{{Short description|Dressage rider}} {{Infobox sportsperson | image = Cesar Parra.jpg | nationality = Colombian | citizenship = United States | birth_date = | birth_place = Colombia, Ibagué | education = Master of Science in Dentistry (MSD) | alma_mater = Boston University | spouse = Marcela Ortiz-Parra | website = https://drcesarparradressagesport.com/ | country = {{USA}} | sport = Equestrian dressage | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Equestrian}} {{MedalCountry|{{COL}}}} {{MedalCompetition|Pan American Games}} {{MedalSilver|1999 Winnipeg|Team dressage}} {{MedalCountry|the {{USA}}}} {{MedalCompetition|Pan American Games}} {{MedalGold|2011 Guadalajara|Team dressage}} }}
'''Cesar Parra''' is a Colombian-American dressage rider and coach.
== Controversies == {{undue weight section|date=November 2024}} In February 2024, a number of graphic videos (which were shared from his own Instagram account) were leaked online showing Parra abusing horses with whips, ropes and other devices.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-09 |title=Olympic horse trainer from Jupiter Farms faces accusations of animal abuse |url=https://www.wptv.com/news/local-news/investigations/olympic-horse-trainer-from-jupiter-farms-faces-accusations-of-animal-abuse |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=WPTV News Channel 5 West Palm |language=en}}</ref> These videos sparked a world wide outrage in the equestrian community and beyond. On February 2, Parra was “provisionally suspended” by the FEI for accusations of horse abuse.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Braddick |first=Kenneth |date=2024-04-09 |title=Cesar Parra Sued in Federal Lawsuit for Alleged Fraud Over Ownership of Mare |url=https://dressage-news.com/2024/04/09/cesar-parra-sued-in-federal-lawsuit-for-alleged-fraud-over-ownership-of-mare/ |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=Dressage-News |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=FEI Provisionally Suspends Cesar Parra (USA) for Alleged Animal Abuse |url=https://eurodressage.com/2024/02/02/fei-provisionally-suspends-cesar-parra-usa-alleged-animal-abuse |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=Eurodressage |language=en}}</ref> Investigations into the matter are ongoing.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Updated: USEF And FEI Investigating Training Video Of Cesar Parra - The Chronicle of the Horse |url=https://www.chronofhorse.com/article/usef-and-fei-investigating-training-video-of-cesar-parra/ |access-date=2024-05-27 |language=en-US}}</ref> The United States Equestrian Federation banned Parra from national competition after the videos came to light.<ref name=":1" />
Alongside the abuse allegations, some former employees and students have reported allegations of sexual abuse by Parra on social media sites. The USET is investigating the matter, saying it “will pursue disciplinary action to the highest degree” to hold each other accountable.<ref>{{Cite web |last=StraightArrow |date=2024-02-13 |title=USEF Promises "Highest Degree" of Disciplinary Action Against Cesar Parra |url=https://dressage-news.com/2024/02/13/usef-breaks-silence-to-speak-out-about-cesar-parra-case/ |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=Dressage-News |language=en-US}}</ref>
Later, the German Equestrian Federation and certain German horse breeding associations took disciplinary action against individuals in Europe that were seen in the videos to be linked to Parra’s ill treatment of horses.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=German Equestrian Federation Investigates German Involvement in Alleged Abuse Case |url=https://eurodressage.com/2024/02/03/german-equestrian-federation-investigates-german-involvement-alleged-abuse-case |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=Eurodressage |language=en}}</ref> The Oldenburg and Hanoverian Verband banned Stefan Sandbrink and Dr Kerstin Klieber, two individuals pictured in the Parra videos, from participating in the associations activities until 2028.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sanchez |first=Sylvia |title=Verbandssanktionen zum tierschutzrelevanten Video aus den USA |url=https://oldenburger-pferde.com/de/zucht/news/2024/verbandssanktionen-zum-tierschutzrelevanten-video-aus-den-usa.html |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=oldenburger-pferde.com}}</ref> Parra was banned for life.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oldenburg and Hanoverian Verband Ban and Exclude Klieber/Sandrink Temporarily, Cesar Parra for Life |url=https://www.eurodressage.com/2024/02/15/oldenburg-and-hanoverian-verband-ban-and-exclude-kliebersandrink-temporarily-cesar-parra |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=Eurodressage |language=en}}</ref>
In 2012, he appeared in court to answer to two criminal complaints alleging "torture" and "torment" of a living animal, after a horse being trained by Parra fell while being lunged, causing lasting injury.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Parra Faces Charges Of Animal Abuse - The Chronicle of the Horse |url=https://www.chronofhorse.com/article/parra-faces-charges-animal-abuse/ |access-date=2024-05-27 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Buck v. Parra, Case No. 2:13-CV-343 TS {{!}} Casetext Search + Citator |url=https://casetext.com/case/buck-v-parra |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240527135320/https://casetext.com/case/buck-v-parra |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 27, 2024 |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=casetext.com}}</ref> The charges were later dismissed due to a lack of evidence.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-05-26 |title=Pan Am Team Gold Medalist Dr. Cesar Parra Cleared of All Charges after Thorough Investigation {{!