July 24-28 Caledon Equestrian Festival Horse Show

Yvonne Losos de Muniz and Jilou Las Marismas won the final class of the High Junior/Amateur division at the CSI-W Caledon Summer Equestrian Festival

Las Marismas summer competition tour in Canada finished with a win for Yvonne Losos de Muñiz in the last class of the High Junior/Amateur division at the CSI-W Caledon Equestrian Festival Horse Show, on July 27, held in Palgrave, Ontario, just north of Toronto.

With Canada's brightest riders vying for points in the National Talent Squad Series, a series that helps to identify future Canadian Equestrian Team (CET) members, Yvonne and Jilou Las Marismas were in tough company. The course, set by 1999 Pan American Games course designer, David Ballard, saw just two clears after the first round. In the end it was Jilou Las Marismas and Yvonne who proved unbeatable this day, edging out former CET member Doug Henry who settled for second place.

International course designer Sr. Juan Carlos Tafur Eisenmayer of Bogotá, Colombia, assisted Yvonne throughout the week, as he did two weeks earlier at the Capital Classic Show Jumping Tournament. Leading up to the win, Yvonne finished eighth with Maretty Las Marismas and ninth with Jilou Las Marismas in the opening class. The following day she and Maretty were fifth in the speed class.

After competing in the lower divisions at the FEI Dressage Championships of the Americans only a week earlier, Donaldson Las Marismas and Mephisto Las Marismas had a little fun in the jumper ring at Caledon. Both young horses proved their versatility and talent as they easily competed in either the Schooling Jumper or Green Jumper divisions.

Yvonne and all of Las Marismas wish to thank Sr. Juan Carlos Tafur Eisenmayer for his generous support this summer. His scheduled assistance at the Capital Classic Show Jumping Tournament in Ottawa and the Caledon Equestrian Festival Horse Show in Palgrave gave Yvonne invaluable guidance as she prepares to represent her country in the show jumping events at the 2002 Central American Games and the 2003 Pan American Games.

July 21 Holland's Paul Hendrix Visits Las Marismas

It was with great anticipation and pleasure that Yvonne Losos de Muñiz and Eduardo Muñiz welcomed Holland's Paul Hendrix and his son to their farm at Vankleek Hill, Ontario, on July 21. Only an hour's drive from the Dressage Championships of the Americas taking place in Blainville, Quebec, at which Yvonne was competing, they came to the farm to see Las Marismas' young Dutch Warmblood stock.

For the last couple of decades internationally respected horse dealers Paul and his brother, Dutch Equestrian Team member Emile Hendrix, have secured top show jumpers for the world's best competitors. A family tradition, they have followed in the footsteps of their father who was a horse dealer his entire life.

As a foremost breeder of Dutch Warmbloods, Paul has been instrumental in guiding Las Marismas in the development of its breeding program. With his years of experience, he has assisted with choosing every Las Marismas Dutch broodmare and has advised on matching each with a particular stallion in order to produce the best possible offspring.

With Las Marismas' young horses now two years old, it was invaluable to have Paul in Canada to evaluate their movement and free jumping ability at this stage of their development.

Eduardo and Yvonne wish to thank Paul and his son for their generosity on this day and for the Hendrix's continued guidance with Las Marismas breeding program.

July 17-21 FEI Dressage Championships of the Americas

The Dominican Republic Team of Yvonne Losos de Muniz and George Fernandez won the bronze medal at the FEI Dressage Championships of the Americas

Dominican Equestrian Team Coach Diederick Wigmans of the Netherlands assists Diana and Arabella before they enter the ring

Dominican Republic Team member Diana Ramos de Tejeda and Arabella competed as individuals

Yvonne Losos de Muniz and Inatana Las Marismas, winners of the I1 Freestyle at Palgrave with 69%, represented Dominican Republic

George Fernandez and Lando Lee Las Marismas represented Dominican Republic in the Advanced division

The Dominican Republic Team of George Fernandez and Yvonne Losos de Muñiz, coached by Holland's Diederick Wigmans, captured the bronze medal at the inaugural International Equestrian Federation (FEI) 'Coupe des Ameriques' or Championship of the Americas held July 17-21 at the Blainville Equestrian Park, near Montreal, Quebec.

