Cesar Parra Gets Support from Owner Over Abuse Charges
13 years ago StraightArrow Comments Off on Cesar Parra Gets Support from Owner Over Abuse Charges
Michael Davis, the businessman who has several dressage horses in training with Cesar Parra, came to the defense Sunday of the U.S. Pan American Games gold medal team rider who has been charged with abuse of a horse at his New Jersey farm three years ago.
Although the charges were filed by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, in an email to dressage-news.com he questioned the credibility of a man who has spearheaded the attack on Cesar, who rode in the Olympics, World Equestrian Games and Pan American Games for his native Colombia before becoming a U.S. citizen in 2008.
He cited articles of lawsuits filed by the man against judges, law enforcement officers, news organizations and officials in the Obama administration.
Summons were issued against Cesar Parra who has a farm in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, to appear in Readington Township Municipal Court in Whitehouse Station on April 5 to answer charges of “torment, torture” and “overdrive, overwork…abuse” of the horse, William PFF, on or about June 6, 2009.
If convicted of the charges under New Jersey’s anti-cruelty statutes, Cesar Parra would face a maximum penalty of a fine of up to $1,000 and six months’ imprisonment.
“The accident was a tragedy, however this should not be used as a platform to begin a smear campaign against others in the dressage community,” said Michael whose horses with Cesar include Van the Man that he bought as a prospect for the Olympics.
“Accidents happen and as you well know, every trainer, rider, farrier, groom, veterinarian, transporter associated with handling, riding or care of horses is subject to attacks from people whose goal is to see all horses released into the wild and left to their own devices, which I think we can agree would be a disaster.
“In my humble opinion our community should set aside any and all personal or professional differences at a time like this and come together to expose the truth as to who is behind this, their objectives and their motivation.
“This is a wonderful sport and we should work collectively to preserve its reputation and keep people whose agenda is driven by self promotion away from inflicting further damage.
“Yes you can take this as my attempt to protect Cesar and I can appreciate and understand why, however I am also aware of just how close we are all to being the ‘next’ victim to outsiders who will stop at nothing to destroy our sport and promote their own agenda, which I can assure you is different from all of ours.”
