Southern Equestrian Champions 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
Southeastern Conference Equestrian Champions 2015, 2017, 2018
GAMEDAY MEDIA SERVICES
Rosters, lineups and timing sheets will be provided before each home competition. Results will be distributed following each home meet.
MEET COVERAGE
As we do not require credentials for home meets, please contact Julia Maenius in the sports communications office if you plan to cover a home meet.
INTERVIEWS
Georgia coaches and student-athletes are available for interviews by request following each home meet. Midweek and non-gameday interviews are arranged by request and according to the practice time of each individual rider and are subject to change. Phone interviews can also be arranged. Please contact Julia Maenius in the sports communications office by email at julia.maenius@uga.edu.
GEORGIADOGS.COM
Georgia’s official athletics website is www.georgiadogs.com. The site serves as the front door to the Bulldog experience. The website also serves as a link between the Georgia Athletic Association, members of the media and the Bulldog nation.
In addition to game recaps, georgiadogs.com also provides up-to-date stats, notes, rosters, player and coach bios and historical data.
LIVE SCORING
The University of Georgia sports communications staff provides live scoring of all home meets on georgiadogs.com. The scores posted are unofficial until the final ride of the day has been completed and all scores have been verified by officials. For away competitions, fans and members of the media are encouraged to follow @UGAequestrian on Twitter, as it provides the most up-to-date information as the meets progress.
SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE MEDIA INFO
SEC statistics, schedules and other information are available on the conference’s official website, www. SECsports.com. The SEC media relations contact for equestrian is Chuck Dulap (cdunlap@sec.org).
GENERAL INFORMATION
Location Athens, Ga.
Founded 1785
Enrollment 40,118
Colors Red & Black
Mascot Bulldogs
Conference Southeastern Conference
President Jere W. Morehead
Alma Mater Georgia J.D., 1980
J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Josh Brooks
Alma Mater LSU, 2002
COACHING STAFF
Head Coach Meghan Boenig Season at Georgia 23rd
Alma Mater Berry College, 1999
Associate Head Coach (Western) McKenzie Lantz Breuker Season at Georgia Fourth
Alma Mater Georgia, 2015
Assistant Coach (Jumping Seat) Anna Becker Destro Season at Georgia Seventh
Alma Mater Auburn, 2013, NYU, 2017
Assistant Coach (Western) Matt Lantz
Season at Georgia First
Program Specialist Kim Fraher
Office Phone (706) 542-5817
Office Fax (706) 310-2244
Graduate Assistant Gracie Himes
Farm Manager Amber Bradley
Barn Manager Kayla Jaconette
Facility Foreman Wade Tucker
Facility Foreman Chase Bower
Facilities & Event Management Anna Highsmith
HISTORY
First Year of Equestrian 2002
Dual-Meet Regular Season Record 140-40
Dual-Meet Regular Season Record at Home 86-14
SEC Championships/Last 3/2018
Southern Equestrian Championships/Last 6/2009
NCEA National Championships/Last 7/2021
NCEA Reserve Championships/Last 7/2019
FACILITY INFORMATION
Home Facility UGA Equestrian Complex Address 1171 Astondale Road, Bishop, Ga.
