CDI Come Back for Mariya Kabukaeva Yields Hattrick on Former Dutch Youth Team Horse

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2026 CDI Gosciszow

After a five year hiatus from international competition, Russian born Mariya Kabukaeva made her return to international competition and dominated the dance floor in the Young riders division at the 2026 CDI Gosciszow on 5 - 7 June 2026.

Aboard the Dutch warmblood mare Emmelie Mariya achieved a hattrick winning all three YR classes on the weekend.

Five-Year Hiatus

The 19-year old Kabukaeva began competing internationally as a 12-year old in 2018; first in the children division and as of 2019 combining children with pony sport. Her first trip out of Russia was in 2019 for the CDIO-P Hagen on pony Beauty Star (by Make My Day x Sultaatik's Fireball) and horse Elinor (by Ecuador x Radius) followed by the CDI San Giovanni in Marignano. In Russia she also showed Friesian Casper fan Marijke (by Wobke 403 x Beart) at Children level CDI's.

In 2020 she took over the ride on Alena Kuznetsova's pony Lemniscaat Rapsodie (by Anjershof Rocky x Downland Folklore) and the experienced pony took her to her first career highlight, the 2021 European Pony Championships in Strzegom, where she finished 40th in the individual test.

The Europeans were her last international as Russian athletes got banned from competing at international in the early spring of 2022 due to the War in Ukraine. Mariya continued to focus on her riding at national level. New horses joined her string, including Emmelie as well as the 11-year old KWPN gelding Killer (by George Clooney x Tolando), who had won the 2022 Dutch Young Riders Championships with Marten Luiten. The Kubakaeva family also purchased Gestut Sprehe stallion Daily Deal, but he has been resold again.

Back to Business in Gosciszow

With the FEI opening doors for Russian athletes to compete as "Neutral Individuals," Kabukaeva requested this new status and returned to international competition at Gosciszow.

Aboard the 17-year old mare Emmelie she won the team test with 71,176%, the individual with 70,294% and the Kur with 74,067%. She bested a field of nine riders.

"Of course, returning to the international arena was very exciting for me," Mariya told Eurodressage. "When I was competing on ponies, I did not have the same experience or level of understanding, so I could forgive myself for some mistakes more easily. Now I feel that I want to show more mature, confident performances and produce clean, competitive tests."

The St. Petersburg based Kabukaeva is in Europe for the spring and summer to bring her closer to the center of competition sport.

"This summer we came to the Netherlands for almost the whole season to train here," said Mariya who trains with Anna Rykova and has also been receiving input from Alex van Silfhout.

Emmelie aka Esperanza

Mariya's main horse Emmelie is a very familiar face in Europe, albeit under a different name: Esperanza.

The 17-year old KWPN mare by Desperados out of Wensie (by Krakc C x Jazz) and bred by W. Den Besten, who originally named her Emmelie. Under rider Jasmien De Koeyer the dark bay was known as Esperanza and the pair competed at the 2016 and 2017 Young Rider Europeans and the 2019, 2020 and 2021 Under 25 Europeans. They won multiple team silver as well as double bronze in 2017. She earned the national title at the 2021 Dutch Under 25 Championships. After 2021 De Koeyer quit international competition sport and in 2023 She bred Esperanza to Glamourdale and Kjento. The recipient mare of the Glamourdale unfortunately passed due to colic, but a Kjento colt was born and the now 2-year old is with Jasmien. De Koeyer is currently pursuing a national level career - training, showing and teaching - while also diving into fitness training with her life partner.

"We bought Emmelie in 2024," Mariya explained. "At that time we were not really planning to buy a new horse, but both my parents and I liked her so much that we decided to take that step. She is truly an extraordinary, amazing horse. She really loves competing and always tries to help me in the arena. She does not have the easiest character, but since she is a mare, we can forgive her for that! I dream of being able to continue working with her for many more years."

Dreaming Big

Kubakaeva has a clear target set for this summer, competing at the 2026 Eirppean Young Riders Championships in Pilisjaszfalu (HUN).

"We really hope that we will be able to show a good result there as well," she added.

When asked what her long-term goals in dressage are, she replied "like any athlete who is seriously involved in professional sport, my dream is to one day compete at the Olympic Games."