Louise Leatherdale's Hallmark Passed Away

Dressage

Hanoverian

Louise Leatherdale's internationally competed Grand Prix horse Hallmark has passed away. He was 22 years old.

Hallmark was a 2004 born Hanoverian by His Highness out of Lapislazuley (by Lancier x Akzent II). He was bred by Hanke Meyer.

From Germany to Canada

The black colt was reared at Jens Meyer's stud farm in Dorum, Germany, with whom Louise and the late Doug Leatherdale collaborated intensely in the 2000s. He was saddle broken and first competed by Steffen Frahm as a 4-year old in 2008 before he moved to Canada.

The horse was then shipped to North America and came in training with Canadian Grand Prix rider Diane Creech. She debuted him in competition as a 4-year old in 2008 at Dressage at Devon. They won the suitability class and were fourth in the 4-year old stallion and gelding materiale class.

Diana Creech made her international show debut on Hallmark in the young horses classes at the 2009 CDI-W Blainville. Hallmark's first CDI was at small tour level in Florida in March 2011. Hallmark stayed at small tour level for five years in a row, showing at CDI's in Florida, Saugerties, Devon, Rockwood, Palgrave, Cedar Valley and Ottawa.

Grand Prix for Two

He became an international Grand Priw horse in September 2018 going down the big tour centerline for the first time in Devon. He scored 63.217% in the Grand Prix and 65.936% in the Special.

Shortly afterwards Hallmark became an Under 25 horse for Diane's daughter Vanessa Creech-Therauds. The pair debuted at the level in Wellington in March 2019 and from there went to the CDI's in Thornton and Devon. In 2020 the horse did his last competition season at the Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, showing in four CDI's at Under 25 level. He won three classes out of 11 that final season.

Retirement

Hallmark was retired from sport in 2021. He returned to Leatherdale Farms in Minnesota, where he stayed in the care of Chris Bacher and Jessi Lash. He was put to sleep at the end of March 2026 at age 22.

Diane Creech reminisces, "strong willed he never hid his true feelings for what he wanted. He loved to show himself off … lunging him took 2 people minimum at the beginning as he passaged around you taking your breath away from watching him and from holding on. Hallmark, Your life story was filled with many adventures and now memories. You gave us all your heart and lived life to the fullest."