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Lily Zilo, Winner of Piaffe-Performance Adult Amateur Award, Welcomes the ‘Challenge’ of Riding for Hong Kong

Dr. Cesar Parra and Lily Zilo. (Photo courtesy of JRPR)

Wellington, FL (April 7, 2014) – Piaffe-Performance Adult Amateur Award winner Lily Zilo dreams big and her award-winning success during the final week of the Adequan Global Dressage Festival in Wellington is fueling her determination to carry out her goal: riding for Hong Kong in September at the 17th Asian Games in South Korea.

Zilo, who trains with Shannon Dueck and Sahar Daniel Hirosh, stepped up her game against the professionals in Wellington, competing in her first season at the Prix St Georges level with her partner of the last 18 months, the 16.1-hand, nine-year-old bay KWPN (Rhodium x Larcona) gelding, Windsor’s Aron.  Their first test on Friday earned a fifth-place score of 62.105%, inspiring Zilo to return on Saturday having fine-tuned their ride for a second-place clinching 64.474% effort.

Competing at Wellington has meant riding against peers from the highest levels of the sport, which is exactly where the Piaffe-Performance Adult Amateur Award winner wanted to be in order to hone her skills before facing off against seasoned international veterans at the Asian Games.

“I know that I will compete with professionals, but as an adult amateur, I feel very proud to face the challenge of representing the Chinese people, and to let young Chinese children know that you can have a big goal and ride for your country,” Zilo remarked.  “You need to be a partner to your horse, to reward them when they are good, and to use patience and consistency when asking them to step up.”

“Adult amateur riders like Lily, who focus on the horse and challenge themselves to keep improving, are what keeps our sport growing around the world. I hope the silver picture frame that comes with Lily’s award will hold the photo of her on the medal podium in September,” said Parra.

Throughout the 2014 Adequan Global Dressage Festival series, Piaffe Performance Adult Amateur Awards recognized the exceptional successes of adult amateur riders, through their outstanding sportsmanship or horsemanship.

Cesar Parra, DDS, MScD, operates Piaffe Performance in Jupiter, FL and Whitehouse Station, NJ and has worked with such masters of dressage as Herbert Rehbein, Siegfried “Bimbo” Peilicke, Hans Rueben, Herbert Kuckluck and Hubertus Schmidt.  Learn more about training and sales prospects at www.piaffe-performance.com.

Contact: Dr. Cesar Parra
Piaffe-Performance Farm
(410) 977-8352
www.piaffe-performance.com

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