A Second Chapter for Foco Loco W: Danish Under 25 Schoolmaster

Dressage

Denmark

Foco Loco W, the Belgian warmblood gelding who made Yvonne Losos de Muniz' Olympic dream come true in 2016, has begun a second chapter in his competitive life as a Grand Prix schoolmaster for Danish Under 25 rider Anne-Mette Strandby Hansen.

Foco Loco W is a 15-year old BWP bred gelding by Sierappel x Wendekreis) bred by Korsten van Duffel.

Yvonne's Olympic Partner

The bay gelding started his career at regional level in Belgium, first under Yentl Korsten and then with professional Nick Van Laer. Yvonne Losos de Muniz purchased him in 2013.

Yvonne and Foco Loco W made their CDI show debut at small tour level in September 2014 and 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 in Wellington, Florida and qualified for the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto. However, they were eliminated there in the Grand Prix.

However, in 2016 Losos achieved her long coveted dream, the Olympic Games, on this gelding and finished 59th in the Grand Prix in Rio de Janeiro.

Next Level

Yvonne and Foco Loco at the 2016 Olympics

After Rio, Spaniard Borja Carrascosa took over the ride and was very successful with the bay gelding, taking the horse to a next level and higher than ever before scores. He competed on the 2016-2017 World Cup circuit in Stuttgart, Salzburg, Amsterdam, Neumunster and Den Bosc.

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 returned to Yvonne in the winter of 2017-2018.

Losos de Muniz made a leap in her scoring average, achieving consistently round 70% on Foco Loco W in 2018. They competed at the World Cup Finals in Paris but missed out on the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Tryon.

After another successful season in Wellington in 2019, there were a few bumps in the road in their Canadian competition tour last summer with inconsistent performances as Yvonne also started to focus on her two other Grand Prix horses, Aquamarijn and Felicia. Foco Loco joined her on a trip to Denmark in the autumn and stayed there for the winter.

Under 25 Schoolmaster

While Yvonne returned to Florida for the 2020 show season, Foco Loco W remained at Andreas Helgstrand's yard in Denmark for the winter. He was assigned by Anne-Mette Strandby Hansen, a Danish Under 25 rider, who is working at the sales yard.

"Anne-Mette has been keeping 'Dobby' in shape from me and doing a great job, so Andreas and I thought it would be a good idea to have him go in the ring to stay sharp," Yvonne Losos de Muniz told Eurodressage.

The 25-year old Strandy Hansen has been an active competitor in Denmark for the past 12 years. She has worked her way up from ponies, competing SL Cuba at her only international so far, 2010 CDI Pompadour. In 2012 she moved on to horses with Latoya (by Leredo x Lord Canthus) and Staerebogards Cargo (by Credlido x Come Back II). In 2014 new horses followed: B-Dreamcatcher, Graastengaards La Casino, and Harrysmindes de Macho. She moved to small tour level in 2015 and competed in her first Intermediaire II in 2018. Anne-Mette began working at Helgstrand Dressage and a fresh supply of horses has put her riding career into another gear.

Anne-Mette and Foco Loco W were partnered in the winter of 2019-2020 and they made their national show debut in Esbjerg, Denmark, in January 2020, scoring 67.807% in the Intermediaire II. Their second show together was last weekend in Hjallerup, where they scored a winning 71.396% in the U25 Grand Prix. The next day they won the Intermediaire II with 71.491%.

Her good results in Hjallerup have caught the eye of the Danish selectors and the pair is now in considering for team selection for the 2020 European Under 25 Championships in Budapest in 18 - 23 August 2020.

"The Danish federation asked if he could be considered for the U25 team for the Europeans," said Yvonne. "I think it would be great if he makes the team since I have a great feeling with Denmark and Danish riders, I have always felt very welcome there."

Corona Nightmare

For Yvonne, the corona lockdown period has been far from a break from the fast pace of life.

Stuck in Canada for almost four months, Yvonne only got to reunite with her husband Eduardo in Wellington, Florida on 3 July 2020.

"We hadn't seen each other in nearly 4 months so we are all so so happy," said Yvonne. "I went up when my mom got sick in March, she passed away a month ago and we were just able to leave Canada. It's been a nightmare."