Auburn Equestrian Shellacks Oklahoma State 15-4 to Finish Fall Season
The last time Auburn Equestrian faced Oklahoma State, the Tigers lost after seeing their huge first-half lead evaporate.
On Friday, the Tigers were determined history would not repeat itself.
How the Meet Went
The matchups in the first event, Equitation on the Flat, looked to favor Oklahoma State. All five of the visitors’ riders have averaged wins in at least half of their rides so far this season, but that was about to change.
Auburn’s Emma Kurtz, Sophee Steckbeck, Ava Stearns, and Ellie Ferrigno all won their points in the event. The red-hot start gave Auburn the 4-1 lead early.
Auburn spectators in the western ring were treated with an equally lively display as Auburn’s Reining squad won 4-0. Auburn riders Isabella Tesmer, Olivia Tordoff, Kate Buchanan, and Olivia Marino all delivered points, with Alexia Tordoff securing a tie that denied the Cowgirls any points in the event.
As well as the first two events had gone for the Tigers, their Equitation Over Fences performance would be even better.
All five riders in the event defeated their opponents. Kurtz, Stearns, Steckbeck, Ferrigno, and Mary-Grace Segars each had their names called over the Auburn Equestrian Center PA system, followed quickly by, “point Auburn.”
With victory long since secured, Horsemanship was still to be completed. Here the visiting Cowgirls saw their greatest success, winning 3 points to 2. Auburn’s Maddie Spak and Alexia Tordoff were the pair of Tigers that scored in the day’s final event.
The 15 to 4 final score was a testament to Auburn’s dominance on Friday and saw their historic home winning streak improve to 26 meets.
Other Auburn Equestrian Action
On Thursday, Auburn also rode a single-discipline meet against Bridgewater College.
Meets against jumping seat-only teams don’t officially count in Auburn's record, so they’re often used as opportunities to see less experienced riders in action. All of Auburn’s riders versus Bridgewater took to the saddle for the first time this season.
Even with such an inexperienced lineup, Auburn secured a comfortable victory over the Eagles.
In Equitation on the Flat. Auburn's Lindsey Klein, Samantha Briggs, and Baylee Mckeever each brought home points.
The Tigers’ Fences team also went 3-1 in their event, with Mckeever, Anna Marie Mayes, and Grace Pearson earning points.
The final score was Auburn 6, Bridgewater 2.
Equestrian Enters Their Winter Break
This weekend's action concluded the Tigers' fall season, with the upset loss at UC Davis their record’s only blemish.
Auburn will resume action two months from now with a pair of road meets: February 3 at TCU, and at Texas A&M the following day.
Until then, Auburn will enjoy the holiday season knowing they ended their latest contest as intensely as they began it.
The Scoresheet
Oklahoma State 4 - Auburn 15
FENCES:
Emma Kurtz (AU) def Sydney North (OSU): 79-77
*Ava Stearns (AU) def Riley Hogan (OSU): 86-84
Sophee Steckbeck (AU) def Grace McReynolds (OSU): 82-80
Ellie Ferrigno (AU) def Hope King (OSU): 82-79
Mary-Grace Segars (AU) def Emma Pacyna (OSU): 80-75
FLAT:
*Emma Kurtz (AU) def Elizabeth Carter (OSU): 89-80
Sophee Steckbeck (AU) def Ella Reinauer (OSU): 84-80
Ava Stearns (AU) def Grace McReynolds (OSU): 78-76
Ellie Ferrigno (AU) def Hope King (OSU): 86-73
Hannah Coleman (OSU) def Mary-Grace Segars (AU): 79-74
HORSEMANSHIP:
Maddie Spak (AU) def Peyton Baxter (OSU): 73.5-72.5
Claire McDowall (OSU) def Caroline Fredenburg (AU): 75.5-72.5
Alexia Tordoff (AU) def June Roberson (OSU): 78.5-71.5
*JoJo Roberson (OSU) def Olivia Tordoff (AU): 79-77
Maddie Fussell (OSU) def Madison Parduhn (AU): 71-70
REINING:
Isabella Tesmer (AU) def JoJo Roberson (OSU): 72.5-68
Tristan Bagby (OSU) tied Alexia Tordoff (AU): 69.5-69.5
Olivia Tordoff (AU) def Molly Mitchell (OSU): 73.5-68.5
Kate Buchanan (AU) def Quincee Clark (OSU): 75-70
Olivia Marino (AU) def Kelly Harper (OSU): 70-64.5
*Event MOP