The 2004
Olympic Games has been more eventful since its completion with drugs
issues seeing medals potentially change hands and sadly the loss of two
wonderful horses - our own Australian Dressage star - Limbo (ridden by
Mary Hanna) and now the dazzling and brilliant USA jumper Royal Kaliber
who was ridden to bronze medal place by the courageous Chris Kappler.
When Cian
O'Connor jumped in to the Gold Medal place it left Rodrigo Pessoa on
Boulabet (Brazil) and Chris Kappler on Royal Kaliber in equal 2nd place.
They jumped off to decide the Silver and Bronze medal placings.
Baloubet
seemed to know the importance of this round and was sensational.
Royal Kaliber also took the matter to heart and was jumping like a true
champion. Disaster struck when the horse landed very awkwardly and
seem to turn on his off side fore (see pic below). Although the
brave stallion went on to the next jump and made a valiant attempt to
get around the course, he could not move after he landed and Chris
Kappler was off so quickly as if to make the crown think something was
wrong with him. At no time did he consider that he was jumping for
Silver ... Chris' only concern was for his wonderful horse.
The
beautiful boy stood so patiently while the vets and ground attendants
gathered around and the horse ambulance was called. It was very
emotional to see a great horse taken off the ground injured. This
was the third jumping horse to be hurt and some said that the surface
was unstable and caused the problems.
An
announcement was made that Royal Kaliber had damaged his deep flexor
tendon and would receive the best veterinary care at the Veterinary
hospital which has been especially built at Markopolou.
This sad
news reflects that the horse was removed to the Netherlands and he has
encountered problems and suffered a serious bout of colic. He
underwent initial surgery and further complications have set in and cost
the USA one of their most talented equines and a strong sire of future
generations of the same!
All
Australian horse lovers will wish Royal Kaliber a special place in the
pastures of heaven ... and his connections our sympathetic good wishes.
We trust that Chris has some promising youngsters to fill the huge gap
that losing your partner leaves.
Royal Kaliber and Chris Kappler
won many fans at Athens with their spectacular style
and ease over the huge fences ...
From the FEI ..
Royal Kaliber, one of the United States
most brilliant horses ever to compete
internationally in show jumping, was euthanised on 8 October 2004 in
the Netherlands.
He underwent colic surgery for intestinal
adhesions on 27 September and had been
recovering well until 6 October, when his progress
considerably slowed.
"More adhesions were found in the
intestine that were not repairable"
explained Dr Tim Robert, a veterinarian for the US
Equestrian Federation team, "we had no choice but do the humane
thing and euthanise him."
Royal Kaliber's awkward landing at this fence did
damage to his
deep flexor tendon - he made it to the next but could not move
after he landed ...
The horse ambulance was called in the noble stallion
was taken
for veterinary treatment at the state of the art facilities at
Markopolou
Chris Kappler receives his Bronze Medal and earns the
team Silver.
 (As
at the 10th October, a drugs scandal could mean that Chris is part of
the Gold Medal Team and that Rodrigo Pessoa could be the Gold Medal
winner. The A drug samples of Cian O'connor's horse Waterford
Crystal and Ludger Beerbaum's Gold Fever, has produced irregularities
and the FEI have made this interim statement)
To go to the report on the Jumping Final at Athens
Follow the links below
|
Page 1 |
Authentic / Epsom Gesmeray / Lamalushi |
|
Page 2 |
Delfi Platiere / Promise Me / Countdown 23 |
|
Page 3 |
Furka De Village / C Chap / Mr. Springfield |
|
Page 4 |
Clinton / Sapphire / No Mercy |
|
Page 5 |
Baloubet De Rouet / Magic Bengtsson
|
|
Page 6
|
Cento / Albin lll |
|
Page 7 |
Carling King / Mac Kinley |
|
Page 8 |
Goldfever / Landknecht |
|
Page 9 |
Waterford Crystal |
|
Page 10 |
Parco / Montreal |
|
Page 11 |
Carnute /
Royal Kaliber |
|
Page 12 |
Montender / Diagonal |
|
Page 13 |
Castle Forbes Maike / Arko lll |
|
Page 14 |
Baloubet Dr Rouet / Royal Kaliber
Jump off for Silver |
|
Page 15 |
The Medal Ceremony |
|
