Tag Archives: Cesar Parra

Piaffe Performance Excels in the U25 and Small Tour at 2015 NEDA Fall Festival

Cesar Parra with Katie Riley aboard Toy Story after their second placing debut in the Intermediate I at the 2015 NEDA Fall Festival (Photo courtesy of Piaffe Performance).

Saugerties, NY (September 25, 2015) – The talented team from Piaffe Performance, a successful dressage training business owned by international rider Dr. Cesar Parra, emerged with many triumphs at the 2015 New England Dressage Association (NEDA) Fall Festival and CDI. The competition was held in Saugerties, New York, on September 19-20. Parra was quick to give credit and accolades to his Piaffe Performance team for their success, and is already looking forward to his team’s next competition. Next up will be a personal favorite of Parra’s – the Dressage at Devon show on September 29 – October 4 in Devon, Pennsylvania.

At the NEDA Fall Festival, Parra was exceedingly proud of student Rodrigo Encinas Fuentes, who showed KWPN gelding GK Van the Man (Obelisk x Landjoker) for the first time in the U25 (under 25 Grand Prix) test. “Van and Rodrigo started to work together only in the last 10 days. It made me so proud to see horse and rider already working so well together at NEDA. Van is really enjoying his job, and Rodrigo is learning a lot, so it is a fun project to be a part of,” Parra reflected.

“I am very grateful to Kamel and Nicoletta Ghribi of GK Horses for helping make it possible for Rodrigo to show Van,” said Parra, referencing his exciting new sponsorship. “What a fantastic feeling it is to be able to help in making others dreams come true! I personally am also so proud of Van, who has been my partner since 2012. To see him so mature and happy in his job is also a super feeling.”

Katie Riley, who is a founding member of the Piaffe Performance team, thanked Parra and the owners of Toy Story, Heather and Gurdon W. Hornor, for the opportunity to ride the 2006 bay Dutch Warmblood gelding at NEDA in his CDI debut. The pair finished third in the Prix St. George with a 69.3 percent and second in the Intermediate I with a score of 68.860. “I could not be more proud of him, finishing right on the heels of the winners. I’m loving the journey on this special boy and so very grateful,” Riley said.

Parra expressed his excitement of the pairing of Riley, who is a USDF Gold medalist, and Toy Story (Trento B x Vroukje, by Jazz). “They have come so far in just one year together and are looking great,” said Parra. “It was Toy’s first time doing that test, and while they had really good scores, and they have a lot of potential to do even better in the future. They will be exciting to watch at Devon.”

Riley and Toy Story will compete in the same classes at Dressage at Devon. Riley will also compete in Devon’s Dixon Oval with Don Cesar (Desperados x Manhattan), who is owned by Parra and his wife Marcela Ortiz Parra, in the FEI Five-Year-Old division. Riley hopes to add a first place to the Westphalian gelding’s third place ribbons from the 2015 Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Championships.

At NEDA, Parra wasn’t only on hand to help his students. He also competed with Blickpunkt, a German-bred Westphalian gelding (Bellisimo M x Fascination, by Fidermark). “He is a super horse from our partners at Cavallias and Villa Do Retiro horses,” said Parra. “Blickpunkt has been training well since Florida, and it was important to me to get him back in the ring before Devon.” They competed in the small tour FEI Intermediate I CDI and Prix St. Georges as a warm-up for Devon.

In addition to Blickpunkt, Parra will be showing Fashion Designer OLD at Devon in the USEF Fourth Level classes at Devon. The 16.2-hand bay Oldenburg (Faustinus x Hauptstutbuch Forst Design, by Deniro) recently placed third in the FEI Developing Horse Prix St. Georges at the 2015 Markel/USEF Developing Horse Championships. He will be a returning competitor at Devon.

Parra and his team have been hard at work getting ready for Dressage at Devon. “We always like to do our best to shine at Devon,” said Parra. “It is a very special show to us. It’s close enough to home that a lot of our friends and students come to watch and support us. Our preparations revolve around, of course, the details of the test, but also just as important is that the horses are relaxed in their work. I get them outside even more than normal, walking in the woods and on the hills, and even down the roads. I think the more they see the less likely they are to get overwhelmed by the show atmosphere.”

