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Meet Vera Valdivia‑Abdallah, assistant principal
CDCR.Ca.gov - Full Article
Valdivia-Abdallah builds endurance in education and beyond
February 19, 2026
At California State Prison, Los Angeles County (LAC), Vera Valdivia-Abdallah brings the same perseverance to her role in education that carries her and her horse hundreds of miles across the country as a competitive endurance rider.
Valdivia-Abdallah oversees the ABE and GED education programs, as well as the college program at LAC as supervisor of Academic Instruction (Assistant Principal) at New Horizon Adult School.
She provides mentorship and support to teachers on two of the institution’s four yards. Her work centers on rehabilitation through education, with a focus on helping incarcerated individuals leave custody prepared for employment and long-term success.
“When someone is released, the goal is that they aren’t just free, but employable and prepared,” she said.
Valdivia-Abdallah joined CDCR nearly four years ago as a teacher and now brings a student-centered approach to her leadership role. She works closely with educators and students to maintain consistent, meaningful academic programming in a challenging correctional environment.
“Success in education takes time,” she said. “It requires patience, adaptability and commitment.”
That philosophy extends well beyond the classroom.
Endurance riding tests limits
Outside of work, Valdivia-Abdallah competes in endurance riding, a long-distance equestrian sport that challenges horse and rider teams to complete rides ranging from 25 to 100 miles in a single day. Courses often span unfamiliar terrain and changing weather conditions, with veterinary checkpoints built in to ensure horse welfare remains the top priority...
Read more here:
https://www.cdcr.ca.gov/insidecdcr/2026/02/19/meet-vera-valdivia-abdallah-assistant-principal/
Ralph "Buddy" Gleason Jr. 1943-2026
Legacy.com
Ralph Gleason Obituary
Obituary published on Legacy.com by Sullivan-King Mortuary & Crematory - Anderson on Feb. 11, 2026.
Ralph Newton "Buddy" Gleason Jr., 82, of Townville, passed away peacefully on Feb. 9, 2026, following several years of declining health.
Buddy was born to Ralph N. Gleason Sr. and Marjorie Little Gleason on Oct. 14, 1943, in Salem, Oregon. He was a graduate of Carson Newman College and earned a masters degree from East Tennessee State University.
He served in the U.S. Army for three years where he was assigned to military intelligence and spent most of his time in Heidelberg, Germany. He was honorably discharged on Jan. 8, 1972.
Buddy worked as a counselor for the Alston Wilkes Society in Anderson for many years. He had a love for animals and his passion was horseback riding with his many friends. He participated in many endurance riding events and was recognized with several awards by the American Endurance Ride Conference. Buddy was very patriotic and loved his country. He always looked forward to the annual Gleason family reunions in Townville and oversaw the reunion for many years.
Buddy and his family had the opportunity to visit and live in many places across the world while his father worked for the U.S. State Department.
He was predeceased by his parents and is survived by his siblings, Delno Rex Gleason (Cindy) of Mooresville, N.C.; Charles Stanley Gleason (Sonny) of Marietta, G.A.; Edward Dean Gleason (Kathryn) of Anderson, S.C.; Cindy Gleason Rush (Jeff) of Duncan S.C. He has several nieces and nephews.
Further arrangements will be forthcoming.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Alston Wilkes Society (www.alstonwilkessociety.org), the American Endurance Ride Conference (www.aerc.org) or a charity of one's choice.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Great Britain: Pat Guerin Celebrates Extraordinary 20,000km Lifetime Distance Award in Endurance Riding
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Knutsford, Cheshire – British endurance rider Pat Guerin has reached a remarkable milestone, achieving 20,000 competitive kilometres in endurance riding, marking more than four decades of dedication to the sport she first discovered in the late 1970s. “I am absolutely delighted and still can’t quite believe I have ridden so many successful competitive kilometres,” said Pat. “It’s been an incredible journey.”
