The 2022 U.S. Young and Developing Horse Championship is the United States most prestigious event featuring the year’s top ranked combinations in each category and draws the best of the best from all over the country. The event returns to Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, Illinois, and starts 24 August, running for four days through 28 August.

4 x 4

Dr. Cesar Parra’s Performance Farm team received invites for four of his horses in all four of the young horse divisions.

Performance Farms’ 4 x 4 team include Superior (HANN, by Sensation x Licosto) who was invited for the Four-Year-Olds Championships, Fontenay (HANN, by Furst Jazz x Don Frederico) who was invited for the Five-Year-Olds Championships, Mollegardens Fashion (DWB, by Florenz x L’Espoir) who was invited for the Six-Year-Olds Championships and Fanta (HANN, by Finest x Florencio) who was the top seed in the rankings and for the Seven-Year-Olds Championships.

“When you realize that only the top 15 horses in the US in each age group are invited to the Championships, it is especially humbling to have 4 horses in four different age groups invited,” Parra exclaimed.

Building on Past Achievements

Each of Performance Farm’s horses earned impressive scores on the way to qualifying for the 2022 Championships, ranging from Fanta’s 82.143% to Mollegardens Fashion’s 86.20%.20%, Superior’s 87.20%. to Fortenay’s 91.%.
For Dr. Cesar Parra and his Performance Farms team, the annual trek to the U.S. Young and Developing Horse Championships has become a highlight in Performance Farm’s summer schedule. Over the last two decades, Parra’s program has become synonymous with High Performance and the development of top-quality young horses and riders. Since Parra’s win in the U.S. Intermediaire I Championship in 2010 aboard Olympia, Parra and his team have found success in virtually every division at Festival of Champions, but undeniably the Markel/USEF Young and Developing Horse Championships is where they have made the most prominent name for themselves as a force to be reconned with.

Last year, Fontenay, owned by Gina Raful and Parra, was crowned National Champion for 4-year-old horses. Additionally, Parra’s Mollegardens Fashion was third in the 5-year-old Championships and Fanta 4, also owned by Raful and Parra, was the 2021 number one ranked 6-year-old horse in the nation.

“We have been very blessed throughout the years to have wonderful horses and riders in our team. I am not sure what the exact number is now, but with the four horses we have qualified for this year’s Championships, we have been invited with over 30 combinations over the years!” said an ecstatic Parra as he adds that “not only have we been invited but most of our young horses have placed in the podium of their respective categories and many of them have been National Champions or Reserve Champions.”

Team Work

Parra credits his success in bringing horses up the levels to team work and a program that emphasizes solid basics to create a strong, healthy athletic horse. “We believe the formula for success is to build a happy, healthy athlete. Regardless of how long it takes, it is important to give each horse the time to develop body and mind so that they can become the best version of themselves.

“The Young and Developing Horse Championships are a steppingstone in the development of these the amazing horses,” says Parra, “and have been pivotal to dressage sport in the US. Up until ten to fifteen years ago I was mostly trained in Europe. I owe my program to great masters like Herbert Rehbein, Dr. Volker Moritz, Mariette Withages and Hubertus Schmidt. However, in large part thanks to the great support and collaboration between US Equestrian and Markel Insurance, in recent years we have had excellent support and training here in the US from very accomplished coaches like Anne Gribbons, Christine Traurig and Charlotte Bredahl!”

For Professionals and Amateurs

Not only does the Performance Farms team focuses on the development of horses but also of riders.
“To have well trained, happy horses, we need the best riders and horse-people. Therefore, in our team, we pride ourselves on learning from each other and being students of the sport. Not only our professional riders, but also our amateurs strive to become better horse-people daily.”

As the Performance Farm Team settles in at the Lamplight Equestrian Center with the their “Fantastic Four”, they are confident that things on the home front farms in New Jersey and Florida will run smoothly and they are equally excited about the upcoming competition and the camaraderie they will share with fellow equestrians from around the country.

Invited with 34 Horses

Parra, who became a proud American in 2009, has been invited to the Festival of Champions every year since then. In 2010 won his first National Championship on Lori Washton’s “Olympia” and has since received over 34 invitations to compete from young horses to Grand Prix.

Parra will compete in this year’s Festival of Champions riding in the 7-year-olds with “Mollegardens Fashion” partnered with Olivia Pilch and will be riding Developing PSG with “Fanta 4” partnered with Gina Raful.