To learn more about Dr. Cesar Parra, his Piaffe Performance team, and training, lessons, and sales services he offers, visit www.piaffe-performance.com.

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

USEF Developing Horse Championships Reveal Piaffe Performance’s Young Horse Talent

Dr. Cesar Parra with Fashion Designer OLD (Photo courtesy of Equinus International)

Wayne, IL (August 27, 2015) — Dressage riders Dr. Cesar Parra and Katie Riley of Piaffe Performance placed high on three talented horses in the Markel/USEF Developing Horse Championships held at the Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, Illinois, on August 19-23.

Parra had a brilliant second day in the USEF Developing Prix St. Georges Final on Fashion Designer OLD, a seven-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Faustinus x De Niro) owned by Martin Sosnoff and Parra. The pair earned a 71.422 percent, capturing second place. This launched them into third place overall in the championships, with only .80 percent behind the second place horse and rider.

“It was an amazing weekend,” Parra said. “I’m totally in love with Fashion Designer OLD, who was the best Oldenburg in the Developing Prix St George Championships. I’m also really excited that one judge gave us a 75.588 percent in the final. The future is so bright for this horse.”

Riley and Toy Story, a nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Trento B x Vroukje) owned by Heather Horner, earned a 68.421 percent in the FEI Prix St. Georges for fourth place. Riley has been riding Toy Story for exactly one year. “I am very happy with Katie and Toy Story; to have them qualify and contend in a Championship at this level after only one year together is a testament to their partnership, and the quality and work ethic of the horse. Toy Story is one to watch, especially when he comes out at the Grand Prix level; that is where he will really shine,” remarked Parra.

Riley earned exciting results with Don Cesar, a five-year-old Westphalian gelding (Desperados x Sacre Schwalbe x Manhattan) owned by Parra. The pair placed second in the Five-Year-Old Young Horse Preliminary with a 79.0 percent and a 78.8 percent in the Five-Year-Old Young Horse Final Test, earning third place overall in the Championships. While Don Cesar did not come home with the blue ribbon, Parra and Riley were not disappointed.

“We were very happy,” Riley said. “All three horses showed what absolute star quality they have, and what bright futures lay in front of them, so we were thrilled with them. This program provides such great experiences for our young and upcoming horses. We are so grateful to Markel, the USEF, the owners of the beautiful Lamplight facility, and all the people that make this program possible.”

After returning to their summer home base in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, the team from Piaffe Performance will train for Dressage at Devon to be held in Devon, Pennsylvania, at the end of September.

“Dressage at Devon is always a very special show for us,” Riley said. “It’s such a great atmosphere and a fun show.”

Piaffe Performance is always ready to welcome dressage riders to its talented team. To learn more about Cesar Parra, Katie Riley and Piaffe Performance 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

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

Piaffe Performance Qualifies 3 for USEF Young & Developing Horse Dressage Nat’l Championships

Katie Riley and Toy Story (Photo courtesy of Piaffe Performance)

Whitehouse Station, NJ (June 5, 2015) – Success feels thrice as nice for Dr. Cesar Parra of Piaffe Performance right now. After a string of exceptional performances in front of Centerline Events judges during the HITS-on-the-Hudson series in Saugerties, New York, he and his Piaffe Performance team have qualified three horses – Fashion Designer OLD, Toy Story, and Don Cesar – for the 2015 Markel/USEF Young and Developing Horse Dressage National Championships, to be held on August 19-23 at the Midwest’s premier Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, Illinois.

“We are so excited with these young up-and-coming horses,” says Katie Riley, who joined the Piaffe Performance team in 2000 and has helped bring its horses through World, Pan American, and Olympic competition since. “They are super, quality horses at the top of their sport. The Markel/USEF Young and Developing Horse programs play critical roles in the development of our future stars, and we are very grateful to have programs like this and for Markel’s continued support.”

