COLUMBIA, S.C. – Using strong performances by the Reining and Horsemanship squads, the No. 1 Georgia equestrian team grabbed a come-from-behind 9-9 (1,496-1,493) win over the third-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks at OneWood Farm in Blythewood, S.C., on Friday, Oct. 11. Georgia improves to 2-0 on the season and 1-0 in Southeastern Conference action, while South Carolina falls to 4-1 overall and 0-1 in the SEC.
Highlighting the win was two MOP performances by Georgia’s Heather Schmidt and Liza Finsness. Schmidt earned the honor in Horsemanship with a score of 77, while Finsness grabbed the award in Equitation on the Flat with her score of 79.
South Carolina handed Georgia a 4-1 loss in Equitation over Fences. Amber Henter and Alexa Anthony took the first two points for the Gamecocks before Sarah Milliren scored Georgia’s first point of the day with a 77-72 win over Samantha Kraus. South Carolina scored the final two points, to take a 4-1 overall lead.
The Bulldogs answered by scoring the first three points in Reining to tie the overall score at 4-4. McKenzie Lantz started the event with a 73.5-73 win over Layla Choate before Lauren Tieche rode to a 71-66 win over Sarah Bouchard. Charley Thiel followed with a 72.5-67 win over Jordan Brown that gave the Bulldogs a 3-0 lead in Reining. South Carolina’s Cody McMillion edged Lauren Garmon 73.5-72 for its first point in the event. Lindsey Cheek wrapped up the event by tying Johnna Letchworth 73.5-73.5 to seal the 3-1 Reining win for the Bulldogs and bring Georgia within one of South Carolina in the overall score at 5-4.
South Carolina took a 3-2 win in Equitation on the Flat, allowing the Gamecocks to extend its lead to 8-6. Kelsey Hart and Anthony won the first two points before Kylee Arbuckle and Finsness scored back-to-back points to tie the event at two. Arbuckle earned a 73-72 win over Samantha Smith before Finsness picked up MOP-honors with a 79-75 win over Kraus. USC’s Katherine Schmidt sealed the win in Equitation on the Flat for the Gamecocks with a 76-74 win.
Trailing 8-6 with all of the Horsemanship points up for grabs, Georgia scored three-straight points to take its first lead of the day at 9-6. Anna Sasser got things started with a 76-73 win over Katie Kopf before Paige Stawicki rode to a 76.5-74.5 win over of Abigail Pait that gave the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead in Horsemanship and tied the competition at eight. Schmidt then earned MOP honors with a 77-75.5 win over Letchworth for Georgia’s third point in a row that gave it the overall edge. Sara Parr and Samantha Chiodo rode to a draw, leaving one point on the table. Alison Cerasani picked up the meet-tying point with her 75.5-74 win. The strong scores on the Western side sealed Georgia’s win over the Gamecocks.
Georgia returns to action on Friday, Nov. 8 when it hosts SEC foe Texas A&M at the UGA Equestrian Complex in Bishop, Ga. The meet is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.
