Yvonne Losos de Muniz, Only Candidate for FEI Athletes' Representative Position

Dressage

Dominican Republic

Yvonne Losos de Muniz, a medal winning Grand Prix rider and double Olympian from the Dominican Republic, is the only candidate for the position of FEI Athletes' Representative for the term 2022 - 2026.

The current FEI Athletes' representative for dressage is multiple Olympian Beatriz Ferrer-Salat (ESP) but her term is coming to an end. The ratification of the new representative will take place at the 2022 FEI General Assembly in November.

Globetrotter

Yvonne Losos de Muniz competed at three World Cup Finals (2018, 2019, 2022), two Olympic Games (2016, 2021), three Pan American Games (2012, 2015, 2019), and won 12 team and individual gold, silver and bronze medals at the Central American and Caribbean Games.

Born in Nigeria to Canadian parents, she spent her childhood in Kenya before moving to Germany as a teenager to begin equestrian training. Her family subsequently relocated to Canada before she made the Dominican Republic her home after marrying Eduardo Muniz, and she began representing the country in 2002.

Rider from Non-Traditional Dressage Nation

Yvonne and Aquamarijn at the 2019 CDIO Aachen

"As a rider from a non-traditional dressage nation I am well aware of the frequent challenges that riders from similar countries face. At the same time, having taken part in so many events in Europe and North America through the years I am also very familiar with riders from traditional equestrian nations that are historically well-established and major players in our discipline," Yvonne wrote in her motivation letter.

She aims to become she can be the bridge between the riders and the FEI. "As a member of the Executive Board of the International Dressage Riders Club (IDRC), I intend to work towards raising awareness of the concerns and suggestions of our IDRC members, promoting better two-way communication between my fellow athletes and the FEI," Yvonne wrote.

She continued, "my core guiding principle as a part of the FEI Athletes’ Committee will be the welfare of our horses."

More Transparency in the Decision Making Process

Eurodressage asked Losos de Muniz what her major points of concern are when she would take up the role as Athletes' representative.

"They are twofold," she told Eurodressage, "first, securing even more transparency towards the riders within the decision-making process in the FEI, especially in decision that impact us in the sport, and second looking for ways in which rules and regulations can be informed to riders in a more timely and direct manner."

She continued, "many times NFs or the current bureaucracy fail to inform riders of rule changes, and we find out at events. The information needs to somehow flow directly to riders, we need to find a more efficient way."