Riding and Working with the Top

Cesar Parra has had the opportunity to train with some amazing coaches throughout his career. He credits Herbert Rehbein, Peilicke, Herbert Kuckluck, Siegfried Peilicke, Hans Rueben, Hubertus Schmidt, Dr. Volker Moritz, and Anne Gribbons for shaping him into the person, trainer, and rider he is today. He also appreciates the input he receives from national coaches Christine Traurig and Charlotte Bredahl, who have helped him immensely.
Parra has had an impressive career as a trainer and rider, with hundreds of wins in international competitions and a track record of producing multiple champions. He has trained over 30 horses from a young age to FEI and has coached numerous riders to success at various events, including the North American Young Rider Championships, Regional championships the US National Dressage Championships, the United States Young Horse Championships, and the Pan American Games. Parra’s achievements as a coach are truly remarkable, and his dedication to his clients is evident in the many medals and championships that he has helped them earn.

Building the Future

The quality of horses Parra has come into contact with is becoming higher and higher every year, and not only has high-quality horses, but he also has multiple talented riders as part of his team. One of them is Sven Smienk.
“I am extremely proud of Sven and do believe he will be a national champion this year. He has been a strong asset to our team and has quite a bright future ahead of him” says Parra. Smienk will be making his debut with two horses, “Superior” an outstanding 5-year-old owned by Marcela & Cesar Parra, and a spectacular 6-year-old “Fontenay” partnered with Gina Raful.

“It is always an honor and a blessing to be selected for the National Championships. I would love to thank Gina Raful and Olivia Pilch for giving us the opportunity to train and compete with your talented horses. Not only that but also for your unconditional love and support throughout this journey,” says Parra.

Personalized Training

Cesar is proud to offer a personalized program for training horses and riders. He provides access to his top-class horses, which allows his clients to learn and progress significantly in their training. Cesar is committed to his team’s success by emphasizing the importance of building a strong team between the rider, horse, trainer, facility, and other professionals, such as veterinarians and farriers.
Out of the four horses, three of them have already become #1 in the Nation. “Fontenay” became National Champion in four-year-olds, “Mollegardens Fashion” became National Champion in six-year-olds, and “Fanta 4” is a two-time National Champion.

— press release

High Scores and High Spirits as Performance Farms Fab Four Head to the Markel/USEF National Young and Developing Horse Championships

Every year, near the end of the summer, all U.S dressage eyes turn to the Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, Illinois where the Markel/USEF National Young and Developing Horse Championships, also known as the U.S.Dressage Festival of Champions will be hosted August 24-28th.

Photo: Performance Farms Fanta and Cesar Parra are at the top of the rankings in the new the FEI Seven Year Old division as they return to the Markel/USEF Young and Developing Horse Championships next week.

The Markel/USEF National Young and Developing Horse Championship is the country’s most prestigious, invitation only event featuring the year’s top ranked combinations in each category and draws the best of the best from all over the country.

Parra’s Prominence Spans The History of The Markel/USEF National Young and Developing Horse Championships

For Dr. Cesar Parra and his Performance Farms team, the annual trek to the USEF Markel/USEF National Young and Developing Horse Championships has become a highlight in Performance Farm’s summer schedule. Over the last two decades, Parra’s program has become synonymous with High Performance and the development of top-quality young horses and riders. Since Parra’s win in Intermediaire-I National Championship in 2010 aboard Olympia, Parra and his team have found success in virtually every division at Festival of Champions, but undeniably the Markel Young and Developing Horse Championships is where they have made the most prominent name for themselves as a force to be reckoned with.

We have been very blessed throughout the years to have wonderful horses and riders in our team. I am not sure what the exact number is now, but with the four horses we have qualified for this year’s Championships, we have been invited with over 30 combinations over the years! Said an ecstatic Parra as he adds that not only have we been invited but most of our young horses have placed in the podium of their respective categories and many of them have been National Champions or Reserve Champions.

Parra’s Performance Farm’s “Fab Four” Introduces a New 4-Year-Old, and Brings Back the Trifecta Team Another Year Older

This year Parra’s Performance Farm team has received invites for what he calls the Fab Four with Superior 9 being invited for the Four-Year-Olds Championships, Fortenay being invited for the Five-Year-Olds Championships, Mollegardens Fashion being invited for the Six-Year-Olds Championships and Fanta being invited for the new this year, Seven-Year-Olds Championships. When you realize that only the top 15 horses in the US in each age group are invited to the Championships, it is especially humbling to have 4 horses in four different age groups invited, Parra exclaimed.

Furthermore, the top scores that each of the Performance Farm’s horses earned on the way to qualifying for the 2022 Championships are astonishing, ranging from Fanta’s 82.143% to Mollegardens Fashion’s 86.20%.20%, Superior’s 87.20%. to Fortenay’s 91.%.

Last year, Fontenay, owned by Gina Raful and Parra, was crowned National Champion for 4-year-old horses. Additionally, Parra’s Mollegardens Fashion was third in the 5-year-old Championships and Fanta 4, also owned by Raful and Parra, was the 2021 number one ranked 6-year-old horse in the nation.

