Feb. 12, 2016

COLUMBIA, S.C. – University of South Carolina equestrian coach Boo Major on Friday announced the signing of Caroline Gute (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Coffman High School) to a National Letter of Intent to join the Gamecocks for the 2016-17 season. Gute is a western rider and will be able to compete in both reining and horsemanship for the Gamecocks.

“We’re thrilled to have Caroline join our team next year,” Major said. “She has a lot of experience in both reining and horsemanship, and she’ll have the opportunity to compete in both. She’s had a lot of success at the IEA level and at all the major shows including the Quarter Horse Congress, and we think she’s going to be a great addition to our team next season.”

Gute trains with Robin Schoeller.

In 2015, Gute was the Buckeye Reining Series Youth Ranch Horse Pleasure Champion, Buckeye Reining Series Youth 14-18 Champion, Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) Varsity Open Reining Champion, IEA High Point rider, Nation Reining Horse Association (NRHA) High School Championship Champion, All American Quarter Horse Congress Reserve Champion, and NYATT Champion.

In 2014, Gute finished third at the Snowbird Slide levels 2 and 4 Derby and finished third in Open Horsemanship at the IEA Championship. She was also on the Open Reining championship team that won the IEA title that year and was the Central Ohio Reining Horse Association Ladies Champion. Gute also earned a top-10 finish in 14-18 Reining at the All American Quarter Horse Congress and was a NYATT Champion.

In 2013, Gute was the Central Ohio Reining Association 14-18 Youth Affiliate Champion. At the All American Quarter Horse Congress, she was the NRHA Non-Pro Freestyle Reining Champion and the NYATT Champion.

Her parents Leland and Julie Gute, and she has an older brother, Eric Gute.

While at South Carolina, Gute will be a business major in the Darla Moore School of Business.

Gute chose South Carolina over Auburn, Georgia, and Baylor.