Katie Riley and Toy Story (left) and Dr. Cesar Parra and Fiderhit OLD at Dressage at Devon. (Photo courtesy of Mark Vigna)
Devon, PA (October 8, 2014) — “Devon is one of, if not my favorite, show. The electric atmosphere and consistent quality of horses and riders it attracts makes it really special. And this year was no exception,” said Dr. Cesar Parra of Piaffe Performance Farm at the conclusion of yet another successful year at Dressage at Devon. Piaffe Performance’s team of horses, riders, trainers, and owners proved that strong basics and a focus on teamwork make for success at the prestigious show held September 23-28, 2014 in Devon, Pennsylvania. With Parra and his trainers racking up wins across divisions and their students competing successfully at one of the most prestigious dressage competitions in the US, Piaffe Performance’s horses bloomed in the arena of the Dixon Oval.
“Michael and Sarah Davis’s Fiderhit OLD and Simply Nymphenburg were both amazing, winning each class I rode them in,” Parra said. Fiderhit OLD, a 16.3-hand black Oldenburg mare, brought Parra two wins in the FEI Young Horse Final for 6-Year-Olds Open division. The pair scored 78.200 percent on Thursday September 25, and an 80.600 percent on Friday.
Simply Nymphenburg returned to Devon, where he had won the Young Horse Championship as a 6-year-old, and again enjoyed great success now as an 8-year-old competing at Fourth Level. In the USEF Fourth Level Test 1 Open division on Friday, Parra and the magnificent Hanoverian scored 68.857 percent, earning another first place. The pair raked in two more wins on Saturday and Sunday in the USEF Fourth Level Test 2 Open division, with consecutive scores of 71.486 percent and 70.225 percent.
As is typical of Parra’s character, his thoughts at the close of Dressage at Devon were dominated not by his own five wins but by pride for the members of his Piaffe Performance Farm Team — equestrians and equine athletes alike. Katie Riley — a founding member of the Piaffe Performance Farm Team — rode Toy Story, a Dutch Warmblood Gelding owned by Heather Hornor, to great success, earning first place in the USEF Fourth Level Test 2 with a score of 69.932 percent. Riley and Toy Story placed second to Parra in Sunday’s class.
Piaffe Performance’s talented Carlos Munoz rode Mauricio Sanchez’s First Fisherman to second place on both Saturday and Sunday in the classes FEI Intermediaire “A” Open CDI3* and FEI Intermediaire “B” Open CDI3*.
Additional Piaffe Performance riders completed the successful weekend with strong performances. “Nadine and Stephen both did us proud with beautiful riding. And I had a blast helping Heather Mendiburu with her beautiful mare Happy – what a great partnership they have and a bright future!”
Parra and his team were all smiles as they headed back to Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, where Piaffe Performance Farm is based during the summer. “I would like to be sure to thank all of the owners of all the horses for all of their support,” Parra said. “And also to all of our sponsors: Trilogy Saddles/Performance Saddlery, Arenus Equine, Cavalleria Toscana, Diane Sasscer, The Dressage Connection, Cold-Flex, StemEquine, and Nobody’s Business Farm. We are very grateful to all of you!”
Parra doesn’t plan to take time to rest before continuing to educate riders and horses to transform them into winners. “Now I will be traveling to give clinics throughout the world, and before we know it we will be packing for Florida. So now is the time to reserve your stalls for Florida! Come join us in the sunshine.”
To learn more about Dr. Cesar Parra, his Piaffe Performance Farm Team, and training, lessons, and sales services, visit www.piaffe-performance.com.
Contact: Dr. Cesar Parra
Piaffe-Performance Farm
drcesarparra@msn.com
(410) 977-8352
www.piaffe-performance.com