AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 1 Auburn equestrian team will host two-time defending national champion and No. 4 SMU Saturday, October 19, at 11 a.m. CT. The Tigers and the Mustangs will face off at the Auburn University Equestrian Center and admission is free.
“SMU is very good team and we’re going to have to be at our best to get the win,” head coach Jessica Braswell said. “As we’ve talked about all season, we have to be consistent and translate what we’ve been doing in practice to meet day.”
SPECTATOR INFORMATION
It’s the program’s Breast Cancer Awareness meet and fans are encouraged to wear pink. East Alabama Health will be in attendance to provide education to fans and there will be a pink slap bracelet giveaway while supplies last.
In addition, Kid’s Zone will be up and running and includes a bounce house, pony rides and other fun activities.
“We are excited to be back in front of our home fans,” Braswell said. “Our student-athletes really thrive on the home environment and the energy the Auburn Family brings.”
AUBURN LINEUP
The Auburn lineup is starting to see some consistency as the season progresses. The Tigers will have two fifth years along with two seniors, four juniors, three sophomores and four freshmen compete on Saturday vs. the Mustangs.
Fifth year Ellie Ferrigno and seniors Mary-Grace Segars and Sophee Steckbeck along with sophomore Avery Glynn will once again lead the Jumping Seat corps, competing in both Fences and Flat for the Tigers.
Steckbeck leads the way with a perfect 4-0-0 mark in Jumping Seat action, having two wins in each event. Ferrigno is 2-0-0 in Fences, while Glynn is unbeaten between Flat and Fences with a 3-0-1 record.
Joining the four in Flat will be freshman Sadie Berkhout, who is making her third start in the event. Freshman Kate Hagerty is slated to compete in Fences, earning the first start of her career.
The Western crew will be led by fifth year Olivia Bradley and juniors Caroline Buchanan, Caroline Fredenburg and Alexia Tordoff. Bradley, Buchanan and Tordoff are set to go in Reining, while Tordoff and Fredenburg will ride in Horsemanship.
Bradley and Buchanan are off to a quick start in Reining as each are 2-0-0 for the Tigers with Buchanan having one MOP so far. Joining the pair and Tordoff in competition will be freshmen Michelle Fumagalli and Catie Reachard. Fumagalli kicked off her career with a win vs. TCU in September.
The Horsemanship corps is coming off a big performance on the road vs. South Carolina (Oct. 11), sweeping the Gamecocks in Blythewood.
Fredenburg, sophomore Brooke Jolstad and Tordoff are all 2-0-0 on the year with Fredenburg and Tordoff each having an MOP ride. Sophomore Sydney Swallom picked up her first win of the season last week and the four will be joined by junior Lauren Hall in the lineup.
AUBURN – SMU SERIES
Auburn leads the series with SMU, 11-4.
The two teams last met in Auburn on March 2, 2024, and the Mustangs came away with the edge, 9-8.
UP NEXT
Auburn heads back on the road, traveling to No. 10 UT Martin for a contest on October 26. The Tigers and the Skyhawks will face off in Martin, Tennessee and the time of the meet will be announced on a later date.