Cesar Parra Suspended from Horse Sports for 15 Years, Longest in Equestrian Sport’s History – Update
Cesar Parra Suspended from Horse Sports for 15 Years, Longest in Equestrian Sport’s History – Update
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Cesar Parra at his farm in Jupiter, Florida in photo he posted on his 62nd birthday in May 2025.
Aug. 6, 2025
By KENNETH J. BRADDICK
Cesar Parra has been suspended from horse sports for 15 years, the longest in the history of equestrian sports history, after an investigation found the Colombian-American guilty of “recurring” horse abuse.
The suspension of Parra, who is aged 62, was announced Wednesday by the FEI, that governs international equestrian sports following a two-day closed-door hearing in March.
Parra, based in Jupiter, Florida where his farm is for sale, was provisionally suspended on Feb. 2, 2024 after multiple videos from his own collection showing abuse of horses were transmitted to the FEI, the U.S. federation and other equestrian authorities. Since then, however, he has continued his horse and rider training and sales business, posting regular self-promotional reports on social media.
The suspension by the FEI Tribunal is the longest ever, according to a FEI spokesperson. The previous longest suspension period was for American jumper rider Andrew Kocher who was banned by the FEI Tribunal in 2021 for 10 years for use of electric battery operated spurs.
On 22 May 2024, the FEI initiated formal disciplinary proceedings against Parra, bringing forward three charges: i) abuse of horse; ii) conduct that brings the FEI and/or equestrian sport and the FEI into disrepute; iii) breach of the FEI Code of Conduct on the Welfare of the Horse.
“This case is deeply unsettling, not only because of the recurring nature of the abuse, but also because of the number of horses affected,” FEI Legal Director Mikael Rentsch said of the decision.
“That such behaviour came from a top-level athlete makes it all the more troubling. Our athletes are expected to represent and uphold the highest standards of horsemanship. Horse welfare is the foundation, not an add-on, of equestrian sport.
“The investigation demanded significant time and resources due to the volume and complexity of the evidence, which had to be meticulously verified. The 15-year suspension sends a clear message that regardless of profile or position, those who violate the principles of horse welfare will face serious consequences.”
The FEI described its action as “marking one of the most significant sanctions issued by the FEI Tribunal,” the 15-year suspension plus a fine of 15,000 Swiss francs and costs of 10,000 Swiss francs (a total of almost US$31,000).
Parra is banned from taking part in any competition or event, or in any related activity under the jurisdiction of the FEI or any National Federation. He is also prohibited from training any FEI registered athletes and/or FEI registered horses. The provisional suspension already served will count towards the 15-year sanction, which will end on Feb. 1, 2039.
Several equestrians have been suspended for life by U.S. Center for Safe Sport. The Congressionally mandated organization has not reported any action involving Parra although complaints of sexual abuse are reported to have been filed.
He is one of seven dressage riders, six Olympians, to have been suspended for alleged horse abuse in the past two years.
Parra replied to a question by Dressage-News.com whether he will appeal the suspension to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, also based in Lausanne: “I believe so.”
The videos were initially discovered by an office employee and then turned over to Adam Steffens-Smienk and, his husband, Sven Smienk, a Dutch citizen who rides for Canada and was an employee at the Parra barn about 30 miles/48 km north of Wellington.
The German Equestrian Federation and some horse breeding associations took quick action to ban Stefan Sandbrink and Dr. Kerstin Klieber, two individuals shown in the Parra videos, from participating in equestrian activities until 2028. Oldenburg and Hanoverian horse bans were imposed on Parra for life.
The FEI from its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland took over the investigation primarily by trans-Atlantic Internet video calls when the US federation considered its rules at the time limited its ability to deal with out-of-competition offenses. Changes to the rules were implemented later in 2024 although Parra’s behavior was widely known for many years. In 2012 Parra personally confronted this correspondent at the U.S. championships in Gladstone, New Jersey threatening to sue Dressage-News.com for posting reports that he labeled libelous.
Even though he lived in the United States with farms in New Jersey and Florida, he competed for his native Colombia at the 2004 Olympics, the 2002 and 2006 World Equestrian Games, the 2005 World Cup Final and the Pan American Games in 1999.
Galant du Serein, the horse he rode in the Olympics, 2006 WEG and 2005 World Cup was owned by Horses Unlimited of Albuquerque, New Mexico. In 2007, Anne Sparks, owner of Horses Unlimited, cited “personal differences” to move eight of her horses from Jupiter to Mikala Münter in Wellington who rode for Denmark at the time.
Parra switched to ride for the USA in 2008 and three years later was selected for the quadrennial Pan Ams at Guadalajara, Mexico. There, he became the only rider of 47 from 15 nations to receive a yellow card, which was for violating the rule for international competitions by working his horse out of sight of stewards and other officials.
In 2014, Parra rode in the World Cup Final under the American flag.
During the preliminary suspension, Parra has been teaching and selling horses from his Jupiter farm that is on the market for almost $4 million, as well as in Mexico.
Parra’s last official competition was a national Prix St. Georges two weeks before the preliminary suspension.
The FEI, in coordination with US Equestrian, launched an immediate investigation into the allegations that Parra had “repeatedly and deliberately subjected the majority, if not all, of the horses he owned and trained to recurring and serious abuse over a number of years.
“The investigation involved a thorough review of extensive video and photographic material, as well as multiple witness statements.”
The FEI initiated formal disciplinary proceedings against Parra in May, 2024 , bringing forward three charges: i) abuse of horse; ii) conduct that brings the FEI and/or equestrian sport and the FEI into disrepute; iii) breach of the FEI Code of Conduct on the Welfare of the Horse.
“This case is deeply unsettling, not only because of the recurring nature of the abuse, but also because of the number of horses affected,” FEI Legal Director Mikael Rentsch said.
“That such behaviour came from a top-level athlete makes it all the more troubling. Our athletes are expected to represent and uphold the highest standards of horsemanship. Horse welfare is the foundation, not an add-on, of equestrian sport.
“The investigation demanded significant time and resources due to the volume and complexity of the evidence, which had to be meticulously verified. The 15-year suspension sends a clear message that regardless of profile or position, those who violate the principles of horse welfare will face serious consequences.”
Parra is banned from taking part in any competition or event, or in any related activity under the jurisdiction of the FEI or any National Federation. He is also prohibited from training any FEI registered athletes and/or FEI registered horses. The provisional suspension already served will count towards the 15-year sanction, which will end on Feb. 1, 2039.
SYDNEY, June 23, 2017--Australia will host an International Equestrian Federation (FEI) World Dressage Challenge as part of the 2017 Australian Dressage Championships in October.
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