Winning the Grand Prix freestyle at Dressage At Devon has been Cesar Parra’s dream since he first competed there, seven years ago.  He’s shown at Devon five times and even placed second in the freestyle, but tonight, Sept. 30, was finally his night to win with Galant du Serein (71.10%).

“This is home.  I love Devon,” said a jubilant Parra after his freestyle victory.  The Colombian dentist, who resides in the United States, competed in the FEI World Equestrian Games in August, but he was more pleased with his ride at Devon.

“I have to have a really good warm-up,” he explained.  “I have to find just the right tempo to get it done.”

Devon is about pizzazz and having fun under the lights, but Parra wasn’t able to enjoy his victory gallop.  Galant has been known to get rowdy at Devon, so Parra decided to do his honor round on foot rather than risk his horse’s legs or his own wellbeing.

“I saw Anky [van Grunsven] at the WEG,” he said.  (Salinero ran away with her in the team honor round at the WEG.)

Parra rode to the strains of Shakira and Enrique Iglesias, and the latin beat fit the Selle Francais stallion well.  Parra is a master of the freestyle, and the artistry of their ride just edged Courtney King and Idocus down into second place (70.10%).

King first rode Idocus in the Grand Prix freestyle at Devon five years ago and placed second then as well.  She’s been reunited with her Grand Prix partner for a year and a half, after he returned from time spent showing in Europe under Marlies van Baalen.  

King won the Grand Prix yesterday, but got out of sync with her music in the freestyle and never quite caught up.  “It didn’t feel as much like a dance,” admitted King.  “He was giving it his all, but I was behind the music.”

She used an old freestyle of her mentor, Lendon Gray, and discovered that it doesn’t really fit Idocus that well anymore.  “He’s changed over the past few months—his tempo and cadence have improved,” said King. 

She hopes to change the music to fit him better, but had no concrete plans.  “It’s useful to have the music choreographed to your horse,” she said.  “But good freestyles are very expensive.”

Although George Williams was last year’s winner aboard Rocher, he didn’t look at all disappointed to be in third place after the freestyle with Marnix (66.75%).  “I’m extremely happy with how Marnix went,” he said.  “It was one of the best rides I’ve had on him.”

And Devon may be in the future for Rocher once again.  The beloved Westphalian mare was recovering from a suspensory injury and is now back under tack.  Williams hopes to start showing her again next summer.

Sadly, two qualified riders ended up scratching from the Grand Prix freestyle because of minor injuries.  Neither Todd Flettrich and Amadeus nor James Koford and Donatelli 2 elected to show.

Lars Petersen took home yet another small tour victory with Dacardo at Devon in the Intermediaire I on Sept. 30.  The pair showed power and fluidity in every movement, although Petersen may have ridden just a touch on the safe side with the 8-year-old Swedish Warmblood.  But their score of 71.58 percent was still strong enough for the lead.

Jacqueline Brooks of Canada improved her test from the Prix St. Georges and grabbed second place with Balmoral (69.58%) ahead of Melissa Jackson and Wellington (68.25%).