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Chris
Kappler and Royal Kaliber Selected to 2003 Pan American
Games Team
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Gladstone, NJ—April 30, 2003—Chris Kappler of Pittstown,
NJ, and Royal Kaliber have been selected for one of the four positions
on the show jumping team that will represent the United States
at the 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, the Dominican
Republic. This marks the first time since 1990 that a place on
a U.S. show jumping team competing at a continental or world championship
or Olympic Games will be held by someone chosen subjectively.
“This
is a historic moment for our sport,” said United States Equestrian
Team (USET) President Armand Leone Jr. “Subjective selections
have worked extremely well in eventing and recent years have seen
increasing calls for some subjectivity in our show jumping selection
process as well. Last year, we had an option for a subjective
choice for our World Equestrian Games jumping team, and although
the Selectors chose not to use the option, our Show Jumping Committee
felt strongly that this option will help us field stronger teams.
Given Royal Kaliber’s incredible success over the last two
years, it is clearly in our country’s best interest to put
him on the team.”
The Pan American Games selection process, developed initially
by the Active Riders Committee and approved by the Executive Committees
of both the United States Equestrian Team and USA Equestrian (USAE),
allows “Selectors to nominate one or two horse-and-rider
combinations to the team before the conclusion of the trials.”
The Selectors felt that Royal Kaliber’s performance, including
wins in both the $200,000 Budweiser American Invitational and
the American Grandprix Association Championship within an eight-day
period earlier this spring, warranted this. They recommended his
selection to the Pan American team to the Show Jumping High Performance
Committee who then endorsed the selection to the USET and USAE
Executive Committees, both of whom supported the recommendations
of the Selectors and Show Jumping High Performance Committee and
granted approval.
To maintain his place on the team, Kappler and Royal Kaliber will
come under the strict control of the United States Equestrian
Team Show Jumping Chef d’Equipe. It is planned that they
will compete at CHIO Aachen this summer where their performance
against many of the world’s best horses and riders will be
reviewed. Their place on the Pan American team also hinges on
Royal Kaliber’s continued readiness and soundness based on
the opinion of the Chef d’Equipe and the team veterinarian.
The United States Equestrian Team is a non-profit organization
that selects, trains, equips and finances equestrians of the highest
possible standard to represent our country in major international
competition, including the Olympic Games and the World Championships.
To accomplish this, the USET seeks out and nurtures the development
of talented athletes - riders, drivers and horses - and provides
the support and guidance they need to help them attain their fullest
potential. For more information on the USET, please call (908)
234-1251, or visit USET ONLINE at www.uset.org
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