Dr. Cesar Parra Qualifies for 2006 World Championships

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2006 World Equestrian Games

Dr. Cesar Parra has qualified for the 2006 World Championships in dressage. He survived a rigorous qualification process to earn a coveted spot as a representative of his native Colombia. Dr. Parra has successfully competed with the world’s best for more than a decade

. He was a 1999 Pan American Team Silver Medalist, as well as fourth place individually at the 2003 Pan American Games. He competed in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens and the 2005 World Cup Final in Las Vegas. Parra is a United States Dressage Federation Gold Medalist and recently won the Grand Prix Freestyle at the prestigious Zada Enterprises Florida Classic CDI 3* in Florida.

“To qualify for the World Championships is second only to competing at the Olympics,” said Dr. Parra. “I’m very excited, as this is any rider’s dream to compete among the best in the world.” Dr. Parra previously competed at the World Championships in 2002 in Jerez, Spain. Like the Olympics, the World Championships are held only every four years. They are held as part of the World Equestrian Games—seven world championships held at the same time—in Aachen, Germany in August.

Dr. Parra will ride Galant du Serein, a stallion owned by U.S. breeder Horses Unlimited. Dr. Parra and Galant du Serein have established a rapport by training together for the last two and one half years. They were partnered for both the Olympics and the World Cup Finals, and earned ribbons at CHIO Aachen, but Dr. Parra feels that the horse is just coming into his own. “Galant has plenty of talent,” he explained, “but like many stallions, he has to choose to let you ride him. We are becoming more consistent. When we are really connecting, it’s an indescribable feeling.”

To prepare for facing the world’s best Dr. Parra will travel to Germany prior to the event. There he will be coached by Olympic Gold Medalist Hubertus Schmidt. “Dressage really is a team sport,” Dr. Parra said. “So many people make this possible. Not only the horse’s owner and my coach, but the sports medicine support staff, grooms and horse shoers. When it all comes together like this, it is the greatest feeling.”