Equestrian knocks off Baylor

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

Mustangs Edge Baylor On Raw Score In Exhibition
SMU will open the 2013-14 campaign when it hosts New Mexico State on Sept. 26

Sept. 14, 2013

WACO, Texas (SMU) - The SMU equestrian team topped 2012 hunter seat National Champion and 2013 National Semifinalist Baylor on raw score, winning the tiebreaker by a count of 1,460-1,187.25, after being knotted up at 11-11 after the two disciplines on Saturday at the Willis Family Equestrian Center.

SMU took four of the six points on the flat, and held a raw score edge of 455-424. Freshman Julia Fowler won her matchup 82-61 to give the Mustangs their first point on the event, before classmates Sylvia de Toledo (75-62) and Charlotte Jacobs (80-75) made it 3-0 on the event. Isabel Eastment picked up the Mustangs fourth and final point on the flat by a count of 75-66.

The two programs split the points in equitation over fences to begin the morning. The first-year trio of Fowler (78-77), Jacobs (84-81) and de Toledo (82-77) all picked up their first of two hunter seat points. Jacobs was named the MVP over fences for the competition.

"The hunt seat team really performed well today, especially since our team is composed of almost entirely freshmen," head coach Natalie Burton said. "To beat the 2012 hunt seat National Champion was very exciting. The freshmen are really going to put the pressure on the returners to be great this year."

On a day that saw SMU send out its first western team in program history, the Mustangs held their own on Saturday morning, claiming four of the 10 points to keep the overall score level at 11. Freshman Kristen Schramm gave SMU its first western point in horsemanship, putting up 70.5 points. Classmate Hannah McCain added a horsemanship point with a 70-68.5 decision.

SMU's Jaclyn White tallied 67.5 points to give the Mustangs a reining point, before Schramm became the fourth Mustang on the morning to double up on points for SMU and bring the overall team score to 11-11.

"I couldn't be more proud of the western team," Burton said. "After starting from scratch in August, to be able to win four points and bring the team to a tie was a fantastic effort today . The team couldn't have won today without their contributions. We're very excited heading into the season."

All 11 of SMU's points on Saturday were recorded by freshmen.

SMU will open the 2013-14 regular season by hosting New Mexico State at BuckBranch Farm on Sept. 26 at 10 a.m. CT.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Even though it was an exhibition, it was fantastic to see the Western team look good in their first competition.

Seeing the freshmen Hunter Seat riders perform well in their first event is also really exciting.

We could be in for a very nice year!