Tag Archives: Cesar Parra

Championships, Competitions, Dressage, USEF

Piaffe Performance Prevails at USEF Young and Developing Horse National Championships

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Cesar Parra and Fashion Designer OLD (Photo courtesy of Susan J Stickle).

Wayne, Illinois (September 7, 2016) – Piaffe Performance Farm founder and owner Dr. Cesar Parra rode not just one but two horses to Reserve Champion finishes at the Markel/USEF Young and Developing Dressage Horse National Championships at the Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, Illinois on August 24-28. Fashion Designer OLD, an eight-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Faustinus x De Niro) owned by Martin Sosnoff and Parra, took Reserve in the Developing Prix St. Georges division. Don Cesar, a six-year-old Westphalian gelding (Desperados x Sacre Schwalbe, Manhattan) owned by Marcela Ortiz Parra, wowed the judges with brilliant tests in the Six-Year-Old division.

With these successful results, Parra and his team at Piaffe Performance Farm in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey and Jupiter, Florida once again showcased their proven formula for producing champion horses. Since 1999, the team has showcased their commitment to meticulously training horses for high performance by correctly judging the various stages of a horse’s mental and physical development. The team’s proven training program and strong dedication to the proper development of their horses from start to finish is their blueprint for success. Piaffe Performance horses and riders have earned numerous prestigious accolades nationally and internationally.

“I love the Markel/USEF Young and Developing Horse program; I think it is fantastic,” Parra explained. “This program is an incentive to keep training the right way, in the right line, because there are no shortcuts. If you try to rush young horses in these classes without having the basics, then you won’t be successful. The program allows us to set goals, and commit ourselves to keep working towards achieving them.”

Parra and Don Cesar earned scores of 82.80 percent in the FEI Six-Year-Old Preliminary Test and 85.40 percent in the FEI Six-Year-Old Final test for an impressive combined score of 84.360 percent. Parra and Fashion Designer OLD notched scores above 70 percent in both the FEI Prix St. Georges and the USEF Developing Prix St. George for a total of 70.440 percent.

“What an amazing weekend! I feel blessed and privileged to have two Reserve Champion horses,” Parra said. “Thank you to my family, my team, all the sponsors, trainers, and colleagues that helped to make this possible. I am so incredibly proud of these two horses and feel very blessed to be their rider.

“When you train horses from when they are young, you sometimes get the feeling like a proud parent when they start to really excel,” Parra continued. “Fashion and Don Cesar are both such special horses, and I knew that as soon as I saw them. I have a saying that you have to believe, and then you have to go to work. Both parts are necessary to bring a young horse along, as there will be bumps along the way for sure.”

Parra and the Piaffe Performance Team added their most recent success to a history of top finishes at the Markel/USEF Young and Developing Dressage Horse National Championships. Both horses have successfully competed at these National Championships in prior years, with Fashion Designer OLD taking his victory lap by claiming the top spot in the Five-Year-Olds division. Don Cesar and Fashion Designer OLD join prior stalemates including Toy Story, Zanzibar, Fiderhit OLD, and Simply Nymphenburg to Piaffe Performance’s resume of horses that have competed at this National Championship.

Besides being a former Olympic athlete and Pan American Games Dressage Team Gold Medalist, Parra has also qualified for the FEI World Breeding Championships for Young Horses in Verden, Germany with Fashion Designer OLD and Fiderhit OLD. In addition, Parra has competed with numerous horses in every USEF Festival of Champions since 2010. Not only has he had his own success in multiple USEF National Dressage Championships, but Parra has also effectively coached youth riders to many National Championship competitions.

Piaffe Performance’s next destination is the much anticipated Dressage at Devon show on September 30 – October 2. The iconic show held in Devon, Pennsylvania has been a significant stop on Piaffe Performance’s annual schedule for many years. Because Piaffe Performance’s home base is in nearby New Jersey, many friends and students of Piaffe Performance come to watch and support their fellow team riders at the prominent Pennsylvania show.

To be a part of the Piaffe Performance winning tradition, visit www.piaffe-performance.com. There, you can learn about training, lessons, and sales services that can help put you join Piaffe Performance in the ribbons.

