American Dressage News

Klaus Balkenhol Will Serve As USET Dressage Team Coach Through 2004

Gladstone, New Jersey -February 21, 2001-In continuing its commitment to the development of promising riders and horses, the United States Equestrian Team (USET) has hired Klaus Balkenhol to serve in the roles of Technical Advisor to the USET Dressage Committee and Dressage Coach through the next Olympic quadrennium.

Under this new agreement Balkenhol will train Long Listed riders, host USET selected grant recipients for training at his facility in Germany, and coach at European CDIs and CDIOs, World Championships, Pan American Games and Olympic Games.

Balkenhol's accomplishments include two Olympic team Gold Medals and one Olympic individual Bronze Medal in the 1992 and 1996 Games. He also won the team Gold Medal and individual Silver Medal at the World Equestrian Games in The Hague 1994. Additionally, Balkenhol, who is a five time German Champion, has won Gold and Silver medals in the 1991, 1993, and 1995 European Championships.

In addition to his illustrious competition highlights, Balkenhol has worked as the German Dressage Team trainer and individual trainer for 2000 Olympic Team Gold Medalists Nadine Capellmann, Ulla Salzgeber and Alexandra Simons de Ridder. A German policeman, Klaus Balkenhol established himself in the international dressage scene as a police rider with his working police horse, Rabauke.

In 1988, Balkenhol chose the two year old Westphalian gelding, Goldstern, as his next prospective Olympic mount. Though he trained in dressage, Goldstern also had a day job patrolling the Dusseldorf equestrian bridle paths and occasional soccer games, while becoming an Olympic Champion.

Maureen Pethick, USET Director of Dressage Activities, commented on the recent announcement, " This is a very exciting step for Dressage and the USET is thrilled to be able to enhance our program with a Master such as Klaus. This is a wonderful opportunity for the U.S. as we continue to develop medal winning teams."

Image of Francis Verbeek and Klaus Balkenhol by Arnd B.