AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 6 Auburn equestrian team will take on No. 3 SMU this Saturday, March 2, at the Auburn University Equestrian Center. The meet will kick off at 11 a.m. CT and will be streamed on SEC Network+.
"We were able to give the team a couple days off last week to recharge and they came back ready and have worked really hard this week," head coach Jessica Braswell said. "We competed against SMU in the fall on the road and although we didn't get the result we wanted, we were very close. Getting another shot to compete against SMU this season and in front of our fans is exciting and we are looking forward to Saturday."
SPECTATOR INFORMATION
It's Spirit of the Plains Day at the Auburn University Equestrian Center and fans in attendance will have a chance to secure Auburn horse trading cards while supplies last. In addition, fans are encouraged to wear navy.
If the weather holds, the Kid's Zone will be open with a bounce house, paint-a-pony and pony rides and the day will also feature food trucks.
For more information on the Auburn University Equestrian Center, please visit HERE.
AUBURN LINEUP
The Auburn (6-4) lineup will remain mostly the same since the last time out.
The Jumping Seat lineup for both Fences and Flat features the same five riders with fifth year Ava Stearns and senior Ellie Ferrigno leading the charge. Ferrigno has an 8-2-0 record in Fences, while Stearns has a team-best 6-2-0 mark in Flat.
Juniors Sophee Steckbeck and Mary-Grace Segar are also slated to compete in both events. Steckbeck is a perfect 10-0-0 in Fences and Segars was an All-American in Flat in 2023. Freshman Avery Glynn joins the crew of upperclassmen in both events and is coming off back-to-back MOP wins in Fences.
The Tiger lineup in Horsemanship is a mix of upperclassmen and newcomers. Senior All-American Madison Parduhn along with sophomores Caroline Fredenburg and Alexia Tordoff lead the way. Tordoff has a team-best eight wins on the year, while Fredenburg has seven and was MOP two weeks ago against UT Martin.
Freshman Brooke Jolstad and Alexis Potts are also set to ride for Auburn in Horsemanship. The pair each have five wins on the year, while Jolstad has two MOPs.
Auburn will be led by experienced riders in Reining with senior Isabella Tesmer highlighting the lineup. The Mount Orab, Ohio product is a team-best 9-1-0 in the event this season. Classmates Kate Buchanan and Olivia Marino join her along with sophomore Caroline Buchanan and Tordoff.
AUBURN – SMU SERIES
Auburn leads the series with SMU, 11-3.
The teams met up earlier this fall in Dallas with the Mustangs taking a 12-8 win. Auburn earned a 15-5 win in spring 2022 when SMU last visited the Plains.
UP NEXT
Auburn closes out the regular season next weekend, hosting College of Charleston and nationally-ranked Texas A&M, March 8-9, at the Auburn University Equestrian Center.
The Tigers will take on College of Charleston on Friday, March 8 in a jumping seat-only contest beginning at 3 p.m. CT. Auburn and the Aggies will go head-to-head at 11 a.m. CT on March 9 and the Tigers will celebrate Senior Day prior to the start of the meet.