AUBURN, Ala. – Members of the Auburn equestrian team have been able to compete this summer and have found a wealth of success away from the Plains.
Leading the Western corps this summer were seniors Deanna Green and Taylor Searles as well as sophomores Rachel Hoopman and Olivia Tordoff. Alums Kara Kaufmann, Indy Roper, Blair McFarlin and Katsy Leeman also put together solid showings.
Green had a wealth of success this summer with her most recent coming at the 2020 NSBA World Show in Tulsa. The 2020 NCEA and SEC Horsemanship Rider of the Year took home the World Champion title in the 2 Year Old Non Pro Western Pleasure, the 2 Year Old Intermediate Non Pro Western Pleasure, the 2 Year Old Limited Open Western Pleasure and the Color Amateur Trail.
At the conclusion of the world show, Green was the Breeder Cup Futurity Champion in 2 Year Old Non Pro Western Pleasure, 2 Year Old Intermediate Non Pro Western Pleasure, 2 Year Old Limited Open Western Pleasure, 2 Year Old Color Non Pro Western Pleasure and the 4-6 Year Old Non-Pro Trail.
In addition, Green was Reserve World Champion in Amateur Horsemanship and Color Amateur Horsemanship at the world show.
The All-American from Ocala, Fla., kicked off her summer at the 2020 Big A held in Conyers, Ga., June 26-July 5. She captured the Circuit Champion title in Amateur Horsemanship.
Hoopman is coming off a big summer, picking up a handful of championships. Highlighting her performances was her showing at the NSBA World Show where she was World Champion in Novice Youth Western Horsemanship.
Her summer started at the Redbud Spectacular in Oklahoma City, May 28-June 7. She was Circuit Champion in Level 1 Youth Horsemanship and Reserve Champion in Level 2 Youth Horsemanship. The Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, product also finished fifth in Level 2 Horsemanship at the AQHYA Youth World Championship in OKC, July 29-August 8.
Searles, an All-American from Tucson, Ariz., was Circuit Champion in the Amateur Aged Geldings and Amateur 3 Year Old Mares at both the Stars & Stripes and Big A shows.
Tordoff, an All-American and the SEC Freshman Horsemanship Rider of the Year, took home Circuit Champion in Amateur Horsemanship at the SOQHA Madness. The Powell, Ohio, native was also named Reserve Circuit Champion in Amateur Horsemanship at the Big A.
Kaufmann, a recent graduate and a four-year starter for the Tigers in Horsemanship, was the Circuit Champion in Amateur Horsemanship at the Summer Kick-Off in Conyers, May 29-31. She also was Reserve Circuit Champion in Novice Amateur Western Riding at the Big A.
Three of Auburn's top reining graduates had success at the NRHA Derby in the Non-Pro Derby Finals. Indy Roper (2010-13) finished first in overall standings on Spooks Show Time, picking up first in Non Pro Derby Level 4. Blair McFarlin (2016-19) earned a Top 10 finish in Level 4, while having a Top 5 finish in Level 3. Katsy Leeman (2012-15) also had success at the derby, coming in the Top 10 in Level 3 and Top 15 in Level 4.