Pat has ridden since the age of five, but her endurance career began after moving from Suffolk to Cheshire in 1977. Answering a local newspaper advert to exercise hunters led to her first endurance ride in 1978 on the mare Treble Chance, a 40-mile Exmoor qualifier. From that moment, she was hooked. She went on to ride for several years before purchasing the iconic Blue ‘G’, beginning a partnership that would define much of her early success.
Among Pat’s many highlights are 3rd and 4th placings in the EHPS Summer Solstice 100-mile rides, the unforgettable experience of mass starts in the dark, and being shortlisted for a Great Britain team to compete in the USA in 1988. In 1989, she rode for England in the winning team at the very first Home International. Pat has also placed in the top five of the prestigious Manar Trophy on four occasions—once with Blue ‘G’ and three times with C F Winter Amadeus.
Still actively competing, Pat currently rides two pure-bred Arab geldings: C F Winter Amadeus, 19, who has recently achieved his own 4,800km award, and Farid My Lad, 16. Amadeus was a classic Grade 1 horse in his prime and a three-time winner of the Arab Horse Society Pure Bred Performance Horse Award. Farid My Lad offers a different challenge, particularly at vettings, but both horses continue to thrive under Pat’s thoughtful and experienced management.
Pat credits her longevity in the sport to steady, varied training, careful horse management, and knowing when to rest. She combines regular hacking with flatwork lessons and occasional dressage competitions, while her horses live out as much as possible throughout the year. She also acknowledges the vital role of her support network, including her husband David and a loyal group of friends who have crewed for her over the years.
A long-standing member of the Cheshire and Staffordshire bridleways community, Pat also values the social side of riding through pleasure rides and training groups, describing endurance as “an all-inclusive sport where everyone is friendly, helpful and encouraging.”
Reflecting on how the sport has evolved, Pat notes huge changes in feeding, equipment and clothing, while believing the heart of endurance remains the same: partnership, resilience and shared experience across beautiful landscapes.
Looking ahead, Pat plans to continue riding 32km and 40km rides regularly, hopes to complete more two-day events, and has her eye on returning to favourites such as Red Dragon, Cirencester and Well Vale.
“Endurance GB is my absolutely amazing happy place,” she said. “As a child I dreamed of having my own pony and riding for miles and miles. Endurance has certainly fulfilled that dream.”
Pat Guerin’s 20,000km achievement stands as a testament to commitment, horsemanship and a lifelong passion for endurance riding within the Endurance GB community.
For further information or interview requests, please contact: pat.guerin@talk21.com
Arlene Morris 1931-2026
Arlene Morris passed away on January 12, 2026, at the age of 94.
Arlene was one of the founders of the Southwest Idaho Trail & Distance Riders. She and her husband, Bob Morris, were a force to be reckoned with in the early days of AERC. Arlene completed 16,605 endurance miles including 14 hundreds (14 starts/14 finishes). Her horses earned 29 best condition awards, and AERC records reflect only 2 pulls out of 180 starts. That is a darned impressive record! Over half (8085) of those miles were on a grade mare named Champagne (including 20 rides in 1985!). Nearly 5000 miles were on her bay mare, Messaoud's Peeco.
Her horses earned 29 best condition awards. Champagne was inducted into AERC's Hall of Fame in 1985. Arlene and Peeco were members of the USA squad at the 1990 World Equestrian Games in Sweden.
Arlene and her husband, Bob lived and rode in the Boise foothills. Arlene was always happy to mentor new riders. Going on a conditioning ride with Bob and Arlene on the Boise Front was always a thrill, and the endurance rides they put on were truly challenging.
Arlene and Bob bred and raised several fine endurance horses over the years, usually naming them after a mineral, such as Magnetite, Niccolite, Tourmaline, and Phylite. Bob and Arlene were passionate advocates for equestrian trails as members of the Boise Front Coalition, which led to the Ridge to Rivers trail system.
Arlene spent her final years of her adventurous life at the Brookdale Assisted Living Facility in Newberg, Oregon. She enjoyed playing poker with her fellow residents at Brookdale Assisted Living Facility. She attended every Saturday afternoon movie matinee and every Sunday afternoon Classical Music hour. She also enjoyed CoffeeHouse Jazz on Friday afternoons.