The No. 2 Georgia equestrian team closed out its regular season schedule Saturday, March 5, with a 12-7 win on the road against New Mexico State. The Bulldogs concluded the regular season with a 10-2 record, which includes a 4-2 mark in Southeastern Conference competition.
Highlighting the meet was Kyndall Harper (Reining) and Graysen Stroud (Horsemanship) who won MOP honors for Georgia.
“We love seeing the strong finish by our Western team,” head coach Meghan Boenig said. “It is good to have that pressure on us. I’m proud of Graysen (Stroud) and Kyndall (Harper) for their MOP rides. New Mexico State was a great host and strong competition. We’re looking forward to a break in competition and to start focusing on the post season.”
Georgia fell behind early in Equitation Over Fences as the Aggies outscored the Bulldogs 3-2. Meg O’Mara earned the first point of the day with a 78-40 victory over NMSU’s Chelsea Brady. New Mexico State took the next three points before Georgia’s Leylan Gleeson closed out the event with a 80-79 win over Karianna Knezevich.
Georgia started to come back in Horsemanship, winning the event 4-1. The event started with New Mexico State’s Kaitlynn Crine being granted a re-ride, but ultimately fell to Heather Schmidt 76-74.5. Georgia continued that momentum, with Stroud, Bailey Anderson, and Rachel Kolb each winning their points for Georgia. Stroud rode to an event-high and MOP-earning score of 77. NMSU took the final point of Horsemanship.
Georgia led New Mexico State 6-4 after two events.
New Mexico State tightened the gap in Equitation on the Flat, outscoring Georgia 3-2. NMSU and Georgia split the first two points. O’Mara fell to Grace McMurry 68-57 before Gleeson outscored Brady 66-55. After a re-ride, Liza Finsness scored a 59 and fell to New Mexico State’s Remington Willkie who score a 69. New Mexico State earned another points before Georgia’s Madison Newman edged Knezevich 63-61. With one event to go, Georgia led New Mexico State 8-7.
Georgia sealed the win, outscoring New Mexico State 4-0 in Reining. Georgia took the first point of the event with Graysen Stroud outscoring Kyla Myers 69.5-66 before Lindsey Cheek rode to a tie against Kimmy Ferrante with a score of 70.5. Claudia Spreng, Lauren Garmon and Harper each earned a point for Georgia to close out competition. Harper’s score of 68.5 earned her MOP honors for the event.
Post season competition for Georgia will begin with the SEC Championship on March 25-26. The championship will be held at the UGA Equestrian Complex where Georgia will serve as host.