Fashion Designer OLD, owned by Martin Sosnoff and Dr. Cesar Parra, will be competed at Developing Prix St Georges level by Parra. The Oldenburg (Faustinus/DeNiro) gelding earned 75.66 percent at his last show in Florida. “He will probably do one more qualifier in July to tune up for the Championships,” Riley expects.

Also in Developing Prix St. Georges, Riley will ride Toy Story, a Dutch (Trento B/Jazz) gelding owned by Heather Hornor. Toy Story’s strong Prix St. Georges debut at his last Florida show this season earned him a 71.90 percent. “We will compete him locally in June and do one more qualifier in July to prep for the Championships,” Riley says of her mount.

Also keeping Piaffe Performance busy will be an exciting entry in the Five-Year-Old division, Don Cesar, owned by Dr. Cesar Parra and Marcela Ortiz Parra. The Westphalian (Desperados/Manhattan) gelding earned 84.4 percent in his Young Horse 5 Year Olds FEI Test Finale in Florida in April, and will also be competed locally through the summer in preparation for the August limelight at Lamplight.

Coming off one of its strongest winter seasons ever at the competitive Adequan Global Dressage Festival, Piaffe Performance and Cesar Parra have returned to summer operations out of Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, where another rainbow of ribbons – especially blue – are already accumulating. Next, the team will be aiming for gold with their young horses in August.

Piaffe Performance is always open to welcoming new dressage riders to its winning team. To learn more about Dr. Parra, Katie Riley, and Piaffe Performance 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

Olympian Cesar Parra Cleared of Charges

Cesar Parra on Van the Man (Photo courtesy of Sharon Packer)

Flemington, NJ (May 7, 2015) – Dr. Cesar Parra is officially cleared – as declared by a Hunterdon County Superior Court jury – of charges of negligence. Parra, who was accused in 2009 with being at-fault for lunging injuries to a Hanoverian stallion, is now cleared of alleged negligence with the formal finding of “no cause.”

During the four years of lawsuits revolving around this accident, Parra continued to be active in the dressage industry. When Parra’s eligibility to compete in the World Cup Dressage Finals last year was questioned, the United States Equestrian Federation conveyed its support of Parra, who had not been convicted of any charges.

Parra’s name has been known in the equestrian world for years, as he competed for his native Colombia in the 2004 Olympics, helped the United States team earn the gold medal in the 2011 Pan American Games after becoming a U.S. citizen in 2008, and competed in two World Equestrian Games. Most recently, Parra competed in the 2015 Adequan Global Dressage Festival, where he enjoyed multiple FEI class wins with his equine partners. Parra also coached several students of Piaffe Performance to top finishes during the winter dressage circuit and supported the show as a sponsor. Parra operates his Piaffe Performance training, showing, and sales business in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey and Jupiter, Florida.

Now that Parra has the case behind him, he plans to double his focus on his passion for dressage. “I am so grateful that an impartial jury unanimously was able to see the truth in this matter. I am looking forward to now focusing on what I love – my family, the horses, the riding, and training,” Parra stated after the case.

“I am very grateful for all of the support I have received through the past years from friends, my clients, and even strangers from all over who contacted me in response to these allegations. None of us who work with animals are happy when any horse gets injured. For years I was told by my attorney not to comment about this case but the jury can now speak for me: They heard the evidence, they had no bias, and they found no cause.”

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

Piaffe Performance Team Wraps Up the Season with Ribbons at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival

Dr. Cesar Parra of Piaffe Performance competes on Van the Man. Photo courtesy of Susan J Stickle.

Wellington, FL (April 17, 2015) – After twelve weeks of top-notch competition at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival, the world’s richest dressage circuit ended with continued success from the Piaffe Performance Farm team. It’s no surprise to Dr. Cesar Parra, founder and owner of Piaffe Performance, that his team would continue to score in the ribbons until the very end. Parra dedicates himself to training both horses and riders at Piaffe Performance.

