Cesar Parra Provisionally Suspended by FEI from Competing in National, International Events While Investigation Conducted Into Training by USA Rider
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Feb. 2, 2024
By KENNETH J. BRADDICK
Cesar Parra has been “immediately provisionally suspended” by the FEI while the International Equestrian Federation said Friday it “investigates the disturbing and abhorrent images and videos in relation to his training techniques that have recently emerged.” Parra will not be allowed to compete nationally or internationally during the investigation.
The FEI decision comes a day after US Equestrian announced it is working with the FEI to investigate the training methods of the 59-year-old Parra after videos emerged that the federation labeled “appalling and abhorrent.”
Dressage-News.com has been provided with dozens of videos and photographs of Parra training of extensive whipping and hitting horses, including equipment such as the inside of a noseband with sharp-edged screw designed to put pressure on a horse’s mouth.
Adam Steffens-Smienk, a dressage rider at Candoit Stables in Jupiter Farms, about 30 miles/48km north of Wellington, posted some videos that were displayed on the Internet Thursday and posted to US Equestrian and the FEI that sparked the investigation. He collected the videos over three months from previous employees of Parra Dressage.
The FEI statement:
“The FEI confirms that Dressage Athlete Cesar Parra (USA) (FEI ID 10000031) has been immediately provisionally suspended while the FEI investigates the disturbing and abhorrent images and videos in relation to his training techniques that have recently emerged.
“Equestrian sport is built on a foundation of respect for our equine partners, with a duty of care to ensure their mental and physical wellbeing comes first, ahead of all competition and/or training ambitions.
“Through the FEI’s Rules and Regulations, the welfare of the horse, and any action or omission which causes or is likely to cause pain or unnecessary discomfort to a horse constitutes a violation of our rules and will be sanctioned. The FEI remains resolute in its commitment to upholding the highest standards of equine welfare and sanctioning behavior which deviates from these principles, and will be actively investigating this case as a matter of urgency.
“As this is an open investigation, no further comment will be provided in relation to the alleged offenses while the investigation is ongoing. The FEI is also collaborating and liaising with US Equestrian and the FEI’s provisional suspension and any subsequent sanctions will be recognized at the national level.
“The FEI is committed to ensuring that horses involved in sport experience positive welfare throughout their lives, and that the FEI’s regulations, policies and practices, as well as the wider community’s actions reflect these principles, and we will continue to address actions and behaviors that are in contradiction with our values.”
Parra, on the U.S. team at the 2011 Pan American Games, operates training centers in New Jersey and Florida.
Some videos and photographs provided to dressage-news.com will be posted on its site.
CORRECTION: An earlier version reported that the videos and photographs were shot by Adam Steffens-Smienk. The images were compiled from material provided over three months by previous employees.
