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Mehdi Kazemi is seen here with Layla Fraser of the Towson University equestrian team at a Fall 2011 IHSA show.

FORMER IHSA AND IEA COACH MEHDI KAZEMI IS THE SUBJECT OF A FUNDRAISER

Recently IHSA Zone 4, Region 1 alumni rider and Virginia Tech graduate Kristen Marley forwarded information to this writer about a fundraiser to take place during the Baltimore County Horse Show Association (BCHSA) benefit horse show at the McDonogh School in Owings Mills, Maryland on Saturday, September 27th. The information had been sent to Marley by Julie Wright, who is head coach for the Towson University equestrian team in Zone 4, Region 1.

"As many of you may know, Mehdi Kazemi (former coach of Towson University and the University of North Carolina at Wilmington) has been diagnosed with ALS and is facing extreme challenges including huge medical bills," says Wright. "We would like to be able to support Mehdi in his battle against this horrible disease and hope that this (Hunter Derby Class) will raise a significant amount for that fight. We are asking IHSA teams to join together and donate $100.00 toward the prize money. We are starting at $1,000.00 and hoping to go higher. Can we count on you to support this special class? I have made a commitment on behalf of Featherdown Farm (where the Towson team trains) and Towson University, please join me."

I met Mehdi for the first time a few seasons back when Towson returned to the IHSA after over a decade without fielding a team. As I recall it was a nice weather fall day at Goucher College and most in attendance were in good spirits. Mehdi initially came across as imposing, as he is built ruggedly, but after taking a photo or two of him with some of the Towson riders he emerged - as I suspect he does to most - as very friendly, informative, personable and somewhat humorous. Mehdi is one of the first coaches I ever had a lengthy conversation with about the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA), as he was very enthusiastic about his Greenway at Featherdown Farm team. I learned a great deal about how the IEA operated that day and later tried for roughly two seasons to write about IEA events on Campus Equestrian. This might not have happened as soon as it did without my conversation with Mehdi that day. I would be remiss if I did not mention Mehdi was also very boisterous and supportive regarding his Towson riders.

In order to learn more about Mehdi (as I have not been to a show in his current region, Zone 4, Region 3, in four seasons) I contacted Wright myself who is a wealth of knowledge about her former co-coach of the Towson team.

"He came to Maryland after graduating from Virginia Intermont College. Mehdi taught at and managed the Columbia Horse Center for 17 years and worked with the likes of Tony Workman, Tommy Serio and Bob Crandall. At Columbia he coached many local riders but also the TSEL (Tri-State Equitation League), which included schools in Pennsylvani, Maryland and Virginia. His love of teaching led him to purchase his own farm (Winters Run) in Harford County, Maryland. Mehdi stayed at home teaching and producing capable and successful riders in the area for 10 years before deciding to downsize and then eventually sold the farm. During his tenure at Winters Run Mehdi and myself collaborated with many students. They produced the 2008 BCHSA Pony Medal winner. He then joined forces with me and Featherdown, and was soon immersed in horse showing and the world of IHSA (which the two of us had participated in when we were college students). Towson University revived their Equestrian Club and team and at the same time Featherdown inherited the IEA Greenway team. The Greenway futures team competed at IEA Nationals in 2011. That same year Mehdi was tapped to create the course for IEA Nationals which were held at the Prince George's Equestrian Center. Featherdown itself continued to be successful and very competitive in the local BCHSA circuit with end of year champions and high point awards.

Mehdi relocated to Wilmington, North Carolina during the summer of 2012 and immediately found himself building a new program at Old Homestead Farm in Rocky Point. He formed an IEA Team with the help of Jacob Pope; Jacob had ridden for Greenway throughout his high school career and UNCW came on board with their IHSA team. That same year the members of BCHSA awarded their Distinguished Service Award to Mehdi, honoring his countless hours of course designing, coaching and as a clinician.

This past winter Mehdi was diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease as the former New York Yankees first baseman was perhaps the first well-known individual to be diagnosed with the condition - Editor). The Benefit Derby is being held to honor Mehdi as he battles this horrible disease. We hope to raise funds to help with medical costs and possibly needed equipment. For us it is a bittersweet event which we hope many of his friends, fellow professionals and former and present students will support. It is so coincidental that ALS is forefront in the news with the "Ice Bucket Challenge" as we prepare for this event to help our dear friend. If appropriate, anyone who would like to donate toward Mehdi's medical needs can do so with great appreciation and thanks. The address for donations is:

BCHSA c/o Julie Wright

8 Pleasant Hill Road

Owings Mills, MD 21117

On a personal note, never have I met a person who is so positive and enthusiastic about what he does and his professional demeanor and sense of humor are second to none. He is a true friend and mentor to many adults and students alike."

Courtney Somers, who today is also a coach for the Towson team, has been greatly influenced by Mehdi.

"Since I first met him, Mehdi has been one of the trainers I have looked up to and admired," says Somers. "I often watched him teach while I was an amateur (and later on as a professional). I always came away with something new; whether it was an exercise for the horse or just a different way of giving a correction. I also loved how positive and uplifting he has been to anyone he has taught, and I decided that is how I want to make people feel when I teach them.

I had several long talks with him when I was deciding to become a professional rider and trainer. Mehdi is the reason I got into the IHSA/IEA coaching. I was only vaguely aware of what these shows are. He explained the format to me and gave me a lot of helpful tips. He got my foot in the door with Julie to help with the Greenway and Towson University Teams. His were some huge shoes to fill, and I know everyone has missed him immensely.

I hope Mehdi realizes just how much he has helped to shape me into the professional rider, trainer, and coach that I am today."

--Steve Maxwell

 


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