Cesar Parra’s Florida Horse Farm for Sale, No Decision Yet on Abuse Charges
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Dec. 9, 2024
By KENNETH J. BRADDICK
The Florida horse farm of Cesar Parra is up for sale for about $4 million but there is no indication of a resolution of charges of abuse of “several horses” by the American trainer who was provisionally suspended more than 10 months ago.
The 4.54-acre/1.837ha. farm is in an equestrian area of Jupiter, a wealthy community about 30 miles/48km north of Wellington. The Jupiter area is also well known as the home base for some of the world’s premier professional golfers.
Cesar Parra bought the farm in 2007 where he had been based while it was owned by a wealthy supporter who had several dressage horses in training and for competition. The owner pulled the horses in 2006, moving them to trainers in Wellington. The farm was sold to Parra the next year.
A farm that Parra operated in western New Jersey has already been sold.
“Don’t know,” was the response by the 61-year-old Cesar to a question by dressage-news.com as to his plans when the Jupiter farm is sold.
He is, however, known to have developed a horse training and sales business in Mexico.
Mariette Withages, former chair of the FEI Dressage Committee and now retired as an Olympic level judge, was named 18 months ago technical advisor for dressage for the Mexican federation. She was a guest at the Jupiter farm, including when she visited Florida to judge individual rides by Cesar Parra at Jupiter and Oded Shimoni in Wellington to qualify them for the 2008 Olympics.
The FEI has taken primary responsibility for investigating the allegations that were triggered by the release of several videos compiled from several former employees. The FEI described the videos and photos as “disturbing and abhorrent images and videos in relation to his training techniques.”
At the time of the suspension in February, U.S. federation President Thomas F.X. O’Mara and Chief Executive Officer William J. Moroney stated “we want to be absolutely clear–we are documenting these violations and will pursue disciplinary action to the highest degree in partnership with the FEI.”
The U.S. organization in a statement to dressage-news.com on Monday made it clear it has taken a back seat to the FEI: “The case is under the jurisdiction of the FEI and is proceeding through the FEI disciplinary process. Cesar Parra has been on a provisional suspension since February 2024.
“USEF will enforce any disiplinary action imposed by the FEI.”
The FEI, based in Lausanne, Switzerland, is reported to have pursued its investigation primarily through trans-Atlantic electronic means, including zoom interviews.
Other horse abuse cases involving prominent competitors have been dealt with relatively promptly, either by national federations or the FEI in the meantime.
Parra competed at the 2004 Olympics, the 2002 and 2006 World Equestrian Games and 2005 World Cup Final for his native Colombia.
He switched to ride for the United States in 2008 and was selected for the American team at the 2011 Pan American Games and the 2014 World Cup Final.
The farm for sale includes a three-bedroom, three-bathroom house and a large screened-in pool.
Equestrian facilities include a 14,000 square-foot covered arena, 11,000 square-foot barn with four apartments, three tack rooms, a feed room, and 21 horse stalls equipped with ceiling fans, horse wash racks, a full laundry area and offices. There is an additional 10-stall barn and a round pen.
