Louise Leatherdale and Diane Creech with Chrevis Christo. PHOTO BY MARY ADELAIDE BRAKENRIDGE
Partnership Is The Priority For Diane Creech And Leatherdale Farms By Mary Adelaide Brakenridge
Diane Creech riding Devon L.
Diane Creech, who is among Canada’s top dressage athletes, makes the trek each year from Caistor Centre, Ontario, to escape the winter cold and compete in Wellington. Her support from Minnesota-based Leatherdale Farms has given her the chance to ride and train a string of talented horses throughout the various stages of their careers, with some ready to shoot for international teams and some learning the ropes of competition. This season, however, is an emotional time for the Leatherdale Farms team. Co-owner Douglas Leatherdale passed away on his 79th birthday in December. Doug and his wife, Louise, have had an immense influence on the Hanoverian sport horse world. Together, they developed Leatherdale Farms into a prominent breeding operation, producing exceptional U.S.-bred sport horses, sup-
PHOTO BY SUSAN J. STICKLE
porting top athletes such as Creech and U.S. Olympian Sue Blinks, and standing highly regarded stallions at Hengststation Jens Meyer in Dorum, Germany. Now, Louise Leatherdale is continuing to guide the operation and build on her late husband’s legacy. “We were true partners,” she said. “Everything we did, we did together, and he would want me to go on.” wellington the magazine | march 2016
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