Wayne, IL – July 29, 2015 – The summer is getting hotter, and the scores are getting higher for Mike Suchanek and Leatherdale Farms’ young horses. They continued their winning streak as they made the trip to Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, Illinois, July 18-19 for July Dressage at Lamplight I and II. Suchanek had a perfect show, winning every class and only coming in second to himself.
Suchanek is bringing along several of the horses with the aim of returning to Lamplight Aug. 19-23 for the Markel/USEF National Young Horse Championships. With the qualification period complete, Fleur de Lis L, a Hanoverian mare (First Dance-EM De La Rosa, De Niro), and Fighting Chance L, a Hanoverian gelding (First Dance-EM Helia, Hohenstein), are ranked third and fourth respectively on the Markel/USEF National Young Horse Ranking List for 6-year-olds. Dublin L, a Hanoverian gelding (Damsey-EM Wibranda, Wolkenstein II), is ranked third among 4-year-olds.
All three performed well during July Dressage at Lamplight. Fighting Chance L posted a score of 82.200 percent in the Young Horse Final for 6-year-olds, and Fleur de Lis L had a great go at Third Level, scoring 71.410 percent for Test 3. Dublin L scored 75.588 percent for First Level Test 3, and Hannigan, another 4-year-old, also impressed with a score of 77.206 percent for First Level Test 3.
“I’m very proud of Dublin L and Hannigan for putting up great scores in their respective classes, showing off their talent and rideability,” Suchanek said.
Another goal for the Leatherdale Farms horses this season is the US Dressage Finals in November, and several horses competing at Lamplight earned qualifying scores for the Regional Championships. Hero L competed at Training Level and First Level during the 2014 US Dressage Finals and has advanced quickly since then. The 8-year-old Hanoverian gelding (His Highness-Waterlily L, Wolkenstein II) made his Fourth Level debut with Suchanek at Lamplight. Clearly the step up was no problem for him: he scored 72.973 percent for Fourth Level Test 1.
“Hero has been such a quick learner,” Suchanek said. “It has been a pleasure training him and bringing him up the levels. Being such a big horse, his body is catching up with his inner talent. I’m very proud to have had the chance to start him under saddle and bring him up the levels of dressage.”
Suchanek also performed his first Fourth Level Test 3 in competition with Corenzo, scoring an impressive 73.333 percent.
“I’m so honored to work for such generous and wonderful owners as Doug and Louise Leatherdale,” Suchanek said. “They have been supportive and excited to see their horses go out and show off their talent. I’m very thankful to have them encouraging us to take their horses into the dressage ring.”
He added, “I want to thank Alison Sader-Larson for keeping me on track and helping me advance in my knowledge of dressage. I also want to thank Jessi Lash, our performance horse manager at Leatherdale Farms in Minnesota, and our team for all the hard work they do behind the scenes.”
About Leatherdale Farms:
Situated 20 minutes from Minneapolis, Minnesota, Leatherdale Farms is a privately owned farm owned and managed by Louise and Doug Leatherdale and dedicated to Hanoverian, Trakehner and Oldenburg breeding. The Leatherdale family owns several licensed stallions based in Dorum, Germany, at Hengststation Jens Meyer: the premium elite Hanoverians Damsey (Dressage Royal), First Dance (Florestan II), Hampton (His Highness), Beltano (Belissimo M); the premium elite Trakehner, Herzensdieb (Tambour); and the Oldenburg Fairbanks (Flemmingh). Frozen semen is available in North America and Europe. Leatherdale Farms was also the owner of the Hanoverian stallion His Highness, who died in 2007 and whose progeny is much appreciated all over the world.