}} Horses in the South – An Equine News Publisher |url=https://horsesinthesouth.com/pan-am-team-gold-medalist-dr-cesar-parra-cleared-of-all-charges-after-thorough-investigation/ |access-date=2024-05-27 |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== Dressage at Devon disqualification === In 2021, Cesar Parra and Belle Ami were announced as the winners of the 3-star Intermediate I and I-1 Freestyle at the Dressage at Devon horse show.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Murphy |first=Julia |date=2021-10-03 |title=2021 Dressage at Devon Concludes with CDI3* Intermediate I Freestyle |url=https://dressagetoday.com/news/2021-dressage-at-devon-concludes-with-cdi3-intermediate-i-freestyle/ |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=Dressage Today |language=en-US}}</ref> They were later disqualified when it became evident that Belle Ami tested positive for a prohibited substance benzocaine. At the time, the positive drug test and disqualification was not made public.<ref name="st-georg.de">{{Cite web |date=2024-04-11 |title=Betrugsvorwürfe: Klage gegen Cesar Parra - |url=https://www.st-georg.de/news/pferde-und-leute/betrugsvorwuerfe-klage-gegen-cesar-parra/ |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=St.GEORG}}</ref> It took two years for the disqualification to be acknowledged. After Parra's disqualification, the winning horse and rider pair only received their redistributed prize money and ribbons in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jaffer |first=Nancy |date=2023-07-31 |title=Herslow's 2021 Dressage at Devon victory is acknowledged at last |url=https://nancyjaffer.com/herslows-2021-dressage-at-devon-victory-is-acknowledged-at-last/ |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=Nancy Jaffer - Equestrian Sports |language=en-US}}</ref>
In April 2024, Parra was party to a federal lawsuit for alleged fraud over the ownership of Belle Ami. The suit specifically highlighted the disqualification and its impact on the horses value.<ref name=":0" /> Another lawsuit brought by Belle Ami's owners claims Parra cheated her on the buying price of the horse after Parra refused to provide proof of purchase at the time.<ref name="st-georg.de"/>
== Equestrian career == Parra is originally from Colombia and a dentist by profession.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Phelps |first=Mary |date=2001-04-23 |title=Look Who's New in Who's Who: Dr. Cesar Parra |url=https://horsesdaily.com/article/look-whos-new-in-whos-who-dr-cesar-parra/ |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=HorsesDaily |language=en-US}}</ref> Parra began training in Germany in after meeting Linda Zang in 1995, who recognized his talent.<ref name=":2" /> Since turning his attention to dressage full time, he has competed and medaled in international competitions including the Pan American Games, Central American Games, World Cup finals, World Equestrian Games and the Olympics. Parra has medaled at the Bolivarian Games, the Central American Games, and the 1998 Pan American Games for his native country, Colombia. Riding for Colombia, he participated in the 2004 Olympic Games, in Athens and the 2005 FEI World Cup Finals, in Las Vegas. He competed twice at the World Equestrian games, in Jerez 2002 and Aachen 2006.
Parra moved to the United States permanently in 1999.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-09-19 |title=Dr. Cesar Parra Rides Away from Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions on Emotional High and as Member of 2011 U.S. Pan Am Dressage Team {{!}} Horses in the South – An Equine News Publisher |work=Horses in the South - An Equine News Publisher |url=https://horsesinthesouth.com/dr-cesar-parra-rides-away-from-collecting-gaits-farmusef-festival-of-champions-on-emotional-high-and-as-member-of-2011-u-s-pan-am-dressage-team/ |access-date=2024-05-27 |language=en-US}}</ref> Since gaining his US citizenship in 2008,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-12-16 |title=Dr. Cesar Parra is now a U.S. Citizen |url=https://horsesport.com/horse-news/dr-cesar-parra-is-now-a-us-citizen/ |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=Horse Sport |language=en-CA}}</ref> Parra was part of the Team Gold Medal at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. He was USA Intermediare I National Champion in 2010 and the USA Developing Grand Prix National Champion in 2017. Parra represented the US in 2014 at the World Cup Finals, in Lyon, and the Longines FEI World Breeding Championships, in the 7 year old division.
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Parra, Cesar}} Category:Living people Category:American male equestrians Category:Colombian male equestrians Category:Colombian dressage riders Category:Olympic equestrians for Colombia Category:Equestrians at the 2004 Summer Olympics Category:Pan American Games gold medalists for the United States in equestrian Category:Pan American Games silver medalists for Colombia Category:Equestrians at the 1999 Pan American Games Category:Equestrians at the 2003 Pan American Games Category:Equestrians at the 2011 Pan American Games Category:Medalists at the 1999 Pan American Games Category:Medalists at the 2011 Pan American Games Category:People from Ibagué Category:Sportspeople from Tolima Department Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Pan American Games silver medalists in equestrian Category:Animal cruelty incidents Category:Banned sportspeople Category:Doping cases in equestrian sports Category:21st-century American sportsmen Category:20th-century American sportsmen Category:21st-century Colombian sportsmen Category:20th-century Colombian sportsmen Category:Competitors at the 2002 Central American and Caribbean Games