Parra himself brought in the wins throughout the season. During the circuit’s last week, he rode Van the Man, a 2002 Dutch Warmblood sired by Obelisk, in the extremely competitive FEI Grand Prix and FEI Grand Prix Freestyle in the CDI-W. They finished the weekend with a 72.275 percent. Parra also successfully competed Blickpunkt 4, a 10-year-old 16.2-hand dark chestnut Westphalian gelding, owned by Eduardo Fischer, in the show’s final CDI-W small tour.

Barbara (Bebe) Davis, who enjoyed a successful season as part of team Piaffe Performance, lived up to expectations through Week 12. She rode her family’s horse, Rotano (Rotspon x Bona Dea, by Brentano II) to win her FEI Freestyle Test for Juniors. Davis and the 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding also achieved two second places throughout the week.

Kathryn (Katt) Mills commuted to Florida from Pennsylvania during the winter season and rode Fabiano at Third Level. Successful throughout the circuit, she received two blues and a red in the final week. Mills’s German-bred Fabiano (Florencio I x Estocha, by Ehrentusch) is a bay Westphalian gelding bred by Sigrid Farwick.

When not earning top scores in the show ring, Parra was on the show grounds brightening the days of the Adult Amateur community. Parra is strongly dedicated to giving back to dressage, especially to the Adult Amateurs who he calls the “backbone of the sport.” He sponsored the Piaffe Performance Adult Amateur Awards throughout the season; choosing a deserving competitor to receive the recognition each week of the circuit. Award winners were thankful to Piaffe Performance for supporting amateurs and encouraging them to continue competing and improving.

As a sponsor of the Adequan Global Dressage Festival, Piaffe Performance also sponsored two Hospitality Booths near a bit check station and warm-up ring during Week 12. Riders enjoyed the chance Piaffe Performance provided to grab some cold water bottles and rest in the shade during the heated competition in the Sunshine State.

When not in Florida, Parra operates Piaffe Performance out of Whitehouse Station, NJ. The Piaffe Performance team achieved a rainbow of ribbons the past 12 weeks – with emphasis on the blue – while also making the entire show a positive experience for all through the Piaffe Performance Adult Amateur Achievement Awards and Adequan Global Dressage Festival sponsorship.

Parra is always open to new dressage riders becoming a part of his winning team. To learn more about Piaffe Performance training, lessons, and sales services, visit www.piaffe-performance.com.

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

Ellen Lazarus of New York Wins Piaffe Performance Adult Amateur Achievement Award

Wellington, FL (April 6, 2015) — Adult amateur dressage rider Ellen Lazarus of New York, New York was named as the final winner of the Piaffe Performance Adult Amateur Achievement Award during the 2015 Adequan Global Dressage Festival. Each week at the festival, Piaffe Performance chose an exceptional amateur rider who showed great sportsmanship and horsemanship skills. Lazarus and her 16.2-hand chestnut gelding, Rhett, were the last in this year’s series of adult amateurs to be honored as the backbone of the sport of dressage.

Lazarus and her Dutch Warmblood, Rhett (Krack C x Idallisto, by Casanova), also took home a blue ribbon in their Thursday afternoon class after performing Fourth Level Test 2. Lazarus and Rhett have shown together in Wellington since 2011. Lazarus has owned Rhett for the past five years after purchasing him from the barn of Anky van Grunsven.

Rhett has improved greatly during his time with Lazarus and her trainers, Ashley Holzer and Lindsay Kellock. “He was the world’s spookiest horse. We could not get him around the ring,” said Lazarus as she described what challenges she has overcome with him in the past five years. “I just did a spook-free test. I’m very proud of that. He’s got these gorgeous changes in the canter, and trying to get those in the ring is amazing. If he gets them, he gets 8. But it’s hard to get them.”

Lazarus was thrilled to just be competing after fracturing her back in May 2014. She said it’s been a long road back into the saddle. When she isn’t working full time, Lazarus laughingly said she competes to “relax,” and loves to show in the adult amateur division. “We put so much effort in to everything at home, so you want to check it out and see what other people think in the show ring,” she said. “And it’s fun to have your friends cheering you on, even if you mess up.”

