Tag Archives: Piaffe-Performance

Awards, Dressage, JRPR

Piaffe Performance Awards Adult Amateur Grand Prix Rider at Adequan Global Dressage Festival

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Lee Burton (left) wins the Piaffe Performance Adult Amateur Achievement Award at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival, presented by Dr. Cesar Parra (center) and her trainer Patricia Sanchez (right) (Photo courtesy of JRPR).

Wellington, FL (February 8, 2016) – When Lee Burton of Saint Simmons, Georgia traded in her life as an avid golfer to get in back the saddle, she set out on a path toward success. Burton rode western as a child, then dabbled in a little eventing before finding her true passion for dressage. She has risen through the levels and now competes at Grand Prix level dressage.

Burton rides down centerline with Enebro XIV, her 12-year-old PRE gelding. Burton and Enebro recently traveled to the 2016 Adequan Global Dressage Festival specifically for the much-anticipated USPRE week. Amidst the celebration of the Spanish PRE breed, Burton and Enebro successfully competed in the FEI Grand Prix national classes, where they earned the Piaffe Performance Adult Amateur Achievement Award. The award recognizes exceptional adult amateurs for their successes in the arena and their contributions to dressage through outstanding sportsmanship and horsemanship. Dr. Cesar Parra, owner and head trainer at Piaffe Performance, presented Burton with a Piaffe Performance neck medal, a tri-color ribbon, and an engraved silver picture frame to hold a lasting memory of her award-winning ride.

Burton was overjoyed to receive the Piaffe Performance Adult Amateur Achievement award, and thanked Parra and her trainer Patricia Sanchez of Spain. Burton described her start in dressage and the difficulties she experienced. “It was quite an adventure learning. I evented for a couple years and thought, ‘I am going to die,’” laughed Burton. Shortly after switching into the dressage sector, Burton purchased her first PRE stallion in Spain and competed in every level all the way to Grand Prix. She won her USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold medals all on her PRE stallion and has since had many successes on Enebro.

Parra was happy to present Burton with the Piaffe Performance Adult Amateur Achievement Award, and commended her on her many accomplishments in the sport of dressage. “I have learned so much from my adult amateur riders about perseverance and commitment,” explained Parra, who has achieved successes himself at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival in previous years, and is a Pan American Games Gold Medalist. “Through this award, I hope Piaffe Performance can play a role in encouraging Adult Amateur riders. They are the backbone of our sport.”

In addition to the Adult Amateur Award, Parra and Piaffe Performance sponsor the International Arena Rider Lounge and the Hospitality Tent by the National Arenas at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival show grounds. The Piaffe Performance Rider Lounges provide drinks and snacks for all levels of riders to enjoy as they relax before or after their tests.

Piaffe Performance is based out of Jupiter, Florida and Whitehouse Station, New Jersey and is an Official Partner and Sponsor of the 2016 Adequan Global Dressage Festival. Piaffe Performance specializes in selecting, training, and showing, and facilitates the sales 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.GKHorsesatPerformanceFarms.com

Dressage, JRPR

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

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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

Championships, Dressage, JRPR, USEF

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

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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

Championships, Dressage, JRPR, USEF

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

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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

Dressage, JRPR

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

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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

Competitions, Dressage

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

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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

Awards, Dressage, JRPR

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

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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

Breeds, Championships, Dressage, FEI, JRPR

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

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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

Dressage, JRPR

Piaffe Performance Delivers Success from the World Cup Level to Young Horses and Juniors

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Fiderhit OLD competing at the 2014 Adequan Global Dressage Festival. (Photo courtesy of SusanJStickle.com)

Wellington, FL (April 9, 2014) – The riders and trainers of Piaffe Performance have just rounded out a successful season that has left them leading the nation across the divisions.  From the international Grand Prix level to the Young Horse and Junior classes, every member of the Piaffe Performance team is at the top of their game and preparing for a successful spring and summer.

Two rising stars who have received international attention for their incredible performances are Fashion Designer OLD, an Oldenburg gelding ridden by Nadine Buberl and Fiderhit OLD, an Oldenburg mare owned by Michael and Sarah Davis and ridden by Dr. Cesar Parra.  The two competed in the FEI 6-Year-Old divisions during the Global Dressage Festival, and their collective scores have them currently ranked as the top two 6-year-olds in the United States.  The team at Piaffe Performance is thrilled that the two are now qualified to compete at the 2014 Young Horse Championships this summer, where they will vie for top honors in the 6-year-old division.

