A few weeks ago Eurodressage photographer Arnd Bronkhorst paid a visit to the equestrian facility of Klaus Balkenhol in Rosendahl, Germany. One of his photos featured Balkenhol on his retired former Olympic horse Goldstern.
The 20-year-old Goldstern has been property of the German Police Force for all the years that Balkenhol competed the horse at Olympic, World, European and German Championships. For Balkenhol 60th birthday, the German Police Force donated Goldstern to Balkenhol as an act of friendship and appreciation. Goldstern, by Weinberg x Direx, is bred by Willi Altemeier from Dellbrück, Germany.
Balkenhol first joined the international dressage world in the 1970s when he was serving as a policeman on horseback for the city of Dusseldorf. He competed with his working police horse, Rabauke, who he started and trained himself. In 1988 Balkenhol chose the two-year-old Goldstern as his prospective Olympian. Though he trained in dressage, Goldstern also had a day job - two-hour daily patrolling the Dusseldorf pedestrian and bridle paths and an occasional soccer game. The two went on to win an individual silver medal at the World Equestrian Games and Olympic team gold.
Related Links:
Klaus Balkenhol Celebrates 60th Birthday
Image Copyrighted: Arnd Bronkhorst - no reproduction without permission/payment