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

Championships, Dressage, JRPR, USEF

Piaffe Performance 84.8% Ready for Young and Developing Horse National Dressage Championships

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Cesar Parra and Fashion Designer OLD (Photo courtesy of Stacy Lynne Photography).

Whitehouse Station, NJ (August 4, 2016) – With two promising young horses slated to compete at the upcoming Young Horse Dressage Championships, Piaffe Performance Farm is poised and ready to show. Fashion Designer OLD and Don Cesar wowed the judges at the recent Windy Hollow Hunt Sussex Dressage I and II held July 22-24 in Augusta, New Jersey, and their scores sealed the deal for their trip to the 2016 Markel/USEF Young and Developing Horse Dressage National Championships at the Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, Illinois, August 24-28.

Fashion Designer OLD, an eight-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Faustinus x De Niro) owned by Martin Sosnoff, notched two first place finishes in the Developing Prix St. Georges with scores of 78.971 percent, and came back to better his score in the qualifying classes, receiving a whopping 80.294, and moving him into first place overall in the rankings for the USEF/Markel Developing Horse Championships.

Don Cesar, a six-year-old Westphalian gelding (Desperados x Sacre Schwalbe, Manhattan), was not to be outdone by his barn mate and posted a first place finish in his qualifying class with a huge 84.800 percent score in the Young Horse Final Six-Year-Old test.

Both horses have been campaigned by Piaffe Performance Farm owner Dr. Cesar Parra. “When you train horses from when they are young, you sometimes get the feeling like a proud parent when they start to really excel,” Parra said. “Fashion and Don Cesar are both such special horses, and I knew that as soon as I saw them. I have a saying that you have to believe, and then you have to go to work. Both parts are necessary to bring a young horse along as there will be bumps along the way for sure. I am so incredibly proud of these two horses and feel very blessed to be their rider.”

Since both horses know the movements for the tests, Parra is readying the geldings for the trip to Lamplight by working on their suppleness, thoroughness and relaxation. Parra is no newcomer to the Young Horse Championships and is a veteran competitor as a former Olympic athlete and a U.S. Pan American Games Dressage Team Gold Medalist. “I love showing at the Markel/USEF National Championships, and Lamplight is a phenomenal facility,” he said. “Every year the owners are putting so much attention into making this show a wonderful experience. Generally, Fashion doesn’t get affected by environment – he is such a self-confident horse! Don Cesar is younger and sensitive, but he really tries so hard to do his very best for me every time. I have a lot of faith in both of these horses!”

Other horse and riders combos from the Piaffe Performance Farm team also excelled at the Windy Hollow Hunt Sussex Show and claimed top wins for the team. Brooke Centrella notched first and second place finishes her first time out competing Belle Ami, a seven-year-old Westphalian mare by Belissimo M owned by Parra and George Feldman, in Third Level Test 1. Austin Webster represented Team Piaffe Performance for the first time aboard three mounts, Dakhir, Blickpunkt, and Kingston. He had beautiful rides and took home the blue ribbon for his win in the Prix St. George on Blickpunkt, an 11-year-old Westphalian gelding by Belissimo M owned by Cavallias. Emma Lesser won both of her First Level Test 3 classes on her own mare Ruby Foxpaw, with scores of 73.235 and 69.118 percent. “We are so proud of her,” Parra said. “All of her hard work and dedication is starting to pay off!”

Team Piaffe Performance has enjoyed many successes and Parra wants to share some of his winning strategies with other equestrians with the re-launch and expansion of Piaffe Performance social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. A new weekly feature called Cesar Parra Recommends (CPR) provides a unique learning experience in which followers can find useful horsemanship and training tips and can learn about top recommended products. Piaffe Performance also encourages fans to tune into “Freestyle Friday” weekly posts for a fun weekend dose of musical dressage. Like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PiaffePerformance, follow them on Twitter at twitter.com/DrCesarParraNJ, and find them on Instagram at www.instagram.com/piaffeperformance.

