The latest news from Leatherdale Farms...
Larapinta Orlando, a His Highness son in Australia Shines! We received a lovely email from Janice Usherwood in Australia concerning her HH son "Orlando." "Greetings Louise, Larapinta Orlando attended his first show - the NSW Warmblood Show and was awarded Champion Junior Exhibit. He was beautifully behaved and looked amazing. He becomes more like his sire as he matures and is still just 3 and 7 months. He is working quietly and I will let you know about his first outings under saddle .He is the best horse I have had and everyone who meets him is similarly smitten! Regards Janice" Janice wrote earlier to say that after a 7 month search she found Orlando at the Larapinta Stud in Victoria. He is "calm and very soft and gentle in his character" (sound like HH???!!!) We look forward to further updates on this gelding (Janice has semen frozen of his) in the future. Wow...he looks like his sire HH!
Samara Wins Grand Prix at Monmouth Show! Samara,our Hanoverian Grand Prix jumper under Olympic rider /trainer Anne Kursinski, won the Grand Prix at the big Monmouth NJ show! Anne mentioned Samara was double clear and that there were 7 horses in the final jump off and that Samara was truly FAST! Congratulations to Anne and Samara.
Our black His Highness son scores in NY! News from Diane Creech our Canadian rider/trainer at the big horse show at Saugreties, NY! Hallmark, our His Highness son did his first 4th level and achieved a 70.9%! More news about Hallmark and our Devon L (Grand Prix DeNiro son foaled here in Minnesota)as the competitions continue this weekend.
"Diana" a Damsey daughter wins prestigous mare show! We are very proud to announce that the beautiful "Diana" (Damsey/Brentano II) was co-winner of the huge and prestigous Verden mare show the Herwart von der Decken Schau at the World Breeding Championships for Young Horses in Verden, Germany on August 4th. She is an absolutely beautiful mover with gaits like her sire(yes...even his amazing walk!) She was bred by Charlotte and Anders Gronberg(Denmark) and owned by Christa and Ivar Morck (Denmark.) She is registered Hanoverian and is located now at Hengststation Meyer as Leatherdale Farms bought her! We thank the Morck family for showing this magnificent mare and we look forward to sharing her in updates with all our breeders around the world. But...talk about a small world......Charlotte Gronberg was also the owner of His Highness' grandam, SPS Flic Flac. I think this mare Diana was destined to be with us! We plan to take her very slowly and correctly in her dressage training as we do all our horses. We think she will be a star! Thank you Family Morck for sharing her with us. PS Diana is on the right with green leafy thing around her neck. More photos to follow.
First Dance and Damsey Succeed at Dobrock Show! Susanne and Jens Meyer have written to tell us that Damsey and First Dance did well at the huge competiton(1200 horses!) in Dobrock, Germany this weekend. Damsey did his first Intermediare 1 and placed second. His rider Steffen Framm was really happy with his pirouettes! First Dance won his Dressurferde Kl M class with an 8.4!!! The 'boys" are on the move!
Our sweet Remington L colics and passes. We received this email from Cathy Lane in Canada about our wonderful Remington L: "It is with a very heavy heart that I am sending you this email. Earlier today, we had to put Remy down. I found him early this morning colicing in his stall and we rushed him to Milton. He was operated on but they could not save him. I am so glad that we connected and that you made the effort to come and see him. It meant a lot to us that you cared this much for your horses. Megan loved him to bits and in an odd coincidence, we had planned on videoing him today and sending you the tape so that you could see how well he was doing. In the last couple of months, he absolutely shone and we felt he had a huge career in front of him. He was doing so incrediblely well and you would have been very very proud of him- especially his lengthing and changes - he was really something to see and you would have enjoyed seeing how much he had learned. We will miss him terribly. Best Regards, Cathy Cathy is Megan Lane's mother. Megan is a fine young rider in Canada. we are so sorry for their loss. Remington was an exceptional young horse. I saw him both in Wellington, FL and again this July in Canada where he was showing on a very muddy, rainy day. It was worth the effort to stand in the rain and mud to see this little power house go around the ring. I will miss him very much. Louise
A sunny day in Minnesota and some the mares enjoy a morning in the pasture! I woke up early and looked out the window to see this wonderful sight of some of our mares in the pasture. I wanted to share it with our breeders and other horse friends around the world!