And Fiderhit and Fashion Designer aren’t the only ones dominating the youth divisions. Sixteen-year-old dressage rider Bebe Davis won both first and second place at the CDI Florida Youth Championships Junior competition this year on Fievel Mousekewitz and Rotano, horses owned by her parents Michael and Sarah Davis. Bebe Davis and Fievel Mousekewitz also received an impressive score of 73.333% in FEI Junior Freestyle at the 2014 AGDF Week 10 CDI on March 16. Davis and Fievel Mousekewitz were also invited to perform their Freestyle at the Celebration of the Horse, which will be held in Central Park this fall. The young rider’s next step will be heading to the USEF Festival of Champions and North American Junior Young Rider Championships this summer, where she will defend her title as 2013 Junior National Champion.

In keeping with the winning ways of Piaffe Performance and his daughter Bebe, Mike Davis also stepped into the winner’s circle with his mount, Weekend Pleasure.  The pair had dual first place finishes in the Fourth Level Test 1 class on both Saturday and Sunday during the final week of competition of the Global Dressage Festival.  The adult amateur rider and his wife, Sarah, also own the World Cup bound Van the Man and top ranked 6-year-old Fashion Designer OLD, proving they not only win the blue ribbons but also support and contribute to the sport on multiple levels.

Yet another winning contributor on the Piaffe Performance team is Martin Sosnoff, an extremely successful businessman who took up dressage later in life.  His 80+ years don’t stop him from competing at the FEI level; in fact he showed his Danish bred Scirocco in both the Prix St. Georges and Intermediaire I during the final week of Global, and also competed his Dutch bred Amigo at Third Level.

While Piaffe Performance’s students continue to score and rank in the top in the nation, Piaffe Performance’s assistant trainer, Katie Riley, has mastered the double role of coach rider; in addition to helping Piaffe Performance’s students prosper in the arena, she has been successfully campaigning her own horse, the Dutch Warmblood gelding Zanzibar on the Florida circuit.  The pair had first and second place finishes in the Developing Horse Grand Prix division at the CDIO 3* Nations Cup, and Riley is currently a leading competitor in Developing Horse Grand Prix in the United States.  She is currently working with Parra to prepare Zanzibar for the 2014 Young Horse Championships.

To find out more about Piaffe Performances 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

Breeds, Dressage, JRPR

Piaffe Performance’s Oldenburgs Rank First in the Nation

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Dr. Cesar Parra and Fiderhit OLD. (Photo courtesy of SusanJStickle.com)

Wellington, FL (March 25, 2014) – “Believe me; we have not seen the best from these horses yet.” That was the comment Dr. Cesar Parra, founder of Piaffe Performance, made in 2013 about two of Piaffe Performance’s talented horses — Fiderhit OLD and Fashion Designer OLD. Parra was right. At the 2014 Adequan Global Dressage Festival Week 10 National Show, the two Oldenburgs came in first and second in their class. This currently places them first and second in the United States national rankings.

The 2014 AGDF Week 10 National Show was held on March 13-16 at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Piaffe Performance’s Fiderhit OLD and Fashion Designer OLD proved to be unbeatable in the FEI 6 Year Old Test Final (Markel/USEF) on Sunday March 16. Riding for the USA, Dr. Cesar Parra of Piaffe Performance presented Fiderhit OLD, a 17.1-hand black Oldenburg mare owned by Michael and Sarah Davis. The mare scored 86.2% in the open division of the class, earning her first place.

Nadine Buberl of Germany showed Fashion Designer OLD, a 16.2-hand bay Oldenburg gelding owned by Martin Sosnoff and Dr. Cesar Parra. Buberl and Fashion Designer OLD scored 79.6% in the open division of the FEI 6 Year Old Test Final (Markel/USEF). This put them in second place in the class.

After the AGDF Week 10 National Show, senior trainer at Piaffe Performance, Katie Riley, stated, “Our young horses made quite a splash at their first show of the season; we were very proud of them.” A “splash” is certainly an understatement. Fiderhit OLD’s and Fashion Designer OLD’s outstanding show results granted Piaffe Performance the accomplishment of having not only one, but two, horses in the top dressage rankings in the United States.

Training horses to perform as well as these two Oldenburg six-year-olds is a constant goal of Piaffe Performance.  With two facilities operating out of both Whitehouse Station, New Jersey and Jupiter, Florida, the staff focuses on training horses and riders in classical dressage methods, as well as choosing, showing, and selling high-quality sport horses. Dr. Parra and his team of trainers and riders at Piaffe Performance base their training on the six-part Training Scale: Rhythm, Suppleness, Contact, Impulsion, Straightness, and Collection. Besides training, Piaffe Performance also offers lessons and assistance with selling horses in Germany and the United States.

To find out more about Piaffe Performances 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.

For more information contact:
Dr. Cesar Parra
drcesarparra@msn.com
www.piaffe-performance.com
410-977-8352