New Article on Cesar Parra Controversy

[Graymaresrule]

[QUOTE=Eclectic Horseman;7725538]
I don’t think that anyone said that people are being forced to work with or train for CP?

My comment went to the fact that Happyone321 joined COTH apparently for the sole purpose of promoting CP and rebutting the posts here. And we can all take that for what it is worth.

You, carolprudm, obviously did not do that.[/QUOTE]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion even if it is not universally shared or even liked.

I was unaware that COTH required credentials before posting.

[JGZNYC2014]

I’m glad somebody finally asked this question because it finally gives a chance for those of us who know Cesar well, ride and train with him, to tell the truth.

I joined the Performance Farm team as a client 10 years ago. I was still new at dressage and had maybe a 2nd/3rd level horse. I stood in the barn for awhile, watching the world class horses and riders, and was intimidated by the level of excellence there. Cesar took me up to the house to meet his family and talk to me about training with him. I expressed my hesitation at entering a world where the bar was so high and I was so - well – mediocre. He got a very serious expression on his face and I will never forget his words. He said “If you come and train with me, the first time ANYBODY makes you feel less than, you come to me, and THEY will be gone.” He said it, he meant it, and right there I saw deep into his heart and what kind of person he was. He has stood by me while I learned, he has nurtured, encouraged, challenged and guided me through the most amazing 10 years of my life. He found me my Grand Prix horse Ghostbuster, the equine love my life. He made me into a rider. More importantly, he became a friend.

What happened with William, while tragic, is something that happens in our sport. Anybody involved in any kind of discipline with horses knows that every time you lunge a horse, get on a horse, get near a horse, the potential for disaster exists. I wish it weren’t so, but it is and any true horseman knows that. The people who would blame somebody for something like this happening are ignorant and badly informed. And they are obviously willing to believe the worst about people. We should support each other in our sport. We should share knowledge and skill and enjoyment of these magnificent animals. And when tragedy strikes, we should rally around one another and lend support and friendship. Not hurl blame and point fingers because it can happen to anyone of us at any time.

I am a hardworking New Yorker, and no, I am most definitely not a sucker. I am a strong, capable person who loves my horse and is looking for the best training possible for both of us. Cesar’s is the best place on earth I know for that. Believe it, because it’s the truth.

[Eclectic_Horseman]

[QUOTE=carolprudm;7725556]
Everyone is entitled to their opinion even if it is not universally shared or even liked.

I was unaware that COTH required credentials before posting.[/QUOTE]

You are right. And no, COTH doesn’t require credentials. But a first time poster? Heck, it could be CP himself for all we know. Or a PR firm hired by him.

carolprudm, I’ve read plenty of posts of yours on a variety of subjects. You have almost 13,000 posts, and I certainly would not suspect that you are a shill for anyone. But pardon me if I point out that people who join COTH to respond to a thread like this may in fact be shills. They can post, sure. Just like I can question the value or objectivity of their posts. It goes both ways.

[Media_1]

This is why I train with Dr. Cesar Parra

I’d like to start off by saying I do not believe in character assassination. I am responding to the question “why still train with Cesar Parra?”

I have been a client of Cesar’s for fifteen years. I have had the privilege in my life to have trained under some the top Olympic dressage trainers in the US, on both coasts. While I liked some there were others you couldn’t pay me to train with again. I have had my horses with Cesar for the past 15 years because not only is his training program one of the best, but the care of the horses is second to none. As I stated previously I have been with other excellent trainers, but what made me such a loyal student of Cesar’s is the attention he gives each horse and rider team. It doesn’t matter what level you are at, he teaches all students not just FEI riders, and each lesson is clear and above all fun. He constantly reminds the rider that this should be fun for the horse and you.

For a period of time I couldn’t keep my horse at Cesar’s but that didn’t matter, he would help me at shows and his door was always open to me and my horse whenever we needed help. I was so pleased to be able to bring my horse back home to Performance Farms, because that’s what it is a home. My horse is so happy and healthy there. The entire barn is a wonderful place to be, I never worry if I can’t get there because I know any need that arises for my horse will be met.

It’s common knowledge that not every trainer/training program works for every horse and rider pair. I am not saying you have to like or agree but what I am asking is please get all the facts preferably first hand or as close to first hand as you can before you pass judgement.

