This August, we are celebrating youth riders on YourDressage! From features on remarkable young dressage enthusiasts across the country, to articles about some of the opportunities USDF offers to youth, we want to hear from the future of our sport!
The USDF Youth Dressage Rider Recognition Pin Program recognizes accomplishments of youth within the dressage community at all levels, based on a combination of volunteer hours, education hours, competition scores, and GPA. Here, we learn about one of the participants and how the program helped enhance her enthusiasm for the sport.
At 16 years old, Mariska Sherlin of Arizona has spent nearly a decade in the saddle, but 2024 brought a new level of engagement through participation in the USDF Youth Dressage Rider Recognition Pin Program. For Mariska, the program served as a meaningful reminder to stay active and intentional in equestrian life. “With everything that goes into riding and horse care, it’s easy to let time slip by. The pin program kept me focused on participating in specific educational and volunteer opportunities, even when things got busy.”
Mariska’s favorite educational activity took place overseas at the Valença Equestrian Academy in Portugal. There, she trained with Sofia and Inês Valença at the Centro Equestre da Lezíria Grande, owned by Luis Valença. Over fourteen days, Mariska received three hours of mounted instruction per day, complemented by lectures, facility tours, and opportunities to observe warm-ups and performances by the Escola Portuguesa de Arte Equestre (Portuguese School of Equestrian Art). Working with schoolmaster horses helped refine her riding and deepen her understanding of effective communication through the aids. “It really helped me improve my own feel and effectiveness. Having the opportunity to ride schoolmasters helped me feel what correct communication and lightness should be,” Mariska explains. “It was an experience that changed the way I ride and the way I think about training my own horses back home.”
In addition to this experience abroad, Mariska’s participation in various U.S.-based clinics and horsemanship workshops throughout the year contributed to a well-rounded foundation in both riding and care. She also performed volunteer work at a local foaling barn, including the daily care of pregnant mares and assistance in foaling support. “I got to witness and be part of something truly special. Helping with the immediate care of newborn foals and learning how to safely halter, lead, and handle them gave me a completely new appreciation for the start of the training journey.”
While not busy volunteering or training, Mariska rides her personal horses, Clononeen Cashmere (barn name “Olaf”), a 19-year-old Gypsy Vanner known for a gentle demeanor and willingness to perform. Olaf may not be the most traditional dressage mount, but he continues to deliver consistent performances and teach valuable lessons. Electra KF, the family’s Dutch Warmblood, and Calabria, a warmblood cross owned by Allison Kerivan, are also part of the riding rotation, with Calabria being a young horse brought along through the levels. Each horse brings different strengths and lessons to the riding experience.
Looking ahead, Mariska plans to pursue a degree in Sport and Performance Psychology while continuing to train and compete in dressage, with the goal of one day working with athletes to support mental performance in sport, while also remaining an active member of the equestrian community.
“The USDF Youth Dressage Rider Recognition Pin program gave me a way to stay connected and intentional with my time,” Mariska explains. “It reminded me that growth happens in every corner of the equestrian world, whether you’re studying, helping, or riding. I’m really proud of what I experienced this year and grateful for the structure this program provided.”
