HIS& HERS
Cesar Torrente:
Judging with the Stars
with LA Sokolowski, equinista
No one likes to be first in the ring and probably no
one understands that better than the man called “a
rider’s judge,” Cesar Torrente, who became the very
first judge under the new FEI 2*, 3* and 4* rating system.
A quick FEI primer: the “new” 2* is for judges
whose home countries have no Grand Prix classes and
licenses them to judge a limited range of international
competitions through Prix St. George and I-1 (including
3* Small Tour, CDI1* and 2*); 3* (formerly “C”
or “international candidate”) judges internationally
through Grand Prix except Olympics, CDIs above 3*,
Grand Prix Championships; 4* (formerly “I” or “international”)
for most international competitions excluding
Olympics and Worlds; 5* (formerly “O” or “official
international”) for all international competitions. The
multilingual lawyer, former Colombian dressage national
champion, two-time Bolivian Games team gold
medalist, and member of the FEI Tribunal turns 60
this year with another first, as the newest judge on
the Ground Jury of the 2020 FEI/WBFSH Young Horse
Championships. Always generous with feedback
for riders, he was as generous for us with his time.
HERS: How old were you when you got your first paying
job?
HIS: When I was 19 I was offered a weekend job
as a dressage trainer in Bogota. I was studying law
and since then, there has always been a struggle
between law and horses. I need both but now am
downsizing my law practice and following my passion!
HERS: What never got included on your résumé?
HIS: I quit my first important job as lawyer, in one
the most prestigious law firms in Bogota, to show in
Florida.
HERS: What do you remember about your first horse?
HIS: I started “seat lessons” when I was 12. That
meant for almost two years I was not allowed to
have stirrups or reins. Then, after a year with reins, my
father (who decided he did not need advice from
any trainer or vet) took me to the track and bought
a Thoroughbred. The day after Pablo arrived, the vet
said that he had a serious injury and it was dangerous
HERS: What book would you like time to read?
HIS: To re-read War and Peace by Tolstoy, and Hamlet
by Shakespeare.
HERS: Last series you binge-watched?
HIS: Suits, Madame Secretary, The Medicis, The Borgias,
Vikings…
HERS: If you had to work outside the horse world what
would you be doing?
HIS: I would love to be in a Broadway musical.
HERS: What is your favorite quote?
HIS: “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today
is a gift.”
HERS: Describe yourself in one word?
HIS: Thankful.
Lifestyle
to jump him. I was introduced to dressage by a
EQUINE 30 www.EliteEquestrianMagazine.com
very tense horse with difficult conformation but the
journey was amazing. I discovered I loved dressage.
HERS: What do you like best in a horse? In a person?
HIS: Willingness and cooperation. EE
/www.EliteEquestrianMagazine.com