AUBURN, Ala. – The Auburn equestrian team opened up the 2023-24 season hosting its annual Blue and Orange scrimmage at the Auburn University Equestrian Center Friday afternoon. The Blue squad topped Orange, 12-9.
"It was great to get back into the competition arenas as we start to get ready for the season to kick off next weekend," head coach Jessica Braswell said. "We saw some good things from both freshmen and returners."
Team Orange captured three of four possible Most Outstanding Performer honors on the day. Sophomore Alexia Tordoff swept the MOPs on the Western side, winning Reining and Horsemanship. Graduate Ava Stearns won MOP Flat for Orange, while junior Hallie Rush captured MOP for Blue in Fences.
"Tordoff being MOP in both events was a great way to start her season coming off her freshman campaign," Braswell said. "Stearns has come back for her fifth year and picked up right where she left off. Rush had a great ride in Fences to win MOP and it was good to see consistency in that event overall."
Blue went 4-2 in Flat to start Jumping Seat competition. Sophomore Holland Barnett led off with a win, while senior Helen Lohr picked up a victory for Blue. Juniors Anna Marie Mayes and Sophee Steckbeck bested their opponents, scoring a 77 and 75 apiece.
Orange saw wins from freshman Riley Parker and Stearns in Flat. Stearns led all riders with an 82 on her ride for MOP.
Reining just had three match ups on the day and the two teams went 1-1-1 overall. Seniors Kate Buchanan (Orange) and Olivia Marino (Blue) rode to a 68.5-68.5 tie to lead things off. Tordoff scored a 69.5 in her MOP win for Orange before classmate Caroline Buchanan took a point for Blue with a 68.5.
In Fences, Blue edged Orange with a 4-3 win. Freshman Avery Glynn won her match up before Rush captured a win with an 80 on her MOP ride. Junior Mary-Grace Segars and senior Gracie Sullivan followed with a pair of 76s for wins.
Orange saw big rides from freshmen Emily Clee and Reilly Gogul as well as sophomore Charlotte McLaughlin to win their points in Fences. Clee led off with an 80, while Gogul earned a 74 on her winning ride. McLaughlin closed things out with a 78 for the victory.
Horsemanship capped the day seeing the teams finish in a 3-3 tie. Junior Victoria Zember won her point with a 71 and sophomore Caroline Fredenburg scored a 76 in her win. Sophomore Lauren Hall earned a 73.5 in her Blue victory.
Team Orange picked up wins from freshmen Sydney Swallom and Alexis Potts as well as Tordoff. Swallom earned a 70, while Potts was awarded a 71. Tordoff took MOP with a match-best 78.
Auburn officially opens the season at home on September 23, hosting UC Davis. The Tigers and Aggies will kick off action at 11 a.m. CT at the Auburn University Equestrian Center.