AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 1 Auburn equestrian team kicks off its 2019-20 home schedule with a full weekend at the Auburn University Equestrian Center, hosting six meets over two days, Oct. 18-19.
The Tigers (2-0) will welcome No. 5 TCU (3-1), Sweet Briar (1-2) and SUNY New Paltz (1-2) to the Plains for the busy two days. The four squads will compete in jumping seat-only meets Friday, starting at 10 a.m. CT with Auburn facing SUNY New Paltz and TCU going against Sweet Briar. The Tigers and Sweet Briar will go head-to-head at 2 p.m. CT with TCU and SUNY New Paltz also competing.
Action Saturday kicks off at 8 a.m. CT with a jumping seat-only contest between Sweet Briar and SUNY New Paltz. The Tigers and the Horned Frogs will cap the day at 11 a.m. CT with a full team contest.
"We have had an unusual break for this time of year since our season opener so we are ready to ride against someone other than ourselves," head coach Greg Williams said. "We are going to give a lot of different riders opportunities over the course of two days so it will be a busy weekend.
"TCU is coming here off of a very strong win against SMU, so we know we are facing a good team that has already been tested," Williams added. "I'm looking forward to having all teams out here on the Plains. It's going to be a great weekend."
PROMOTIONS
Saturday's contest vs. TCU will be 'Paws & Claws Dog Day' out at the Auburn University Equestrian Center. Fans that bring their dogs will receive dog treats and supplies while they last.
In addition, the first 200 fans will receive an Auburn equestrian orange boot koozie.
The Kid's Zone will be available for Saturday only out at the AU Equestrian Center. Mini pumpkins will be out for kids to paint and the Kid's Zone will feature cornhole, Connect Four, a bounce house and pony rides as always.
AUBURN LINEUP
With three opportunities to compete, the Auburn Jumping Seat corps will mix it up each meet to provide experience to a handful of riders.
In Fences against SUNY New Paltz, the Tigers will be led by three sophomores in Meghan Knapic, Emma Kurtz and McKayla Langmeier as well as junior Ericka Koscinski. Langmeier will be joined by seniors Becky Kozma and Anna Claire Smith and junior Taylor St. Jacques in Flat.
Later Friday, freshman Alex Pielet will join Kurtz, Langmeier and St. Jacques vs. Sweet Briar. Freshmen Paige Matthies and Ava Stearns will earn the first start of their careers in Fences against the Vixens with Koscinski and St. Jacques also competing.
Saturday's Jumping Seat lineup vs. nationally-ranked TCU will see Kurtz, Langmeier, Stearns and St. Jacques riding in both Fences and Flat. Matthies will represent the Tigers in Flat, while Pielet will go in Fences.
On the Western side against the Horned Frogs, Auburn will be led by one senior, three juniors, one sophomore and four freshmen.
Leading the way in Horsemanship is senior Kara Kaufmann with juniors Deanna Green and Taylor Searles. Freshmen Olivia Tordoff and Maddie Spak will also ride for Auburn. Tordoff earned SEC Horsemanship Rider of the Month for September.
In Reining, Green will be joined by classmate Terri-June Granger. Green also picked up SEC monthly honors last month in the event. Sophomore Peyton Hall as well as freshmen Boo Kammerer and Jen Kasper will represent the Tigers vs. the Horned Frogs.
AUBURN-TCU SERIES
Auburn is 7-2 overall against TCU. The Tigers and the Horned Frogs last met in the postseason, going head-to-head in the quarterfinal round of the 2019 NCEA Championship. Auburn topped TCU, 12-4.
The two teams last met in the regular season in 2012-13 where Auburn took a 9-8 victory on the road.
AUBURN-SWEET BRIAR SERIES
Friday's meeting with Sweet Briar will be the first in the regular season between the two squads. The Auburn Fences corps faced off with the Vixens in the quarterfinal round of the event championship in last season's NCEA meet. The Tigers bested Sweet Briar, 4-0.
AUBURN-SUNY NEW PALTZ SERIES
The Tigers and the SUNY New Paltz Hawks face off for the first time in program history Friday morning.
UP NEXT
Auburn opens up Southeastern Conference action at South Carolina, Oct. 25. The Tigers and the Gamecocks will face off at 1 p.m. CT in Blythewood, S.C., at One Wood Farm.