Last year our babies were excellent. This year, Fanta, Fashion, and Fonte are a year more mature, and they are looking better than ever. Each of them, as well as our new 4-year-old Superior 9, are all very talented, willing horses and we are incredibly excited for their future. We are thrilled about going with them to the Markel Young and Developing Horse Championships, but we also know that this is just one more steppingstone in their development into the amazing horses we know they’ll become,says Parra.

The Formula For Success

Cesar credits his success bringing horses up the levels to teamwork and a program that emphasizes solid basics to create a strong, healthy athletic horse. “We believe the formula for success is to build a happy, healthy athlete. Regardless of how long it takes, it is important to give each horse the time to develop body and mind so that they can become the best version of themselves. It is finding a balance: you push too hard or too soon and you’ll have a broken horse, but if you don’t push enough then the horse will never develop the flexibility and strength necessary for high performance dressage. So, finding that balance is everything.

Every successful team has a leader and that is Cesar Parra’s role at Performance Farms. Only a strong and knowledgeable team can ensure that you find the correct recipe for each prospect. We all want the best for our horses and with this as our guiding principle we can tailor training programs to meet each horse’s specific needs, says Parra, while highlighting that it is a total team effort. Good riding is only one part of the equation. veterinarians, farriers, grooms, and owners all play a crucial role in the development of our horses. That’s the fun part!”

Markel’s Longtime Support Placed Importance on The Journey

As the name sponsor for the Young and Developing Horse Championships, Markel Insurance has placed philosophies like Parra’s in the spotlight. ”What the partnership between Markel and the USEF and USDF has done for the sport is unbelievable. Through the Young Horse Championships and the Young and Developing horse programs, they have placed the importance in the journey rather than just the destination. Many people don’t realize all that comes into the training and nurturing of a Grand Prix horse, and these programs are the way to educate and support people in the beautiful journey of bringing a horse up the levels.”

“Up until ten to fifteen years ago I was mostly trained in Europe. I owe my program to great masters like Herbert Rehbein, Dr. Volker Moritz, Mariette Withages and Hubertus Schmidt. However, in large part thanks to the great support and collaboration between US Equestrian and Markel Insurance, in recent years we have had excellent support and training here at home from very accomplished coaches like Anne Gribbons, Christine Traurig and Charlotte Bredahl!”

The Dream Team

Not only does the Performance Farms team focuses on the development of horses but also of riders. “To have well trained, happy horses, we need the best riders and horse-people. Therefore, in our team, we pride ourselves on learning from each other and being students of the sport. Not only our professional riders, but also our amateurs strive to become better horse-people daily.”

“This is where having driven, educated and well-rounded people in our team has paid off. Nicolas Torres, who currently runs our New Jersey facility, for example, has been riding with me since he was ten years old and is now an NYU graduate with a double degree in Mathematics and Chemical Engineering. Even when I am in Florida or at a long show like the Markel Young and Developing Horse Championships, I have the utmost confidence that our clients and their horses at home are in extremely capable hands. The riding is very important but caring for our horses entail much more than that.”

As the Performance Farm Team prepares to head to Lamplight with the “Fab Four”, they are confident that things on the home front farms in New Jersey and Florida will run smoothly and they are equally excited about the upcoming competition and the comradery they will share with fellow equestrians for around the country!

Interview Dr. Cesar Parra, Markel/USEF Emerging Horse Program with Markel’s Brandon Seger Associate Director of Equine Operations

Tell us about your history with the Markel/USEF Emerging Horse Program.

The Markel/USEF Emerging Horse Program has been incredibly important throughout my career. For the past 10 years my team and I have competed at the U.S. Young Horse Championships over 30 times with excellent results. I am blessed and incredibly proud to say Chicago has become a staple in your summer show schedule. Some of the biggest triumphs of my career as a rider, trainer, and coach have come at the Championships. Many of our horses have placed multiple times throughout their young horse careers, which speaks not only of their amazing talent but also of the work that our team has done developing them through the years.

We have had multiple champions and reserve champions in young horse divisions. Developing the best athlete horse we can is what our program is about, and the Markel/USEF Emerging Horse Program has provided us with the guidance and a platform to showcase what we do. Just as an example, Fashion Designer OLD competed at Lamplight for the first time back in 2013, winning the 5yo division with over 90%. After that, he continued placing year after year in the championships until we were National Developing Grand Prix Champions in 2017. Maybe even more amazing than that is the fact that so many of our former students have also become very successful riders at the Championships and have developed young prospects throughout the levels.

More than the Championships, however, are the resources available to help us in the development of our young prospects. That is the real value of the Emerging Horse Program. Showing and winning with our babies is fun and it is important for them to get used to big atmospheres that they will encounter in their careers as international competition horses, but the resources that Markel and the USEF have made available to us in recent years go far beyond that.