Piaffe Performance always welcomes new dressage riders and horses to the team. They spend summers in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey and winters in Jupiter, Florida. To learn more about Dr. Cesar Parra 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 Has Designs on USEF Young and Developing Horse Dressage Nat’l Championships

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

Whitehouse Station, NJ (July 20, 2016) – The team at Piaffe Performance Farm, led by farm owner Dr. Cesar Parra, has been busy so far this summer developing exceptional young horses up the levels. Piaffe Performance Farm is gearing up to return to the 2016 Markel/USEF Young and Developing Horse Dressage National Championships at the Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, Illinois, on August 24-28, for which the team has already qualified two horses with a number of high scores at competitions throughout this past year.

Cesar Parra, an Olympian and U.S. Pan American Games Dressage Team Gold Medalist, will campaign Fashion Designer OLD in the Developing Prix St. Georges division and Don Cesar in the Six Year Old division at the Markel/USEF Young and Developing Horse Dressage National Championships at Lamplight. Having meticulously developed the two Young Horse Championship contenders from the very beginning, Parra is extremely proud of how far they have come.

Fashion Designer OLD, an eight-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Faustinus x De Niro) owned by Martin Sosnoff, enjoyed a top finish in the 2015 Developing Prix St. Georges at Lamplight. This year, Parra has been campaigning Fashion Designer OLD with consistent scores over 70 percent in the same division throughout the 2016 winter season. The pair most recently topped the Prix St Georges class at the Centerline Events Spring Dressage Show at HITS in Saugerties, New York. They will compete once more before Lamplight at the Windy Hollow Hunt Sussex Dressage Show in Augusta, New Jersey on July 22-24. Parra said, “Fashion Designer is such an outstanding horse. He typifies what a developing horse should be with his amazing gaits and willing attitude. He is the kind of horse that any trainer would love to have in their barn, and I am grateful to Martin (Sosnoff) that Fashion Designer is here with us.”

Parra has also been preparing Don Cesar, a Westphalian gelding (Desperados x Sacre Schwalbe, Manhattan) with impressive performances and high scores in the Six Year Old division this year. Don Cesar will also compete at the Windy Hollow Hunt Sussex Dressage show in preparation for his Lamplight Six Year Old debut. “Everyone teases me that I favor Don Cesar because we share the same name, but really he is just so very talented. He always tries so hard and is such a pleasure to ride,” Parra complimented.

Amidst the excitement of preparing for the Markel/USEF Young and Developing Horse Dressage National Championships, Piaffe Performance is also excited to announce the re-launch and expansion of their social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Included in this revamp is a new weekly feature called “Cesar Parra Recommends,” or CPR, which provides a unique experience to learn from experienced trainer Parra himself. Through CPR, followers can find useful horsemanship tips, expert training tips, and top recommended products. Equestrians are encouraged to submit their own questions that could be answered and shared in the CPR section. Piaffe Performance also encourages users to tune into “Freestyle Friday” weekly posts for a fun weekend dose of musical dressage.

Piaffe Performance is always open to welcoming new dressage riders and horses to their winning team. The team spends summers in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey and winters in Jupiter, Florida. Piaffe Performance riders constantly accumulate top placings in national and international competitions. To learn more about Dr. Cesar Parra 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

Awards, Dressage, JRPR

Danish Nations Cup Rider Wins Piaffe Performance Adult Amateur Achievement Award at AGDF

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Signe Kirk Kristiansen (Photo courtesy of JRPR).

Wellington, FL (April 8, 2016) – As the Adequan Global Dressage Festival drew to an end in Wellington, Florida, Danish Adult Amateur dressage rider Signe Kirk Kristiansen was honored for her accomplishments and commitment to dressage with the Piaffe Performance Adult Amateur Achievement Award. Every week during the Adequan Global Dressage Festival, internationally renowned Dr. Cesar Parra, who was an Olympian for his home country of Colombia and has represented the U.S. in the 2011 Pan American Games and the 2014 World Cup Final, awarded standout Adult Amateur competitors. Parra and his Piaffe Performance Farm proudly presented Kristiansen with the Piaffe Performance Adult Amateur Achievement Award as she represented her home country of Denmark in the CDIO 3* Nations Cup presented by Stillpoint Farm during the last week of the winter show series.

Kristiansen competed her 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding Roberto (Walt Disney x Rubina Langkiaergaard, by Rubinstein I) in the CDI Prix St. Georges in the Nations Cup competition. It was only the pair’s first CDI class and second season competing at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival. Kristiansen was one of the only Adult Amateur riders on the roster in the CDI Prix St. Georges, and represented Denmark with her Nations Cup teammates Mikala Gundersen, Rikke Poulsen, and Lars Petersen.

