Provisional Suspension of Cesar Parra Imposed 18 months Ago, No Decision Yet
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Aug. 2, 2025
The provisional suspension of Cesar Parra following “disturbing and abhorrent” images of treatment of horses was imposed 18 months ago this date with no decision yet following investigations and confidential hearings.
Parra, 62 years old and whose farm in Jupiter, Florida is for sale for almost $4 million, has for months been conducting a public relations campaign to present himself as concerned about people and horses.
Parra, who rode for both his native Colombia before switching to ride for the United States, was suspended Feb. 2, 2024 after multiple videos from his own collection showing abuse of horses. The videos were transmitted to the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), the U.S. Equestrian Federation and other equestrian groups.
The suspension was initiated by the FEI, based in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The U.S. federation followed, citing a rule that it said at the time prevented it from pursuing action for behavior outside show grounds. That rule has since been changed.
A two-day hearing over the Internet was conducted in mid-March by the FEI in Switzerland with several witnesses, including former employees of Parra, based in the United States.
The longest suspension ever imposed by the FEI Tribunal was for American jumper rider Andrew Kocher, banned for 10 years for use of electric battery operated spurs.
The Congressionally mandated U.S. Center for Safe Sport has not reported any action involving Parra although complaints of sexual abuse are claimed to have been filed. Safe Sport has imposed lifetime bans but its procedures have been criticized.
Parra is one of seven dressage riders, six Olympians, to have been suspended for alleged horse abuse in the past two years. They are: Andreas Helgstrand (2004, 2008 Olympics) and Carina Cassøe Krüth (2021) of Denmark, Charlotte Dujardin of Great Britain (2012, 2016, 2021), Cesar Parra of Colombia (2004), Evi Strasser (1996) and Tanya Strasser-Shostak of Canada, and Heath Ryan of Australia (2008).
