The Piaffe Performance Farm team of dressage riders from around the world enjoyed high scores and the rewards of true teamwork throughout the winter competition season in Wellington, Florida. The team, led by Piaffe Performance founder and owner Dr. Cesar Parra, was overjoyed with numerous successes this season and plans to continue that success throughout the summer months at their home base of Whitehouse Station, New Jersey.
Parra, a 2011 U.S. Pan American Games Dressage Team Gold medalist, led his students and young horses to notable winnings this winter season. Parra personally was most proud of his accomplishments aboard Fashion Designer OLD in the developing Prix St. Georges, and Don Cesar in the FEI Young Horse 6-Year-Olds division. The previous 2015 competition year ended with both these young horses qualifying and competing successfully at the Markel/USEF Developing Horse Championships.
Fashion Designer OLD, an eight-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Faustinus x De Niro) owned by Martin Sosnoff, consistently scored over 70 percent in the Developing Prix St. Georges during the 2016 winter season. Parra and Fashion Designer OLD opened the Adequan Global Dressage Festival’s first week of competition with a 72.206 percent, and then bettered their average scoring 73.676 at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival during week five.
Don Cesar, a six-year-old Westphalian gelding (Desperados x Manhattan) owned by Parra, earned high marks in every class the horse was entered in this season, including a 71.515 percent in Second Level and nearly 80 percent in his first six-year-old qualifying class for the 2016 Markel/USEF Young Horse Championships.
“The future is so bright for these horses,” Parra commented. “Both have absolute star quality and we are thrilled to see them happy and excelling in their work as they continue advancing up the levels.”
Piaffe Performance’s riders shone just as brightly as the horses did this season. At the Adequan Global Dressage Festival Merita Hagren, originally from Finland, rode Belle Ami, a Westfalian mare co-owned by Parra, George Feldman and Brooke Centrella, to an undefeated season highlighted by a high score of the show during week three.
Hagren also took a step towards making her dreams come true when she competed in her first ever Under 25 Grand Prix at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival with Don Perygnon, a Hanoverian owned by Martin Sosnoff. Hagren shared, “I can’t believe how much I have learned since I started working at Piaffe Performance. It has been, and still continues to be, an amazing journey. I’m so grateful for Cesar Parra and Katie Riley for making this dream come true, and for the most amazing team. It has been an honor to be a part of this team— they are the best and always make my day.”
Nadine Buberl, who has ridden with Piaffe Performance since 2010, competed the gelding Don Perygnon in the Grand Prix at multiple shows over the season. Referring to her tests that earned the first and second place ribbons at the Welcome Back to White Fences Dressage Shows, Buberl said, “A big thank you to my trainers Cesar and Katie for all their words of wisdom and support. Thank you to the owners for allowing me to have the opportunity to ride this amazing partner every day. Without you, it would not have been possible. And thank you to the whole Piaffe Performance team for always being a part of every success.”
Throughout the season, Piaffe Performance Farm consistently supported not only its own riders but also successful Adult Amateur competitors at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival. Piaffe Performance presented the Piaffe Performance Adult Amateur Achievement Award to riders who contributed to the sport of dressage through sincere sportsmanship and high-quality horsemanship. Piaffe Performance also sponsored the International Arena Rider Lounge and the Hospitality Tent on the show grounds to provide drinks and snacks for all riders to enjoy as they relaxed before or after their tests.
Now decorated by this year’s high scores and blue, red, and yellow ribbons, Piaffe Performance is excited to channel this positive energy towards continued success this summer. To learn more about Dr. Cesar Parra, his Piaffe Performance team, training, and lessons, visit www.Piaffe-Performance.com.
by Johnny Robb
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