Yvonne Losos de Muñiz rode Bernstein Las Marismas to victory in the Intermediaire Freestyle at CDI3* Oviedo, Spain. Photo credit - none required

June 4, 2007 – Oviedo, Spain – Dressage athlete Yvonne Losos de Muñiz proudly represented the Dominican Republic by winning the Intermediaire Freestyle at CDI3* Oviedo, Spain, held May 25 to 27, 2007.

The international dressage competition, which was sponsored by Audi and the City of Oviedo, attracted more than 60 riders representing such nations as France, Germany, Great Britain, and Russia. It was also a qualifying event for the Spanish Dressage Team at this summer's European Championship.

Riding Bernstein Las Marismas, an 11-year-old Hannoverian stallion by Banditentraum, Losos de Muñiz interpreted her new freestyle program to earn a score of 70.95% and claim victory over Spain' s Beatriz Ferrer-Salat, Individual Bronze Medalist at the 2004 Olympic Games, who earned 70.20%. Compiled by Terri Ciotti-Gallo of Klassic Kur, Losos de Muñiz's freestyle features Latin beats and Vivaldi's 'Four Seasons' performed by Argentinean flamenco guitarist, Gustavo Montesano, accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic. Losos de Muñiz received eights for her interpretation of the music from the panel of five international judges, as well as for the harmony between horse and rider. The freestyle also displays a high degree of difficulty and received eights from the judges for that component.

"I had to work very, very hard for this win," said Losos de Muñiz. "Beatriz is a world-class rider and her horse, Peter Pan, won many classes during the 2006 Sunshine Tour in Spain. They are both in top form, and it was great to have such stiff competition. She is also a very close friend of mine and has provided me with much support and advice since I began training in Europe."

Losos de Muñiz and Ferrer-Salat both train with Jean Bemelmans, renowned for leading Spain to individual and team medals at the 2002 World Equestrian Games and the 2004 Olympic Games. Based in Germany with Bemelmans for the past three years, Losos de Muñiz was using the CDI3* Oviedo as her final international outing before the upcoming Pan American Games which will be held in Rio de Janerio, Brazil, in July. At the 2003 Pan American Games held in her hometown of Santo Domingo, Losos de Muñiz was the Individual Bronze Medalist riding Inatana Las Marismas.

"Bernstein is working better every single day, he's very steady in the ring and nothing fazes him," said Losos de Muñiz happily of her partner of three years. "Jean was very pleased with our performance and we are all looking forward to the Pan Am Games in Rio, although we will do one or two more national shows in Germany to polish things up before getting on the plane."

In preparation for representing her country for the second consecutive time in Pan Am competition, Losos de Muñiz spent the months of February and March showing on the highly competitive 'Sunshine Tour' in Vejer de la Frontera, Spain. During the course of the competition, Losos de Muñiz was the runner-up in the Intermediaire I test on two occasions, earning scores of 69.50% and 70.60%, and also earned several top five placings in the Prix St. Georges test, which often attracted more than 40 competitors.

For more information on Yvonne Losos de Muñiz, please visit www.yvonnelososdressage.com.