Riding Lando Lee Las Marismas, George received 57% in Friday's Prix St. Georges while Yvonne and Inatana Las Marismas scored 65%. In Saturday's Intermediare I, George was doubly satisfied with his 60.55%, having never competed at I1 nor shown Lando Lee before.

Yvonne and Inatana, individual medal contenders at the event, had a disappointing ride in the I1 on Saturday, receiving the lower than expected score of 60.65%. Sunday's I1 Freestyle put them back on track with a score of 65%, good for sixth place overall.

Riding as an individual, Diana Ramos de Tejeda journeyed with Las Marismas to the Championships with her mare Arabella. With little experience together at Prix St. Georges since forming their partnership just this year, Diana and Arabella were satisfied with their score of 53%.

Susan Dutta of Wellington, FL, won both the Prix St. Georges and Saturday's Intermediare I with a score of 69.85% to lead the United States to their first team gold medal at the advanced level. Dutta was partnered with Nancy Latter of Brewster, NY, who was third in Saturday's Intermediare I competition with a score of 65.65%. The Canadian team of Tom Dvorak of Hillsburgh, ON, and Gary Vander Ploeg of King City, ON, were awarded the team silver.

George Fernandez and Hulster Las Marismas took part in the CDI-W Advanced division at Blainville. After successful tests earlier in the week, the pair moved onto the Intermediare 1 Freestyle on the Saturday evening. It was the thrill of George's summer as he performed his Freestyle for the first time for a score of 57% to a sold out crowd at Saturday evening's "Kur Gala". With a few thousand spectators in general seating and more than 100 tables of six in the VIP tent, the evening was outstanding.

Christina Carballo, a young rider from Dominican Republic, competed with Mephisto Las Marismas in the Basic 2 and 3 divisions at Blainville. With her top score of 63% on Friday, the pair won fifth place in a class with more than 20 entries. Equally rewarding, Christina was the winner of a Stubben dressage saddle!

The sponsor announced Christina's name in a special draw during the Kur Gala and she was presented with the saddle that evening. The 2002 FEI 'Coupe des Ameriques' was a ground-breaking undertaking. Competitors representing Argentina, Barbados, Canada, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Guatemala and the United States competed at the Grand Prix, Advanced, Young Rider and Junior levels.

Expanded from the North American Dressage Championship concept, the prestigious FEI 'Coupe des Ameriques' was held in conjunction with the fourth annual CDI-W Dressage Internationale de Blainville, presented by Swarovski Canada, and an Equine Canada (formerly CEF) national show.

The Dominican Republic Team wishes to thank their coach Diederick Wigmans for his expert training and unabashed enthusiasm. They also thank the Organizing Committee for their generosity and commitment and commend them for hosting such a wonderful Championships. Riding their own horses at such a prestigious event was an invaluable steppingstone for the Dominican Equestrian Team in their preparation for the 2002 Central American Games and the 2003 Pan American Games.

July 10-14 Capital Classic Show Jumping Tournament

The Capital Classic Show Jumping Tournament in Ottawa, Ontario, proved successful in more ways than one. Coming off of poor ground conditions at Quebec City, the Capital Classic was to rebuild the horses' confidence. Sr. Juan Carlos Tafur of Bogotá, Colombia, flew in to coach Yvonne Losos de Muñiz. His ability to convey his ideas of riding the courses based on his perspective as a course designer helped Yvonne change her strategies in the ring.

Jilou Las Marismas and Maretty Las Marismas competed in the 1.30m Preliminary Division during the week, with clear rounds and trips in the jump-offs adding to the confidence of the horses and rider. However, show options for the weekend were limited since the horses didn't compete in the High Junior/Amateur division.