With the clinics and training programs in place, we have been able to close the breach between Europe and us tremendously. Our national coaches like Anne Gribbons, Christine Traurig, Charlotte Bredal, and Debbie McDonald have been instrumental for the growth of our sport and the development of prospects here in America. For the first time, thanks to this program, we have all this knowledge and experience at our disposal here at home, without having to travel to Europe. They have really made a tremendous effort to mentor us, riders and trainers, and to accompany us throughout the process to help us help our horses succeed.

When was your first trip to the Championships?

I first came to the Championships back in 2010, just after I got my US Citizenship. Back then I was invited to the Small Tour Championships and I came in ranked number 1 in the nation with Olympia. It was a surreal experience and a dream come true as we won it all. It was such an emotional week that I will never forget.

However, the first time I came to the Championships with young horses was a couple of years later, in 2012, with Simply Nymphenburg. That year Simply and I were Reserve Champions in the 6yo Division. I remember that year vividly because we did not have our best ride the first day, but then Simply was amazing for the Final and we won the class, climbing all the way to second place overall.

Ever since Donovan the Markel/USEF Young Horse Championships had been something very appealing to me, but it took me until then to finally be able to compete in them. The fact that it was my first time and that we did so amazingly well was surreal.

What was/is your inspiration for focusing your attention on the development of young horses?

The young horse bug first struck me back in 2005. Funny enough, it was after a conversation with John Seger at my house. Hearing him talking about his plans and his vision for the future of American dressage profoundly inspired me. That was when I bought Donovan, one of the best young horses at the time who had just won the 5yo Bundeschampionate in Germany.

He went on to be 6yo Reserve Bundeschampion with Carola Koppelmann in 2006 before we brought him to America. We were very excited and we started doing amazingly well here. Sadly, he passed from colic complications less than a year after. He was my first great young horse; gave me a taste of what a world class prospect is, and I loved it. I believe his premature passing just added fuel to my desire for more of that and it has been a passion of mine ever since.

Thankfully Donovan proved to be just the first of many amazing young horses, including multiple Bundeschampionate champions and reserve champions, that I have had the blessing to train. I believe that my love for young horses comes from a passion to develop and nurture their talent. I believe there is plenty of very good riders out there that are capable of being successful competing mature, trained horses.

However, not everyone can take a talented young prospect and nurture and train them to harness that potential and create a successful FEI horse. That is the challenge with young horses. Many times you know the talent is there, but every baby presents different challenges and as a trainer it is your responsibility to find the way to polish that raw diamond into a happy, healthy and successful athlete. It requires lots of patience and devotion but there is something infinitely rewarding about getting it done with a horse you have trained yourself.

Of course, in order for these prospects to succeed they need to be in a program that allows them to develop properly. This is no easy task, and you need a great team behind you to give your young horses everything they need to reach potential. This is the biggest challenge but it is also what makes it so incredibly rewarding. It is all about the journey, and you never stop learning.

To what do you attribute your consistent success in choosing young horses?

First of all I think I have been incredibly lucky and blessed. I have had help from some of the most knowledgeable horse trainers, dealers, and breeders in the world, and that has been invaluable for me.

But, aside from a great support team and network, I believe there is two very key things that have always helped me buying horses. First, I always try to buy the best horse I can. Sometimes you cannot afford the horse that you want, but always try to acquire as much quality as you possibly can. Training a horse requires tremendous discipline and effort; it is expensive and takes a long time, regardless of how good the horse is. I have found through the years that many times a little extra effort to buy a better prospect pays off immensely in the long run.

Secondly, I prioritize movement above everything else. When I am buying young horses, the quality of gaits is all that I care about. No looks, no bloodline, no color. Raw potential, especially in young horses, comes from their natural ability as athletes. I cannot expect to find the perfect horse if I restrict myself to certain bloodlines, or certain size, or color, for example. Aside from that, I would say that the most important thing is to be very strict with your veting protocol. When buying young horses, be as strict as you possibly can. Remember that you are buying a horse that is just starting or has not even started its career. High-performance dressage horses, like any other high-performance athlete, put a lot of stress in their bodies. You want to maximize your horse’s chances to have a long, happy and successful career. Believe me, you do not want to see a promising young horse’s career derailed by injuries, so health is probably equally as important as quality when buying young horses.

In your experience, is the development and training of young horses a good way to build a profitable business?

Absolutely! I mean, I remember back in the early 2000s when I got into young horses. The sport was becoming more and more popular and trained horses just became impossible to find. Demand was higher than ever, prices went through the roof and there were simply not enough quality horses available. Furthermore, horses that were already trained and ready had lots of problems. Some were not sound, some were very difficult to ride, and the ones that were truly ready were unaffordable.

That is when I decided to focus on developing my own horses. That way I was able to have higher quality horses that were also trained through our program. I felt that this way I could ensure that my horses had everything they needed to become the best version of themselves.

Similarly, selling horses trained in-house has the enormous advantage that you know the horse very well. I feel very comfortable dealing with horses trained by my team, much more than dealing with horses that I do not know as well. This is why I always have at least one very talented prospect in my barn for sale.

