Unika Stories: Derin Demirsoy

This month we are choosing to tell you the “Unika” story of the international show jumping rider Derin Demirsoy. We intercepted him in the last couple of days, fresh with medals whilst returning from the stage of the Longines Global Champions Tour of Riyadh in Saudi Arabia.

That’s right, we had the pleasure of interviewing our Derin while “wearing” two precious medals around his neck won on his “Elzas”, a gold medal won on Thursday, October the 20th in the Grand Prix of 1.45 meters. and one of bronze won the following day in the same category.

What can we say… that we are even more excited to tell you in the lines that follow, his incredible story.

It all began in Istanbul.

A native of Istanbul, Turkey and true “horse-addict”, Derin attended the Pony Club “Galatasaray” of his hometown from the tender age of 4 years old. For him competitions began very early: Immagine that at the age of 10 he was already competing in the children’s categories in Turkey.

A young talent who did not struggle to be noticed, so much so that at only 12 he was selected for the National “Children” to represent his country in international competitions. With this team he won three consecutive team gold medals at the Balkan Show Jumping Championships (2006, 2007 and 2008) and a team bronze medal in 2008 at the European Children’s Championships… And that was just the beginning.

In 2009, after a more than positive start to the season, he entered the Turkish Junior National Team and after a series of important international results he reached the qualification for the European Junior Championships. That was a special year for the young Derin: despite being his first season as “Junior” he won four International Grands Prix and the sceptre of “Sportsman of the Year”, an award awarded by two major Turkish national newspapers: Milliyet and Cumhuriyet.

The volley of podiums and victories continued in the coming years: in 2011 Derin won 12 competitions out of 24 and a precious individual silver medal, riding his horse “Madick” at the European Junior Championships in Portugal. A historic result for the Turkish Equestrian Federation that, for the first time in history, saw a young man win an important individual podium and that therefore decided to reward Derin as “Junior Knight with most success”.

En route to Europe.

In early 2012, for Derin, it was time to gain experience outside his home country: initially he went to train in the stables of two champions Bert Romp and Jos Lansink. In April he moved his horses to Belgium at the Henk Noorem stables where he remained until 2016, when he then moved alone to Maastricht, in the Netherlands. Since then, he runs his own team and since 2020 he has joined the Carpe Diem Equestrian Team of Baarlo.

Successful international rider and model student.

Derin, despite his high-level racing commitments, has never abandoned his studies. In 2015 he graduated in International Affairs with a specialization in Finance from the University of Maastricht. In 2017 he also graduated from the Young Rider Academy 2016, after having followed for a year, a program dedicated to young riders.

Returning to the successes achieved on the race fields we cannot fail to mention the victory in the CSI4* FEI World Cup in Doha 2016 and also in the CSIO3* Drammen Grand Prix riding his beloved and historic companion of adventures Harry K. Recall that this incredible combination made, some years earlier (2014), part of the Turkish Cup of Nations winning team at the CSIO3* in Sopot. Then, in 2018, this time riding Dadjak Ter Puttenen, he won the CSI3* Grand Prix 1.50 mt at the Toscana Tour.

Since then, Derin’s record is a true constellation of placings, podiums and victories in international grands prix around the world: Spain, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Denmark, Saudi Arabia… including participation this year, in August, in his first World Equestrian Games riding in Koblenz Vd Middelstede.

How many horses do you currently have in your stable? What kind of relationship do you have with them?

D. : I have 12 horses. They are like my family. As a team, we do our best to treat them with the love and respect they deserve. I think it’s really important to appreciate every day everything our horses do for us!

What are your top horses?

D.: Currently they are Koblenz and Elzas, who are the most experienced horses and who compete in the highest categories. I’m still lucky because all 12 are horses with great qualities. For us it is essential to have them all and always in excellent physical and mental condition, helping them as much as possible to properly develop their potential so that we can achieve the goals we have set ourselves.

How do you feel about being part of Team Unika?

D.: I’ve been collaborating with Unika since I can remember!  I have always been in strong harmony with the Linea Unika family, sharing ideas and constantly encouraging each other to give our best. Unika products, both supplements and feed, have always played an important role in the success of our team and have helped us to keep our horses strong and healthy.

What are your favorite Unika products?

D.: If I had to choose, I would say the Gastro Pellet and the Neutra Liquid. I find that these two products are fundamental in the correct integration of any high-level sports horse.