US Equestrian is proud to announce the recipients of our 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award, 2025 Junior Equestrian of the Year, and Youth Sportsman for 2025. Jan Decker will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award for her work with the Arabian breed, while Arabian and 4-H leader Mikayla Clement has been named the 2025 Junior Equestrian of the Year and Youth Sportsman. Clement and Decker will receive their awards at the Pegasus Award dinner on Jan. 15, 2026 as part of the 2026 US Equestrian annual meeting.
Lifetime Achievement Award: Jan Decker
For Jan Decker, horses have truly been a lifelong passion, and through her involvement as a trainer, judge, show manager, and member of governance, she has helped to build the pathway for others to enjoy their own equestrian journey. She became involved with the Arabian breed 70 years ago when she acquired her first Half-Arabian horse. In 1969, she and her husband launched their stable where they continue to board horses to this day. In the facility’s show-ring heyday, Decker coached Arabian horses and their riders at the national championship level in disciplines ranging from pleasure driving to side saddle to western pleasure.
Her involvement in the industry expanded as she took on roles as a show organizer and licensed official, and in 2024, she was recognized by the Arabian Horse Association for serving more than 50 years as a licensed judge. Decker’s list of volunteer roles in equestrian governance is too long to list in full, but includes numerous local club and regional offices, committee leadership through the AHA and US Equestrian, and more than 20 years as the Secretary of the Arabian Horse Association.
As a mentor to new judges and officials, a leader in establishing and improving equestrian sport governance, and most of all, an enthusiastic promoter of the horse, Jan Decker’s impact has been immeasurable over her many years of involvement and will continue on for decades to come.
Junior Equestrian of the Year and Youth Sportsman: Mikayla Clement
Mikayla Clement — a student at Mount Dora Christian Academy from Eustis, Fla. — has already shown outstanding dedication and commitment to the equestrian community.
An aspiring veterinarian, Mikayla volunteered in Thailand in the summer of 2025 to obtain a Pre-Vet Medicine Certificate. Her work there included administering elephant injections and cleaning landmine wounds.
Mikayla is the Youth Vice Director of the Arabian Horse Association Region 12, a role that involves organizing events, increasing youth participation, and leading fundraisers. In addition, she is the Youth Leader of the Arabian Horse Association of Florida, and the County Ambassadors President of Lake County 4-H.
She was a 2024 USEF Junior Equestrian of the Year finalist, a 2023 Youth Sportsman’s Award finalist, and is the recipient of multiple other USEF awards.
Mikayla is admired for her mentorship skills and for being an advocate of both Lake County’s 4-H Horse Program and the Arabian horse breed. Her leadership style is described as inspiring and empowering, and she is a compassionate and caring teammate.
Dedicated to horse welfare and horsemanship, Mikayla hosts hippology study groups and open arena sessions at her barn, where she cares for five horses, a donkey, chickens and other animals.
US Equestrian sends our congratulations to all the finalists for the Junior Equestrian of the Year, including Jacqueline Schatzberg, Taylor Cawley, and Sarah Shelby Thurmond.
2025 US Equestrian Pegasus Awards
In addition to the Lifetime Achievement Award and Junior Equestrian of the Year, the following awards will be presented at the Pegasus Awards Dinner at the 2026 US Equestrian Annual Meeting:
Ellen Scripps Davis Breeders Cup
Kohler Stables, Hyperion Stud, LLC
Richard E. McDevitt Award of Merit
Fran Crumpler, John Green, Becky Grand Hart, Mary Anne McPhail, Mary Alice Malone, Gareth Selwood, Diana Dodge, Brian Flynn, Linda Andrisani
Walter B. Devereux Sportsmanship Award
Sally Ike
Pegasus Medal of Honor
Carrie Mortensen, Kathy Meyer, Suzanne Detol, Danny Robertshaw and Ron Danta, Cindy Butler, Ling Fu Wylie, Ralph and Holly Caristo
Kip Rosenthal Equitation Award
Parker Peacock