Leatherdale Farms is pleased to announce that our wonderful rider/trainer Sue Blinks is riding our gelding Robin Hood in the final qualifications at Collecting Gaits Farm in New Jersey for the World Equestrian Games. The competition involves the next two weekends of showing to qualify with the top riders and horses representing the US. Sue goes into the competition with qualifying numbers in second place. That in itself has required much talent and ability on the part of both horse and rider to just get to this position. Robbie and Sue, groom Emma and Sue's trusty dog Scout arrived safe and sound in New Jersey traveling from San Diego and we look forward to watching them compete. Robin Hood has come into his own with his extraordinary movement and elegant grace. We are so proud of both Sue and Robin Hood and team Robbie!
Robina Turns Two! We received a lovely email from Irina Kohmann in Germany about her lovely Rob Roy daughter, "Robina." Irina writes: "I sent you my new (not professionel)photos from my horse Robina from Rob Roy.She is 2 years old and a very,very lovely horse. Liebe Grüße von der Ostsee Irina Kohmann" We look forward to further updates on this wonderful young offspring of our Robbie!
News about HH daughter! Reading Eurodressage web site today I came across an article dealing with the World Young Horse Championships in Verden, Germany in August. Astrid says that Guido Bernasconi's 4-year old Hanoverian mare Honeymoon HRH (by His Highness/Wenzel/Absatz) will participate in the Hanoverian Championships. He acquired the mare at the Verden Elite Auction in October 2009. He is a successful breeder living in Breganzona, Ticino, Switzerland. We wish Honeymoon HRH much luck in the championships! Our His Highness son Hallmark qualified to represent Canada for the World young Horse Championships as well this year but we determined it was best to not send him this year and train at home with his GP rider Diane Creech. Diane says he is doing magnificently!!!! He is soooo like his sire! I can imagine Honeymoon HRH is similar. Can't wait to see her! Louise
Look at this Damsey Beauty! As promised, Christina has sent update photos of her beautiful "Delaney" for us to see today! Thanks Christina....I love those ears!
Damsey did it again---a gorgeous Damsey filly is born in Germany! Damsey should be very proud of himself! Today I received yet another wonderful email from Germany telling us about a Damsey offspring that was born on June 28th near Munich, Germany. Here is what her breeder writes to us: "Dear Mrs. and Mr.Leatherdale My name is Christina Mittermaier and I'm from Germany ( near Munich).Last week ( 28th of June ) my mare called Dafina has born a wonderfule filly from your beautiful Damsey. Last year I visited Jens Mayer to see your impressive stallions.I never thought to have such a beautiful filly and I'm very proud right now.For giving you a pleasure I wanted to send you some pictures of Delaney. She's apart from her little white star on her forehead complettly black, totally cheeky and very agile. These pictures show Delaney at the first hour of her life. yours sincerely, Christina Mittermaier I will post more photos as they arrive! Louise
Rob Roy starts the show year off well! Rob Roy succeeded in placing second at the big dressage show in Lesitung, Germany with rider Steffen Framm. He was competing in the 6 year old "M" class. Rob Roy shows dressage talent in his gaits as well as rideability. His offspring are elegant like their sire as we are seeing with our one year old, "Rafferty L" here at Leatherdale Farms in Minnesota! Congratulations to Rob Roy and Steffen!!!
His Highness daughter, Her Highness US shows in Canada. The first born His Highness offspring born in the US (Her Highness US) competed this weekend in Canada at first level and received a 67 and 69 in first level tests there. The judge gave her a 9 on her last center lane! Ridden by long time groom Chris Bacher to our rider Diane Creech the two did a fine job at one of their first shows. Congratulations Chris and Highness!!! We bought HH's mother Delaya at the Verden Elite auction in foal and imported her to Leatherdale Farms. Unfortunately, we lost Delaya several years ago. However, Her Highness US displays all the fine qualities of her sire His Highness and we are glad that Chris has been able to start her in first level shows this year.