As she competed beside some of the world’s top dressage riders, Kristiansen said, “I don’t even think about being an Adult Amateur. I just enjoy it.” Piaffe Performance was happy to recognize Kristiansen’s accomplishments and efforts throughout the Nations Cup and the entire 2016 show season.

In addition to being a competitive dressage rider, Kristiansen is a qualified veterinary nurse and has owned her own horses since she was six years old. She has been a fan of the Arabian breed since she was a teenager. Kristiansen currently owns Kirk Arabians with her husband in Denmark, and stated, “I’ve trained my Arabians myself since they were three years old. One advanced to Intermediaire I this year, and the other one started in Prix St. Georges.”

Kristiansen travelled to Wellington, Florida for the Adequan Global Dressage Festival this season with three competition horses – Roberto and two of her nine-year-old purebred Arabians.

Piaffe Performance, a successful trainer of both horses and riders alike, praised Kristiansen for her work in developing her own horses. Kristiansen said, “It takes a long time to develop the horses from a young age up through the levels. I do love it because you know where you put the buttons, and you know how to use those buttons. I like to breed and develop my own horses. For me, it’s very difficult to get an educated horse – I have tried and not had a lot of success. I like breeding horses and having my own youngsters for those reasons.”

Piaffe Performance commends Adult Amateur riders like Kristiansen who work hard to accomplish their goals and to succeed in the sport of dressage. As an Official Partner and Sponsor of the 2016 Adequan Global Dressage Festival, Piaffe Performance proudly presented the Adult Amateur Achievement Award throughout the twelve-week show series. Piaffe Performance also sponsored the International Arena Rider Lounge and the Hospitality Tent by the National Arenas at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival show grounds to provide drinks and snacks for all levels of riders to enjoy before or after their tests.

Piaffe Performance is located in Jupiter, Florida and Whitehouse Station, New Jersey. 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.GKHorsesatPerformanceFarms.com.

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

Awards, Dressage, JRPR

Piaffe Performance Adult Amateur Achievement Award Presented to Susan Jones

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Susan Jones and Connaisseur (Photo courtesy of Dieter Busse).

Wellington, FL (March 14, 2016) – Dr. Cesar Parra and his Piaffe Performance Farm is continuing to reward accomplished adult amateur riders at the 2016 Adequan Global Dressage Festival with the Piaffe Performance Adult Amateur Achievement Award. This past week, during the show series’ Palm Beach Dressage Derby, Susan Jones of Walton, Kentucky was the Adult Amateur Achievement Award winner.

Parra, an Olympian who has trained many amateur and professional riders during his illustrious career, loves honoring adult amateurs for the hard work and dedication they put in with their horses. Susan Jones accepted the Piaffe Performance Adult Amateur Achievement Award after competing throughout the weekend with her horses Reliance, Connaisseur, and Lindor’s Finest.

Parra presented Jones with the Piaffe Performance Adult Amateur Achievement Award after her performance in the Prix St. Georges with Reliance, a 13-year-old sired by Rhodimont and out of Gesstine, a Classiker mare imported from Germany. Jones bought the 2003 dark bay from Kathy Priest around seven years ago. A highlight of their career so far was their 2011 win in the GAIG/USDF Region 2 Championships amongst 33 other horses at First Level.

Jones and Reliance have climbed the ranks together, and Friday marked their first Prix St. Georges test at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival. After that test, Jones commented, “We’re just going to continue getting better. I’m going to be here the rest of the weekend trying to perfect our test.”

Sure enough, the pair did just that and improved by almost two entire percentage points when they captured the blue ribbon for the week’s Sunday FEI Prix St. George Adult Amateur class.

Jones fits riding into her successful career as CEO, President, and Founder of the consulting firm Seed Strategy, which works with many Fortune 500 companies and other recognizable world brands. As a 1986 alumni of Indiana University, Jones earned her Bachelor of Science in Advertising and Marketing and currently serves on the Dean’s Council in the university’s Kelley School of Business.

