Aug. 13, 2012

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina equestrian coach Boo Major has announced the Gamecocks’ 2012-2013 schedule that features two meets against the defending NCEA national champions, and the addition of an SEC Championship.

With the addition of Texas A&M to the Southeastern Conference, the SEC added a conference championship for the sport of equestrian starting with the upcoming season. This year’s championship will be held at the Auburn Horse Center in Auburn, Ala. on March 29-30. Before the addition of the SEC Championship, South Carolina, Auburn, and Georgia held an annual postseason tournament known as the Southern Equestrian Championship for ten years. The Southern Equestrian Championship, which the Gamecocks won for the first time in 2012, is being replaced with the SEC Championship.

This year’s schedule consists of 12 meets, five of which the Gamecocks will host at One Wood Farm in Blythewood. Eleven of the 12 meets are dual meets, in which both the Hunt Seat and Western squads will compete, while the Gamecocks have one Hunt Seat competition at Southern Methodist.

The Gamecocks will open the season at home against Oklahoma State on Sept. 29. South Carolina’s last home loss came against the Cowgirls on Jan. 29 in a 10-9 decision. The Gamecocks will close out the regular season when they travel to Stillwater, Okla. to face Oklahoma State on Mar. 9.

This will be the 16th season of Gamecock equestrian. Admission to all Gamecock equestrian meets is free. Live online scoring will be available for all home meets, along with selected away meets here on GamecocksOnline.

* Note – All times listed are Eastern.