Gamecocks announce 2018-19 equestrian schedule
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina equestrian’s head coach Boo Major released the 2018-19 schedule Thursday that features 10 fall meets and six spring competitions.
Overall, the Gamecocks will compete in 14 regular-season events, including seven home meets at One Wood Farm in Blythewood, S.C.
“We are very excited about our upcoming season,” Major said. “This will be the first time in quite a while we’ve had an equal number of home and away meets. Normally we have more away meets. We also will have the majority of our away meets in the fall.”
Carolina begins its season Friday, Sept. 14, at 3 p.m., with an exhibition meet against the South Carolina IHSA Equestrian Club Team. The following weekend, the Gamecocks host SMU in their first regular-season meet slated for Saturday, Sept. 22, at 10 a.m.
Hitting the road for its first away competition of the season, Carolina will travel to Auburn, Ala., to face the defending NCEA National Champions in the Auburn Tigers. The two programs are set to compete at 3 p.m. CT Friday, Sept. 28.
Staying in Blythewood for back-to-back events, Carolina hosts 2018 SEC Champion Georgia for an 11 a.m. meet Friday, Oct. 5. The Gamecocks will then see Texas A&M on Friday, Oct. 12, at 1 p.m.
Carolina ends the fall season on a five-meet road stint, including Sweet Briar College on Friday, Oct. 26; Liberty on Saturday, Oct. 27; UT-Martin at 10 a.m. CT Friday, Nov. 2; and ending with a tri-meet at Fresno State against the Bulldogs and neutral opponent Baylor the weekend of Nov. 9-10.
“Although our schedule is tough, it is set up for us to be more successful than in the past few years,” Major said. “We still have to produce in the arena, which is a challenge we always look forward to.”
Following their winter break, the Gamecocks kickoff the 2019 spring season by hosting Converse in Hunter Seat and a Western exhibition opposite of Ohio State at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 2.
The Gamecocks then host TCU at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, before facing three-straight SEC opponents. Up first, Carolina will see Auburn at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, at One Wood Farm in Blythewood, S.C.
Traveling for their next two SEC events, the Gamecocks head to College Station, Texas, to square off against Texas A&M on Saturday, Feb. 23, for a 10 a.m. CT meet. Next, Carolina heads south for a competition with Georgia at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 2.
The Gamecocks then return home to close out their regular season by hosting Delaware State on Friday, March 8, at 2 p.m.
After a short break, Carolina jumps into postseason, heading to the SEC Championship in College Station, Texas, from March 29-30.
The season concludes in Waco, Texas, as the Gamecocks compete at the 2019 NCEA National Championship. The meet runs from April 17-20 at the Extraco Events Center. Carolina is a three-time national champion, claiming the title in 2005, 2007 and 2015.
During the 2017-18 campaign, the Gamecocks went 4-10 and were the No. 8 seed in the NCEA National Championship. Carolina returns Louisa Brackett, Tyler Petrie and Billi Brandner who were all named to the 2018 SEC All-Freshman Team.
