Demi Vermeulen Bids Para Sport Farewell

The Netherlands

Dutch para dressage team rider Demi Vermeulen is bidding farewell to para dressage sport. The news came only days after Sophie Christensen and Valentina Strobl announced their retirement.

The 29-year old Vermeulen has been one of Holland's longest competing para dressage riders, but now the rider is calling it quits. She announced her decision on social media.

Extensive, Medal Winning Career

Demi began her international career as a para dressage rider at age 15 in 2011. Competing in Grade II, Demi made here CPEDI show debut aboard Chiara H (by Compliment x Arogno) and rode the 2011 European Para Championships in Moorsele where she finished third in the Kur. As of 2013 there was Vaness (by Onze Fons x Caritas) who took her to the Europeans in Herning and the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Caen, where she won silver and bronze.

Trained by Debira Pijpers, Vermeulen got the ride on her career-making horse Burberry (by Lord Loxley x Kelvin) in 2016 and went to the Paralympics in Rio, whe she also scored silver and bronze.

Her next horse was Ciska II (by Samba Hit II x Haarlem) which she showed for two seasons coached by Femke Beljon. In 2018 she was named reserve to the Dutch team for the World Equestrian Games in Tryon but Demi appealed that decision. The KNHS, however, won in court.

In 2019 Wannabe (by Royal Dance x Flemmingh) became her equine partner and she showed him through 2020 after which Wannabe retired from sport. A three year break from international showing followed. In that time she began training with Lisanne der Nederlanden and got the sponsored ride on Kuwaiti Fajer al Sabah‘s Lananco (by Governor x Ferro), which she premiered at the CPEDI Kronenberg in June 2023. This show ended up being Demi's last international more than a year ago.

Vermeulen won the Dutch Para Championships twice, and twice got silver and once bronze.

Adieu Para Sport

In September 2023 Demi returned to get coaching from Beljon and had set her sights on the 2024 Paralympics. Lananco was sold and Fajer bought the mare Jolie (by Franziskus x Diamond Hit) for Deli to try for Paris, but the pair did not compete internationally.

At the end of November 2024 Vermeulen announced her retirement.

With Burberry at the 2016 Paralympics in Rio

"Recently I fell a few times from Jolie, including at the (national) show in Bathmen. Jolie wasn't being mean, it can happen to any horse. So far every time it ended reasonably well, but the last time it really made me think more about what I want and what is good for me.”

She continued, "I have decided that I will not continue with Jolie. I want to be frugal with my body and frugal with all that I can still do. In addition, I have decided that I am not going to look for a new horse. I want to enjoy all the other things in my life more. It is not worth it for me at this moment to leave so much for the sport. There is so much more than the horses and I want to start focusing on my work and look for a job where I can start professional training for lawyers.”

Jolie has moved to Kuwait for Fajer to ride.