The No. 1 Auburn equestrian team had their first away competition of the season against No. 7 South Carolina and earned a 14-5 victory on Friday afternoon at One Wood Farm in Blythewood, South Carolina.
The Tigers (2-0, 1-0 SEC) delivered impressive performances in both Horsemanship and Jumping Seat competitions against the Gamecocks (2-1, 0-1 SEC). Auburn achieved a clean sweep in Horsemanship and showcased their strength in Jumping Seat with a combined record of seven wins, two losses, and a tie between Fences and Flat in Jumping seat.
“I am so proud of what this team did on the road today,” Head Coach Jessica Braswell said, “We talked about consistency and they delivered.”
The Horsemanship crew continued to demonstrate their skill and consistency with all riders scoring a 70.5 or better against the Gamecocks. Auburn opened up the day with a 9-1 lead after Horsemanship and Fences.
“The Horsemanship crew had a huge day,” said Braswell. “Going undefeated in any event is a big task and they rose to the occasion. Jumping Seat showed so much consistency through both events and our experience really showed today.”
Junior Caroline Fredenburg kicked off with an impressive win of 74-71.5. Alexia Tordoff followed this performance and did not disappoint, earning a 74.25068.25 victory. Tordoff’s win was attributed to her first Most Outstanding Performer honor of the season.
The Tigers refused to slow down throughout the competition. Sophomores Brooke Jolstad, Sydney Swallom, and Callie Hogg rounded out the event with three-straight wins. Jolstad narrowly beat her opponent 73-72.5, just before Swallom won her match 71-67.25. Hogg celebrated her first career victory with a 70.5-69 victory over Jordyn Humbert.
The Fences team dominated with a 4-1 win against the Gamecocks. Fifth-year rider Ellie Ferrigno led the charge with an impressive 87.5-78 win. Senior Sophee Steckbeck added to the tally with an 85.5 on her winning ride, and classmate Mary-Grace Segars defeated Natalie Jayne, 80.5-75. Sophomore Avery Glynn closed the event with a narrow 89-87 victory.
Following intermission, the Flat competition concluded with a 3-1-1 record. On the flat Steckbeck earned her second win of the season, scoring 80.5 to outpace her opponent’s 78. Glynn and South Carolina’s Mary Hunter Millet finished in an 83-83 draw, while Segars edged out her opponent with an 83.5-83 score. Ferrigno delivered a standout performance at the end of the event, achieving a meet-high 85 to secure her point and another MOP honor.
Reining wrapped up the day with two victories from upperclassmen Caroline Buchanan and Olivia Bradley. Junior Buchanan triumphed over Mattie McNeill, finishing 69.25-65.25, while fifth-year Bradley sealed the team’s victory with a score of 67.5.
Auburn returns home to the Auburn University Equestrian center next weekend, hosting defending national champion and No. 5 SMU.
“We are looking forward to getting back to work to prepare for a tough opponent in SMU,” Braswell said. “We will have to be our best against the Mustangs and the Auburn Family will be a huge difference maker for us!”
The Tigers and the Mustangs will face off at 11 a.m. CST on Saturday, Oct. 19.
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Grace is a Sophomore majoring in Speech Language Hearing Sciences. She joined the Plainsman in the spring of 2024.
