Jan 30 - Feb 2, Wellington Dressage

Dressage competition at the Winter Equestrian Festival began with 'Wellington Dressage'. Thursday's Prix St. George class and Friday's Intermediare I were the first two qualifying classes for the US Dressage Team headed to the Pan Am Games, being held in the Dominican Republic in August. The top 12 qualified riders after the third qualifier, to be held on February 16, will compete in the final trials taking place at the USET headquarters in Gladstone, NJ, June 19-22.

Yvonne and Inatana Las Marismas, a 12-year-old bay Dutch Warmblood mare by Latano, won the Intermediare I with 67.25%, after placing second out of 23 the day before in the Prix St. Georges with a score of 68.38%. In Sunday's Intermediare I Freestyle, she and Inatana Las Marismas earned an incredibly high score of 71.88% to finish second behind Dr. Cesar and Parra Pik's winning score of 72.42%.

With a score of 62.75%, Yvonne and Lando Lee Las Marismas, a 10-year-old Dutch gelding by Cocktail, finished fifth in the Prix St. Georges on the opening day of competition. They moved up to Intermediare I where they scored 62.38% to finish fourth out of 10 competitors.

Overall, the show was a promising start for Team Las Marismas in dressage. Along with these mounts, Team Las Marismas competed several horses, including many young ones in the First Level division. Find a complete list of horses by clicking on Competition Horses.

Jan 29 - Feb 2, Bayer Gold Coast Jumper Classic, CSI**

The success was to continue as Team Las Marismas headed into the jumper ring at the Bayer Gold Coast Jumper Classic, CSI**. Hector Florentino got things rolling with a fifth place finish out of 70 entries in the 1.30 m class with Carioca Las Marismas, a 9-year-old Argentinean mare.

Rodrigo Diaz-Kraus amazed everyone with a double placing in the $2,500 High Amateur-Owner class on Friday. From a starting field of 34, he finished second with Amoante Las Marismas, a 9-year-old Thoroughbred owned by Jaime Enrique Diaz, and fourth with Tatabra Mefisto Las Marismas, a 9-year-old Argentinean gelding owned by Laura Turbay.

In Saturday's $15,000 Amateur Owner class, Rodrigo and Amoante Las Marismas were clear in the first round and advanced to the jump-off. Up against 46 entries, the pair finished seventh overall.

Along with these mounts, Team Las Marismas competed several horses, including many young ones in the Schooling Jumper Division. Find a complete list of horses by clicking on Competition Horses.

January 22 - 26, Nutrena/Western Hay Wellington Classic CSI **

The Nutrena/Western Hay Wellington Classic CSI ** was a nice warm-up to the winter circuit for Team Las Marismas. Rodrigo Diaz-Kraus had a strong performance in the $2,500 High Amateur Owner class. From a field of 39 entries, he set the tone for a successful show by placing eleventh with Amoante Las Marismas, a 9-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, and twelfth with his 2002 Central American Games gold medal mount, Graf Grannus Las Marismas, a 12-year-old Hanoverian stallion by Grannus, both owned by Jaime Enrique Diaz.

Rodrigo quickly moved up in the leader board as he sailed around the next High Amateur Owner class with Graf Grannus Las Marismas for an impressive third place finish out of 30 entries. Rodrigo finished his brilliant weekend in fifth place out of 42 with Tatabra Mefisto Las Marismas, a 9-year-old Argentinean gelding owned by Laura Turbay, in the $1,500 Medium Amateur Owner class.

Along with these mounts, Team Las Marismas competed several horses, including many young ones in the Schooling Jumper Division. Find a complete list of horses by clicking on Competition Horses.

January 10 Launch of the Winter Competition Circuit In 2003

Team Las Marismas launched its most ambitious winter training initiative yet. In preparation for the 2003 Pan American Games, being held for the first time in their home country of Dominican Republic in August, sixteen Las Marismas horses left their home base in Santo Domingo on January 10. They flew to Miami, Florida, where they spent a week in quarantine before taking up residence at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club in Wellington for the 31st Winter Equestrian Festival. The Festival hosts more than 5000 horses taking part in hunter, jumper and dressage competitions.

Unlike any other stable competing at Wellington, Las Marismas has a strong group of dressage and show jumping riders and horses. Leading the charge is 35-year-old Las Marismas owner/rider/trainer, Yvonne Losos de Muñiz. A solid competitor in two disciplines, she will make her debut in Grand Prix dressage and the 1.50m jumping classes this winter.

Coaching the show jumping riders and competing a few of the young horses is Mariano Bedoya from Argentina. In dressage the riders have the invaluable assistance of Dutch trainer, Diederik Wigmans.

Las Marismas is proud to support a number of riders in their pursuit of equestrian excellence. Dominican Dressage Team members Diana Ramos de Tejeda, 33, and George Fernández, 23, were team bronze medallists at the 2002 Central American Games. Both are competing in the Advanced division this winter in preparation for the Pan Ams.

Joining Team Las Marismas this winter is Dominican Show Jumping Team member and highest placed Dominican rider at the 2002 Central Americans, Hector Florentino, 29, and 2002 Central American Games team gold medallist, Rodrigo Diaz-Kraus, 24, of Colombia. Both are competing in the 1.30-1.50m classes at Wellington.

Support staff for the Winter Equestrian Festival includes resident rider Luciana Solari, 28, of Argentina, and grooms Patricia Klein, 28, of the Netherlands, and Ismael Torres, 33, of Mexico. Team Las Marismas looks forward to a successful winter competition circuit.