[SnicklefritzG]

I have seen and heard enough from official legal documents to want to stay far, far, away. I don’t need to talk with people who have trained with CP and like him. The fact that he is embroiled in so much legal stuff is enough to convince me that there are better places elsewhere.

[Crockpot]

Well unfortunately,all these new glowing testimonials bear no more weight than the rantings of ponnypappy since all are anonymous.

Yes, I’m anonymous too but I’m not here trashing anyone or giving earnest testimonials either so that is fine.

If you want to be taken seriously, you need to sign your name. If you are a proud supporter, that should not be a problem for you. Otherwise, people will assume you are bogus and/or the products of a PR machine.

[alicen]

Oh come on people! As some else has pointed out, obviously Parra has some satisfied clients other wise he’d have no clients at all.

[Crockpot]

[QUOTE=alicen;7725725]
Oh come on people! As some else has pointed out, obviously Parra has some satisfied clients other wise he’d have no clients at all.[/QUOTE]
i don’t know if you were replying to me but if so, it is funny because |I was also the 'someone else"

my only point was that an anonymous testimonial is really no better than a ponypappy post if looking for credibility.

[alicen]

@Crockpot;7725808

i don’t know if you were replying to me but if so, it is funny because |I was also the 'someone else"

I thumbs upped you.

[Mardi]

@Eclectic Horseman;7725538

My comment went to the fact that Happyone321 joined COTH apparently for the sole purpose of promoting CP and rebutting the posts here. And we can all take that for what it is worth.

Happyone321 is 100% legitimate. They are not “a PR firm” or “CP himself”.

It’s ok to join COTH and post a view point that may be different than yours, remember ?

[SGray]

[QUOTE=JGZNYC2014;7725629]
I’m glad somebody finally asked this question because it finally gives a chance for those of us who know Cesar well, ride and train with him, to tell the truth.

I joined the Performance Farm team as a client 10 years ago. I was still new at dressage and had maybe a 2nd/3rd level horse. I stood in the barn for awhile, watching the world class horses and riders, and was intimidated by the level of excellence there. Cesar took me up to the house to meet his family and talk to me about training with him. I expressed my hesitation at entering a world where the bar was so high and I was so - well – mediocre. He got a very serious expression on his face and I will never forget his words. He said “If you come and train with me, the first time ANYBODY makes you feel less than, you come to me, and THEY will be gone.” He said it, he meant it, and right there I saw deep into his heart and what kind of person he was. He has stood by me while I learned, he has nurtured, encouraged, challenged and guided me through the most amazing 10 years of my life. He found me my Grand Prix horse Ghostbuster, the equine love my life. He made me into a rider. More importantly, he became a friend.

What happened with William, while tragic, is something that happens in our sport. Anybody involved in any kind of discipline with horses knows that every time you lunge a horse, get on a horse, get near a horse, the potential for disaster exists. I wish it weren’t so, but it is and any true horseman knows that. The people who would blame somebody for something like this happening are ignorant and badly informed. And they are obviously willing to believe the worst about people. We should support each other in our sport. We should share knowledge and skill and enjoyment of these magnificent animals. And when tragedy strikes, we should rally around one another and lend support and friendship. Not hurl blame and point fingers because it can happen to anyone of us at any time.

I am a hardworking New Yorker, and no, I am most definitely not a sucker. I am a strong, capable person who loves my horse and is looking for the best training possible for both of us. Cesar’s is the best place on earth I know for that. Believe it, because it’s the truth.[/QUOTE]

not really all that anonymous

[NJRider]

[QUOTE=SGray;7725915]
not really all that anonymous[/QUOTE]
Nope. She might ask Dr. Parra to correct the spelling of her horse’s name on his website.

[Bogey2]

I expressed my hesitation at entering a world where the bar was so high and I was so - well – mediocre. He got a very serious expression on his face and I will never forget his words. He said “If you come and train with me, the first time ANYBODY makes you feel less than, you come to me, and THEY will be gone.” He said it, he meant it, and right there I saw deep into his heart and what kind of person he was.

this made me giggle for some reason…:lol: So dramatic

[SnicklefritzG]

Of course he is going to be very nice and welcoming to someone who has the money to import a GP level horse from Europe.