TEAM INFORMATION
2023-24 Record 9-6
2023-24 SEC Record/Finish 4-3/3rd
2023-24 Postseason Record 1-2
Letterwinners Returning/Lost 39/18
Starters Returning/Lost 15/9 Newcomers 15
SPORTS COMMUNICATIONS CONTACT
Equestrian Contact Julia Maenius E-mail julia.maenius@uga.edu
Office Phone (706) 542-9344
Equestrian Assistant Ana Escamilla E-mail ana.escamilla@uga.edu Website GeorgiaDogs.com
1 GENERAL INFORMATION
Table of Contents
Winning Tradition
NCAA Woman of the Year Finalist
The University of Georgia 2024-25 Schedule 2024-25 Season Outlook
8 GEORGIA EQUESTRIAN
2024-25 Roster
Meghan Boenig, Head Coach Assistant Coaches
Jere Morehead, President of the University of Georgia
Josh Brooks, Director of Athletics
Athletic Association Administration
Equestrian Staff
UGA Equestrian Complex
19 MEET THE BULLDOGS
Rider Biographies Meet the Horses
30 HI STORY
2023-24 Season Recap 2023-24 Meet-by-Meet Year-by-Year Results
Top All-Time Finishes Honors and Awards All-Time Roster
40 NCEA EQUESTRIAN
About NCEA Equestrian About SEC Equestrian NCEA and SEC Championship History
CREDITS
The 2024-25 Georgia equestrian media guide was written, designed and edited by Julia Maenius, Karra Gentry and Ana Escamilla using Adobe InDesign CC 2024. Cover designed by Margaret Mosher.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Dan Evans, Leonard Isbell, Phillip Faulkner, John Kelley, Wes Blankenship, Evan Stichler, Lauren Shamon, Madi Berger, David Weikel, Liza Goodlett, Taylor Carman, Andrew Ryback, Steffenie Burns, Kristin Bradshaw, Lauren Tolbert, Tony Walsh, Chamberlain Smith, Mackenzie Miles, UGA Sports Communications, UGA Public Affairs and others
SPECIAL THANKS
Special thanks to the Georgia equestrian staff and the Georgia Sports Communications staff and student assistants.
Winning Tradition
In June of 2001, Georgia took a bold step forward in the development of its athletics program when Equestrian was added as the 21st varsity intercollegiate sport. In the years since, the Bulldogs’ program has become a national leader, both in the performance and in the movement toward sponsorship by the NCAA. Georgia is one of the most illustrious teams in the country, having won seven national championships, the most in NCEA history.
BULLDOGS’ PATH TO ANOTHER CHAMPIONSHIP
Georgia’s equestrian program has been the epitome of success since its inception in 2001. Since the program started, the Bulldogs have reached unprecedented heights, including seven national titles, nine reserve national titles, six Southern Equestrian Championships, and three Southeastern Conference Championships.
Fifty-eight Georgia riders have claimed 96 NCEA All-America awards. Four Bulldogs have received five NCEA National Rider of the Year honors in addition to 15 riders being named SEC Rider of the Year 21 times. Seventy-four Bulldogs have tallied 115 All-SEC nods.
Georgia started with trailblazing success, winning national titles in both of the program’s first two years on the varsity level. In 2002-03, the Bulldogs won their first varsity team national crown at the Varsity Equestrian National Championship in College Station, Texas.
The Georgia equestrian team capped its second year of competition in grand style successfully defending its overall title at the sport’s national championship meet. Coach Meghan Boenig’s team trailed SEC rival Auburn by 14 points after the first day of riding. The Bulldogs, however, took control of the meet on the final day, winning four of the seven flights and placing second in two others.
Georgia returned to the winner’s circle during the 2007-08 season, winning its third national title in just six years of existence. The season also started a string of threestraight national titles for the Bulldogs. Georgia riders claimed their first national crown since 2004 without finishing first in either riding discipline. Georgia’s Western squad narrowly missed a victory when it dropped a tie-breaker to TCU. Still, Georgia’s strong finish in both disciplines allowed the Bulldogs to claim a team title with surprising ease. Their total of 49 points surpassed runner-up Texas A&M, which totaled 38, allowed Georgia to take home the title.
Georgia’s success continued into the 2008-09 season as the Bulldogs took home the program’s fourth national title and second in as many years. With a resounding win in the Hunt Seat discipline and a fourth-place finish in Western, Georgia concluded the 2008-09 season by taking home its second straight overall title at the Varsity EQ National Championships in Waco, Texas.
CHAMPIONS
The 2009-10 Bulldog squad needed two kinds of tie-breakers to settle it, but they prevailed over Texas A&M to capture their third-straight overall crown at the Varsity National Championships in Waco, Texas on April 17. The 2010 championship was Georgia’s fifth in eight years and third in succession at the Heart ‘O Texas Fair Complex. When both Hunt Seat and Western team competitions had played out, both Georgia and Texas A&M had won titles, Georgia the former and A&M the latter. That put them in a first-place tie in the overall standings with 51 points, necessitating the first rideoff in the history of this event. The rideoff consisted of four head-to-head dual matches, one per event. Georgia essentially sealed its victory in the opening event, when Michelle Morris won a 174-144 decision over A&M’s Elizabeth Solch in Equitation on the Flat. The Bulldogs also got a winning ride from Kacy Jenkins in the Fences event while Texas A&M won both Western events. Each team’s raw scores were tallied once Georgia and Texas A&M split the four events. The margin of Morris’ ride, however, provided the necessary cushion for Georgia to outlast the Aggies by the final tally of 603.5 to 579.