What are your goals for the future?

In terms of goals, I would say more of the same. I would like to continue training and producing talented horses and riders. I love the journey and I love teaching. I have been very fortunate to have worked with so many great horses and riders, and that is my passion. I keep learning every day and I feel like we keep refining our program year after year, prospect after prospect. We have been incredibly successful and I believe that we are still getting better at it. Every horse that comes our way is unique, and that keeps me motivated.

Aside from that, hopefully one more Olympic Games. Why not?

Dr. Cesar Parra will be show casing four horses in four divisions at this week’s 2022 U.S. Young and Developing Horse Championships at the U.S. Festival of Champions in Wayne, on 24 – 28 August 2022.

The 2022 U.S. Young and Developing Horse Championship is the United States most prestigious event featuring the year’s top ranked combinations in each category and draws the best of the best from all over the country. The event returns to Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, Illinois, and starts 24 August, running for four days through 28 August.

4 x 4

Dr. Cesar Parra’s Performance Farm team received invites for four of his horses in all four of the young horse divisions.

Performance Farms’ 4 x 4 team include Superior (HANN, by Sensation x Licosto) who was invited for the Four-Year-Olds Championships, Fontenay (HANN, by Furst Jazz x Don Frederico) who was invited for the Five-Year-Olds Championships, Mollegardens Fashion (DWB, by Florenz x L’Espoir) who was invited for the Six-Year-Olds Championships and Fanta (HANN, by Finest x Florencio) who was the top seed in the rankings and for the Seven-Year-Olds Championships.

“When you realize that only the top 15 horses in the US in each age group are invited to the Championships, it is especially humbling to have 4 horses in four different age groups invited,” Parra exclaimed.

Building on Past Achievements

Each of Performance Farm’s horses earned impressive scores on the way to qualifying for the 2022 Championships, ranging from Fanta’s 82.143% to Mollegardens Fashion’s 86.20%.20%, Superior’s 87.20%. to Fortenay’s 91.%.

For Dr. Cesar Parra and his Performance Farms team, the annual trek to the U.S. Young and Developing Horse Championships has become a highlight in Performance Farm’s summer schedule. Over the last two decades, Parra’s program has become synonymous with High Performance and the development of top-quality young horses and riders. Since Parra’s win in the U.S. Intermediaire I Championship in 2010 aboard Olympia, Parra and his team have found success in virtually every division at Festival of Champions, but undeniably the Markel/USEF Young and Developing Horse Championships is where they have made the most prominent name for themselves as a force to be reconned with.

Last year, Fontenay, owned by Gina Raful and Parra, was crowned National Champion for 4-year-old horses. Additionally, Parra’s Mollegardens Fashion was third in the 5-year-old Championships and Fanta 4, also owned by Raful and Parra, was the 2021 number one ranked 6-year-old horse in the nation.

“We have been very blessed throughout the years to have wonderful horses and riders in our team. I am not sure what the exact number is now, but with the four horses we have qualified for this year’s Championships, we have been invited with over 30 combinations over the years!” said an ecstatic Parra as he adds that “not only have we been invited but most of our young horses have placed in the podium of their respective categories and many of them have been National Champions or Reserve Champions.”

Team Work

Parra credits his success in bringing horses up the levels to team work and a program that emphasizes solid basics to create a strong, healthy athletic horse. “We believe the formula for success is to build a happy, healthy athlete. Regardless of how long it takes, it is important to give each horse the time to develop body and mind so that they can become the best version of themselves.

“The Young and Developing Horse Championships are a steppingstone in the development of these the amazing horses,” says Parra, “and have been pivotal to dressage sport in the US. Up until ten to fifteen years ago I was mostly trained in Europe. I owe my program to great masters like Herbert Rehbein, Dr. Volker Moritz, Mariette Withages and Hubertus Schmidt. However, in large part thanks to the great support and collaboration between US Equestrian and Markel Insurance, in recent years we have had excellent support and training here in the US from very accomplished coaches like Anne Gribbons, Christine Traurig and Charlotte Bredahl!”

For Professionals and Amateurs

Not only does the Performance Farms team focuses on the development of horses but also of riders.

“To have well trained, happy horses, we need the best riders and horse-people. Therefore, in our team, we pride ourselves on learning from each other and being students of the sport. Not only our professional riders, but also our amateurs strive to become better horse-people daily.”

As the Performance Farm Team settles in at the Lamplight Equestrian Center with the their “Fantastic Four”, they are confident that things on the home front farms in New Jersey and Florida will run smoothly and they are equally excited about the upcoming competition and the camaraderie they will share with fellow equestrians from around the country.

