Get to know the founders behind one of the world's premier Hanoverian farms

Leatherdale Farms is a name that has rung loud and clear in the dressage world for nearly 30 years. Having bred and owned some of the most successful mounts in the sport in recent history, Leatherdale Farms was founded out of a love for the horse, and to this day maintains the same values within their boutique operation.

Leatherdale Farms is a premier Hanoverian farm located in the gently rolling countryside, 20 minutes west of Minneapolis. While their base in Minnesota is utilized as one of its young-horse training centers, Leatherdale Farms owns many horses who are currently competing around the world at the top of the sport. 



The farm was incorporated in 1996 with the passion of Doug and Louise Leatherdale as a prominent breeding operation producing exceptional sport horses. The privately owned farm is dedicated to providing the highest quality stallions with both classic and modern German and American Hanoverian bloodlines. As of 2023, they stand their champion stallions at Bridlewood Hanoverians in Union, Kentucky, and Hengststation Jens Meyer in Dorum, Germany. 

The Leatherdale Farms team is proud of their high-quality training, from starting young horses to competing in the international Grand Prix ring. Some of the top dressage athletes in the world, including German Olympian Helen Langehanenberg, U.S. Olympians Sue Blinks and Guenter Seidel, Canadian Grand Prix competitor Diane Creech, and Vanessa Creech-Terauds, have been a part of Team Leatherdale.

Doug and Louise Leatherdale, the founders and owners of Leatherdale Farms, are highly regarded in the dressage and sport horse breeding communities for their generosity, unwavering passion for the sport and the spectacular horses they have bred and owned. Though Doug passed away on Dec. 6, 2015, Louise is continuing their legacy, providing quality stallions for breeding and supporting their competition horses.

Leatherdale Farms’ has sourced and produced some of the world’s most elite stock of breeding stallions including:

E.H. Herzensdieb

First Dance

Fairbanks

Hampton

Damsey FRH

Beltano

His Highness

Leatherdale Farms has made a lasting impact on the Hanoverian sport horse world having received the USDF Dressage Breeder of the Year award multiple times. Their premium elite stallions stand for stud all over the world, and it is their mission to continue to produce champion show horses.

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