COLUMBIA, S.C. – University of South Carolina senior Abigail Pait was named SEC Horsemanship Rider of the Month for January, the league office announced Wednesday. It is the first time that the conference has recognized riders of the month for January in the 3.5 years that the SEC has sponsored equestrian as a sport.
Pait is the 11th Gamecock rider all-time to earn SEC Rider of the Month honors. She is the first Gamecock horsemanship rider to earn the recognition since Sam Chiodo (March 2015), and she is the first Gamecock western rider to earn the monthly honor this season.
Pait went 1-0 of the Gamecocks during the month of January. In Carolina’s 16-3 win over UT-Martin on Saturday, she posted the highest horsemanship score (74.5) to win her point and earn her second MOP award of the season.
Pait currently leads all Gamecock western riders with five victories and two MOP honors.
South Carolina returns to action on Saturday when the eighth-ranked Gamecocks host No. 2 Georgia at One Food Farm. Saturday’s meet is scheduled to being at 1 p.m. and admission is free.
South Carolina – SEC Riders of the Month (All-Time)
• January 2016 – Abigail Pait (horsemanship)
• September 2015 – Amelia Vernon (equitation on the flat)
• March 2015 – Sam Chiodo (horsemanship)
• February 2015 – Amber Henter (equitation over fences)
• February 2015 – Sam Chiodo (horsemanship)
• November 2014 – Layla Choate (reining)
• October 2014 – Katherine Schmidt (equitation over fences)
• October 2014 – Samantha Kraus (equitation on the flat)
• March 2014 – Jordan Brown (reining)
• March 2014 – Katherine Schmidt (equitation over fences)
• February 2014 – Johnna Letchworth (horsemanship)
• February 2014 – Alexa Anthony (equitation over fences)
• November 2013 – Layla Choate (reining)
• October 2013 – Katherine Schmidt (equitation over fences)
• October 2013 – Johnna Letchworth (reining)
• March 2013 – Katherine Schmidt (equitation over fences)
• February 2013 – Johnna Letchworth (horsemanship)
• November 2012 – Amber Henter (equitation over fences)
• November 2012 – Kelsey Urban (horsemanship)
