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Jack Evers 1938-2026
Legacy.com
September 3 2026
Obituary published on Legacy.com by Montgomery-Stryker Funeral Home
John "Jack" Evers was born on April Fool's Day 1938, in Topeka, Kansas; within weeks of his birth, he came home to Green River, where his family has deep roots, dating back to the 1870s.
A lifelong horseman, little Jackie got his first semi-wild pony at age six and rode it through the streets of town. At age seven, he lost his mother to cancer.
As a student at Green River High School, Jack played football, participated in track, and served as student body president. After graduation, in 1956, he enrolled at the Colorado School of Mines, where he played varsity football, boxed, and wrestled on a club basis. He was a member of the 1958 RMFAC championship and Hall of Fame Football Team. He received a professional engineering degree in petroleum engineering in 1960 and went to work in Texas and Oklahoma for the Atlantic Company, later known as ARCO and Atlantic Richfield.
After a brief stint in the US Army, Jack married the former Ann Wilkinson. Their marriage lasted 30 years, produced a daughter, Chia Lynn, and ended amicably. A return to school resulted in a PhD from the University of Kansas. In 1970, Jack became an assistant professor of petroleum engineering at the University of Wyoming, where he advanced through the ranks to serve as department head, 1980–1986.
Jack retired from UW (for the first time) in 1996 and spent 10 years traveling the world with his partner, Lydia Dambekalns, and teaching industrial courses. His travels included destinations in the US, Canada, Columbia, Peru, Brazil, Ecuador, Hungary, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Sudan, Libya, Trinidad-Tobago, India, Hungary, and Indonesia. He returned to UW in 2006 on a part-time basis and earned the Outstanding Petroleum Engineering Teaching Award in 2008 and the Outstanding Undergraduate Engineering College Teaching Award before retiring (again) in 2015.
Never content with only one career, Jack also became a professional farrier and the first AFA-certified journeyman farrier in Wyoming. He served as farrier for the United States team at three World Championships - in Barcelona, Spain in 1992, the Netherlands in 1994, and the US in 1996 - as well as working for the Mountain Zone team at the Pan American Championships in 2003 and the North American Championships in 2005.
In addition to his professional endeavors, Jack spent his life in various horse-related competitions, starting with rodeo - both roping and bronc riding; horseshowing; jumping and dressage competitions; and, finally, endurance racing. At the age of 72, he received his third buckle in the Western States 100-mile race, also known as the Tevis Cup. He logged nearly 5,000 race miles over the course of his endurance career, on his home-bred Arabian horses
Jack's interests in retirement years remained broad: current world events, the Laramie Foreign Foods group, solving complicated math puzzles for fun, reading books about Wyoming, and Rising Moon Ranch work with Lydia.
In 2016, Jack was inducted into the Green River High School Hall of Fame. Much of this obituary was drawn, at his request, from the biography he prepared for that event.
Jack Evers passed away after a brief illness on September 1, 2026 in Laramie. He is survived by his partner Lydia Dambekalns, daughter Chia Evers, son-in-law Dan Novy, foster son Tom Eickbush, and daughter-in-law Mechelle Eickbush.
A celebration of life will be held in early November.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his honor may be made to any education- or animal-related charity of your choice.
Copyright Montgomery Stryker Funeral Home
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Matt Scribner named new Ride Director for Tevis Cup
TevisCup.org
August 7 2026
The Western States Trail Foundation would like to formally announce longtime Tevis supporter, Matt Scribner, as the new Ride Director for the Tevis Cup! He will replace 15-year director Chuck Stalley, who retired after this year’s event.
Matt Scribner was born and raised in Auburn, California and his connection to the Tevis Trail and the Western States 100 Mile Ride is life-long. As a child Matt rode the trail with pack horses and in 1994 earned the first of his seven Tevis buckles.
Matt’s professional life has been devoted to horses. With the exception of serving in the US Army for four years, Matt has been a farrier and trainer focused on endurance horses. For the last twenty years he, and his wife Leigh, have worked side by side to develop safe and sound endurance horses and to help mentor new riders so that they too can successfully navigate the challenges of endurance riding.
Congratulations, Matt!
US Equestrian Announces U.S. Endurance Team Short List for 2026 FEI Endurance World Championship
by US Equestrian Communications Dept. | 7/29/2026
Lexington, Ky. - US Equestrian is pleased to announce the combinations named to the U.S. Endurance Team Short List for the 2026 FEI Endurance World Championship in Butheeb, UAE on December 19, 2026. The team will be led by Chef d'Equipe Jeffrey Stuart, Team Veterinarian Dr. Olivia Rudolphi, and Team Leader Nicole Zerbee.
The following unranked athlete-and-horse combinations have been selected to the U.S. Endurance Team Short List for the 2026 FEI Endurance World Championships and are listed in alphabetical order.
