Lis L earlier this year with the goal of competing at NAJYRC. The 7-year- old Hanoverian mare was started by Mike Suchanek, young horse trainer at Leatherdale Farms’ base in Minnesota. With Suchanek in the irons, she won the Second Level Open Championship at the
2015 U.S. Dressage Finals as well as the Training Level Open Reserve Championship at the 2014 Finals.
“Fleur is one of Louise Leatherdale’s is talented youngsters,” Creech-Terauds explained. “Mike Suchanek gave her such a great start, so I was able to build on that. I am so grateful to Louise for giving me this opportunity!”
In Thursday’s Junior Team test, Creech-Terauds and Fleur faced off against competitors from across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, earning a 68.757 percent that proved to be the highest mark of the day. On the following days they continued to impress the judges with their fluid tests. The pair won individual silver medals for both their Junior Individual test, scoring a 70.184 percent, and their Junior Freestyle, scoring a 70.55 percent.
“I was super happy with Fleur!” Creech-Terauds said. “We had three solid, clean and consistent tests, so I was able to ride confidently and take some risks. She has a great work ethic and always tries her best. Fleur is such a great show mare and clearly knows her job in the ring.”
This year marks the third time Creech-Terauds has represented Canada at the prestigious international youth championship. In previous years, she won team gold and silver medals, so she was thrilled to have made it onto the individual podium in 2016.
“Standing on the podium made me feel so proud, knowing that Fleur and I did it,” Creech-Terauds said. “This show strengthened my partnership with Fleur, as representing Canada does add more pressure. By trusting each other we were able to perform really well together. I am very excited for the future with Fleur!”
Louise Leatherdale noted, “I couldn’t be more proud of Vanessa and all she has accomplished with Fleur de Lis L this year.”
Diane Creech was proud of her daughter for her confidence in taking calculated risks in her tests,especially since was one of the youngest riders at NAJRC and Fleur was the youngest horse.
“I am very grateful to Louise Leatherdale for sponsoring Vanessa and helping her live her passion and have her dreams come true!” Creech said. “Although Fleur and Vanessa have not worked that long together, they already have built a strong bond. It will be awesome to watch them in the future.”