Lazarus boards Rhett with Ashley Holzer, and splits her time between Wellington, FL and her facility at the Riverdale Equestrian Center in New York, NY. Lazarus takes lessons with Holzer’s Assistant Trainer, Lindsay Kellock. “I’m from Manhattan, so I ride in the mornings before work when they’re up north and on the weekends in Florida I compete. I come down for three or four day weekends,” said Lazarus, who is dedicated to her riding. She also owns a young horse that she hopes to show in a few years.

Kellock said she was impressed with Lazarus’ ride. “Like Ellen said, the horse definitely has a spooky history. Ellen has been through a few things with him,” said Kellock. “But to come out and do this, especially after literally just getting off the plane from New York, is great. She hasn’t ridden him in three days. She had a clean ride. I’m so pleased.”

Lazarus said she would like to thank Dr. Cesar Parra, founder of Piaffe Performance, whom she has known through dressage for more than 20 years. “It’s so nice for the amateurs to get awards like this,” Lazarus said as Parra presented her with the Piaffe Performance Adult Amateur Award. “And to finally have the CDI adult amateur Prix St. George, which is my next goal,” she added in reference to a change at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival this year for adult amateur riders over age 25 competing at the Small or Medium Tour level. The change made it possible for these riders to be able to compete in a new CDI Amateur International division during every CDI week.

Piaffe Performance is honored to recognize exceptional adult amateurs like Lazarus this year at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival. The award supports Parra’s belief that adult amateurs are the backbone of the sport of dressage. Dr. Cesar Para is a Pan American Games Gold medal winner who now provides top-notch training for both riders and horses in Jupiter, Florida, and Whitehouse Station, New Jersey. Piaffe Performance was an active sponsor of the festival, and also enjoyed many show ring victories throughout the season amongst Piaffe Performance students, trainers, and Parra himself. Piaffe Performance specializes in selecting, training, and showing, and also facilitates the sale of top dressage prospects for riders at every level. For more information on Piaffe Performance, visit www.piaffe-performance.com.

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

Focus on the Fundamentals and Teamwork Brings Results at Dressage at Devon CDI

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

Two Six-Year-Olds from Parra’s Performance Farm to Represent the USA at Verden

Cesar Parra and Fiderhit (Courtesy of Susan J. Stickle)

Whitehouse Station, NJ(June 30, 2014) – Piaffe Performance’s two young Oldenburgs have been rising stars throughout their careers, and now they will be going international. Fiderhit OLD and Fashion Designer OLD have been invited to represent the United States in Verden, Germany at the 2014 FEI World Breeding Championships for Young Horses, held August 6-10. Both horses are also eligible for an automatic invitation to the Markel/USEF Young Horse Dressage Championships, the United States’ national championship for young horses.

Fiderhit OLD is a 6-year-old mare by Fidertanz out of a Sandro Hit mare that began her career with Piaffe Performance as a 3-year-old. Owned by Michael and Sarah Davis, she earned impressive scores during this year’s 2014 Adequan Global Dressage Festival, including an 86.2% in the FEI 6-year-old Test to win the class. Under the guidance of head rider and trainer Dr. Cesar Parra, Fiderhit OLD placed 3rd in last year’s Markel/USEF Young Horse Championships, placed second at the Dressage at Devon CDI, and finished 2nd in the 5-year-old division in the USDF Horse of the Year standings.

Fashion Designer OLD, a 6-year-old gelding by Faustinus and out of a DeNiro mare, was the Markel/USEF 5-year-old National Champion in 2013 and won the 5-year-old Division at the Dressage at Devon CDI, and was the top ranked horse in the USDF Horse of the Year standings for the 5-year-olds. Ridden by Nadine Burberl and owned by Martin Sosnoff and Dr. Cesar Parra, Fashion Designer OLD also had numerous high placings at the Global Dressage Festival this winter.

