The Belgian warmblood Grand Prix horse Foco Loco W has been reunited with his owner and 2016 Rio Olympic rider Yvonne Losos de Muniz after the horse was on the verge of getting sold.
The Wellington, Florida based, Canadian born Yvonne Losos de Muniz and her husband Eduardo Muniz, who is from the Dominican Republic, acquired the now 12-year old BWP bred Foco Loco W (by Sierappel x Wendekreis) in 2013.
Yvonne and Foco Loco W made their CDI show debut at small tour level at the CDI Saugerties in September 2014. They competed at the 2014 Central American Games in Veracruz, where they were second in the freestyle. In 2015 they moved up to Grand Prix level on the Dressage in Florida show circuit. Coached by Jan Bemelmans the pair qualified for the long-time dream, the Olympic Games. In Rio they were 59th in the Grand Prix.
After Rio, Bemelmans' student Borja Carrascosa took over the ride and was very successful with the bay gelding. He competed on the 2016-2017 World Cup circuit in Stuttgart, Salzburg, Amsterdam, Neumunster and Den Bosch with scores over 70%. Foco Loco W drew the attention of buyers and was sent to Andreas Helgstrand's yard to be sold. However, the deal fell through and Foco Loco W has now returned to Yvonne.
"We finally decided to keep Foco after all, which makes me very happy," Losos de Muniz told Eurodressage. "Im very happy I did. I think a second chance with him will work out."
Yvonne is aiming to compete at the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Tryon, U.S.A. She is currently spending the summer in the north of Spain.
"I'm taking my time to train and ride him like I feel I need to," said Yvonne, who is being coached by Jose Antonio Garcia Mena at the moment. He flies to Yvonne very few weeks., but she plans on returning home to Wellington, Florida, late October.
Yvonne is also competing her second Grand Prix horse Aquamarijn, a 12-year old KWPN mare by United x Gribaldi, and small tour horse Schakiro Pilekaer, a 10-year old Danish warmblood gelding by Don Schufro x Ferro.
Photos © Astrid Appels - LL-foto
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