Perhaps No Verden for Donavan and Parra

One rider who already knows he could go to Verden is Parra. A native of Colombia, his home country has already issued him an invitation to attend, but Parra said he has already decided he would not go as a representative for Columbia. He’s in the process of becoming a U.S. citizen and has decided to stick with his plan of representing the U.S. in future international competition.

“I’ve been working toward my U.S. citizenship and I decided I must stick with my plan. In September I will be able to begin the paperwork. So it is still my goal to represent the U.S. and I am sure it will be with this horse. This is for sure, the right horse for me,” Parra said.

Donavan has a U.S. passport and hence, there is a chance that Parra could take him to Verden as a U.S. horse, which he might do if an invitation comes from the U.S. “But I think the chances for a U.S. invitation are unlikely,” he said. But no matter, there is little doubt in his mind that Donavan and he will be on a U.S. team in the future.

Donavan, was already a star before leaving Europe and coming to the U.S. to Parra. Bred by Dr. Ursula Mittermayer, the stallion was a reserve champion at the prestigious Bundeschampionate (German Federal Young Horse Championships). This past winter on the Florida circuit, he gathered quite a collection of blue ribbons.

There is no doubt the horse has tremendous potential. At the Markel Young Horse Selection Trials there was little the panel of judges – Jane Ayers, Janet Foy and Axel Steiner – could say about him, other than offer praise. “We like the horse very much,” Steiner told Parra. His only critical comment was a warning to Parra to be careful in developing the horse’s walk. The judges’ scores for the horse were perhaps no surprise considering that at the Bundeschampionate Donavan received high marks for his gaits (8.70 for trot, 9.00 for canter and 9.30 for his walk).

BobTarr.com Photos of Cesar Parra and Donavan and with Markel's Lisa, Brandon, and John Seger.

Parra does not seem terribly disappointed about the prospect of missing Verden. He has no doubt that he and Donavan have a bright future ahead. His immediate plan is to give the horse a bit of a vacation. “My main goal is to let him rest a bit and just be a horse for awhile. We’ll work a bit on relaxation and suppleness and then we’ll start picking up again depending on when the next show is. Most likely that will be the Young Horse competition in Kentucky so we’ll pick it up again in August. And then maybe do Devon and then next year perhaps try Prix St. Georges.”

The fact that Parra knows he has a good horse and expected to do well in the Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Eastern Selection Trials didn’t seem to dampen his enthusiasm after his win. “I’m so excited. He was really, really good. He had no mistakes. I’m very, very happy with how he’s doing.”

Markel/USEF Dressage Test for 6 Year Old Horses - Final