Auburn Equestrian Drops Close Home Meet, Losing 8-9 to SMU

The Nation’s Longest Home Winning Streak Ends as the Mustangs had an answer for every Auburn point on Saturday.

Entering Saturday’s meet, Auburn was determined to prove their recent string of losses were a scheduling fluke of four straight tough road meets. But instead, after the Tigers came up short to SMU once again, questions of whether Auburn has slipped from the ranks of the sport’s elite have arisen.

How the Meet Went

The day started off in Reining, where Auburn’s plan to stay with their more distinguished counterparts went better than expected.

Alexia Tordoff and Caroline Buchanan both earned no-point ties, while Isabella Tesmer and Kate Buchanan won their points. Tesmer’s ride was also judged the event’s Most Outstanding Performance.

The gutsy start had given Auburn a 2-1 advantage to begin the meet.

Down in the lower ring, Equitation on the Flat took to the saddle. Here again, Auburn faced a group of riders with better overall winning percentages, so keeping the points close was the objective.

That plan delivered mixed results as Ellie Ferrigno tied her opponent while Ava Stearns was the only Tiger to get on the scoreboard in the event. Stearns also won the event MOP with her ride.

The event also saw a scary moment as the final horse lost composure and began to charge about the ring, forcing Auburn freshman Avery Glynn to hang on for dear life until her mount finally tired and could be brought under control. Glynn and her opponent were granted re-rides on a backup horse, which saw that last point go to SMU.

This meant the Mustangs had taken the Flat 3 points to 1, and would enter halftime leading Auburn 4-3.

But the one-point margin wasn’t a cause for worry as the two second half events, Fences and Horsemanship, are typically Auburn’s strongest. If the Tigers could perform as expected, they could gain a majority of the second half points on the way to another home victory.

Auburn’s Equitation Over Fences performance got the Tigers back in contention.

Fresh off her harrowing ordeal on the Flat, Auburn’s Glynn delivered an amazing performance Over Fences, defeating SMU’s top Fences rider. Stearns and Sophee Steckbeck also won their points, giving Auburn the 3-2 advantage.

With the meet tied 6-6, all attention turned to the Horsemanship action, which would decide the meet. But sadly, Auburn’s more acclaimed lineup was upstaged by the visitors.

Alexis Potts and Caroline Fredenburg were the only Tigers able to earn points in the event as the other three went to the Mustangs.

This produced the final 8-9 score that signaled the end of an era in Auburn Equestrian history.

For over five years visiting the Plains meant certain defeat for anyone in the country. An entire class of athletes have come and gone through the program not knowing the sting of a home defeat.

Auburn Equestrian is mortal once again.

Up Next for Auburn

With #2 Texas A&M coming to town next, Auburn’s attempt to reverse their fortunes won’t be easy. The Tigers and the Aggies will face off on Saturday, Mar 9, at 11 AM Central.

The day before that, Auburn will also host NCEA newcomer College of Charleston in a single-discipline meet (Mar 8 @ 3PM)

The Scoresheet
SMU 9 - Auburn 8

FENCES:

Avery Glynn (AU) def Augusta Iwasaki (SMU): 87.5-85.5
Hannah Hoch (SMU) def Mary-Grace Segars (AU): 84.5-83.5
Sophee Steckbeck (AU) def Taylor Madden (SMU): 84.5-78
Ava Stearns (AU) def Hensley Humphries (SMU): 87-82
*Elli Yeager (SMU) def Ellie Ferrigno (AU): 91.5-85.5

FLAT:

*Ava Stearns (AU) def Hensley Humphries (SMU): 86-81
Katy Merchant (SMU) tied Ellie Ferrigno (AU): 81.5-81.5
Taylor Madden (SMU) def Mary-Grace Segars (AU): 83.5-82
Augusta Iwasaki (SMU) def Sophee Steckbeck (AU): 79.5-76
Elli Yeager (SMU) def Avery Glynn (AU): 79-78

HORSEMANSHIP:

Alexis Potts (AU) def Jayna Lagace (SMU): 73.25-68.75
*Nya Kearns (SMU) def Alexia Tordoff (AU): 75.5-73
Alexa Black (SMU) def Brooke Jolstad (AU): 72-68.25
Lily Anderson (SMU) def Madison Parduhn (AU): 74.5-74.25
Caroline Fredenburg (AU) def Caroline Nielson (SMU): 72-67

REINING:

Taylor Zimmerman (SMU) def Olivia Marino (AU): 68.75-68.25
*Isabella Tesmer (AU) def Shelby Clausen (SMU): 72.25-71.5
Lily Anderson (SMU) tied Alexia Tordoff (AU): 67.5-67.5
Kate Buchanan (AU) def Dani Latimer (SMU): 71.25-70.5
Chalyce Head (SMU) tied Caroline Buchanan (AU): 70.5-70.5

*Event MOP"