After competing in two meets this weekend, the Auburn equestrian team wrapped up its regular season at 11-3.
Friday, the team took its only home loss this season, falling 11-7 to Georgia.
The Bulldogs defeated the Tigers in both Hunt Seat 5-4 and Western 6-3. Georgia took MVP honors in all events.
The Bulldogs won Hunt Seat Equitation over Fences 3-2 and swept Western Horsemanship 5-0. They fell to Auburn in Western Reining 3-1 and tied in Hunt Seat Equitation on the Flat 2-2.
Despite their loss on Friday, the Tigers returned on Saturday defeating Stephen F. Austin 15-5 finishing 6-4 in Western and 9-1 in Hunt Seat.
Assistant coach Lindsay Neubarth was proud of the way the girls performed.
“The girls did an excellent job today,” Neubarth said. “We made mistakes yesterday, but we recovered really well today.”
In the first half of the meet, Auburn swept the Ladyjacks in Hunt Seat Equitation over Fences 5-0 with Auburn’s Jenny Reinhart receiving MVP honors.
Jessica Jones, a sophomore from Mentone, was selected as MVP in Western Horsemanship after helping the Tigers defeat the Ladyjacks 3-2.
In Hunt Seat Equitation on the Flat Auburn took Stephen F. Austin 4-1 naming sophomore Rebecca Rifkin as MVP.
Kim Tidwell, a senior from Eclectic, took MVP honors in Western Reining after Auburn defeated Stephen F. Austin 3-2 in the event.
After competing in the last home meet of her college career, Kim Tidwell was excited to take MVP honors.
“It feels fabulous to be chosen as MVP,” Tidwell said. “I’ve worked really, really hard the entire time I’ve been on the team, and it is nice to go out with a bang.”
Tidwell and fellow seniors Julie Gibbes, Jennifer Jordan, Erin McMahon and Coburn Park were recognized at the end of the meet for their service to the team.
Tidwell said she has enjoyed being a member of the team during her time at Auburn.
“My favorite part of being on this team has been making friends with some of the best people I’ve ever met,” Tidwell said.
Senior Jennifer Jordan said she was sad to be finishing her last season on the team.
“This is an awesome team,” Jordan said. “We aren’t just teammates, we are friends.”
Jordan and Tidwell are both looking forward to the SEC Championships and feel the team is ready to compete.
“I feel really good about the championship meet,” Tidwell said. “We are really behind each other and as long as we are mentally prepared, we’ll be good.”
Neubarth said it was great to end the season on a positive note, and the team will continue working to make sure it is prepared to bring the season to a close.
“We’ve made mistakes this season, but we know where they are,” Neubarth said. “As long as we are focused, both the SEC championship and the national championship are within our reach.”
Auburn will compete again March 28 in the Southern Equestrian Championships.
