Spring, 2004 conferences had one of those conferences.
Craig was at the University of Illinois then, and I was teaching at Yankee Ridge Elementary School in Urbana. My conferences with parents were going well that spring, and next up on my schedule were the parents of a sweet girl, one who I knew was a horse lover like me.
I began our conference as I always do by asking her parents if they had anything, concerns or otherwise, that they wished to discuss.
"Are you going to watch the Olympics this summer?" asked the mother, leaning forward excitedly.
That was NOT what I was expecting to be asked!
I said that I was, and she smiled and said, "Well, we have a family member who made the US Equestrian Team and will be riding in Athens!"
It turns out that my student's cousin was someone whose name was very familiar to me. (I have been a faithful reader of The Chronicle of the Horse for decades.)
It was none other than Chris Kappler on Royal Kaliber!
(Picture pulled from Google Images.)
Well, I TRIED to be professional and steer our conversation back to academics, but I'll admit that that was one conference in which I let my horsey side out. (And in my defense, the parents brought it up and wanted to talk about it! So I'm good, right??)
The rest of that school year my student's family kept me apprised of what Chris and the team were doing as they prepared for the Olympics. I enjoyed having such an unexpected window on the event and anticipated those Olympics probably more than any other before or since.
Royal Kaliber and Chris ended up winning Team Gold and Individual Silver. But... Royal Kaliber also sustained an injury due to the poor footing and needed to be euthanized in October, 2004, never coming back to American soil.
That was shocking and incredibly sad.
Breyer has since immortalized Royal Kaliber as a model in its traditional line.
(Picture pulled from Google Images.)
Of course, I bought it when it came out. It is one of the few models I have that has never been removed from the box. There are mixed emotions when I look at it - it is a reminder of a very happy summer, of a family I knew and a student I taught, but it is also a reminder of the tragedy that took place shortly thereafter.
I keep my Royal Kaliber tucked safely away in my horse room. Maybe some day I will remove it from the box, but for now, I am content knowing that I have the reminder of an exciting summer at my fingertips if I wish.