Devon Delights

The plan going forward is for 2022 to be as magical as 2021, or even better! Last October, Cesar was proclaimed the high-scoring Best FEI Rider of the 2021 CDI-W Devon, winning the CDI3* Small Tour. This was his sixth overall FEI title – on six different horses — at Dressage at Devon. Over the 20 years he has competed there, he has had over 30 victory passes, in every division from Young Horse to Grand Prix.

In addition he was in a league of his own in Devon’s national Six-Year-Old classes, Cesar won on Gina Raful’s Fanta just a month after making top five in the 2021 U.S. Young Horse Championships at Lamplight. Dressage at Devon was also the international debut for Brooke Centrella’s Westphalian mare, Belle Ami, who Cesar won the FEI High Score and Best FEI Rider in Intermediaire I aboard.

Meanwhile, Performance Farms assistant trainer, Katryna Evans, took command at Devon in the National 5-Year-Old classes, just weeks after winning the Bronze Medal at the same Young Horse Championships at Lamplight.

An October 2021 report here on HorsesDaily.com said it best: “After Dr. Parra’s 20th season competing at Dressage at Devon, and 18th at the Markel/USEF National Dressage Horse and Developing Young Horse Championship, it’s no wonder he has needed at least two farms and homes to house all the awards and ribbons.” His 2021 wins at the prestigious Dressage at Devon just after an equally impressive Festival of Champions prove the staying power of his team and Performance Farm’s classical training system.

Successful Start to the 2022 Season

At their first show of the 2022 season, success unfolded as planned at the Gold Coast Dressage Opener held this past weekend at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Madeline Bendfeldt and Møllegårdens Fashion won their Third Level Test One classes with 76%+ and cinched the Vita Flex Victory Pass award. Next up was Katryna Evans who won the Third Level Test Two classes with newcomer, Land Do Retrio.

A Trio of Champions Makes up the Team

The horseman himself is humble in that recognition. “We are very lucky to have the team that we have,” says Cesar, one of Colombia’s top international riders and a member of its 2004 Olympic team before coming to America and representing the United States on its Team Gold Medal-winning squad at the 2011 Pan American Games.

Of his Performance Farms’ assistant trainers, Cesar says, “Katryna Evans and Madeleine Bendfeldt are amazing riders and people, who have a very special mix of talent and incredible experience. They received the best classical dressage education in Europe and have years of experience bringing very high-quality horses up the levels. They have many qualities that make them both such valuable members of our team.”

Originally from Colorado, Katryna made herself at home at Devon, winning the National 5-Year-Old classes on Cesar and Marcela Parra’s Danish Warmblood gelding, Møllegårdens Fashion. Earlier at U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions at Lamplight Equestrian Center, she rode the four-year-old Hanoverian Fontenay to an amazing qualifying score of 89.4%, and with Møllegårdens Fashion, made the Top Three in the 5-Year-Old Championship.

Madeleine arrived in the United States last summer, having worked for Helgstrand Dressage in Germany and Wellington, Florida, and she immediately made her presence known, winning the 6-Year-Old National Championship at the 2021 Markel/USEF Developing Dressage Horse Championships.
“In addition, I have the talented Nicolas Torres helping with our New Jersey operations,” Cesar adds, referring to his former FEI Junior Rider champion at the stunning new facility in Pittstown. “He has been a student of mine since he was 11 years-old and now he is a Chemical Engineering and Mathematics graduate! He is an amazing rider and we will probably see much more of him on Colombian teams in the future.”

Giving Back to the Sport Internationally

Cesar continues to further the education of horsemen in his homeland, coaching five “master class” clinics there annually and serving as Headmaster of Training for the Colombian Cavalry. “I try to help the sport wherever I can. I think it’s important for those of us involved to help dressage grow.”

Supporting the Sport Through Sponsorship

Meanwhile, Performance Farms is sponsoring at the Global Dressage Festival, Wellington Classic Dressage and the Gold Coast Dressage Association again for 2022, presenting the Performance Farms Adult Amateur Achievement Award.

“I really enjoy recognizing Adult Amateurs, as their passion is ultimately what drives our sport. There are many amateurs who are tremendous riders. I want to make sure they do not go unnoticed. They have the talent. They work hard. In the right system, they can become successful and competitive riders if they so desire. In my experience, adult amateurs are not so different from us professionals. We all want the same thing. To be the best riders we can be, to have healthy and happy horses, and to be able to bond and connect with them,” Cesar says.

Horses and Riders Welcome Year-Round in Florida and at the New Farm in New Jersey

Cesar traditionally spent winters in Jupiter, Florida and summers at his beautiful Performance Farm in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, but going into 2022 Parra has changed his business plan entirely.

The Whitehouse station property has been sold and while it was originally the plan to stay permanently in Florida, just two weeks after closing the sale he signed the sales contract for the Pittstown facility with a friend.

