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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.
US Equestrian Announces 2025 Endurance Year-End Awards for Horses and Athletes
USEF.org
by US Equestrian Communications Dept. | 1/7/2026 Lexington, Ky. - US Equestrian proudly congratulates the recipients of the 2025 USEF Endurance Year-End Awards. These awards celebrate and recognize the exceptional achievements of our endurance athletes and horses throughout the 2025 competition season. For detailed descriptions of the 2026 awards program, click here.
Top Ten National-Ranked Senior Athletes
Awarded to the top senior athletes on the national athlete ranking list
• Heather Davis - Maggie Price Endurance Excellence Award recipient for being the top nationally ranked Senior Rider
• Cheryl Van Deusen
• Nathalie Weemaels
• Nicole Wertz
• Alex Shampoe
• Mollie Quiroz
• Anastassia Savini
• Tom Rajala
• Claudie Gaspa-Ward
• Evelyn Baig
Top National-Ranked Junior/Young Rider Athletes
Awarded to the top Junior/Young Riders on the national athlete ranking list
• Uma Kraskin - Brunjes Junior/Young Rider Endurance Trophy recipient for being the top nationally ranked Junior/Young Rider
• AnnaMaria Clarke
• Vanessa Erickson
• Avery Betz-Conway
• Jax Beloberk
• Lila Reeder
• Ansley Conway
• Meghan Wert
• Aubrey Muthard
Endurance Athlete of the Year Award – Heather Davis
Awarded to the rider with the highest number of points between the annual athlete ranking lists
Heather Davis (The Plains, Va.) earned the 2025 Endurance Athlete of the Year Award following an ambitious season that was highlighted by international competition across multiple continents and top ten championship results. Competing consistently at the FEI level, Davis exemplified exceptional horsemanship and strategic riding.
Davis opened her 2025 FEI season with a decisive victory at the Broxton Bridge Ride in the Low Country, winning the CEI2* 120km aboard HM Kaiser Milo. She continued her campaign in South America and Europe, completing a series of FEI rides at the CEI2* and CEI1* levels in Uruguay and Portugal, including solid finishes at CEI Loma Azul, CEI Punta del Este, and a CEI1* victory at Estremoz (POR) aboard SM Mi Anay. The pair also competed at the CEI2* (ESP) where they finished in second place with only 1 second between them and the first-place finisher. Stepping up to the sport’s most demanding distances, Davis successfully completed the CEI3* 160km at Barroca d’Alva (POR), finishing fifth against a strong international field.
The pinnacle of Davis’s season came at the 2025 FEI Endurance Pan American Championships in Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil, where she and HM Kaiser Tesla, a 2016 Anglo-Arabian gelding owned by Haras Paso Manzanero, delivered a standout performance. The pair finished ninth overall individually in the Senior Championship, marking Davis’s first top ten finish at the championship level and a significant milestone in her international career.
Endurance Horse of the Year Award – Tru Beau Sardi
Awarded to the owner of the horse ranked first on the annual national horse ranking list
Tru Beau Sardi, a 2013 Arabian gelding (Trussardi x Precious Beaunita+), is owned and bred by Cheryl Van Deusen (New Smyrna Beach, Fla.) Campaigned throughout the USEF competition year in a demanding FEI schedule, Tru Beau Sardi delivered top performances from 100km to 160km, beginning with a victory in the CEIYJ2* 120km at the Broxton Bridge Ride in the Low Country (S.C.) with Ansley Conway, before stepping up to complete the CEI3* 160km at Fun in the Sun (Fla.) with owner Cheryl Van Deusen.
He continued his strong season with a win in the CEIYJ1* 100km at the Scenic Spruce Creek Spring Fling (Fla.) and a second-place finish at the Broxton Bridge Let’s Have Fun Ride (S.C.) with Sofía Alvarez Camas, followed by a third-place finish in the CEI1* 100km at the Fall Ride at Biltmore (N.C.) with Clarke Martin, and closed the year with a third-place finish in the CEI3* 160km at Broxton Bridge Fall Rides (S.C.) under Van Deusen.
Endurance Best Condition Season Award – Highh Tops Awarded to the owner of the horse ranked first on the annual national best condition standings Highh Tops, a 2018 Arabian mare (Vangogh FPA x Edelika), is owned by Samantha Ellis (Newcastle, Calif.) and bred by Jessica Lemmons. Competing across four FEI endurance events during the USEF competition year, Highh Tops met and exceeded all eligibility requirements, finishing her first FEI season with a 100% completion rate and consistently demonstrating superior recovery, soundness, and condition at veterinary inspections. At all four events, Highh Tops was awarded Best Conditioned Horse within her division at the competition.
More from USEF:
https://www.usef.org/media/press-releases/us-equestrian-announces-2025-endurance-year-end