Cesar Parra and his team can look back on the shortened Florida competition season of 2020 with the satisfaction that a fresh approach in strategy worked. With his ever evolving program for his horses, his students, and himself, Parra knows it takes a team.

Photo:  Cesar Parra and Don Cesar, 2020 (Photo: ©Johnny Quintero)

Cesar Parra and Don Cesar, 2020 (Photo: ©Johnny Quintero)

Don Cesar Moving On Up

Shining bright at the Palm Beach Dressage Derby February 26- March 1 in the FEI Intermediate I Freestyle CDI3* was Parra’s own GK Don Cesar his 10-year-old Westfalian gelding by Desperados x Manhattan. Don Cesar, a 25th Wedding Anniversary gift for his wife Marcella Ortiz in 2017 is proving himself to be an exciting up and coming mount for Parra. It has been this season, that Cesar has included his wife’s input in his training and showing, as his eyes on the ground when he trains and competes.

“Don Cesar has been a very interesting horse for me to work with as he has challenged me to find new creative ways to build a deeper level of trust with him. We have found that this is critical to his correct development. I confess I have been bribing him with many sugar cubes while working with him in hand partly to accomplish this along with getting out of the arena to go for a hack and relax together.  I have learned that this positive approach really gives him the confidence in me that he needs to go boldly into the more electric environments and perform at his best because he knows that I’ve got his back and he can rely on me to support and encourage him if he feeling a little overwhelmed.”

Cesar Parra and Don Cesar have excelled in the Markel/USEF National Young Horse Championships where they have been a fixture in the program. They were the only US entry in 2017in the 2017 World Young Horse Championships in Ermelo, Netherlands.