March 9, 2006

Klaus Balkenhol, U.S. Dressage Team Chef d’Equipe, Will Ride Exhibition “Pas de Deux” in Cadillac Challenge of the Americas on March 11 in Wellington, Florida

Mary Ross, chairman of the Cadillac Challenge of the Americas, announced today that Klaus Balkenhol, the U.S. Dressage Team Chef d’Equipe, will ride in an exhibition performance at the event. Balkenhol will perform a Pas de Deux riding Kingston, a 14-year-old Dutch stallion, and his partner will be Leslie Morse aboard Tip Top 962, a 12-year-old Swedish stallion. Morse, of Beverly Hills, California, owns both horses.

The Cadillac Challenge will be held at International Polo Club Palm Beach on March 11 in Wellington, Florida, starting at 6:00 pm. The Balkenhol/Morse exhibition will take place after the Team Pas de Deux competition and prior to the Team Quadrille competition.

PhelpsPhoto® : Klaus Balkenhol and Goldstern at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games

The Cadillac Challenge of the Americas is a one-of-a-kind international event that highlights the Olympic equestrian sport of Grand Prix dressage using a musical format of Pas de Deux and Team Quadrilles, plus a gala with dinner, dancing, and live auction, to benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Twenty-four world-class riders representing the USA, Canada, and Latin America/Europe will compete on three teams comprised of eight riders each for the title of “Dressage Team of the Americas.”

“We are absolutely thrilled to have Klaus Balkenhol perform an exhibition ride at the Cadillac Challenge,” said Ross. “This will most definitely be a highlight of the event and we can’t thank Klaus enough for his generosity in agreeing to participate.”

Balkenhol, of Coesfeld, Germany, is a world-renowned trainer and coach and was a much-decorated rider for the German team for more than 15 years. Riding Goldstern, his famous ‘police horse turned dressage star’ mount, at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, Balkenhol earned the Individual Silver Medal and helped the German squad to the Team Gold Medal. Again with Goldstern, Balkenhol won the Individual Silver Medal at the 1994 World Equestrian Games in The Hague, The Netherlands. Balkenhol claimed two more Olympic Medals with Goldstern at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, claiming the Individual Silver and helped his team to the Team Gold Medal.

Balkenhol has been the coach for the U.S. dressage team since 2001. With his coaching expertise, the U.S. team claimed the Team Silver Medal at the 2002 World Equestrian Games, the 2003 Pan American Team Gold Medal, and the 2004 Athens Olympic Games Team Bronze Medal.

NEW: Updated Cadillac Challenge of the Americas Schedule of Festivities