EQUESTRIAN: 2015-16 Season Preview

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EQUESTRIAN: 2015-16 Season Preview

(Photo by John Kelley)
[su_spacer size=”20″] The 2015 Southeastern Conference Champion Georgia equestrian team looks to continue its dominating ways in the 2015-16 campaign. After finishing with a 9-4 dual-meet record including a 4-2 mark in Southeastern Conference play, the Bulldogs captured the program’s first SEC Championship title. This year’s roster includes several All-American and All-SEC selections, as well as a freshman class with impressive resumes, adding depth to the Georgia lineup.
[su_spacer size=”40″] “What a great position we are in,” head coach Meghan Boenig said. “Defending an SEC title, inspired with new passion from Coach Brainard and hungry for a National Championship! This mix fosters both the motivation and focus for a championship season in the classroom and arena. I know the Georgia Equestrian legacy will continue to set the bar.“
[su_spacer size=”40″] The schedule includes 12 regular-season competitions, including six against Southeastern Conference teams.
[su_spacer size=”40″] The 2015-16 SEC Championship will be held March 25-26 and hosted by Georgia in Bishop, Ga. The season will conclude April 14-16 at the NCEA Championship in Waco, Texas.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Hunt Seat

The Hunt Seat squad returns several familiar faces to the arena. All-SEC Team selection in Equitation on the Flat and Equitation Over Fences Liza Finsness will be back in action for Georgia. Finsness posted a Flat record of 11-5-2, a record of 11-6-1 in Fences and earned 8 MVPs.  Meg O’Mara returns after a 12-5 record in Fences and 12-4 record on the Flat. O’Mara earned three MVPs on the season and went undefeated in Equitation Over Fences and Equitation on the Flat at the 2015 Southeastern Conference Championship and undefeated in Equitation on the Flat at the 2015 NCEA Championship earning a post season best 97.5.

Second Team in Equitation Over Fences NCEA All-American selection Leylan Gleeson returns for her senior year after going 12-3 in Equitation Over Fences and 4-8-1 in Equitation on the Flat.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Western

In Horsemanship, Heather Schmidt returns to action after going 4-6 on the year with an average score of 69.68 and earning NCEA Rider of the Month Honors for the month of November. Schmidt led the Horsemanship team in MVPs with three, two against SEC opponents.  Rachel Kolb will be back after going 10-3-1 with one MVP honor and posting a season high score of 75.5 against Texas A&M.  Bailey Anderson was named SEC Freshman of the Year in Horsemanship after going 10-5 on the season.

NCEA First Team All-American in Reining selection and SEC Rider of the Year in Reining Lauren Garmon returns for her senior season after going 13-3-1 and earning two MVP honors.  SEC Freshman of the Year in Reining Kyndall Harper is back after going 9-7 on the year and earning both SEC and NCEA Rider of the Month honors in October.  Other returners for Georgia include Lindsey Cheek, Charley Thiel and Claudia Spreng who totaled eleven wins last season.
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