Balkenhol and Heuberger Win the 2015 CDN Munster Prix St Georges

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2015 CDN Munster

For 42-year old Anabel Balkenhol 2015 has started off well with a victory in the Prix St Georges, a third place in the Intermediaire I and a second place in the Grand Prix in the big national dressage show in Munster, Germany, on 9 - 11 January 2014. With the Trakehner stallion Heuberger, Balkenhol has shown herself to be in a winning mood and with her come back Grand Prix horse Dablino she's working her way back to the top.

The year 2014 did not go down into Balkenhol's books as the best in her life. Anabel took up a job at the state stud in Marbach but within weeks already had to resign from her post due to health issues. Intestinal problems were the cause of all the misery and an operation followed in the summer. "Belli" has now recovered and found inspiration in her new ride Heuberger, an 8-year old Trakehner stallion by Imperio x Michelangelo owned by Gestut Webelsgrund.

Aboard the dark bay Heuberger Balkenhol won the Prix St Georges with 73.596 % and placed third in the Intermediaire I with 72.018%.

"Happiness on earth lies on the back of a horse. I can say today that I experienced it once more on this horse," Balkenhol raved about her Prix St Georges victory. "The test felt so good that half the time I had to smile. I'm so grateful to this cool horse as well as to the owners, the Erdsiek family, who make working with them so much fun."

In an interview with the German WN online magazine, Balkenhol added that, "he's sensational. He is always willing to give it 150%. He's very alert and has three super basic gaits. Heuberger is ready to do the developing Grand Prix horses classes."

With her 2010 German WEG Team partner and 2012 London Olympic mount Dablino she had to wait almost two years to return to the ring as the chestnut gelding was injured. The pair resurfaced at the 2014 CDI Oldenburg in November and now in Munster improved their score to a strong 76.080% and second place in the Grand Prix

"Dablino is not so young any more. He needs time," Balkenhol told WN. "I'm happy that he's back and I hope that we can be consistent this year." Anabel has not really set her sight on the 2015 European Championships in Aachen. "It's not our explicit goal," she explained.