His Highness son in Australia wins the heart of his owner! I received a lovely email from HH son owner Janice Usherwood in Australia that once again shows that His Highness really stamped his offspring. Janice wrote that her HH son is named Larapinta Orlando and was bred by Richard Maidment of Larapinto Stud in Australia. Here's more from Janice---"Greetings Louise I was sent your email address by a Natalie Watt who saw a photo of my horse on Facebook and suggested you would be interested. In a word Orlando is gorgeous and so obviously by His Highness - he certainly stamped his children. I bought him from Larapinta Stud in Victoria after a 7 month search. I was looking for a 5/6 year old dressage horse that had been competed a bit as I am getting on in years, but could not resist this beautiful , hardly handled 3yo colt running out in the paddock! ( Birthday 27-12-06) That was last December. I kept him at home for 2 months and handled him and he had no nip, kick or coltish behaviour- he is calm and very soft and gentle in his character . He was easy to load onto float or truck and so relaxed when stabled. I chose the man I regard as the best in Australia to break him to saddle ( no force or excitement), and a man who appreciated his softness. Now he is home and I'm riding a relaxed and lovely horse who will be taken at his own pace . I have trained several horses to Grand Prix and am aware that the natural balance and trainability of this one is way above average so will keep myself under control and not hurry things. I decide to geld him as breeding is no longer my interest but collected a lot of semen before I did so because so many people are interested in him. Also, he now can have a happy life in a paddock with a friend and walk in stable. His dam is by Metall and her dam is by Olympic Concorde out of a very good TB showjumper. I have attached some photos for you . Hoping this is of interest Regards Janice Usherwood
New Photos of Damsey-Brentina Colt! Debby McDonald has posted new photos of little Dillinger for us! He recently had hernia surgery but once healed more photos to come. It looks like he is in the "bandito" stage with his little eyes and nose starting to shed. I think he will be a deep chocolate brown like Damsey.
Damsey did it again! A a huge show at Bargstedt, Germany, Leatherdale Farms Damsey won in "S" class/PSG with a score of 70.33. Go Damsey!!!! Congratulations to rider Steffen Framm.
She's grown! His Highness daughter" Maggie" in Australia is growing up! For those who have followed little Maggie's progress over the past 2 years here is what Natalie sent from NSW this morning! "Hi Louse, Hope you and Doug have been well. Just thought I would send you some updated photo's of Maggie. She is so fantastic and I love her to bits. Hopefully will be putting the same mare to Hinie this breeding season. She is now rising 2. How the time fly's. They are just paddock shoots. Not too flash but I just wanted you to see that she is going well. Take care and will always keep in touch. Natalie Watt
It was a good day today in Montreal for Leatherdale Farms horses! News from both our riders Sue Blinks and Diane Creech at the CDI in Blainville, Montreal! Robin Hood won the GP Special this afternoon there and Hallmark our His Highness son won handily the 6 year old FEI with 85%! Hallmark received a 9 for his walk and no score lower than 8.3 for his other marks! Devon L goes tomorrow in the free style. (Hopefully the same air hammers being used on Friday to roof a nearby house will not be generating high flying movements for the horses tomorrowas it did to spook them in the GP!) Ah, life with horses.... Congratulations to Sue and Diane!!!
First Song, a filly by First Dance is proudly born! Wonderful news from breeders Ross and Claudia in Pennsylvania! Their beautiful Sandro Hit mare Stellar Hit MF gave birth to a lovely First Dance filly. Here is what Ross writes: "As promised, here are a few additional pictures of our Melody. She is such a sweet little filly, a leggy little girl... First Dance is definitely a trot maker, as he improved her trot, as well as some confirmation improvements! We are so happy with her and will be taking her to the American Hanoverian Society inspection next month. I will take some more pictures and update you after the show. You are more than welcome to use any pictures or information for your website, and thank you so much for allowing us to finally welcome a First Dance foal! Look forward to talking to you sometime in the near future. Take care! Regards, Ross " Updates to follow! Louise
