In Europe, equestrian tournaments offer six competition classes: internal club, local, regional, national, elite and international. Dinov competed in the elite class of the Green Valley X-MASters on Dec. 22 and 23, 2022 in Deurne, the Netherlands, followed by the Indoor Beukers 2022 on Dec. 29 at Manege Beukers in Oudkarspel, the Netherlands.

In 2023, he has competed in the show jumping discipline in week one of the New Year Tour 2023 on Jan. 5 to 8 at Sentower Park in Opglabbeek, Belgium.

In Deurne, he wowed the crowd by taking first and second place at the Green Valley X-MASters’ 95 cm show jumping discipline on Dec. 22 and 23, respectively. His partners in the competition were his two horses, Ineke T and La Nessa. After this stunning debut, he went on to compete in the 110 cm show jumping event and successfully surpassed almost 50 other participants to win first place, an outstanding achievement given this was his first international class competition.

Dinov then went on to participate in his second competition at Manege Beukers in Oudkarspel on Dec. 29, continuing his winning streak by placing second in the 110 cm show jumping event in the Indoor Beukers 2022, a national equestrian championship. What was even more impressive was that this event was buffeted by strong winds and stabbing cold weather.

He then headed Belgium for his first competition of 2023, the New Year Tour 2023 at Sentower Park. Dinov won fifth place riding Ineke T in the CSI1* 115 cm show jumping event. The young protégé went on to win sixth and ninth, riding Ineke T and La Nessa respectively, in the CSI1* 120 cm show jumping, his first 120 cm events.

“I really did not expect very good results in this series of competitions in Europe and that I could win titles in all the equestrian championships I participated in. The competition here is also very tight, with athletes from Europe who generally have good equestrian skills, plus the support of good horses, too," Dinov said.

His parents Asep Siregar and Riyanti Kutty Nurinda, who accompanied him in Europe, focused on Dinov's maturity and self-motivation during the competitions. According to them, their son demonstrated independence in all aspects of competing from preparing his horses and their equipment to returning his horses to the stable at the end of each day, ensuring that they were clean and well cared for even while dealing with the freezing temperatures, strong winds and rain during the northern European winter.

Expressing their pride at their son’s achievements at such a young age, Asep and Riyanti are committed to supporting Dinov’s equestrian pursuit. They plan to return to the European competition circuit in April and August, when Dinov has his school holiday.

“It's not only Dinov who learns, but we as club and stable managers also learn from established stable owners,” said Asep, explaining how Dinov’s success has also contributed to his parents’ development as managers.

“So far, we have bought horses directly from breeders and equestrian athletes, not through horse dealers. So when the previous owners of Dinov’s horses found out that he was competing in Europe, they invited us to their stable, [and] some even came as ‘family’ to support Dinov at the arena, as they continue to feel emotionally close to their former horses that are now in Indonesia.

“We use this opportunity to deepen [our skills] in horse rearing, training and competition management,” he said.

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