“This looks like my dream barn,” Cesar says. “Beautifully built with a huge indoor arena and lots of outdoor spaces. It has very easy access to Manhattan, yet in a quiet and lovely area. We’re working around the clock so that we can move in soon to this world-class facility.”

A dream barn where riders and horses can fulfil dreams, too. “Teamwork makes the dream work” is a favourite motto of Cesar’s and he is excited to share the dreams with others. Performance Farms currently has a few spots open for horses in training and rider’s seeking coaching at both facilities.

“In addition, this year will also be about the development of our amazing prospects. The young horses we have right now are some of the best prospects I have ever worked with and I’m very excited for all of us to help them fulfil their potential as future international Grand Prix horses,” added Cesar.

When we talk about developing and training horses we have to remember that the desire to go forward must be greater than anything else. This desire to move forward into the bit will give us the contact required to achieve the roundness and thoroughness, as well as the uphill tendency that we can appreciate in the picture.

Love this picture of our Fanta 4 at the 6yo division at the Festival of Champions 2021. One of the best prospects in the Nation and here we can see why.

It is very important to work on achieving suppleness, thoroughness, and impulsion from the early stages of the training. Only following the training scale will we be able to achieve true collection later on.

dressage-training-scale

Very often we see horses that are very spectacular but are not moving through the back. This movement, usually achieved through tension, will lead to problems later on and often injury, and it is heavily penalized at an international level.

Wellington, FL – February 23, 2020 – Cesar Parra (USA) nailed a huge new personal best in the FEI Intermediate I CDI3*, presented by Restylane. He rode Mr Bumblebee, Karen Blank’s shy 12-year-old gelding by Sting to 75.535%. The pair were the unanimous winners in the eyes of all five judges on the concluding day of the five-star week seven of the 2020 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, Florida. AGDF 2020 runs for 12 weeks, through March 29.

Sweden’s Ida Mattisson finished second with Edison Van Twinwood (72.005%) with Canadian rider Ariana Chia filling third with 71.745% on her own Fiderflame. Some last-minute confidence-building tactics with Mr Bumblebee paid dividends for Parra, a Colombian Olympian who switched nationalities to ride for the USA in 2008.

“We used to say that not every day’s a Sunday, but today’s a great Sunday,” he enthused. “I’m sure a lot of us riders ask ourselves why we do this, and when we have a ride like this, that’s the answer, to share a great ride with a great partner like him. We’ve been working very focused and consistently with this horse and I really believe in him. He’s been in our barn for a few years with different riders and he’s just a late bloomer, so I’m happy for him and the owners who have supported so much.

“Mr Bumblebee is shy and very insecure. He can do everything for an eight or a nine but when you switch him from the warm-up into the ring, he gets very nervous and trembles. So this morning I was out here at 7 a.m. going in and out of the arena on long reins and giving him sugar and apples until finally he said, ‘Okay fine, I guess there are no ghosts out there’. People think I’m crazy, but sometimes you have to do these things.”

Parra, who is based between Florida and New Jersey, added: “I really want to go to one more Olympics. I am over 50 but I’m fit, I still run and go to the gym as well as riding six or seven hours a day, so maybe I am a late bloomer too.”

He has been training with Anne Gribbons, but has added a new trainer to his roster this winter: “Lately it’s been someone who has been watching me for the last 30 years: the one with the microphone this winter has been my wife Marcela. And it’s been very exciting because she doesn’t ride but it works perfectly because she knows when to push and when to leave me alone.”

Parra was full of praise for the AGDF, adding: “What Global [AGDF] does here is just amazing. I’ve been in Aachen, in World Cups, World Equestrian Games and Olympics, I think it’s even better here. You have all the facilities and everything is pro welfare of the horse to make them happy athletes. And we get to train and compete in front of amazing judges.”

Sweden’s Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén claimed the winner’s sash in the FEI Intermediate II CDI3* with Lövsta Stuteri’s jumping-bred gelding Lord Django, by Stalypso. The 10-year-old is a new ride for Sweden’s seven-time Olympian, having previously been competed by Poland’s Ilona Janas. Vilhelmson Silfvén and Lord Django were contesting just their second CDI test together and their first at big tour level. Their 70.029% winning score edged out second-placed Yvonne Losos De Muñiz of the Dominican Republic who is quietly building a record at big tour with her own 10-year-old Vivaldi daughter Felicia. They scored 67.912%, which would have been markedly higher had it not been for issues in the one-time changes but still represents a new personal best for the pair in this test.

In the Summit Farm Future Challenge FEI Prix St. Georges class, the two qualifying tickets for the final in week 12 went to winner Signe Kirk Kristiansen (DEN) on her new ride Bonderman (71.25%) and second placed Christopher Hickey (USA) who scored 70.074% on Stenagers Wyatt Earp. Twelve starters contested this increasingly popular class.

