Royal Kaliber, the Dutch Warmblood stallion whom Chris Kappler rode to the individual bronze and team silver medals at the Athens Olympic Games, is recovering from colic surgery. Royal Kaliber suffered a bowed tendon on course during the jump-off for the silver medal in Athens. He was transported off course in a horse ambulance for treatment.

A week after his injury, Royal Kaliber battled a colic episode of lower enteritis, treated without surgery. He was later transported to a farm in Someren, the Netherlands. But complications from that initial bout of colic developed, with fluid building in his stomach and causing chronic gastric reflux. The decision was made to operate on Sept. 27 and resolve the situation. U.S. veterinarians Dr. Jack Snyder and Barry David, along with USET veterinarian Dr. Tim Ober, flew to the Netherlands to assist in the surgery, performed by Dr. Edwin Enzerink of the Veterinair Centrum Someren.

“In the last four days, it did become apparent that surgery was needed,” said Snyder. “After viewing the ultrasound, which showed possible intestinal adhesion, we determined it was best to operate now, before he lost significant condition. When we went in, the large intestine and small intestine had adhered together and to the spleen, which required removal of part of both the large and small intestine. He is critical, but stable.”

Dr. Ober has been treating Royal Kaliber