Jan. 7, 2009

BLYTHEWOOD, S.C. – South Carolina equestrian coach Boo Major has announced the signing of Alexandra Arute to a national letter of intent to join the Gamecocks in the 2009-10 season. “Alex” is a Hunter Seat rider from Avon, Connecticut.

Arute qualified for the 2008 USEF Show Jumping Talent Search and Hunt Seat Medal finals. Currently ranked eighth overall in the Bates Equitation Rankings, she is ranked 8th in the USEF High Junior Jumpers category and had six Junior Jumper wins in 2008. She was the Circuit Champion in the Small Junior Hunter division at the Vermont Summer Festival, earning top honors in four of the six shows held during the series. In 2007, she qualified and competed in all four Equitation finals, finishing in the top 25 in all four finals. Arute was also named High Junior Jumper champion at the Lake Placid Horse Show and Winter Equestrian Festival Tournament of Championships in addition to being named circuit champion at the 2007 Vermont Summer Festival and reserve champion at the National Horse Show.

In the Small and Large Junior Hunter divisions, Arute earned championships at the Winter Equestrian Festival, Lake Placid Horse Show and at Devon and Harrisburg. Overall, she also has championships at the 2005 Washington International Horse Show, the 2005 Pennsylvania National Horse Show and finished fifth overall in Large Pony Hunters in the 2005 USEF Naitonal Point standings.

Arute is trained by Missy Clark and North Run. Her parents are Wayne and Lori Arute.