Stuttgart – In memory of the outstanding rider and trainer, Otto Lörke, the Deutsche Olympiade-Komitee für Reiterei (DOKR – the German Olympic Committee for Equestrianism) awards the Otto Lörke Prize annually to the rider, trainer and owner of the dressage horse, which may be no older than 10 years, that has impressed the dressage committee the most at the Grand Prix classes in Germany. The 25th International STUTTGART GERMAN MASTERS Horse Show will provide the backdrop for the 25th awarding of the honour.
The 2009 Otto Lörke Preis has gone to “Dablino” and his rider Anabel Balkenhol, whose father Klaus Balkenhol is the owner and trainer of the horse. Dablino was ridden for the first time this year in Grand Prix classes and was the winner of the CP Medien Cup in Münster. He also won other competitions of a similar status. Experts see in Dablino a hope for the future. His reward for receiving the noted prize: one ton of oats or mixed feed from the German manufacturers Höveler Spezialfutterwerke. They were symbolically presented by Udo Steinbock.
Anabel Balkenhol has received the award for the first time as a rider, whilst Klaus Balkenhol was given it once as a rider and twice as a trainer. This year is the first time he has been awarded it as an owner of a horse that has won the Otto Lörke Prize.