When Jones is at home, she can be found spending time with her family or riding her dressage horses Reliance, Connaisseur, and Lindor’s Finest at her farm, Flyaway Acres, in Northern Kentucky. “Dressage is my oxygen,” Jones said. “I need it to live. To be on a horse and to continue to master being the best you can be and riding in harmony – there’s nothing better than that.”

Dr. Cesar Parra and the entire team from Piaffe Performance were proud to reward Jones, as she shares Piaffe Performance’s strong love for dressage and dedication to excellence in the sport. Piaffe Performance will continue presenting the Piaffe Performance Adult Amateur Achievement Award throughout the 2016 Adequan Global Dressage Festival, where Piaffe Performance is also the sponsor of the International Rider Lounge and the Hospitality Tent by the National Arenas. 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, founded by Olympic dressage rider Dr. Cesar Parra, has locations in Jupiter, Florida and in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey. Parra and his team provide full-service training based on the Classical German Training Methods. Dr. Parra 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.GKHorsesatPiaffePerformance.com.

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

Dressage, JRPR

Jumper-Turned-Dressage Rider Honored by Piaffe Performance at Adequan Global Dressage Festival

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Charlene Moskowitz, with her trainer Denielle Gallagher-Legriffon (right), wins the Piaffe Performance Adult Amateur Achievement Award at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival, presented by Dr. Cesar Parra (left) (Photo courtesy of JRPR).

Wellington, FL (February 18, 2016) – Throughout the Adequan Global Dressage Festival, Piaffe Performance Farm is recognizing successful adult amateur dressage riders for their efforts in the show ring. Dr. Cesar Parra, Pan American Games gold medalist and founder of Piaffe Performance Farms, believes that adult amateurs are the backbone of the sport, and proudly honors those riders who demonstrate excellent horsemanship and sportsmanship throughout the show.

This past week, it was Charlene Moskowitz who caught the attention of Piaffe Performance. Not only is she a mother of five children, but she also just started riding dressage a year ago, and is now already competing successfully in Third Level classes. Parra proudly presented Moskowitz with the Piaffe Performance Adult Amateur Achievement Award official tri-colored ribbon, medal, and an engraved silver picture frame to hold a lasting memory of her award-winning ride.

After riding as a child in the jumper ring, and then having a brief stint with the Arabian Nights dinner theatre, Moskowitz left the saddle to raise her family.

“I then started riding dressage because I wanted something a bit more challenging than the jumper ring, and a little safer at the same time,” Moskowitz explained. “It is so much more challenging than the jumpers; you all make it look so easy,” she laughed.

Moskowitz now rides down centerline with her KWPN (Krack C) 16.1 hand bay gelding, Cannan. She bought Cannan through her trainer Denielle Gallagher-Legriffon only six short months ago, and the pair has been actively training ever since.

“When I sat on him for the first time I almost cried, because he reminded me of a horse I had when I was younger who I had a great connection with,” Moskowitz recalled.

Moskowitz was thrilled to be recognized by Parra and Piaffe Performance with the Piaffe Performance Adult Amateur Achievement Award. She plans to continue competing with Cannan in Third Level, and then hopefully move to Fourth Level by the end of the 2016 show season.

In addition to the Adult Amateur Achievement 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

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

Parra and Piaffe Performance Ready for 2016 Dressage Season, Ranked among Nation’s Finest

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Cesar Parra and Blickpunkt 4 Cavallias placed fourth in the nation at the 2015 USEF Festival of Champions (Photo courtesy of JRPR).

Wellington, FL (December 18, 2015) – Before settling in the U.S., dressage rider Dr. Cesar Parra was a multi-time Colombian National Dressage Champion, and – since winning his first U.S. National title at the 2010 Festival of Champions – has qualified for every U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions, competing six times on four different horses, with an additional four horses in the Young Horse Championships.

Parra’s impeccable horsemanship again rose to the occasion at this year’s USEF Festival of Champions presented by The Dutta Corp., on December 9-12 at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival show grounds in Wellington, Florida. Competing Blickpunkt 4 in the Intermediaire I Dressage National Championship division for owners Eduardo, Gabrielle, and Rory Fischer of Cavallias, Parra took the chestnut to a closely-contended fourth place overall in the nation (just two points out of top seed) as well as third nationally in the Intermediaire I Freestyle, where he received scores as high as a 73.625 percent in front of 4* and 5* judges Umbach (LUX), Holler (GER), Rockwell (USA), Zang (USA), and Matthiesen (DEN).

