No. 2 Georgia equestrian fell to No. 1 Auburn 12-8 Saturday afternoon at the UGA Equestrian Complex. Georgia drops to 7-2 on the season and 4-2 in the SEC.
 
 
Highlighting the meet was Liza Finsness (Equitation on the Flat) and Claudia Spreng, who won MOP honors for Georgia. Finsness earned her season-high score in Equitation Over Fences.
 
 
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“There were a lot of strong moments on the day, but there are always places where we can improve and get better,” Georgia head coach Meghan Boenig said. “It was a great test today, and a great learning opportunity for us, I think we learned a lot of good lessons to use before our next home series with Fresno and Kansas State.”
 
 
Finsness was the first to compete in Equitation Over Fences, riding to a season-high score of 88 and earning a point for Georgia over Auburn’s Elizabeth Benson. Auburn won the next three points with Caitlin Boyle edging Meg O’Mara 87-85 and Hayley Iannotti defeating Alex Maracic 83-75 before Ashton Alexander grabbed a point from Leylan Gleeson 78-77. Addy Cord closed out competition in Fences with a point for Georgia over Auburn’s Ashley Foster with a score of 82-74.
 
 
Auburn extended its lead in Horsemanship. Georgia won the first point with Bailey Anderson outscoring Sarah Miller 75.5-74. Auburn won the next two points. Rachel Kolb earned another point for Georgia over Auburn’s Hannah Stephens with a score of 75.5-73.5. The final point of the event went to Auburn.
 
 
Half way through the competition, Georgia trailed Auburn 6-4.
 
 
In Equitation on the Flat, Auburn earned three points right out of the gate. Finsness earned MOP honors and won her point for Georgia over Auburn’s Tory Hoft with a score of 87-83. Auburn took the final score of the event.
 
 
The competition concluded in Reining with Georgia making a comeback that ultimately fell short. Auburn had won the first point before Georgia took the next three. Spreng and Kyndall Harper outscored their Auburn opponents 72.5-69.5 and 69-61, respectively, before Lauren Garmon defeated Ali Fratessa 66.5-64. Spreng’s score earned her MOP honors. Auburn won the final point of the event.
 
 
Georgia has a week off before returning to action with a double header against Kansas State on Feb. 26 and Fresno State on Feb. 27 at the UGA Equestrian Complex.