Leatherdale Farms Hanoverians Take Home Five Blue Ribbons at Dressage at Devon

Devon, Pa. - Oct. 5, 2018 -  The Canadian-based team of Leatherdale Farms, Diane Creech and her daughter Vanessa Creech-Terauds, had a standout week winning five CDI classes with three of Leatherdale Farms' upper-level Hanoverians at the prestigious Dressage at Devon in Pennsylvania. 

On Friday, Sept. 28, Creech headed down centerline with Hallmark (His Highness-SPS Lapislazuly, Lancier), a 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding, in the big tour. In their CDI3* Grand Prix class, the pair placed second and improved the next day to win the CDI3* Grand Prix Special with a 65.936 percent. 

"I was very proud of Hallmark as it was his first time showing under the lights," Creech explained. "He also had not been in a show ring since competing at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival in Florida. During our first ride, he was a little unsure and stayed behind my leg, but the second test was so much better as he gained more confidence."

Diane Creech and Hallmark

Riding another His Highness progeny, Creech-Terauds swept both of the CDI Young Rider classes aboard Harley L (His Highness-MS Eileen, Espri), a 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding. The pair are a relatively new partnership, but have experienced great success together thus far, representing Ontario well at the Adequan/FEI North American Youth Championships over the summer. Harley L won both of his classes with a score of 68.775 percent in the Young Rider Team test and a 68.971 percent in the Young Rider Individual test.

Vanessa Creech-Terauds and Harley L

"I am so excited with how well Harley L performed at Dressage at Devon!" Creech-Terauds said. "He gave me two very beautiful and fluent tests, and handled the pressure of the big Dixon Oval like a champ. Being his first year competing at the FEI Young Rider level, I am extremely proud of the progress we have made as a team together and am looking forward to the upcoming Florida season."

"The performances by both Hallmark and Harley L over the weekend demonstrates the high performance quality and great temperament His Highness passes on to his offsprings," Creech explained. "I have spoken to many owners of his progeny and while they may buy them with the intention to sell, after a short time, they decide they can't let go and end up keeping them for life. Like having jewels, you do not want to let go because they are so very special."

Continuing the success for Leatherdale Farms, Creech-Terauds also rode the 18-year-old Hanoverian gelding Devon L (De Niro-EM Wibranda, Wolkenstein II) in the CDI U25 Grand Prix division. Both of her mounts, Harley L and Devon L, were born at Leatherdale Farms in Long Lake, Minnesota. While the talented chestnut has many CDI Grand Prix wins with her mother, Creech-Terauds used the opportunity to gain Grand Prix experience under Devon L's tutelage. While competing in the Dixon Oval, the duo topped the leaderboard in both of their CDI classes with a 66.647 percent in their Intermediate II and a 65.128 percent in the U25 Grand Prix. 

Vanessa Creech-Terauds and Devon L

"Devon L once again showed us that age is only a number and he is still a force to be reckoned with," Creech-Terauds said. "He went into the ring confidently and enthusiastically and we were able to ride two really nice tests. I always enjoy riding and learning from such an experienced horse like him, as well as enjoy spending time with his bold and loving personality." 

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

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.

Leatherdale Farms Concludes Successful Wellington Season

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.

Vanessa Creech-Terauds and Rob Roy

“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.

Diane Creech and Chrevi's Christo 

“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.

Diane Creech and Hallmark 3

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.