Pan American Games Dressage Gold medalist Parra said, “Blickpunkt is a high-quality horse that is really starting to come into his own. He has super gaits and conformation for the sport, and is really an eye-catcher. I’m very happy with how he is coming along and has gained confidence in the ring. For us, the Festival was full of personal achievements. When I began showing Blickpunkt at the beginning of this year, he was really anxious in the show ring. To have him go in confidently and do his job is a huge victory!

“He has a lot of talent for piaffe and passage so we’re working toward Grand Prix,” Parra added. “We will stay Small Tour for now. He is schooling Grand Prix movements at home, but I really want to keep his confidence and have consistent clean tests in the Small Tour before he moves up.”

As for Parra, it’s time to move into competition season mode at the 2016 Adequan Global Dressage Festival in Wellington.

“It’s hard to believe that we are back in Florida,” said Parra, who travels with his team from Piaffe Performance from his New Jersey base to his Florida base every winter. “Every year brings new excitement, with new horses starting at new levels. I am especially excited for Fashion Designer OLD (Faustinus x DeNiro) to start showing. He has made a huge jump forward in his training in the last few months, so it should be a lot of fun with him. Also we have a few new horses that should also make a splash,” Parra stated.

Dr. Cesar Parra provides top-notch training for riders and horses at his Piaffe Performance facilities in Jupiter, Florida and Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, and always welcomes new dressage riders to join his talented team. Learn more about Dr. Cesar Parra, Piaffe Performance, and training, lessons, and sales services offered at www.piaffe-performance.com.

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

Dressage, JRPR, Products/Services

Custom Saddlery to Award Saddles to Winners at U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions

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Steffen Peters (Photo courtesy of JRPR)

Wellington, FL (December 8, 2015) – Custom Saddlery, the Official Saddle of the United States Dressage Team and proud supporter of high performance dressage, will award Custom Saddles to the Grand Prix and Intermediaire I Championship winners at the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions presented by The Dutta Corp. The December 9-12 competition will be held at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival show grounds in Wellington, Florida, and will feature the nation’s top horse and athlete combinations in the Grand Prix and Intermediaire I divisions.

Custom Saddlery will also be cheering on the company’s sponsored riders, known as Custom Saddlery Most Valuable Riders (MVRs), who will be competing in the Championships, including Steffen Peters and Cesar Parra. Peters will ride Four Winds Farm’s Legolas 92, a 13-year-old London Olympic Games veteran Westphalian gelding (Laomedon x Furstin/Florestan II), and Rosamunde, an eight-year-old Rheinlander mare (Rock Forever x First Lady/Fidermark) who has claimed victory in a variety of competitions both here and abroad. Peters will compete both horses in The Dutta Corp./USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship. Parra will be aboard his own Blickpunkt 4 Cavallias, a 10-year-old Westphalian stallion (Belissimo M x Fascination/Fidermark) who placed in the ribbons at both Dressage at Devon in October and at HITS on the Hudson in September. Parra will compete in The Dutta Corp./USEF Intermediaire I Dressage National Championship.

Custom Saddlery representatives will take part in the award ceremonies for both of the National Championships to present the winners with saddle gift certificates, so that the winning horse and rider duo can be expertly fitted for a saddle model that is perfect for them. With over 20 saddle models, Custom Saddlery’s team of expert saddle fitters across the United States is trained to meet all horses and riders’ performance and comfort needs.

The Grand Prix competition at the Festival of Champions will kick off on Wednesday, December 9 with the FEI Grand Prix test, then progress to the FEI Grand Prix Special on Thursday, December 10. After a day of rest, competition will resume with the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle on Saturday, December 12. The Intermediaire I championship will begin with the FEI Prix St. Georges on Wednesday, December 9 and will continue with the FEI Intermediaire I on Thursday, December 10. The Intermediaire I competition will culminate with the I-1 Freestyle on Saturday, December 12.

