92 SIDELINES JANUARY 2013
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
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By Lauren R. Giannini
Marriage made in horse heaven pretty much describes
Louise and Doug Leatherdale’s partnership, both personal and
professional. Their shared passion for horses has evolved into a
blossoming international program to breed and compete frst class
dressage horses. Leatherdale Farms’ equine progeny has been
making its mark in the international horse world for several years.
The Leatherdales’ West Coast rider Sue Blinks and Robin
Hood made it to the fnals of the United States dressage team
selection trials for the London Olympics. Diane Creech, from
Canada, partnered with Devon L to take the frst reserve spot on
the Canadian dressage team for London.
“We owe a lot of our success to His Highness – his offspring
are all over the world,” said Louise. “In his frst year Highness
bred over 600 mares, some of the best around the world. He was
exceptional. We have a mostly female (rider) market in the US
and around the world. Some may only ride on weekends. We hear
from women in England and Australia, telling us how much they
love their horse. His Highness stamped his get with temperament
and rideability. His offspring are dressage horses and quite a few
become hunters.”
His Highness earned the distinction of being the “horse
of a lifetime” for the Leatherdales. Highness (2000) was the
Hanoverian licensing grand champion in 2002, champion of the
stallion test at Prussendorf at three, and champion of the four-
year-old dressage stallions at the Danish licensing at fve. With
Klaus Balkenhol overseeing his training, the colt’s rideability frst
manifested itself at age two and a half when he was started under
saddle by Susanne Meyer.
“We bought and named His Highness in 2002 at Verden: he
was the most magnifcent stallion we’d ever seen,” said Louise.
“We felt like we had a rock-star son – his pictures were all over
Germany.”
About fve years ago His Highness suffered a tragic accident and
had to be euthanized, but his legacy lives on with many illustrious
outcroppings. In February 2012 His Highness’s daughter SPS
Helena gave birth to a colt sired by Totilas. The Leatherdales
have a limited supply of His Highness’s frozen semen, which is
available only to select mares.
Labor of Love
Leatherdale Farms consists of several entities. Louise and Doug
make their home at their picturesque and beautifully appointed
farm about 20 minutes west of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Sue Blinks,
an Olympian and one of the top grand prix competitors in the USA,
is their rider at Leatherdale West in Santa Cruz, California. Diane
Creech was born in the USA but grew up in Germany where she
embarked on her dressage career: she visited Canada on a “see
the world” trip and opted to stay. Diane’s training business is
based in Ontario. Then, there is their European operation in the
heart of the Hanoverian hub.
The Leatherdales stand seven rated stallions, includingDamsey,
First Dance and Rob Roy, in northern Germany at Hengststation
with Jens and Susanne Meyer. Damsey (2002, Dressage Royal
out of Ria Grande) who boasts genetic legacies from Donnerhall,
Rubinstein, Ramiro and Grande, has been proving himself a top
performance horse in his outings on the European circuit with
Steffen Frahm. Damsey was one of 15 young horses selected for
the short grand prix at the year-end fnals in the Louisdor-Preises
in Frankfurt last month
Love Story
Leatherdale Farms started with Doug who owned broodmares
The late His Highness. The stallion stamped his get with
temperament and rideability. His offspring have become
dressage horses and hunters.
Photo courtesy of Leatherdale Farms
Leatherdale stallion Damsey with his daughter Diana, who won
the Championship Mare Show in Verden Germany at the World
Breeding Championships.
Photo by Kiki Beelitz
Continued on page 94