Niki Beck (Ocala, Fla.) and her own Majestic Cloudy Boy, a 2009 Appaloosa/Arabian cross gelding (Majestic Prince x Comanche Lady)
AnnaMaria Clarke (Davis, Va.) and Ole Gold, a 2016 Arabian gelding (Sand Tiki Special x Mags Rega Roya) owned by Valerie Kanavy, and Southern Justice, a 2012 Arabian gelding (PA Gazsi x PA Ecolina) owned by Valerie Kanavy and Dessia Miller
Heather Davis (The Plains, Va.) and SM Mi Anay, a 2015 Arabian mare (SM Mi Lord x Anay Fatima) owned by Haras Paso Manzanero
Mollie Quiroz (San Leandro, Calif.) and Highh Visibility, a 2017 Arabian mare (Vangogh FPA x Alla Masquerade) owned by Samantha Ellis
Heather Reynolds (Dunnellon, Fla.) and Supersonic Zell, a 2012 Arabian gelding (SW Zell x Just N Tyme) owned by Heather Reynolds, Jeremy Reynolds, and Zhaoyi Cheng
Jeremy Reynolds (Dunnellon, Fla.) and Treasured Moments, a 2010 Arabian mare (Da Adios +/ x Hidden Treasure) owned by Jeremy Reynolds and Heather Reynolds
Kelsey Russell (Williston, Fla.) and Juno Im Gold, a 2015 Half-Arabian gelding (Flash Golden x LM Parys) owned by Valerie Kanavy
Alex Shampoe (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Authentic Gold, a 2016 Anglo-Arabian gelding (Flash Goldon x Rhain) owned by Wendy Maccoubrey
Meg Sleeper (Frenchtown, N.J.) and her own Belesema Sapphire, a 2012 Arabian mare (Belesemo Magic x Cal Flaming Emit) and Syrocco Serenade, a 2015 Arabian mare (Syrocco Troubador x Syrocco Renaissance)
Nicole Wertz (Auburn, Calif.) and her own Little Sammy SV, a 2015 Arabian gelding (Sammy V x Zans Little Wing)
The following ranked combination has been selected as the first alternate.
Holly Corcoran (Allentown, Pa.) and her own Lorienn, a 2012 Arabian mare (Syndicat x Lothlorienn)
Competition Information:
The 2026 FEI Endurance World Championship will take place in Butheeb, UAE on December 19, 2026.
Event Website
For more information see:
https://www.usef.org/media/press-releases/us-equestrian-announces-us-enduranceteamshort
Butheeb (UAE) selected as replacement host for the FEI Endurance World Championship 2026
Inside.FEI.org
29 July 2026
Author: FEI Communications
The world-renowned Butheeb International Endurance Village (BIEV) has been selected to host the FEI Endurance World Championship 2026, following a decision by the FEI Board during its teleconference on 28 July 2026. This will be the second time the venue hosts a World Championship, having successfully staged the 2022 edition.
The decision follows the FEI Board’s decision on 1 July to withdraw the Championship from AlUla (KSA) and re-open the bid process.
The Championship will take place in Butheeb, located approximately one hour from Abu Dhabi city centre, from 14 to 20 December, with the Championship ride scheduled for 19 December 2026.
“We are very pleased with the decision to award the FEI Endurance World Championship 2026 to Butheeb,” FEI President Ingmar De Vos said.
“The Butheeb bid was one of four very strong bids received when we re-opened the process. The fact that four Organisers put themselves forward as potential hosts demonstrates the solidarity within the Endurance community and a shared commitment to ensuring there would be a FEI Endurance World Championship in 2026. The Butheeb Organising Committee has a proven track record of hosting events of this calibre, and we have very fond memories of the outstanding FEI Endurance World Championship 2022 held at the venue.
“In taking its decision, the Board considered all relevant factors, in particular the safety and security of human and equine athletes. The Organiser submitted not only a detailed plan covering all sporting aspects of the Championship, but also a comprehensive logistics outline, including the costs of transportation and accommodation of horses and delegations, as well as contingency plans to ensure the event is accessible to all eligible National Federations and their athletes. The Board was therefore satisfied that all the necessary conditions will be in place for a safe and successful Championship.
“We are extremely grateful to the Organising Committee and the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation for their continued support of the Endurance discipline, and we are confident that the 2026 Championship will be an outstanding event.”
Since 2004, the BIEV has hosted around 180 FEI and 361 National Endurance events.
The venue has earned global recognition for its modern, well-equipped veterinary clinic, which features digital X-ray, ultrasonography and other diagnostic services, as well as highly qualified veterinarians and laboratory technicians. Located close to the Central Vet Gates and the Holding Area, the clinic includes examination areas, stables for in-patient treatment, and observation and administrative facilities.
The course, which passes through a forestry reserve, combines desert sand terrain, natural tracks and gently undulating sections. The BIEV is known for producing technical rides that prioritise horse welfare, in line with its mission to deliver exceptional international endurance events that celebrate sporting excellence, place horse welfare at the heart of every decision, embrace innovation and sustainability, and create unforgettable experiences for athletes, officials, spectators and partners.