Tag Archives: Piaffe-Performance

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage, Events, JRPR

Cesar Parra’s Piaffe Performance Continues Winning Ways at 2012 Palm Beach Dressage Derby

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Dr. Cesar Parra with Nicolas Torres and Silver Label at the 2012 Palm Beach Dressage Derby. (Photo courtesy of Dr. Cesar Parra)

Wellington, FL (March 23, 2012) – Piaffe Performance’s team of riders, headed by Dr. Cesar Parra, has already had many successes on Florida’s winter dressage circuit, and the group of riders and horses recently added a list of wins to their resumes during the 2012 Palm Beach Dressage Derby, held at Equestrian Estates. Piaffe Performance always has a large group of supporters wearing their colors, and during this year’s Derby the fan club had plenty to cheer about as Parra’s team took home blue ribbons in most of the major divisions, from Young Riders to Pony Tests to the FEI level classes.

Parra debuted a number of new horses during the prestigious CDI competition, including his new Grand Prix mount Van the Man and Simply Nymphenburg, a young prospect from Europe.  Van the Man, who is owned by Michael and Sarah Davis, handily won the Open Grand Prix class and FEI Test of Choice with scores over 70%, while Simply Nymphenburg scored an 81% in the FEI 6-year-old test and won his 2nd Level class with a 74%.  “Van the Man has such potential and our success at the Derby proves he is a horse to watch,” said Parra.  “Simply Nymphenburg is one of the best young prospects I’ve ever seen, and I am thrilled to have the chance to bring him along in his dressage career.”

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage, Events, JRPR

Piaffe-Performance Team Shines at CDI Saugerties with Numerous Wins, the Two Highest Scores of the Show and a Clean Sweep of the Small Tour

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Dr. Cesar Parra (center) stands with his team of riders from Piaffe-Performance at the CDI Saugerties. (Photo courtesy of Piaffe-Performance Farm)

Whitehouse Station, NJ (September 5, 2011) – Dressed in their navy blazers and khaki pants when they weren’t riding, the riders from Piaffe-Performance, led by international dressage rider and trainer Dr. Cesar Parra, were easy to spot at the CDI Saugerties show. The Piaffe-Performance team was on fire, burning up the scoreboard with phenomenal wins, excellent scores and personal bests.

Parra set the pace for his riders by making a clean sweep of the Small Tour classes aboard Grandioso, owned by Michael and Sarah Davis. “For Piaffe-Performance this was probably our most successful show ever. What an amazing weekend,” Para said. “Grandioso and I scored a CDI personal best of 75.614% in the Intermediaire I class. Our team also had the highest two scores of the show with multiple wins in the 3rd and 4th level classes.”

Kevin Kohmann and Federleicht rode away with the highest score of the show with a 78.9% while Nadine Buberl earned a 77.8% on Lindner. “Bebe Davis won the Pony test and showed her Rotano for the first time ever with a really nice score, showing what a bright future they have,” Parra said. “In the Junior CDI our riders placed first and second with Nicholas Torres Rodriguez and Silver Label winning both classes, with a score of over 70% on the second day. It was their first show together so I am very proud of them. I am also proud of Piaffe-Performance student Dominique Cassavetis who placed second in the same classes.”

The wins didn’t end there, as Chase Hickok and Krista Schrager rode away with first and second in the Young Riders. “John McGinty won his division of 4th level with Windsor, Susie won with Manny, Katie with Leo, Nadine did super with Superman and Aga showed off his new moves schooling through the weekend,” Parra said.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage, JRPR

International Dressage Rider Cesar Parra Wraps Up Successful European Tour

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Piaffe-Performance Young Riders Medal on the Home Front

Dr. Cesar Parra and Grandioso, along with groom Jen Mandraccia, lined up during an awards ceremony in Germany. (Photo courtesy of Jose Alvarez)

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.”

