[su_spacer size=”20″] The No.2 Georgia equestrian team defeated No. 8 South Carolina 13-5 Friday afternoon at the UGA Equestrian Complex in Bishop, Ga.  With the win, Georgia improves to 5-1 on the season with a 2-1 mark in the Southeastern Conference. Highlighting the meet was Bailey Anderson (Horsemanship), Leylan Gleeson (Equitation on the Flat), Alex Maracic (Equitation Over Fences), and Claudia Spreng (Reining) who won MOP honors for Georgia.
[su_spacer size=”40″] “This meet served as a progress report,” head coach Meghan Boenig said.  “We had some things we wanted to capitalize on and to use this opportunity to make adjustments from last week in order to build momentum going into the second half of our season. We are not finished yet, there is more to do on this journey towards the postseason.”
[su_spacer size=”40″] Georgia got on the board first with Maracic riding to an MOP-winning score of 85-84, edging South Carolina’s Samantha Kraus in Equitation Over Fences. Liza Finsness rode to a tie with a score of 82 against Lizzie van der Walde.  South Carolina won the next point over Georgia’s Gleeson.  Georgia won the last two points of the event with Addy Cord outscoring her opponent 78-77 before Meg O’Mara rode to an 83-79 win over South Carolina’s Samantha Smith.
[su_spacer size=”40″] In horsemanship, Georgia extended its lead against South Carolina.  Bailey Anderson won the first point with an MOP-earning 76-73.5 victory. South Carolina took the next point before Georgia’s Rachel Kolb defeated Lindsey Slack 76.5-69.  Heather Schmidt rode to a tie against South Carolina’s Ashley Reichert with a score of 76.  Georgia took the final point of the event with Sammie Johnson outscoring her opponent 70.5-64.
[su_spacer size=”40″] At the half, Georgia led South Carolina 6-2.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Georgia sealed the win in Equitation on the Flat; Madison Newman rode to a career-high 91 over South Carolina’s Samantha Smith, who scored an 81.  South Carolina took the next point over Addy Cord 94-82.  Meg O’Mara outscored her opponent 87-80 winning another point for Georgia. After a re-ride, Leylan Gleeson rode to a career-high and MVP-earning 94-79 win over South Carolina’s Erin Fry. Georgia led South Carolina 10-3 with one event remaining.
[su_spacer size=”40″] In Reining, Spreng claimed MOP honors after edging South Carolina’s Sarah Bouchard 72-71.5. South Carolina’s Madison Thiel, who is the sister of Georgia’s Charley Thiel, grabbed the next point for the Gamecocks.  Georgia and South Carolina each added one to the board before Lauren Garmon claimed the final point of competition for the Bulldogs.
[su_spacer size=”40″] This marks the end of the fall schedule for Georgia.  The Bulldogs return to action on Jan. 30 when they travel to College Station, Texas to take on the Aggies of Texas A&M.
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