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Piaffe Performance and GK Horses Partner with Shared Vision of Equine Excellence

Cesar Parra and Fashion Designer OLD (Photo courtesy of stacylynnephoto.com)

Whitehouse Station, NJ (July 24, 2015) – After a string of exceptional performances put Piaffe Performance Farm’s three horses – Fashion Designer OLD, Toy Story, and Don Cesar – one step closer to the 2015 Markel/USEF Young and Developing Horse Dressage National Championships, Piaffe Performance’s founder and owner Dr. Cesar Parra proudly announced a new sponsorship with Nicoletta Ghribi of GK Horses in Italy.

Nicoletta Ghribi, a former Swiss swimming champion now based in Italy, is married to a successful entrepreneur in the oil and cotton business, and has found her sporting passion in international equestrian circles. GK Horses has chosen to boost its participation and commitment to national and international dressage through its electric new partnership with Piaffe Performance.

“I am so excited to be in a situation where I can concentrate on riding horses and develop long-lasting partnerships. I think it is every rider’s dream to have the ability to take all the time they need and know that the horses will not be sold. It is the best way to develop a partnership with the horse. I am of course so happy about this and also excited I can continue my dream of helping young professionals develop in the sport.”

“I met Nicoletta three years ago,” Parra continued, “on a phone call that was supposed to take five minutes – we stayed on the phone for two hours. GK Horses is the result of many conversations and dreams, and it was clear from the start that we share a vision for our sport. Our priorities are in line with developing the beauty of the horse without the stress of a timeline,” said Parra, shortly after returning from Windy Hollow Hunt in New Jersey, where the Piaffe Performance team faced its last qualifier before the 2015 Markel/USEF Young and Developing Horse Dressage National Championships in August at the Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, Illinois.

“I’m happy with our recent results,” added Parra. “Fashion Designer OLD has been fantastic. His most recent scores have brought his average to more than 74 percent, placing him second in the current rankings.” Fashion Designer OLD, owned by Martin Sosnoff and Dr. Parra, will compete at Developing Prix St Georges level under Parra, who brought the Oldenburg (Faustinus/DeNiro) gelding to a 75.66 percent in his last test on the Florida winter circuit.

Also competing in Developing Prix St. Georges is Toy Story, a Dutch (Trento B/Jazz) gelding owned by Heather Hornor. His stellar Prix St. Georges debut in Florida, under Piaffe Performance’s Katie Riley, resulted in a 71.90 percent performance that the team will certainly seek to replicate when the limelight is on them at the Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne.

“Both horses are peaking at the right moment for the Championships,” Parra said.

Riley also rode Don Cesar in the FEI 5 Year Old test as preparation for the Championships. “They’re averaging 80.19 percent and the horse just keeps improving every day. He is truly one of the best young horses I have ever had,” Parra praised. Promising to be an exciting entry in the Markel/USEF 5 Year Old division, Don Cesar, owned by Dr. Parra and Marcela Ortiz Parra, is a Westphalian (Desperados/Manhattan) gelding that earned more than 84 percent in his Young Horse 5 Year Old FEI Test Finale in Florida in April.

“We are having a great summer,” Dr. Parra said. “I have made some changes here and we are enjoying a relaxed and happy environment for all our horses and clients.” Piaffe Performance is thrilled to welcome GK Horses to its successful team.

To learn more about Dr. Cesar Parra, Katie Riley, and Piaffe Performance Farm horses, training, lessons, and sales services, please visit www.piaffe-performance.com.

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

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