During the 2013-14 season, Georgia earned the program’s sixth national championship. After finishing the regular season with a 9-3 dual-meet record, the Georgia equestrian team earned a second-place finish at the Southeastern Conference Championship.
Georgia won three SEC Titles in 2015, 2017, and 2018, finishing as NCEA Reserve National Champions in each of those seasons.
The Bulldogs were back on top in 2021, winning the program’s seventh national championship. The team’s accomplishments earned Boenig NCEA Coach of the Year recognition. After finishing a conference-only regular season with a 3-3 dual-meet record, the Bulldogs earned a secondplace finish at the Southeastern Conference Championship.
Woman of the Year Finalist NCAA
Former University of Georgia equestrian standout Emma Mandarino was selected as a Top 30 finalist for the NCAA Woman of the Year award in 2019. She was one of ten from Division 1, the only finalist from the Southeastern Conference, and the first nominee in the Top 30 to be from the sport of equestrian.
The award recognizes graduating female college athletes who have exhausted their eligibility and distinguished themselves in academics, athletics, service and leadership throughout their collegiate careers.
Mandarino, a native of Bedminster, N.J., graduated Summa Cum Laude with a bachelor’s of Business Administration in Accounting in May 2019 and received her Master’s of Accountancy in May 2020, also at Georgia. She was a five-time UGA Presidential Scholar, as well as a three-time National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) First Team Academic All-American. She was the 2019 SEC Boyd McWhorter Scholarship nominee from Georgia and earned the Bernard Ramsey Scholarship for Academic and Athletic Excellence for having a GPA within the top 10 of all UGA student-athletes.
After walking on the team as a freshman, Mandarino grew to be a twoyear captain in her junior and senior seasons. She led the Bulldogs to back-to-back SEC Championships in 2017 and 2018, and the team finished Reserve Champions at the NCEA National Championship threestraight seasons. In 2019, Mandarino contributed to the Bulldogs’ Equitation Over Fences National Title.
As a constant competitor in Georgia’s Equitation Over Fences lineup, she earned six Most Outstanding Performer honors as a Bulldog. She was recognized as NCEA Standout Student-Athlete of the Month (October 2017) and SEC Equitation Over Fences Rider of the Month (October 2017). She is the eighth leading scorer for Equitation Over Fences in Georgia equestrian history.
Mandarino was a member of Georgia’s Student Leadership Academy (LEAD) and was named UGA’s ScholarAthlete of the Year for the equestrian team. She also earned the team’s Coaches’ Award, “Committed to the G”, and Sportsmanship awards.
EMMA MANDARINO
THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
“Something for everyone.” That’s one way to describe the academic, athletic, and social experience at the University of Georgia. UGA is a leader among public universities nationally with a breadth and diversity of degree programs that rival any institution of higher learning. Various degree programs such as education, business, international affairs, journalism, math and public administration rank among the best in the nation. With its top-notch facilities campus-wide, the University of Georgia is an ideal setting for anyone to pursue a worldclass education.
The University of Georgia is the birthplace of public higher education in the USA. On January 27, 1785-just two years after the Revolutionary War and still four years before George Washington’s inauguration as our first President--the Georgia Legislature adopted the charter that created the University of Georgia, making UGA the oldest chartered state university in the nation. More than 225 years later, Georgia still offers something for everyone.
THE CITY OF ATHENS
The University of Georgia
Universally known as one of the nation’s premier college towns, Athens is the perfect marriage of campus and community. Broad Street is all that separates the University of Georgia’s historic North Campus and a vibrant downtown community filled with restaurants and shopping. Athens has carved its own identity with the individualistic pursuits of a music scene that has turned local artists into worldwide superstars.
