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The limelight, however, has not been reserved only for the Barclay’s brother, Laurence, prefers the speed and adrenaline of Leatherwood Farm of the past. In recent history, Leatherwood the Roadster Horses and Ponies (Standardbreds and Hackneys has been associated with some firsts of a different kind, as well. that compete with racing silks and sulkys similar to the ones In the early 1980s, under the management of Fred Sarver, Leath- on the track, but in the show ring instead) and has captured erwood was one of the first (if not THE first) farms to use trans- one World’s Championship title, one Canadian Championported semen and artificial insemination, thus revolutionizing ship title, and numerous Reserve World Championship titles the number of mares that could be bred and foals that could be as well as serving as President of the American Road Horse and produced by one stallion. Leatherwood Farm was also the first Pony Association in the late 1990s. He piloted such noteworthy to pay over one-million dollars at public auction for a Saddle- roadsters as WC Nakomis, WCC Crossbow, RWC First Page, bred stallion (World Grand WC Carnation’s Diamond, and Champion Sultan’s Santana in WC Mardi Gras, and RWC The 1982). The purchase proved Gambler to many of their victoto be prudent when, the next ries around the country. spring, the stallion ranked As so many horse people know, first on Saddle and Bridle history has a way of repeating itMagazine’s annual sire ratself and the Leatherwood Farm ings. At the same auction, the family is no different. “Once Smiths bought another stalhorses are in your blood there’s lion, the royally-bred young no cure,” admits Barclay de Wet, champion, CH Starlike SulAnn Tierney Smith’s daughter. It tan who was admittedly Ann has become a family affair. “We Tierney Smith’s favorite of all love the breeding as well. My the two. It is his bloodlines children and my brother’s chilthat can still be found coursdren can’t wait for foaling season 2008 World’s Champion, Callaways’ Winning Ways ing through the veins of the to begin each year, so they can horses at Leatherwood Farm today. play with the foals. We have a wonderful stallion, RWC LeathLeatherwood has been a mainstay on the leader boards of the top horse shows in the country for the last 30 years as well, thanks to the contributions of Smith’s children, who are avid horsepeople in their own right. Showing such five-gaited greats as CH Corrine Corrina, CH Callaway’s News Flash, CH Have You Ever, and WC Callaway’s Winning Ways, Smith’s daughter, Barclay de Wet, is a five-time World’s Champion, eight-time Reserve World’s Champion, and has garnered two silver medals riding for the U.S. World Cup five-gaited team in international competition (which is where she met her husband, Nic de Wet, also an avid horseman).
Nic de Wet has shown a few horses under the Leatherwood banner as well, with wins at the Lexington Junior League Show and top ribbons at the World Championships, but his real forte is wine. With eleven generations of wine-making in his family, it was only natural that he celebrated his marriage to Barclay by creating the Leatherwood range of wines to add to the family’s portfolio.
erwood’s Starlight, that is the cornerstone of our breeding program. We raised him, showed him and have had success with many of his progeny. Now his daughters are proving to be great producers, as well.” says de Wet. “Of course it doesn’t hurt that our stallion traces at least six times in his pedigree back to Leatherwood horses my grandfather and great uncle owned! It just adds validity to what we have been trying to do for more than three generations.” Now in its 75th year of operation, Leatherwood Farm has a small, but elite band of broodmares these days that consist only of world champion show mares or champion producing mares. “It takes show horses to make show horses. Follow that recipe and you will make your own luck in this business.” says Ann Tierney Smith. So if you get the chance to “trip the light fantastic” down Escondida Road and find yourself at Leatherwood Farm, make note of the fact that the horses you see grazing there are not just horses, they are Saddlebred horses, “Kentucky Proud.”
Look for the Leatherwood Wines and Leatherwood horses showing at the upcoming Lexington Junior League Horse Show this month at The Red Mile
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