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Events, JRPR

Cesar Parra and Piaffe-Performance Students Make a Splash at the Wellington Classic Dressage Spring Challenge CDI

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International dressage rider and trainer Cesar Parra, who owns Piaffe-Performance with locations in Florida and New Jersey, rode into the winner’s circle at the Wellington Classic Dressage Spring Challenge CDI on Grandioso. (Photo courtesy of Horse Sport Photo.com)

Wellington, FL (February 21, 2011) – International Dressage Rider Cesar Parra and his students at Piaffe-Performance made a big splash at the Wellington Classic Dressage Spring Challenge CDI, when Parra and all eight of his students rode into the winner’s circle. Despite rain that kept the sky cloudy and the rings muddy, the riders at Piaffe-Performance shone as they captured the blue in 11 classes at the show.

“I am so excited about this show and how all of my riders did. I am so proud of everyone,” Parra said. “We had eight riders and won 11 classes, which is truly wonderful. In addition to my students doing great, I feel like I rode two very special horses, Grandioso and Lindner, and was very pleased that both horses did their best and were successful.”

Parra said that although the rings were a mess and it was raining, he made the decision to ride. “It was raining like crazy and a lot of competitors were scratching but I made the decision to go ahead and compete and I am really glad I did,” Parra said. “I was able to ride and warm up like I always do and within five minutes the sun came out. I competed Grandioso in the Intermediaire 2 class, which is a more risky and more forward test, but Grandioso stepped up to the challenge and I am so proud of him.”

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Awards, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Events, JRPR

Cesar Parra’s Piaffe-Performance Students Kick Off 2011 in the Winner’s Circle at the Wellington Classic Dressage Challenge

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Cesar Parra with his students, left to right: Mike Davis, Bebe Davis, Katie Riley, Nadine Buberl, and Chase Hickok. (Photo courtesy of Performance Farms)

Wellington, FL (January 27, 2011) – International Dressage Rider and trainer Cesar Parra was all smiles during the recent Wellington Classic Dressage Challenge Show, as his students followed in Parra’s award-winning footsteps and rode into the winner’s circle numerous times. Parra, who owns Piaffe-Performance with locations in Florida and New Jersey, had a fantastic 2010 that included breaking in his status as a new American citizen by winning his first National Championship at the USEF Dressage Festival of Champions.

“Looking back at 2010, it really was an amazing year,” Parra said. “But 2011 is already shaping up to be another fantastic experience and I am so proud of all of my students who really helped kick off the year in style at the Wellington Classic Dressage Challenge Show. I am so proud of each and every one of them.”

Parra’s student Michael Davis not only rode into the winner’s circle during the show, but also took home the High Point Award thanks to earning a 79.655% on Rotano in the USEF First Level Test of Choice. “I am thrilled for Michael and Rotano and they couldn’t have started off the year any better,” Parra said, adding that Michael’s wife, Sarah, and daughter, Bebe, also ride at Piaffe-Performance. “The Davis family is very special to me as they not only ride with me but I also show their horse Grandioso, who has a very bright future in the show ring. Our goal with Grandioso is to continue his training with our sights set on the 2012 Olympics in London.”

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*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Events, JRPR, Training/Clinics

Cesar Parra and the Piaffe-Performance Team Win Big at ESDCTA CDI Dressage

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International dressage rider Cesar Parra and his Piaffe-Performance Team debuted their horses at the Eastern States Dressage and Combined Training Association Memorial Day CDI with great success. (Photo by SusanJStickle.com)

Allentown, NJ (June 8, 2010)  – Cesar Parra and his Piaffe-Performance team debuted their horses in the northeast at the Eastern States Dressage and Combined Training Association’s Memorial Day CDI with great success.  It was the team’s first show in New Jersey after returning from the winter season in Florida and collectively they spent much of the show in the winner’s circle.

Cesar Parra dominated the small tour with Lori Washton’s KWPN gelding, Olympia. Parra and Olympia won the Prix St. Georges score of 71.789 and the Intermediaire I with a score of 71.000 percent. The seasoned pair has shown at this level just over a dozen times and has always been over 70%. They are in top form as they head for the USEF/Collecting Gaits Farm Dressage Festival of Champions August 6-15 at the U.S. Equestrian Team headquarters in Gladstone, New Jersey. Parra also notes that Olympia’s consistent performances will be just what it takes to represent the US at next year’s Pan American Games.

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