Athens’ ever-thriving music scene fostered world-wide megabands such as R.E.M. and the B-52s. Historic venues such as the Georgia Theatre and the 40-Watt Club make Athens a must-stop for a wide variety of emerging and established stars from Taylor Swift to Snoop Dogg.
Chapel Bell
Downtown Athens
2024-25 Schedule
DATE
September 28
OPPONENT
LOCATION
TCU Bishop, Ga.
October 18 SMU Bishop, Ga.
October 19
November 1
Texas A&M Bishop, Ga.
South Carolina Blythewood, S.C.
November 7 UC Davis Davis, Calif.
November 8
Fresno State Fresno, Calif.
November 22 Auburn Bishop, Ga.
February 1 Lynchburg Bishop, Ga.
February 14
Texas A&M College Station, Texas
February 15 SMU Dallas, Texas
February 22
March 1
South Carolina Bishop, Ga.
Auburn Auburn, Ala.
March 28-29 SEC Championship Mill Spring, N.C.
April 17-19 NCEA National Championship Ocala, Fla.
Season Outlook
Georgia lost nine prominent starters from last season but returns talent with numerous accolades. In total, the Bulldogs bring back five riders with NCEA All-America honors and eight with All-SEC nods.
The Bulldogs launched into the record books with 12 riders sneaking into top-10 lists. Six Flat, three Fences and three Horsemanship riders etched themselves into Georgia record books. Jordan Toering led all flat riders with a season-best 94 against Baylor. This is the seventh-best score in Bulldog history. Emma Reichow carved a place for herself in the top Fences scores with a 90.3 against Auburn. Jillian Stopperich rode to a 77.5 against Texas A&M to mark her name in the top-10 Horsemanship records.
FENCES
Catalina Peralta returns to the Fences lineup for her senior year after winning nine points and five Most Outstanding Performer honors, which earned her NCEA First Team All-America and All-SEC honors. Junior Tessa Brown returns after winning eight rides and receiving three MOP honors.
FLAT
Sophia Pilla returns to the Flat lineup after going undefeated last spring and receiving NCEA Second Team All-America recognition. Pilla earned three MOP honors and recorded the highest Flat score over all three days of NCEA Championship competition. Peralta returns to the lineup with NCEA Honorable Mention and joined Toering on the All-SEC list.
HORSEMANSHIP
Jillian Stopperich is back for her senior season after winning 13 rides and posting an undefeated home and away record. She was named SEC Horsemanship Rider of the Year as well as garnering NCEA First Team All-America nods. Jordan Davis is back in the ring after tallying seven points and a season-high score of 76.5 against South Carolina.
REINING
Junior Shelby Lynch led all Reiners last year after compiling 10 wins with a 5-1 record at home. She earned MOP honors with her ride against Oklahoma State and notched a season-high score of 72 against Texas A&M at the NCEA National Champinships. Lynch was named to the All-SEC Reining team and received NCEA All-America honorable mention nods.
Georgia Equestrian Roster 2024-25
NAME
Lyla Bellar
DISCIPLINE YEAR
HOMETOWN
Western So. Peru, Ind.
Jax Bound Western Sr. Fort Atkinson, Wis.
Shaelyn Boutelle Western Fr. Elkhorn, Wis.
Maggie Bresch
Tessa Brown
Jumping Seat Jr. Barrington, Ill.
Jumping Seat Jr. Bloomfield, Conn.
Kennedy Buchanan Western So. Scottsdale, Ariz.
Parker Cliff
Jumping Seat So. Folsom, Calif.
Kinsey Cooper Western Jr. Montrose, Ga.
Liza Cram
Sarina Da Cruz
Isabella David
Jumping Seat So. Aiken, S.C.
Jumping Seat So. East Northport, N.Y.
Jumping Seat Jr. Holmdel, N.J.
Jordan Davis Western Sr. Madisonville, Texas
Alyvia Dixon Western Jr. Hickory Corners, Mich.
Kendall Dean
Jumping Seat Fr. Ocala, Fla.
Emma DeJong Western Fr. Bargersville, Ind.
