Wednesday September 18, 2002

US Dressage Coach Klaus Balkenhol, A Key That Unlocked The Door For The Americans

After the Americans won the Team Silver and Debbie McDonald and Lisa Wilcox came in second and fourth respectively in the Grand Prix Special, US Dressage Team Coach Klaus Balkenhol was asked if he expected such great success at the World Equestrian Games. His answer was that he knows the dressage scene very well, and that the Americans that have ridden in Germany before the WEG have all won with 72 to 75% scores, and he confirmed, "I was expecting the riders would have the nerve to do it at the World Equestrian Games."

Though Balkenhol has been called a "Miracle Worker," he smiled and said, "I only work with water."