Diane Creech Birthplace: Columbus, Georgia    Stable:   Creech Farm Hometown:   Caistor Centre, Ontario    Coach:  Lars Peterson Diane Creech was born in the United States but moved to Germany at the age of five. She began riding as a teenager when, as a reward for taking care of his animals, Diane took a veterinarian's horses out for rides in the country. After four years of "doing time" in business management, Diane decided to fulfill her dream of working with horses and spent the next three years apprenticing for her German Bereiter. On Christmas Eve in 1989, Diane arrived in Canada in her quest to "see the world" but never left, instead establishing herself as a dressage trainer. Her business is based at the farm of Ferdinand and Anita Haupt in Hagersville, Ontario, who import and breed Hanoverians. Diane competes several quality horses owned by Doug and Louise Leatherdale of Leatherdale Farms, based in Minnesota. Their partnership was struck at a horse auction when Doug (a Canadian) purchased a mare that Diane had been training. Impressed by the quality of the horse's training, Doug left the mare in Diane's care. Soon after, he purchased the mare's full-sister, Wiona, that Diane brought up through the levels and began showing at Intermediaire in 2005. Diane describes Wiona as very bold and says she carries her emotions on her sleeve, letting you know immediately how she feels. Diane and Wiona represented Canada at the Pan American Games in Brazil and now Wiona is doing Grand Prix under the training of Lars Peterson. Diane also carries high hopes for yet another chestnut Hannoverian, this one a gelding named Devon L. Bred at Leatherdale Farms, Devon L is by De Niro by Donnerhall and out of a Wolkenstein II dam. Devon L is good looking and has great movement, including a phenomenal canter. After earning the 2005 Canadian FEI Five-Year-Old Championship title, he started the 2006 season with wins in the Six-Year-Old Division in Florida. In August 2006, the pair was selected to represent Canada at the 2006 World Young Horse Breeding Championships in Verden, Germany. The trip, which included other shows and training with Canadian coach Norbert van Laak, marked Diane's first visit to Germany since she left in 1989. Wintering in Wellington FL, Diane is competing at GP with Wiona and Devon L and at PSG and I1 with Hallmark (His Highness) and Robby W along with Chrevis Christo at 4th level in 2011.

Diane Creech and Robby W at Selections for Pan American Canadian Team! Birthplace:     Stable:   Hometown:       Coach:

Helena Espinosa Birthplace: Minnesota    Stable:   Leatherdale Farms Hometown:   Long Lake, MN    Coach:  Debby McDonald Helena is a native of Minnesota where she is the trainer at Leatherdale Farms in Long Lake. She is based in Minneapolis and winters in California with a select group of Leatherdale horses. This allows her to compete on the west coast and train with Debby McDonald. This year she is riding the Dutch mares Rifradin (Rif)at Grand Prix and Uvertje Ruta (Uti)at Prix St. Georg and I1. Helena began riding with Marianne Ludwig who was a great influence in her life. But college and pursuing a professional career interrupted her riding. She has a Masters Degree in Architecture from Princeton University and worked as an architect and Design Teacher at the University of Minnesota. Her focus on riding returned with the opportunity to be a working student for Sue Blinks, then later with Steffen Peters and Lynda Cameron. With Lynda she spent a year in England at Kyra Kirkland's barn where Lynda provided her with a horse and chance to train with Kyra. Other work opportunities also allowed her to train with Michael Barisone and Lars Peterson and riding and training again with Sue Blinks. Helena said at Gladstone (2010)..."The chance to work for Doug and Louise Leatherdale has really changed my life. Their support has allowed me to continue to grow as a rider and horseman and reinvest it back in their farm. When I was 14, I rode in my first horse show at their farm in Minnesota. Sharing that history, makes being at Gladstone with them and their horse all the more exciting."

Sue Blinks Birthplace:     Stable:   Leatherdale Farms West-Rancho Santa Fe, CA Hometown:       Coach:  Morten Thomsen-Denmark