Klaus Balkenhol

[Flyingfox]

Hi all
 my friend Tracy is off to see Klaus Balkenhol this weekend at Hartpury, for a BD trainers thingy - plus anyone else who wants to go - and I wondered what everyones opninion is of him. I dont kow much about him myself......

[Claire]

not to be missed, i would have thought, if one has the opportunity to go. google him...

[heather gwillim]

should be very interesting would of liked to go myself

[Heather]

I have always admired Klaus, would have loved to go if I could have got away. Am a bit disappointed with how heavy handed are his students, Laura B and his daughter Annabel, though.

[Mandeigh]

I think he is a hidden gem......I'd love to sit and talk about horses with him.

I read his biography,  what a fascinating life and a man who really loves his horses.

[Heather]

I will never forget his kur at the 1994 WEG in The Hague. We in the audience were spellbound. I have never seen a kur like it before or since. I can still feel shivers running down my spine at the thought. And to think that he only got the silver, and a certain Dutch person got Gold.  It was the worst piece of judging that I have ever seen.

[Cobstar]

Tracy's a lucky lady. Couldn't afford tickets this time round - but maybe another time.
Someone who proved that classical training could win medals.

[Heather]

But that, sadly was then, Maria, a lot has gone wrong in the 12 years since Klaus and Goldie won silver at the WEG. Even then, they should have got gold. The atmosphere in the stand certainly made that clear too- it was truly hostile, and the judges were taken out of the arena in cars, not on foot!! I think that they feared for their own safety!!