Equestrian Opens Up Spring Slate with Top-5 Matchup
COLUMBIA, SC – The No. 5 ranked South Carolina Equestrian team (5-3, 0-3) will take on the No. 4 Auburn Tigers (5-2, 2-1) to kick off the spring portion of the 2023-24 schedule. The meet will take place at One Wood Farm on Saturday, Feb. 3 at 1:00 p.m. Live scoring will be available here. Fans are encouraged to check out the Know Before You Go page before arriving at the farm.
PARKING INFO
For Saturday’s meet against Auburn, overflow parking will be available at Muller Road Middle School (1301 Muller Rd, Blythewood, SC). A shuttle will be making trips to One Wood Farm throughout the day. Those wishing to utilize the shuttle can text the driver (803-873-1380) upon arrival to the parking lot.
LAST TIME OUT
The Gamecocks finished the fall with a top-10 win over then No. 6 ranked Oklahoma State, 12-8 at home. South Carolina swept the Cowgirls 5-0 on the flat, defeating OSU by an impressive average of nearly 12 points. Junior Sophie Mitchell picked up her third MOP of the season for her 84-71 victory on Barnaby.
Sophomore Bella Primavera secured her first collegiate point on Dexter in Fences, taking down Bella Holway in a tight battle 82-81. Fifth-year co-captain Jordan Allen then nabbed her fifth MOP of the season in Fences with her 89-80 win on Dento over Grace McReynolds. The Gamecocks then secured the meet in Reining, with points coming from co-captain Emilia Reutimann, Emma Lane and Mattie McNeill. Lane secured her second MOP in a row for her 70-68.5 ride on Chexie, making way for her to be named the NCEA Reining Rider of the Month for November.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Saturday’s meet with Auburn will be the 56th in program history. The Tigers currently lead the series 36-19, with the last Gamecocks victory (11-7) coming at home in 2015 (Feb. 28).
South Carolina last saw the then No. 2 Auburn Tigers on the road (Oct. 27), falling 14-4. Despite the loss, several riders put up new season and career-highs against the Tigers and defeated them on the Flat 3-1. Sophomore Ellie Beard put up a season-high of 90 to earn her point over Ellie Ferrigno, while fellow sophomore Natalie Jayne and junior Sophie Mitchell took their points as well. For her ride, Mitchell picked up her second MOP of the season. Newcomer Sarah Rabb also impressed, tallying a career-high 91 to tie with her Tiger opponent.
Co-captain and fifth-year Jordan Allen took the lone point in Fences for the Gamecocks, coming out on top 83-81 over Mary Grace Seagars for her fifth win of the season. Auburn swept the Western events, but South Carolina saw a new season high in Horsemanship from Kiersten Beckner with her 76, falling just short of Madison Parduhn’s 76.5. In Reining, the Gamecocks came within no more than half a point to their Tiger opponents, and junior Haley Turner tied with Alexia Tordoff 71.5-71.5.
FAN INFO
Fans are encouraged to check out the Know Before You Go page, and follow along with in-meet updates on Twitter and Instagram @GamecockEQ.
