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Las Marismas Team Wins FEI World Dressage Challenge for Group
X
Announced April 12, 2002, after all competition results were received
by the FEI Development Manager, Geroge Fernández, Diana Ramos de
Tejeda and Yvonne Losos de Muñiz led Dominican Republic to its first-ever
win of the FEI World Dressage Challenge, an international event
sponsored by Performance Sales International (PSI). Riding Lando
Lee Las Marismas, Yvonne charged ahead of the other countries' competitors
with a 63.50% in Prix St. Georges, which eventually resulted in
her winning this individual class and qualifying her for the final
at the stables of Germany's Paul Shockemohle in July 2003.
George Fernández had a good PSG debut on Hulster Las Marismas and
received 56.63%, good for third place overall in Group X.
Diana Ramos continued her good form with her flashy mare Arabella,
securing the overall win for the Advanced class in Group X after
receiving 61.43%. The combined scores of the riders brought victory
to the Dominican Republic as overall leader in the FEI World Dressage
Challenge for Group X, upsetting Trinidad and Tobago and Bermuda's
usual dominance in this region.
March 14-17
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| Yvonne and Inatana Las Marismas finish second
in the I1 Freestyle |
Dressage competition in Wellington for Team Las Marismas wrapped
up with the WEF Dressage Classic CDI***/Y, held March 14-17.
With a tremendous amount of focus, hardwork and determination,
Yvonne Losos de Muniz finished a resounding 2nd place with 67% in
the Intermediare I Freestyle aboard Inatana Las Marismas, a horse
she has only been riding since January 10, 2002. The week had started
off positively for the pair who were 5th out of 22 in the Intermediare
I. The top twelve were invited back for the Freestyle on Sunday
when they settled for second place behind Yvonne Barteau and Chimon's
winning score of 69.7%. The second place finish was a tremendous
accomplishment because it was the first time Yvonne had ever competed
in a freestyle competition.
Georgie Fernandez returned to Florida after spending a month dedicated
to his studies in veterinarian medicine. He and Hulster Las Marismas
had 55% in Prix St. Georges but their most satisfying result of
the weekend was a 3rd place finish with 64% in Fourth Level, Test
1 behind Ashley Holzer's 70.5% and Heather Blitz's 67%. Georgie
competed Diana Ramos' horse Arabella in Third Level. Their top score
was 60.65%, good enough for 5th place in the Third Level, Test 3.
Team Las Marismas, including Yvonne, Diana and Georgie, wish to
thank their dressage coach Diederick Wigmans for his unwavering
help and training at each 2002 Florida dressage competition. His
remarkable ability to succinctly explain concepts helped all of
the riders get the most out of their new mounts who had all been
purchased at the end of 2001 and, after their initial trial in Europe,
were ridden for the first time in Florida.
March 6-10
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Yvonne and Maretty
Las Marismas |
As show jumping in Wellington, Fl, culminated with the Cosequin
Wellington Finale CSIO, Meredith Michaels Beerbaum of Germany won
the $100,000 Cosequin U.S. Open Jumper Championship Presented by
Canadian National from a starting field of 45. Two days earlier
the $50,000 Samsung Nations' Cup took place for the first time at
a US winter circuit show. It was won by Team USA with Canada second,
Ireland third and Argentina fourth.
For Las Marismas' jumper rider Yvonne Losos de Muniz, taking part
in this historical weekend was more than satisfying. Mondriaan Las
Marismas capped off his Low Amateur efforts with a clean round and
8th place in the $1,500 Low Amateur speed class. Jilou Las Marismas
made her High Amateur debut where her worse score of the week was
eight faults. Maretty Las Marismas remained in the Medium division
where she accumulated 12 faults during one round but for the most
part had only one rail each trip.
Having gained an enormous amount of ring experience with the new
horses at Wellington, Yvonne plans to compete Maretty Las Marismas
and Mondriaan Las Marismas in a few Dominican Republic competitions
this spring. Meanwhile her coach Laura Kraut will have the ride
on Jilou Las Marismas for a few months in order to put some additional
North American mileage on her before Yvonne and Maretty Las Marismas
meet them at the Spruce Meadows National Tournament in Calgary,
Alberta, at the beginning of June.
On behalf of Las Marismas, Yvonne sincerely thanks Laura Kraut
and her assistant Jonathon Millar for their daily coaching in Florida
and Paul and Emile Hendrix for all of their continued support and
guidance.
February 27- March 3
With the Tommy Bahama Open CSI-W taking place February 27-March
3, the second last jumping competition in Florida for Las Marismas
was proving beneficial to the horses as well to Yvonne. Again Mondriaan
Las Marismas had no more than two rails in the Low Amateur-Owners
and Jilou Las Marismas and Maretty Las Marismas remained in the
Medium Amateur division. The highlight was Maretty Las Marismas'
8th place finish in one class where they had the time in the jump
off but incurred four faults.
Photos courtesy of Cealy
Tetley and Betty
Cooper

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