Competing against Canadian Equestrian Team members and international riders, Maretty Las Marismas and Yvonne were the first in the order in Saturday's the $35,000 Casino du Lac-Leamy Jumping Derby. Normally noted as an inviting course suitable for J/A riders moving up to the open division, it was particularly daunting this year. Riding conservatively, Yvonne circled to jump two. This decision proved fatal as the pair had an unexpected refusal in the middle of the Devil's Dyke half-way through the course. With no jumps down up to this point, elimination for this "second" refusal was disappointing. The 1.40m course was won by Canada's Eric Lamaze, who claimed three of the top four spots. Seven-time Olympian Ian Millar of Canada was second and seventh.

Mephisto Las Marismas, a 5-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, competed successfully in the Schooling Jumper division with clear rounds and the opportunity to gallop in some classes.

It was also a great pleasure for Yvonne and Inatana Las Marismas to perform their Intermediare I Dressage Musical Freestyle at the Capital Classic in a special demonstration in the Grand Prix ring during the intermission before Saturday and Sunday's main classes. The crowd was enthusiastic to the beat of the music and Inatana's expressive movement. Yvonne's dressage coach Diederick Wigmans of Holland was in attendance this week, preparing the entire Dominican Republic Dressage Team for the FEI Dressage Championships of the Americas, taking place the following week in Blainville, Quebec.

With Las Marismas' breeding farm at Vankleek Hill only an hour away, the show was the ideal venue to host a reception for all of the people who have purchased horses from Las Marismas this past year and for everyone who has made a contribution to Las Marismas. With a turnout of more than forty guests, the party allowed owners, Yvonne and Eduardo, an opportunity to personally meet everyone.

July 5-7 Dressage at Palgrave

The 'Dressage at Palgrave' competition held in Palgrave, Ontario, was just what Las Marismas and the Dominican Republic Team needed to prepare for the Championships of the Americas in two weeks time. The event was capped off with Yvonne Losos de Muñiz's win in the Intermediare 1 Freestyle.

Riding her Dutch mare Inatana Las Marismas to a score of 69%, Yvonne bested the field of 14 competitors, some of them using this class as a qualifier for the Championships of the Americas. Placing second and third respectively were Canada's Julia Vysniauskas and Syntax with 68.88 and Tom Dvorak and Lenz with 68.13. Yvonne and Inatana had strong showings on the first two days of competition with a second place finish with 64.75% in Friday's Prix St. George and a third place finish with 65.75% in Saturday's Intermediare 1. The pair tied for I1 Reserve Champion. Riding Lando Lee, a young stallion by Cocktail, Yvonne had scores of 61.13% in Friday's PSG and 60.50% in Saturday's I1. Back in the PSG ring for Sunday's finale, the duo was second out of 13 with 65.88%.

Dominican Equestrian Team member George Fernandez and Hulster Las Marismas moved from Friday's PSG with a score of 58% for 20th position to the pair's first-ever Intermediare 1 test on Saturday. In a class of 23, George and Hulster had a excellent ride for a score of 58.88% and 14th place. With a positive ride in Sunday's PSG, which earned them 58.85%, they closed out Palgrave with 7th place out of 13 competitors.

Fellow Team member Diana Ramos de Tejeda and her Dutch mare Arabella rode solid tests in the PSG division in preparation for the Championships. With scores of 52.88% and 53.88% on the first two days, Sunday's 56.50%, good for 8th place in the field of 13, was a positive note to finish on.

Dominican Republic junior competitor, Christina Carballo, rode Mephisto Las Marismas in the Basic division at Palgrave. With a top score of 56.00 in Friday's Basic 3-A class, the 15-year-old was thrilled with her first competition outside of her native country. The talented young rider ventured to Canada with Las Marismas and the Dominican Team in order to gain international experience and work with riders at the highest levels.

Photos courtesy of Cealy Tetley and Betty Cooper