AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 3 Auburn equestrian team continues its homestand this Saturday, February 25 as the Tigers welcome the top-ranked SMU Mustangs to the Auburn University Equestrian Center. The two teams will face off at 11 a.m. CT.
"This is a big meet for us on Saturday," head coach Greg Williams said. "Coach Jessica Braswell and coach Taylor Searles have this team riding really well so I'm hoping to see big rides from our team against a really tough SMU squad."
Admission will be free and there will be plenty of activities for fans to participate in throughout the day.
"There is nothing like competing in front of our home crowd," Williams said. "We can't wait to see everyone out here on Saturday."
SPECTATOR INFORMATION
Boot koozies will be given out while supplies last and there will be a giveaway for Auburn University students.
The Kid's Zone will be open as well and will feature a bounce house, pony rides and pet-a-pony. In addition, kids who bring their fliers in from school will be entered for prizes.
For more information on the Auburn University Equestrian Center, please visit HERE.
AUBURN LINEUP
Not much will change for the Tigers (7-2, 3-1 SEC) this week in the lineup against SMU.
The Jumping Seat corps will once again be led by a wealth of experience. Fifth year Emma Kurtz, senior Ava Stearns and junior Ellie Ferrigno lead the way for the squad. Stearns and Ferrigno are both 8-1-0 in Fences this year, while Kurtz has six wins in Fences.
Joining the trio in both Fences and Flat against the Bulldogs will be sophomores Mary-Grace Segars and Sophee Steckbeck. Segars stands at 7-2-0 in Flat this year and Steckbeck has the same record in Fences.
Reining will go first on Saturday in Western competition and the Tigers will be led by juniors Kate Buchanan, Olivia Marino and Isabella Tesmer. Buchanan has five wins on the year in the event.
Joining the trio will be freshmen Caroline Buchanan and Alexia Tordoff. Buchanan has won back-to-back matches, while Tordoff picked up her fifth win of the year and second-straight MOP against the Georgia last week.
The Horsemanship squad is full of experience and will remain the same this week. Seniors Maddie Spak and Olivia Tordoff will guide the squad as Spak is unbeaten in the event this season with a 8-0-1 mark. The older Tordoff has five wins and three MOPs.
Junior Madison Parduhn and freshmen Caroline Fredenburg and Alexia Tordoff will also compete for the team. The younger Tordoff is second on the team with six wins in the event so far this season.
AUBURN-GEORGIA SERIES
Auburn leads the series with SMU, 10-1-0, including a 3-0-0 record at home.
The two teams last met in the first round of the NCEA Championship last year with the Mustangs pulling off the 12-8 upset.
UP NEXT
Auburn closes out the regular season with a home meet against nationally-ranked South Carolina, March 3. The Tigers and the Gamecocks will face off at 3 p.m. CT at the Auburn University Equestrian Center.