Tessa Downey
Ella Duffy
Jumping Seat So. Houston, Texas
Jumping Seat Jr. Marietta, Ga.
Cadence Eger Western So. Marysville, Ohio
Quinn Eisenfeld Western Jr. Scottsdale, Ariz.
Josie Evans
Skyler Ezzell
Jumping Seat Sr. Covington, Ga.
Jumping Seat Fr. Peachtree Corners, Ga.
Caroline Fletcher Western Fr. Greenville, S.C.
Melissa Deryn Foster
Mia Frigon
Jessica Guginsky
Aggie Hahn
Madison Hill
Sally Ives
Jumping Seat Sr. Toronto, Canada
Jumping Seat Fr. Sudbury, Mass.
Jumping Seat Sr. Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y.
Jumping Seat Jr. Richmond, Va.
Jumping Seat So. Germantown, Tenn.
Jumping Seat Fr. Durham, N.C.
Katie Jedele Western Fr. Chelsea, Mich.
Ally Jones Western 5th Franklin, Ky.
Emma Lackey
Jumping Seat Fr. Glencoe, Ill.
Shelby Lynch Western Jr. McLean, Ill.
Jada Mark Western Sr. Sumter, S.C.
Kendall McClintock Western Jr. Galena, Ohio
Shea McCoy
Kalli Meagher
Madi Nadolenco
Aphrodite Papandreou
Catalina Peralta
Sienna Pilla
Sophia Pilla
Jumping Seat So. Wintersville, Ohio
Jumping Seat Sr. Virginia Beach, Va.
Jumping Seat So. Calabasas, Calif.
Jumping Seat Jr. Houston, Texas
Jumping Seat Sr. Geneva, Fla.
Jumping Seat Fr. Ridgefield, Conn.
Jumping Seat Gr. Ridgefield, Conn.
Lendon Reeder Western Fr. Rutledge, Ga.
Savannah Relick Western Gr. Vero Beach, Fla.
Baylie Robbins Western Fr. Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Ellie Royal Western Fr. Grayson, Ga.
Lauren Sanders Western Fr. Watkinsville, Ga.
Raegan Shepherd Western Jr. Clayton, N.C.
Jillian Stopperich
Arden Stromnes
Jordan Toering
Devin VanZanten
Allie Ann Wheeler
Ella Witt
Abbey Zawisza
Western Sr. Venetia, Pa.
Jumping Seat Sr. Marietta, Ga.
Jumping Seat 5th Waterford, Va.
Western So. Lynden, Wash.
Western Sr. Coolidge, Ga.
Jumping Seat Fr. Califon, N.J.
Western So. Findlay, Ohio
2024-25 ROSTER BREAKDOWN
BULLDOGS BY CLASS
5TH YEARS/GRADUATES
Ally Jones, Sophia Pilla, Savannah Relick, Jordan Toering
SENIORS
Jax Bound, Jordan Davis, Josie Evans, Melissa Deryn Foster, Jessica Guginsky, Jada Mark, Kalli Meagher, Catalina Peralta, Jillian Stopperich, Arden Stromnes, Allie Ann Wheeler
Meghan Boenig came to Georgia in October of 2001 as the first head coach of the Georgia equestrian program. During her time with the Bulldogs, Boenig has led the program to unprecedented heights including seven National Titles, six Southern Equestrian Championships, seven reserve championships, three Southeastern Conference titles and an 86-14 dual-meet regular season record at home. Boenig also helped lead the charge of restructuring Varsity Equestrian to the National Collegiate Equestrian Association in the fall of 2011 and has served in NCEA leadership roles, including president.
An undefeated 6-0 home record, including five Jumping Seat competition sweeps (three Fences and two Flat), highlighted the 2023-24 season as the Georgia equestrian team finished 9-6 on the season. The Bulldogs finished third at the SEC Championship and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCEA National Championship.
Senior Jordan Toering and junior Catalina Peralta were named to the All-SEC Flat Team. Toering was also named to the NCEA Ariat AllAmerica first team after posting 10 wins on the season and receiving one MOP honor against Baylor.
