AUBURN, AL (EETV)- After yesterday's 19-0 shutout against Minnesota Crookston, the Auburn Equestrian team continued their weekend homestand for a Saturday Snoop Dogg celebration. The Number one Tigers hosted UT Martin, the Number nine ranked NCEA program, for their second meeting this 2024-2025 season. Since their last meeting in the fall, Auburn currently holds the record at 19-0.
A sunny and 75 day at the Auburn Equestrian Center made for a series of smooth rides for the Tigers. The first half of the meet opened with Flat and Reigning. Here, Auburn held a 5-2 lead over the Skyhawks.
Two of the points in Auburn's first half score were jumping seat points that were produced from the efforts of Ferrigno and Sears. Ellie Ferrigno opened Flat with a score of 87 that overtook the Skyhawk's 78 from Becker. Ferrigno's ride was followed by two losses to UT Martin. The seventh rider, Mary-Grace Segars, for Auburn completed the flat test with a score of 88 that was over ten points above her opponent. A tie between Marnell and Adams kept the two teams at an even 2-2.
The remaining three Tiger points came from Western points in Reigning. Keeping it close, three Auburn riders were able to overtake their opponents. Todroff, Buchanan, and Richard all scored within one point of their opponent but still managed to pull off a 3-1 score in the Reigning event to close out the first half.
Extending their lead, Auburn riders continued their dominance in the second half of the meet. Tordoff and Steckbeck opened the Horsemanship and Fences events for the Tigers. Tordoff earned the Auburn Western point for her 74 over Laney's 73 score. In Fences, Steckbeck received a 74 after a beaiutiful round. However, four penalty points were taken off her score after a jump did not make a clean clear. Despite this penalty, Steckbeck's opponent scored a 68 which handed Auburn the Jumping Seat point.
Auburn's highest score of the meet came from Segars with an 89 in Fences that added another Auburn point.
On the Skyhawk side, Payton Lussen struggled with a few balks from her horse when approaching the obstacles. Committed to the course, Lussen received a 48 compared to Ferrigno's 75.
Auburn Equestrian holds the reign over UT Martin as they extended the record to 20-0 with a final score of 11-6. The Tigers welcome No. 8 South Carolina to the Plains on February 15th at 11:00.
