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Kappler
and Hough Named USET Co-Athletes of the Month for May
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Gladstone,
NJ—June 4, 2003—Chris Kappler of Pittstown, NJ, and
Lauren Hough of Wellington, FL, have been named United States
Equestrian Team (USET) Co-Athletes of the Month for May. Kappler
and Hough were subjectively chosen for two 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 any places
on a U.S. show jumping team competing at a continental or world
championship or Olympic Games will be held by riders chosen subjectively.
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),
allowed “Selectors to nominate one or two horse-and-rider
combinations to the team before the conclusion of the trials.”
When Kappler and Royal Kaliber, owned by Kappler and Kathy Kamine,
won both the $200,000 Budweiser American Invitational and the
American Grandprix Association Championship within an eight-day
period earlier this spring, the Selectors felt that these performances,
plus the horse’s impressive record last year, made it in
the Team’s best interest to have Kappler and Royal Kappler
on the Pan American Games Team. Kappler and Royal Kaliber confirmed
the strength of the Selectors' recommendation by winning the Grand
Prix at Devon in Devon, PA, at the end of May.
Competing
with a broken collar bone and separated shoulder suffered in early
April at the AGA Championships in Wellington, FL, Hough and Windy
City, owned by Peppercorn Ltd., jumped clear rounds in the first
two of six selection trials in Lexington, KY. After considering
her performance at Lexington, as well as her earlier international
success, the Show Jumping Selectors voted unanimously to recommend
that she be put on the Pan Am team.
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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