Under Boenig’s leadership, eight Bulldogs received All-SEC honors and five were tabbed NCEA All-America riders. She coached the Flat
team to a team-leading 45 individual wins with eight riders garnering MOP honors throughout the season. Senior Sophia Pilla posted a 5-1 home record and was undefeated during the spring season. She received the highest Flat score over all three days of competition at the NCEA Championships and earned three MOP honors against UT Martin, Oklahoma State and Texas A&M. Pilla rode to a high score of 91 against Baylor, recording the highest score of all Bulldogs for the season.
The Bulldogs finished third at the SEC Championship and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCEA National Championship. Senior Senior Ceci Bresch was named the SEC Flat Rider of the Year after riding to a 12-4 record overall. She won a total of six MOPs and received NCEA First Team All-America honors. She rode to four scores that were higher than any other SEC Flat rider.
Seven Bulldogs received All-SEC honors and six riders claimed NCEA All-America nods.
Boenig coached the Bulldog Flat squad to scoring the top eight scores among all SEC riders throughout season. Sophia Pilla scored a 99 in Flat against South Carolina which is the highest score among all SEC riders this season, tying the best score in program history. She’s only the third Bulldog to achieve the nearperfect mark and the first since 2019. Bresch received a Flat score of 97 twice in the same day against South Carolina and Sweet Briar.
Nora Andrews scored a 97 at Texas A&M. A Flat score of 97 is the second highest score among all SEC riders this season and the fourth highest Flat score in Georgia program history.
Under Boenig’s leadership in the 2021-22 season, Sophomore Jordan Toering and junior Caitlin Lyons were named SEC Rider of the Year for Flat and Reining, respectively. Jillian Stopperich was named Freshman Co-Horsemanship Rider of the Year while Jax Bound was named the Freshman Reining Rider of the Year. Eight Riders garnered 11 All-SEC honors and seven riders claimed eight NCEA All-America honors. The team finished the season in the quarterfinal round of the NCEA National Championship with a 8-6 overall record and third place finish in the SEC. Ranked sixth in the nation, Georgia upset No. 1 Auburn, 13-7 at home. It marked the first win against Auburn since the 2018 SEC Championship, and the first at home since 2016. It was the largest margin of victory over the Tigers since 2015 in the first round of the SEC Championship. Additionally, Bulldogs shattered records under Boenig’s watch. Toering scored a 97.5 in Flat in the regular season finale against UT Martin, which is the fifth highest in program history. Sara Lewis broke an SEC Championship record in Horsemanship, scoring a 231 for her ride, which tied with Auburn’s Olivia Tordoff at the conclusion of the championship weekend. The previous high score of 225.5 was set in 2019. Jax Bound’s score of 219.5 is the best Reining score recorded in SEC Championship history. The previous high score was a 215.5, also set in 2019.
During the 2020-21 season, Boenig led the Georgia equestrian team to the program’s seventh National Championship. The team’s accomplishments earned her NCEA Coach of the Year recognition. After finishing a conferenceonly regular season with a 3-3 dual-meet record, the Georgia equestrian team earned a second-place finish at the Southeastern Conference Championship. Under Boenig, five riders were named to the All-SEC teams, five freshmen were selected to the SEC AllFreshman team and Jordan Toering was named the SEC Freshman Fences Rider of the Year. Under her guidance, three riders landed spots on NCEA All-American teams, while 13 earned
a place as NCEA Academic All-Americans and another 27 were named to the NCEA Academic Honor Roll. Boenig also saw senior Ali Tritschler crowned as the Most Valuable Players of the NCEA Championship in Flat, as well as eight riders named to the NCEA All-Championship team.
Before the 2019-20 season ended abruptly due to COVID-19, the Bulldogs went 6-6 in regular season action, finishing the season ranked sixth overall. In the final event rankings, the reigning Fences national champions finished the year ranked third and defeated all Southeastern Conference opponents. The Flat squad finished sixth with eight wins. On the Western side, Horsemanship checked in at No. 8 and Reining ranked tenth.
