Olympic dressage rider Yvonne Losos de Muñiz used to be maintaining again the tears as she dismounted from Aquamarijn after completing the grand prix qualifier at Paris 2024. The nineteen-year-old United mare is the oldest horse within the box, and this used to be her ultimate pageant.
“These days used to be her remaining experience,” says Yvonne. “We in reality truly didn’t have a just right check however that indisputable fact that we were given right here and went in these days – I felt like I’d gained.”
Even if Aquamarijn had competed in Tokyo 2020, her look in Paris used to be an sudden bonus. The mare had a significant damage – destructive the muscle tissue in her croup – when she mis-stepped off the again of a trailer. She had a 12 months off and has simplest been again in paintings since Would possibly 2023, when Yvonne began her rehab.
“We have been simply praying to God that lets rehab her sufficient to retire her, that’s how dangerous it used to be,” she says. “However whilst we have been doing that, she’d give me piaffe and passage – it used to be nonetheless there and just right. When my different two horses weren’t reasonably able for Paris, I checked out her and mentioned, ‘child, you’re up!’.”
What Aquamarijn will do after ultimate Olympic dressage day trip
Yvonne says that even supposing each rider and horse want their non-public area, it’s a “fit made in heaven”.
“She doesn’t wish to be touched, however she needs to be just about you,” says Yvonne, 56. “She’s at all times gazing me, and she or he’ll at all times be with me, in my again backyard. I’ll stay using her as on account of her damage she must stay shifting. She has her little moments, however I like her to dying it doesn’t matter what. And now she’ll make an awesome path pony as a result of she hates being by means of herself, however stick her in the back of some other horse and she or he’ll undergo hearth.
“She is my the entirety. She has made me the rider I’m; she’s taught me persistence, ability coaching, having a plan A, B, C, D, the entire approach to Z. She’s mentioned to me, ‘till you discover ways to experience me, don’t even take into accounts objectives’. And we’ve accomplished it – International Cup Finals, two Olympics and a International Equestrian Video games. She’s proved herself, and these days used to be her good-bye [to competition]. I comprehend it’s time.”
Yvonne has been nicknamed “Leave out International” by means of good friend Carl Hester as a result of her world background. Born in Nigeria, raised in Kenya after which Germany, her circle of relatives then moved to Canada. She rides for the Dominican Republic due to her Dominican-born husband, and wears a lovely gecko stock-pin, reflecting the ever present reptile of her followed country. She trains in Florida, US, and speaks 4 languages.
Take a look at this lovely Dominican gecko
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