Following the Global Dressage Festival, and with both his young horses ranked first and second in the nation, Dr. Cesar Parra was quoted as saying, “Believe me, we have not seen the best from these horses yet.” It would seem his sentiment was accurate as both now are aimed at success on the international stage in Verden. “The talent in these two horses is unbelievable,” said Parra. “They demonstrated that time and again in Florida this season, and it is an honor for us to have been selected to represent the US in Verden.”

Parra and the Davis’s Van the Man were recently one of only 15 horse and rider combinations selected to compete at the 2014 US Dressage Festival of Champions at the United States Equestrian Team Headquarters in Gladstone, New Jersey. With two facilties operating out of both Whitehouse Station and Jupiter, Florida, the staff at Piaffe Performance focuses on training horses and riders in classical dressage methods, as well as choosing, showing, and selling high-quality sport horses.

To find out more about Piaffe Performance and the services it provides, visit www.piaffe-performance.com, or call the New Jersey facility at (908) 534-4700 or the Florida facility at (561) 748-1472.

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

Konyot and Parra Close Out 2014 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final with Improved Scores

Tina Konyot and Calecto V (Mary Adelaide Brakenridge/Phelps Media Group/PSdressage.com)

Lyon, France – The 2014 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final came to an exciting conclusion Sunday afternoon at the Lyon Eurexpo, as 17 of the world’s best performed their Freestyles in front of the Ground Jury of Eduard de Wolff van Westerrode, Dr. Jean-Michel Roudier, Thomas Lang, Dr. Evi Eisenhardt, Gary Rockwell, Jacques van Daele, and Leif Tornblad. The two American riders, Tina Konyot and Cesar Parra, both posted improved scores over their Grand Prix results to close out their trip to the FEI’s only annual championship.

Entering the ring as the fifth combination of the day, Konyot (Palm City, Fla.) and her 16-year-old Danish Warmblood stallion, Calecto V, performed their trademark Freestyle set to the music of KT Tunstall and Beyonce. The 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games and 2012 Olympic Games veterans began with the strong trot tour they have been become known for; however, three-quarters of the way through her test Konyot forgot her floor plan resulting in a different ending to the test than originally planned.

“The beginning of my ride was beautiful; he felt fantastic. Then about three-quarters of the way through the ride I just drew a blank; it has never happened to me before,” said Konyot who was nonetheless extremely proud of her horse’s performance in Lyon. “He was great, wonderful. My horse felt superb.”

They finished the feature class of the 2014 Final in 12th place on a score of 71.929%.

Parra (Whitehouse Station, N.J.) and Michael and Sarah Davis’ Van the Man had an improved performance over their Grand Prix ride to score 68.429% and finish in 16th place. The tension that had plagued the 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding on Friday appeared nowhere in sight as he executed an obedient test set to up-tempo contemporary music.

Cesar Parra and Van the Man (Mary Adelaide Brakenridge/Phelps Media Group/PSdressage.com)
Cesar Parra and Van the Man (Mary Adelaide Brakenridge/Phelps Media Group/PSdressage.com)

“It was much better than yesterday and a great way to celebrate Easter,” said Parra who had plenty of praise for his developing horse. “He’s a nice horse; he’s very talented and just needs time to bloom.”

The day undoubtedly belonged to Great Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro who had the crowd at the edge of their seats as rode their highly anticipated new Freestyle to earn a mark of 92.179% and claim the 2014 title. With their win in Lyon the pair now stand as reigning World number one, Olympic, European, and World Cup champions.

Finishing in second place were 2013 champions Helen Langehanenberg and Damon Hill NRW of Germany with 87.339% and third place went to The Netherlands’ Edward Gal and Glock’s Undercover with a score of 83.696%.

By Helen Murray

To find a full list of orders of go and results from the 2014 FEI World Cup Finals, visit: http://eventcontent.hippoonline.de/890/index.html.

Learn more about the 2014 FEI World Cup Finals here.

To watch the 2014 FEI World Cup Finals live, visit feitv.org.

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