“I was very happy with my ride, especially as I do get a little nervous when any class is a qualifier for something but I was really happy that Bonderman was with me all the time,” said Kristiansen, who bought the eight-year-old by Belarus from Helgstrand Dressage in August after he competed at the World Young Horse Championships. “Now that we’ve qualified for the finals in the big ring, maybe I should do a one-star CDI to get him in there and used to the atmosphere.

“I went to Helgstrand to try another horse that I couldn’t ride, and then Andreas said he wanted me to look at this horse,” added Kristiansen, who is spending the season in Wellington for the fifth consecutive year. “He’s big and really orange and I normally like smaller horses, but he was incredible to ride on that first try.”

Kristiansen, who trains with Lars Petersen in Florida and his former student Allan Gron back in Denmark, added: “This class is a really nice way to compare yourself and horse with other youngsters on the same level.”

Canada’s Diane Creech was the unanimous winner in the Lövsta Future Challenge FEI Intermediate II. She picked up the single ticket to the finals on offer riding her own and Louise Leatherdale’s Dublin L to 69.118%. Michael Klimke (GER) finished second with the Destano son Delmonte 7 on 67.427%, with the USA’s Michael Bragdell filling third on Sternlicht Hilltop (64.118%).

“This is so exciting because Louise bred Dublin and he’s by her stallion Damsey,” said Creech of the nine-year-old who is out of a Wolkenstein II dam. “Being by Damsey you can already feel fairly quickly that he has inherited his talent for the collected work, so it’s really fun to work with him. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to ride a horse like him. Now it’s just about giving him experience and confidence and keeping fun in the game as he still has many more years to come.

“This class is so wonderful; it’s such a great opportunity for young horses to grow up a bit and start to play with the big boys,” added Creech, who is based in Ontario, Canada but has spent the past half a dozen winters based, along with her daughter, at the Palm Beach Equine Clinic Facility in Wellington — just a stone’s throw from AGDF.

“Being here is a wonderful opportunity to train and watch other riders. The facilities are incredible and you just can’t beat it. We hack over to the show and back. We have seven horses down for the season and it’s a once in a lifetime thing to be able to share my hobby and passion with my daughter.”

Today’s competition concludes week seven, CDI5* week, of the 12-week 2020 AGDF. Action kicks off again on Wednesday, February 26 with week eight’s CDI-W show. AGDF 2020 runs for 12 weeks, through March 29. For more information and results, visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.

Photo credit: © SusanStickle.com. These images may only be used in relation to this press release and with credit.

Cesar Parra (USA) and his team at Piaffe Performance Dressage had great week at the 2020 Adequan Global Dressage Festival at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, Florida. The high intensity show culminated for Parra in the CDI3* Intermediare 1 Freestyle presented by Restylane with with Karen Blank’s Mr. Bumblebee. He rode his long time project to a unanimous and strong victory, scoring 75.535%. With a stable full of promising and accomplished high performance horses, for Piaffe Performance Dressage, this victory was a particularly sweet one.

‘Bee’ Confident and Patient and It Will Come

Owned by Karen Blank, Mr Bumblebee has been thriving in the Piaffe Performance program since his arrival a few years ago as a greener horse.

Cesar explains that it has been he and his team’s creative, soft approach with this sensitive horse that has been the key to his success:

“My experience developing ‘Bee’ has really challenged me to think about how best to give him the confidence he needs to shine in the ring through a soft, encouraging approach. He is naturally more of an introverted horse and needed our help to come out of his shell, so we had to build a great amount of trust with him.

We have all come together as a team to discuss ways to help him become the horse we all believe he can become, which is an internationally competitive Grand Prix horse, so it’s been a fun process. We have used a huge amount of positive reinforcement with him, following the pace that he shows us he is comfortable with to develop him into a horse that now handles high energy atmospheres.”

Always Evolving Parra Continues the Journey

Cesar points out that as most things grow and evolve over time, the same is true of his program and approach with the horses.

“I feel that in the past few years I have realized that I get better results employing a softer, more encouraging approach with the horses in my training system and am so pleased to see that growth being rewarded by the judges. As a team, we are committed to giving each horse that we work with our very best everyday, which includes our patience, compassion and efforts to understand each of their individual needs.

It’s ok if certain horses take longer than others to develop. We remain consistent and praiseworthy of their efforts as they try to get it right, and eventually they do. The horses seem to really be flourishing in this environment while steadily developing in their training progression.”

Olympic Goals in The Headlights

The future is looking bright for Cesar with his fleet of talented horses, each with their own impressive track records “My goal is to represent the US one more time at the Olympics on one of my five up and coming horses and I hope I can realize that dream. We currently have some lovely horses that I am very excited about: Fashion Designer, Don Cesar, Sir Beckmann, Mr. Bumblebee, Jida Selly A and Don Cesar Junior.”

With four of them training at the Grand Prix level and two top young horses coming up, Cesar’s goal seems within sight.