Five Bulldogs received All-America recognition from the NCEA. Senior Ali Tritschler named to the second team for both Flat and Fences, while junior Jordan Carpenter was tabbed to the second team for Reining. Sophomore Sara Lewis (Horsemanship), senior Grace Bridges (Flat), and junior Hayley Mairano (Flat) were all given Honorable Mention for their respective disciplines. Additionally, Tritschler garnered All-SEC awards for both Fences and Flat, while senior Bridges was recognized for Flat. Carpenter received the honors for Reining.
Under Boenig’s direction in 2018-19, the Georgia equestrian team finished as the National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) Reserve National Champions and claimed four out of seven event national titles to complete the season. Georgia won national titles in Horsemanship, Reining and Equitation Over Fences at the 2019 NCEA Championship. The Bulldogs were also crowned overall Western discipline champions.
Senior Graysen Stroud earned SEC Reining Rider of the Year on top of Courtney Blumer and Sarah Lewis receiving SEC Freshman Rider of the Year accolades for Reining and Horsemanship, respectively. Numerous riders received All-SEC NCEA Ariat All-America recognition across all events. Additionally, at the conclusion of the academic year, Emma Mandarino was a Top 30 nominee for the NCAA Woman of the Year award.
In 2017-18, four-time SEC Coach of the Year, Boenig and her team defended their SEC title and rode to a Reserve National Champion finish at the NCEA National Championship. Georgia claimed four SEC and two NCEA Rider of the Year awards in addition to seven Bulldogs earning nine NCEA Ariat All-America honors. Boenig also coached her squad to a NCEA Equitation on the Flat National Championship.
In 2016-17, Georgia was crowned SEC Champions and NCEA Reserve National Champions after riding to a 9-4 regular season
record. Under Boenig’s direction, Meg O’Mara was named SEC Rider of the Year and Sydney Hutchins was named SEC Freshman Rider of the Year for both Hunter Seat events. Georgia had four riders claim six spots on All-SEC teams and five riders earned seven NCEA All-America honors.
For the 2016-17 season, the Bulldogs finished second as hosts of the 2016 SEC Equestrian Championships and went on to finish tied for third at the NCEA National Championship. Five riders were named SEC Rider of the Year and one earned All-Championship Team honors at the SEC and NCEA Championships for Equitation on the Flat.
Georgia claimed the Southeastern Conference Championship with Boenig at the helm during the 2014-15 season. It was the program’s first ever-SEC title since the sport was adopted by the conference in 2013. At the SEC championship, Boenig had two riders named to the SEC All-Championship team. The Bulldogs then rode to a reserve championship finish at the 2015 NCEA National Championship after posting a 9-4 record in the regular season. Under Boenig, Georgia put eleven riders on All-SEC teams and claimed six of a possible eight SEC Rider of the Year honors. Boenig also had seven riders earn NCEA All-America honors and 13 named to NCEA Academic All-America Teams. At the national championship, Boenig saw two riders earn Most Outstanding Player awards and three riders named to the NCEA All-Championship team.
During the 2013-14 season, Boenig led the Georgia equestrian team to the program’s sixth National Championship. After finishing the regular season with a 9-3 dual-meet record, the Georgia equestrian team earned a secondplace finish at the Southeastern Conference Championship. Under Boenig, seven riders were named to the All-SEC teams, two freshman
selected to the SEC All-Freshman team and two riders were named as the SEC Riders of the Year. Under her guidance, six riders landed seven spots on NCEA All-American teams, while 12 earned a place as NCEA Academic All-Americans and another 19 were named to the NCEA Academic Honor Roll. Boenig also saw two riders crowned as the Most Valuable Players of the NCEA Championship, as well as three riders named to the NCEA AllChampionship team.
Boenig is a 1999 graduate of Berry College where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Biology. Prior to her arrival at Georgia in October of 2001, she spent two years as an assistant coach at Texas A&M during which time she also earned a Master’s Degree in Animal Science.
Her two seasons at Texas A&M were deciding factors in her hiring as the Bulldogs’ inaugural head coach. Georgia sought a coach with the knowledge of working hand-in-hand with a university’s Animal Science community in forging a new equestrian team, something the Aggies had enjoyed during her tenure there.
The former Meghan Nolan is married to Markus Boenig. They are proud parents of two sons, Josef and Mathew.
