Equestrian opens season with win over New Mexico State

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

Mustangs Top New Mexico State 10-9 In Season Opener
SMU's western squad takes three of five horsemanship points in debut

Sept. 26, 2013

WILMER, Texas (SMU) - The SMU equestrian squad defeated New Mexico State 10-9 in its 2013-14 season opener on Thursday at BuckBranch Farm. Thursday's competition was SMU's first official competition with a western squad.

"The win means a lot in our debut as a united team (with western and hunt seat)," interim head coach Natalie Burton said. "We did what we had to do. Our hunt seat team did what they had to do, and the western squad turned in a phenomenal effort to win horsemanship over a seasoned team. A lot of credit goes to what coach (Trista) Adkins has done with that team in a short time. We demonstrated a way we can win all year, even with a young team."

SMU's western squad claimed three of the five horsemanship points in the discipline's debut with the program. Junior Courtney Line took the first of three horsemanship points, tallying 69.5 points in her 2013-14 debut. Jaclyn White, one of six freshmen to make her debut on Thursday evening, defeated her Aggie counterpart 69.5-67.5. Classmate Hannah McCain took horsemanship MVP honors with a 72.5-66 decision in the anchor spot of the lineup.

The Mustangs' hunter seat team took seven of the 10 points on Thursday, including four of the five in equitation over fences. Freshman Sylvia de Toledo claimed MVP honors on fences, with an 87-77 victory over NMSU's Julie Frey. Fellow newcomer Charlotte Jacobs took her first of two points on the afternoon with a 78-65 win over fences. Sophomore Schaefer Raposa edged Hannah Swarthout 79-75, and senior Julianna Fischer earned a 13-point spread, topping Shannon Dooley 78-65.

With the flat score tied 2-2, Jacobs completed her two-point afternoon with a 73-64 win in the anchor spot. Sophomore Mary Abbruzzese and junior Paulena Johnson took the other two points on the flat with 77 and 73 points, respectively.

In the second western event, New Mexico State took four out of the five possible reining points, with sophomore Kristen Schramm earning what turned out to be an important 66.5-66.5 tie in the leadoff spot of the lineup.

SMU held a 1358-1338.5 edge in rider points.

The Mustangs will remain at home to take on the University of Tennessee at Martin on Sunday at 10 a.m. CT at BuckBranch Farm.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Congratulations to Coach Burton, Coach Adkins, and the entire team for a great start to the season!

Beat UTM Sunday!