our performance horse manager, Jessi Lash; our coach, Alison Sader-Larson and our grooms have all proven to be such a successful team the past few years with their excellent work. They outdid themselves last year!” The farm was incorporated in 1996 and quickly
became a prominent breed- ing operation within the industry, producing excep- tional sport horses, thanks in large part to the passion and dedication of Doug and Louise. While their base in the gently rolling country- side of Minnesota is now utilized as one of its young horse training centers, Leath- erdale Farms stands premier stallions at
both Bridle-
wood Hanoverians in Union, Kentucky, and Hengststa- tion Jens Meyer in Dor- um, Germany. The privately owned farm is committed to providing the highest quality stallions with both classic and modern German and American Hanoverian bloodlines. The Leatherdale Farms team is proud of their high-
quality training, which ranges from starting young horses to competing in the international Grand Prix ring. The team includes top dressage athletes including German Olympian Helen Langehanenberg, U.S. Olym- pian Sue Blinks, Canadian Grand Prix competitor Diane Creech and young horse trainer Mike Suchanek.
D
A History of Passion
oug had already led an industrious, success-
ful life before he founded their eponymous farm. Born December 6, 1936 in Manitoba, Canada, Doug graduated from United College in Winnipeg (now the University of Winnipeg) in 1957. He immigrated to the United States and built a remarkable career in busi- ness, serving as chairman and chief executive officer of the St. Paul Companies Inc., one of the largest U.S. insurance companies, from 1990 to 2001. The founding member of the Univer- sity of Winnipeg Foundation’s board of directors, he
Diane Creech and Chrevis Christo compete during the Adequan Global Dressage Festival in Wellington Florida.
also served on the boards of the Minnesota Orchestral Association, Xcel Energy Inc. and United Health Group Inc., among others. The busy investor and father of two children
purchased the original eight acres of Leatherdale Farms in an equestrian suburb west of Minneapo- lis in 1972 before expanding the acreage over the years. It was then he also began to dabble in Hanoverian breeding research. On a brisk Saturday eve-
ning in February of 1987, Doug met Louise when she was a retention manager for Physicians’ Health Plan. “We both were single—I’d
been single for ten years— and we were both raising kids on our own,” Doug explained. “The founder of the United
Health Company, Rich Burke, and everybody else, kept tell- ing me about this girl in marketing I should meet. Every- body kept trying to put us together.” “My attitude was, ‘I am traveling the world, and I don’t
need anybody to get me a date,‘” Doug said with a laugh. “Finally we both gave in and agreed to meet. Louise walked into the restaurant, and I said to myself, ‘I’m going to marry this woman.’ I honest to god said that.” Doug introduced Louise, who had little horse expe-
rience, to his equestrian passion on their third date, when he had to check on one of his pregnant mares. “The foal was Willie, our William, who became our grand prix jumper,” Louise explained. “There were two foals in the year we started to date—Willie out of Grass- hopper and Wendelynn out of Dunja.” Louise dove headfirst
Hero L won the Prix St. Georges and Intermediate I Open All- Breed Awards for the American Hanoverian Society in 2016.
into the business, helping Doug with cleaning stalls, aiding with deliveries and providing basic horse care. “The first time a mare foaled when Doug was out of town, I was beside myself!” Louise
recalled. “I had just brought in the two older mares and Dunja was very pregnant. Suddenly I realized the mare was having a baby and I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, what
Warmbloods Today 51
Annan Hepner
Annan Hepner
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