Piaffe-Performance Young Riders Medal on the Home Front
Whitehouse Station, NJ (August 15, 2011) – International dressage rider and trainer Dr. Cesar Parra recently wrapped up his very successful European tour, returning to his Piaffe-Performance Farm in New Jersey with Michael and Sara Davis’s Grandioso and Dave and Taunia Reed’s Agastrofos. Parra’s goal overseas was to prep himself and his horses for the show arena and gain training advice from the masters in Germany. While Agastrofos’ time overseas was more focused on training than competition, there can be no doubt that Dr. Parra met his goal; he and Grandioso won four major competitions during their stay in Germany. At Balve and Helmer Edelburg, the pair competed in the Prix St. Georges and S3, topping the field in classes of over 40 horses.
“I am so happy with Grandioso’s success here in Europe. I have always said, and known, that Grandioso is a very special horse,” Parra said. “Having shown in Germany for many years, I know how difficult it is to win a class here. Our time there was fantastic from a training perspective of course, but it has also given us more confidence in the ring.”
While Parra was winning overseas, the students at his Piaffe-Performance Farm were racking up the wins in Kentucky. Chase Hickok and Dominique Cassavetis both medaled at the 2011 USDF/Platinum Performance North American Junior and Young Rider Championships in Lexington. Hickok took home the Individual Silver in the Young Rider Freestyle and the Individual Bronze in the Young Rider Team Test, while Cassavetis rode away as part of the Junior Gold Medal winning team from Region 1. “Chase and Dominique did a fantastic job of representing Performance Farm,” said Parra. “And senior trainer Katie Riley did an exemplary job of coaching them in my absence. I could not have asked for a better outcome.”
After his round of wins and training in Germany, Parra is preparing to return to the show scene here in the United States. He and Grandioso have their sights set on the Festival of Champions and the CDI in Saugerties, with the long-term goal being the Pan Am Games in Guadalajara. “Grandi’s strongest suit is his desire to work and the sheer quality of all three gaits. He is such a complete horse; there is no hole in him. Our time in Germany has only improved his performance and mine as well,” said Parra. “I am looking forward to competing again on US soil!”
“It’s exciting when you get to show successfully in Germany,” Parra said. “I know I am tremendously blessed to have had the opportunity to compete and train overseas and I thank God for that. It wouldn’t happen without the hard work and support of many people, from the Davis and Reed family, to senior trainer Katie Riley, and all of my students and staff. Now we will focus on the US National Championships at Gladstone and hopefully a spot on the Pan AM team,” added the ever-enthusiastic Parra.
For more information on Parra or Piaffe-Performance visit their website at www.piaffe-performance.com.
For more information contact:
Dr. Cesar Parra
drcesarparra@msn.com
www.piaffe-performance.com
410-977-8352