[Limitless]

[QUOTE=Bogey2;7726043]
this made me giggle for some reason…:lol: So dramatic[/QUOTE]

Me too!!

[FineAlready]

[QUOTE=SnicklefritzG;7726122]
Of course he is going to be very nice and welcoming to someone who has the money to import a GP level horse from Europe. :D[/QUOTE]

Yes, this exactly. I wonder if he would give me the “don’t ever let anyone make you feel ‘less than’” speech if I showed up with my little TB and told him I’ll never sell this horse?

[FineAlready]

[QUOTE=Happyone321;7725417]
I’ve been working for Cesar since 2002 and the reason I am still working for him is because of his passion, the desire for his students to succeed in the show ring and in life, the family atmosphere, the support of the team, and having fun while doing what we do together.
Visit out web site www.piaffe-performance.com
I work in two beautiful barns and have the opportunity to travel the world grooming his horses at events I never dreamed of ever visiting in my life. This could not of been possible without the support of the team. And in team it’s not only Cesar, but his family, the guys that clean the stall, the vet, the clients, the sponsors, the farrier, the working students, the riders from all over the world, the saddle fitter, I can go on. We all work for a common goal, love the horses, support each other no matter what their goals are,and have fun while doing it.[/QUOTE]

I noticed you mention his passion and desire for success in the show ring, but don’t really mention any kind of desire to work for the good of the HORSE. I’ve got no particular dog in this fight, but I did see the pictures of how cranked in that horse’s side reins were. No matter the context, that use of side reins is inappropriate and abusive. End of story. That would be true even if no catastrophic accident had occurred.

[Eclectic_Horseman]

[QUOTE=Mardi;7725911]
Happyone321 is 100% legitimate. They are not “a PR firm” or “CP himself”.

It’s ok to join COTH and post a view point that may be different than yours, remember ?[/QUOTE]

But it is not okay for me to question the credibility, reliability or accuracy of a post? Is that what you are saying?

[Lucassb]

[QUOTE=Crockpot;7725551]
Well to be fair, so what? Is ponypappy any more credible than the happy one? I’d like to see the courts deal with it rather than people like ponypappy, happy one or any other anonymous poster. But I can understand why someone might want to join a board to counter allegations agst someone they admire. And let’s admit this- whether deserved or not, CS still has some clients and followers. They likely aren’t any more objective than the Pappyman so maybe it balances out.[/QUOTE]

I agree.

I always cringe when I see the OP’s posts, filled as they are with such an aggressive agenda. I appreciate that everyone, including the OP, is entitled to their own opinions, of course. But so many people have weighed in with very strong statements about this situation - even though they have no firsthand knowledge of it themselves.

For the record, I do not have any firsthand knowledge of it either. I do know CP’s version of the event, which frankly seems to me just as likely (if not more so) than the version promoted by the OP. Because the tragedy could have occurred under either scenario, I reserve judgment about it.

I have taken some lessons (clinics) with CP. I have been a guest at his barn a few times, and have watched quite a few rides there. His style doesn’t particularly suit me or my horse, and I doubt I’d take any more lessons from him, but I have never seen any riding nor training that was in any way concerning. The horses there have all seemed to be in beautiful condition, and pretty happy - soft eyes, happy to come to the door/front of the stall as you walk by, that kind of thing.

I’d like to think that after several decades in the horse world, I can get a sense of the horsemanship at a facility by seeing how the horses act, both in the barn and under saddle. Again, I suppose that it’s entirely possible that something untoward happens when the lights go out and the gate is locked… but if so, I have not seen any evidence of it. And frankly I think the horses would give that sort of evidence if they were badly treated. It is not that hard to see in their eyes.

What happened to the horse being discussed was undoubtedly a truly terrible tragedy. My heart goes out to him, and to his connections. As someone else noted above, sadly accidents do happen in this sport; some preventable and others not so much. I don’t know which might have been the case in that particular instance. And neither does anyone else who was not there in person.

[mickeydoodle]

Horse injuries, training styles aside there is also the business side of things. Just saying, been around the block a few times and seen a lot of things first hand, ringside as PT Barnum might say.