TESTIMONIALS

Emmy Sobieski (Adwers)

This past weekend, Ali Baba, now 19, helped YET ANOTHER rider earn their USDF Gold Medal. Allison Harding rode her first Grand Prix on Ali Baba for a 63.75%, second place and this score earned Allison her Gold Medal. She had ridden 3 Grand Prix tests before on another horse, so she is still quite green at Grand Prix. I rode a Grand Prix on Ali Baba the day before, to be sure he was going to be good for Allison, and he won his class with a 66%! This positive experience inspired me to reflect on all that Ali Baba has done for me over the years. I wanted to share my thanks and appreciation as you found him for me and trained me on him. I do not take lessons on him today, rather I just go by what I learned when I was at your barn. When we went to Germany in search of a Grand Prix schoolmaster, I had never ridden above Prix St. Georges. I remember trying Ali Baba. He was the first horse I tried. I was flailing around attempting various aids and Ali Baba was guessing what I wanted and doing perfect movements. I got off and told you this was the horse I wanted. You told me that we had many more to try. I told you I wanted to reserve this horse. You did that for me, which was great, because someone else tried to buy him the next day, but the sellers stayed true to their word and held him for me. No other horse would do, even after trying so many other fabulous Grand Prix horses, and you arranged a flawless purchase for a great price. ... Three weeks after he came to the US, Ali Baba placed 3rd with me in an Intermediare 1 at the January 2002 Wellington Dressage show, behind you (Cesar) and Michele Gibson! That was him showing me the ropes in my first Intermediare 1. Ali Baba and I went on to win the Region 1 championships at PSG and Intermediare 1 for Adult Amateurs for 2002. He also took me through my first Intermediare 2, my first Grand Prix, my first Grand Prix Special and my first Grand Prix Freestyle.... I went in my first horse show and earned my USDF Gold Medal on Ali Baba in our first two tests. In our first season of Grand Prix, in 2003, he won the Dressage at Devon high score Adult Amateur at Grand Prix, the USDF Adult Amateur National Grand Prix champion, and the Region 1 USDF OPEN Grand Prix Championships. In 2004, he again won the Dressage at Devon high score Adult Amateur at Grand Prix, and also won the Adashi Florida Season Adult Amateur Grand Prix championship for 2004 and 2005, and was 2004 Reserve Champion USDF Adult Amateur National Grand Prix champion behind my other horse PF Robinson, whom you trained and sold me. He won many other awards... His favorite snack are rice crispy treats, and he still HATES having days off. He is truly, in every way, my horse of a lifetime. I thank you both from the bottom of my heart for finding this horse and for training him and me to be a team together. Love, Emmy Sobieski (Adwers

Emily Wagner

Having spent two years as a part of the Performance Farm Team, I can only say I would never rewrite this chapter of my life! Dr. Parra is obviously a skilled instructor, trainer and rider; however, his amazing and invaluable skill to teach riders to carry instruction from ride to ride, horse to horse is rare. His teachings carry into the future of all his student's riding. Not only is Dr. Parra an asset to any rider's education, but his staff is amazing as well. Each of his riders are fantastic and bring their own strengths to the team. Riding among such talent kept me inspired and motivated each and every day and still does!

Julie McKean

"One of the most rewarding aspects of training with Dr. Parra is that his teachings go beyond the dressage arena. Under his instruction I have not only developed a more independent seat, but have gained a deeper understanding of classical training principles, as well as key aspects of horse management. I especially value the upbeat atmosphere, in addition to the great deal of inspiration and support that comes from Dr. Parra and the Performance Farm team"

Michael Shondel

Cesar and his team at Performance Farm have played a huge role in my development as a rider. The training is top notch, as are the facilities and the care of the horses. The atmosphere at the barn is very inspirational yet it remains a fun place to learn with a great group of people."

Sharon Brandes Myers

After many years in the sport, I didn't know I could make so much progress until I met Dr. Parra. The past 7 years of training with him have been fun and exciting and an unbelievable learning experience. Additionally, I've purchased four horses from him; they've been exactly as he represented them and have even exceeded my expectations. His staff and facilities are also worth mentioning: they're second to none! But his honesty, integrity and his friendship are what put him in a class by himself and are why I couldn't imagine going forward without him.