August 25, 2006

World Equestrian Games Notes from Charlene Strickland

Conversation in the Owner's Box

A Visit with Anne Sparks Whitten and Cesar Parra

Anne Sparks Whitten, owner of the dressage stallion, Galant du Serein and sponsor of Dr. Cesar Parra, issued an invitation to her table, in the Table Grandstand of the Champions' Circle.

From the higher elevation in the main stadium, you can watch the competition from a different vantage point. In dressage, you see the horse's back movement—and can see any “blips” in the horse's performance that judges on the ground might miss. Before the competition started, Whitten discussed her horse's opportunity for placing in the competition. “I can't tell you how nervous I am to make the top 30,” said Whitten. “I think the scores will be good enough.”

Parra rode as an individual, the only dressage rider from Colombia. At the Central American Games, he received a medal for his record in dressage, as the most successful ever Colombian rider.

He and Galant used the Verden CDI*** as their preparation for WEG. There they scored in the 69 range, assuring Parra and Whitten of a similar performance in Aachen. “My goal is to get all my horses going to score over 70 percent,” said Parra about his training goal. “Only about 10 percent of the horses in the world are over 70.”

He also noted that showing is part of the journey of his life. “If you live your life, you learn, don't ride for only a show. Do the best you can and if you enjoy it, you're the winner.” His first WEG was 4 years ago in Jerez.

Parra trains with Hubertus Schmidt. Besides riding Galant for Whitten's Horses Unlimited, he's also training young horses she's bred. “Breeding is even more difficult than riding,” he said. Whitten agreed, saying, “I love the breeding.” During the afternoon, she commented on sire lines represented among the entries, noting how jumper lines contribute to dressage: “You get the jump in the canter.”

Of her 120 horses, she includes Thoroughbred mares. She said, “The Hannoverians bring in great Thoroughbreds, because somebody's got to do it. And then my jumper trainer, Henrik Gundersen, expressed the attitude, 'Why should I breed to a Thoroughbred when my neighbor can?'”

Parra and Galant du Serein weren't able to achieve the scores they earned in Verden, and did not qualify for the Grand Prix Special. For the horse owner, it's on to the next show!