Custom Saddlery is proud to support the United States Dressage Team and the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions presented by The Dutta Corp. Custom Saddlery is committed to designing, producing, and fitting high-quality, customized saddles that are perfect matches for dressage’s most talented riders and their horses. For more information about Custom Saddlery and its variety of saddle models, visit www.mysaddle.com or call 1-800-235-3865.

For more information, contact:
Custom Saddlery, Cary Wallace
www.mysaddle.com
cary@mysaddle.com
1-800-235-3865

Championships, Dressage, JRPR, USEF

Piaffe Performance Qualifies Two for the 2015 U.S. Dressage National Championships

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Cesar Parra and Cavallia’s Blickpunkt 4 (photo courtesy of Conklin Photographic)

Whitehouse Station, NJ (November 12, 2015) — After an extremely successful year for his Piaffe Performance team, dressage rider, trainer, and coach Dr. Cesar Parra has qualified to compete in The Dutta Corp./USEF Intermediaire I Dressage National Championship at the 2015 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions, presented by The Dutta Corp. The competition will be held for the first time at the Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, Florida, on December 8-12. While Parra has been a familiar face at the U.S. Dressage Festival National Championships since his big win in the Intermediaire I in 2010, this year he will be joined by his “second in command” at Piaffe Performance, USDF Gold Medalist Katie Riley. It is Riley’s first time as a competitor at the Festival, although she has served the Piaffe Performance team from the sidelines coaching at the Festival during previous years.

Parra qualified for the Festival of Champions with Cavallia’s Blickpunkt 4, a German-bred Westphalian gelding (Bellisimo M x Fascination, by Fidermark) that he has been working with for the past year. “I am proud to have qualified with Blickpunkt,” said Parra. “He is a high-quality horse that is now really starting to come into his own and has a great future. Blickpunkt has very good gaits and super conformation for the sport. He is really an eye-catcher.”

Para has been building Blickpunkt’s confidence this year and is working him towards the Grand Prix level, since the gelding shows talent with his piaffe and passage.

Riley, who is a founding member of the Piaffe Performance Team, will compete against her coach Parra at the Festival of Champions on Heather Hornor’s Toy Story (Trento B x Vroukje, by Jazz). Riley and the 2006 bay Dutch Warmblood gelding kicked their year off in Florida at Fourth Level, and moved up to the Developing Prix St. Georges by the end of the winter season. She and Toy Story also competed in the Markel/USEF Developing Horse Championships this year.

Toy Story then made his CDI debut at the NEDA Fall Festival. “Toy really tries his best for you every time you sit on him,” said Riley. “He is such a positive-thinking horse and is really honest. I love every day I sit on him. Because of the timing of his development and the qualification period, we had only the time to meet the minimum requirements, so that meant we could only have good tests.”

And good days they had at the NEDA Fall Festival and Dressage at Devon, where the pair placed in the top three at both shows in the Prix St. Georges and Intermediaire I.

Parra, who was a successful dentist in his native country of Colombia before becoming an American citizen, first competed at the Festival of Champions in 2010 in the National Intermediaire I Championship aboard Lori Washton’s Olympia, a bay Dutch Warmblood gelding by Jazz. The pair earned first place, and that victory in an American National Championship meant the world to Parra. He has since achieved many impressive victories, and is prepared to show his talent again at the upcoming Festival of Champions.

Before settling in the U.S., Parra was a multiple-time Colombian National Champion in dressage. After his first U.S. National Championship win at the 2010 Festival of Champions, Parra has qualified for every Dressage Festival of Champions since. In 2011, he and Grandioso came in third behind Steffen Peters and Weltino’s Magic and Heather Blitz and Paragon in Intermediaire I. From 2012 to 2014, Parra rode Van the Man at the Festival’s USEF National Grand Prix Championship.

Not only has Parra had his own success in multiple USEF National Dressage Championships, but he has also successfully coached youth riders in many National Championships.

Dr. Cesar Parra is a Pan American Games Gold medalist who now provides top-notch training for both riders and horses in Jupiter, Florida, and Whitehouse Station, New Jersey. Piaffe Performance is always ready to welcome dressage riders to its talented team. To learn more about Dr. Cesar Parra, his Piaffe Performance team, and the training, lessons, and sales services he offers, visit www.piaffe-performance.com.

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