Diane Creech Kicks Off a Strong Winter Season at WEF

Diane Creech is kicking off the winter season in Wellington with an outstanding string of five Leatherdale Farms horses. She will be competing Chrevis Christo, Diana C, Devon L, Hallmark and Robbie W at the 2015 Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF).

The Canadian competitor and her horses made the trip from her home base in Caistor Centre, Ontario, for the duration of the circuit. At the first show of the year, the AGDF 1 CDI-W, she got off to a strong start with Robbie W and Hallmark in the small tour. Both horses performed well throughout the weekend, and the highlight was Robbie W’s personal best 70.026 percent in the Intermediaire I, which earned him a third place finish in a competitive field. With both horses, Creech is shooting for qualifying scores to make the team for the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto.

“I am excited for the upcoming season!” Creech said. “I want to build on the horses’ previous experiences and focus on consistent performances in order to present a hopeful, solid Canadian Team horse.”

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Robbie W is a 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Rubin Royal. Creech believes he is coming into himself and becoming much more confident.

“He is really awesome,” said Creech with a smile.

She feels training is going very well with Robbie as well as with Hallmark, an 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding by His Highness. The plan is to let the horses come out and shine, and the ultimate goal is to bring out a solid Canadian team horse for Pan Ams.

Creech will compete two horses at the Grand Prix level during the Florida circuit: Devon L and Chrevis Christo. Both are also declared for the Pan American Games. Creech will be aiming to qualify Devon L, a 15-year-old Hanoverian gelding by De Niro, to compete at the Reem Acra World Cup Dressage Final in Las Vegas.

She is preparing both Devon L and Chrevis Christo for the AGDF 3 CDI-W, Jan. 22-25. Christo, an 11-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding by Lavallo, will likely start out in national Grand Prix classes at the Gold Coast Opener Festival, Jan. 15-18, as well as at the ADGF 3 CDI-W before stepping up to the international Grand Prix.

“He had a couple of good national scores last year in the Grand Prix, so hopefully he can continue with that and build up his confidence,” Creech said. “Then we will introduce him to the CDI field.”

Alongside the four geldings in Creech’s string is the 8-year-old Hanoverian mare Diana C. Competing mainly at Fourth Level last year, Diana C shows incredible potential. While she is declared for the Pan American Games, the focus is on gradually building her show ring experience and giving her plenty of time to develop her outstanding talent.

“Diana is so awesome,” Creech said. “This is her first year doing the Prix St. Georges. For her, it is really building up her confidence. Everything else is easy for her. What a talent that one is – she is like a jewel.”

Diana C will start her season in the small tour at the Gold Coast Opener Festival CDI1*.

Riding alongside her mother at the first show of the season was Vanessa Creech-Terauds, who was starting her second year of international competition. She won Team Silver in the Juniors at the North American Junior and Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) in 2014 and has an exciting new ride for 2015: Leatherdale Farms’ Rob Roy.

Doug and Louise Leatherdale generously gifted Creech-Terauds the ride on the 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Rubin Royal. She will be competing Rob Roy in the Juniors and hopes to qualify him for NAJYRC this year. Both mother and daughter are incredibly thankful and excited for this opportunity.

“His is such a great character with a big heart,” said Creech. “They are really starting to build a team. We are so thankful for Doug and Louise to give her the opportunity to do that. You will not find better people than them. They love horses, and they will stand behind you on everything.”

With the support of Leatherdale Farms, Creech is ready for another great season in 2015.