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Cesar Parra’s Newest Oldenburgs Honored with a Visit from the German Oldenburg Verband

Cesar Parra (left) with Holly Simenson, Thomas Rhinow, Nadine Burberl (mounted), and Fiderhit OLD. (Photo courtesy of JRPR)

Wellington, FL (February 28, 2013) – Let it not be said Dr. Cesar Parra doesn’t have an eye for a good horse. Dr. Parra rode Galant du Serein for Colombia in the 2004 Olympics before becoming an American citizen in 2008 and riding Grandioso to team Gold with the U.S. on the 2011 Pan American Games team. Parra’s eye for talent — or diamonds in the rough if you will – recently led Michael and Sarah Davis, owners of Dr. Parra’s 2012 U.S. Olympic Dressage hopeful, Van The Man, to acquire two five-year-old Oldenburgs for the Piaffe-Performance Farm team:  a mare, Fiderhit OLD, and a gelding, Fashion Designer OLD.

At the Florida Dressage Classic CDI during the 2013 Adequan Global Dressage Festival, Thomas Rhinow and Holly Simenson of the Oldenburg Verband in Germany visited the Fiderhit and Fashion Designer and elaborated on the OLD designation that was bestowed upon both horses.  It seems ‘OLD’ doesn’t designate just any Oldenburg, but only the best of the best.

Fashion Designer (Faustinus x De Niro) was one of the four-year-old mares and geldings nominated by the Oldenburg society to represent the breed at the 2012 Bundeschampionate in Warendorf (Germany); Fiderhit qualified for the Brilliant Ring of the Oldenburg Elite Mare Show in Rastede (Germany). Out of hundreds of three- and four-year old mares inspected by the Oldenburg Verband in Germany every year, only a select group are invited to go on to a Mare Performance Test. Out of those, roughly 100 earn the States Premium Candidate title, and out of the States Premium Candidates, approximately 60 are invited to the Elite Mare Show.

Oldenburgs hold a special place for Parra. “Oldenburgs have brought me wins and great support.  The quality of the breed’s bloodline speaks for itself. You don’t just read a pedigree, you see it in the horses,” said Parra.  In 2007, Parra faced tests more challenging than any dressage arena.  That July, he lost his best horse, a six-year-old licensed Oldenburg stallion, Donovan, to colic.  Two months later, he suffered a stroke, while on a business trip in Germany.  “It was a really difficult year.  Lots of tears and frustration, but luckily I had a strong team of family and friends I could rely on. You have to leave adversity behind and keep going.”  And Parra is definitely moving forward as he and Van the Man won three national Grand Prix classes with scores in the high sixties during the CDI.

“The Oldenburg breed crosses the best horses from the best associations with strong dam lines, without being limited to state studs or stallions. These breeders are clear about creating a modern riding horse with a good mind,” said Thomas Rhinow during his recent visit. Holly Simensen, Director of the North American Oldenburg Verband, agreed: “The Oldenburg Verband history is about being open minded and looking to future improvement.”  For Fiderhit and Fashion Designer, the future could be brilliant in the good hands of Dr. Parra and the Piaffe-Performance team.

Cesar Parra, DDS, MScD, operates Piaffe Performance in Jupiter, FL and Whitehouse Station, NJ and was born in Colombia, where he began riding cattle horses in the Andes Mountains of his grandparents’ farm. An international trainer and rider with more than 300 FEI wins to his credit, Dr. Parra has worked with the best in dressage, including Herbert Rehbein, Siegfried “Bimbo” Peilicke, Hans Rueben, Herbert Kuckluck and Hubertus Schmidt.  He also competed in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, 2005 Las Vegas Dressage World Cup, and 2006 Aachen World Equestrian Games.  Learn more at www.piaffe-performance.com.

For more information contact:
Dr. Cesar Parra
drcesarparra@msn.com
www.piaffe-performance.com
410-977-8352

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