Meghan Boenig at a glance
Hometown Powder Springs, Ga. Education Berry College, ‘99 Husband Markus Sons Josef & Mathew
Georgia alumni McKenzie Lantz Breuker was named the Associate Head Equestrian Coach in July 2024. Lantz Breuker joined the coaching staff as Western Assistant Coach in June 2021.
After finishing the most successful Reining rider career in Georgia history, Lantz Breuker began her coaching career as a Volunteer Assistant for the Bulldogs in 2015. She then moved on to Fresno State and SMU before coming back to coach at her alma mater. While away she helped grow both the Fresno State and SMU programs to prevalence, including being named the National Collegiate Equestrian Association Western Assistant Coach of the Year following SMU’s first-ever national championship finals appearance and Reserve National Champion finish in 2021.
Lantz Breuker coached the Horsemanship team to a 7-7-1 record and the Reiners went 7-6-2 in the 202324 season. The Bulldogs posted an undefeated 6-0 record at home while going 9-6 on the season and finished third at the SEC Championship. Georgia was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the NCEA National Championship.
She coached junior Jillian Stopperich to a team-high 13 wins in route to being named the SEC Horsemanship Rider of the Year. Stopperich was also named to the NCEA Ariat All-America First Team in Horsemanship. Cadence Eger was tabbed SEC Freshman of the Year in Reining. Three additional Bulldogs were named to the All-SEC Reining Team, and Shelby Lynch received All-SEC Honorable Mention nods. Graduate Caitlin Lyons went 6-8-1 on the season in Reining and posted a 5-0-1 record at home. She was named SEC Scholar Athlete of the Year, received the SEC Brad Davis Community Service Award and was granted the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship.
In her second season with the Bulldogs, Georgia went 5-8, finished third at the SEC Championship and then was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the NCEA National Championship to conclude the 2022-23 season. Lantz Breuker led the Bulldogs Horsemanship squad to a 7-6-1 record, while the Reiners went 3-9-2. She coached Stopperich to NCEA All-America Honorable Mention honors and ALL-SEC recognition in Horsemanship. Raegan Shepherd and Shelby Lynch received SEC ALL-Freshmen recognition during their rookie seasons.
In her first year as Western Assistant Coach for the Bulldogs, Lantz Breuker led Georgia’s Horsemanship squad to a 10-3-1 record while the Reiners went 6-7-1. Under her direction, junior Caitlin Lyons was named SEC Reining Rider of the Year. Jillian Stopperich was named SEC Freshman Co-Horsemanship Rider of the Year while Jax Bound was named the SEC Freshman Reining Rider of the Year. Additionally, Stopperich and senior Sara Lewis were named All-SEC for Horsemanship, while Lyons and Bound were recognized for Reining. Stopperich (Horsemanship), Bound (Reining), and Isabella Hehr (Reining) also received SEC All-Freshman recognition in their respective events. On top of those accolades, Lyons was named to the NCEA Second-Team and senior Courtney Blumer and freshman Jax Bound received Honorable Mention for Reining. Additionally, Bulldogs shattered records under Lantz Breuker’s watch. Sara Lewis broke an SEC Championship record in Horsemanship, scoring a 231 for her ride, which tied with Auburn’s Olivia Tordoff at the conclusion of the championship weekend. The previous high score of 225.5 was set in 2019. Jax Bound’s score of 219.5 is the best Reining score recorded in SEC Championship history. The previous high score was a 215.5, also set in 2019.
In her four seasons at SMU, Lantz Breuker helped coach the Mustangs to the program’s first-ever United Equestrian Conference championship in 2018 and then again in 2019 and 2021. The horsemanship and reining squads had their best seasons in history during her first year at the helm. Her rider was the first at SMU to be recognized as an NCEA First Team All-America and be named NCEA Reining Rider of the Year. The following season, Lantz Breuker’s reining squad advanced to the event finals at the NCEA National Championship. After COVID-19 cut seasons short, Lantz Breuker’s squads ranked second for horsemanship and third in reining to finish the year. Rounding out her time at SMU in 2020-21, Lantz Breuker added two more NCEA Riders of the Year to her repertoire.
As a Bulldog, Lantz was a two-time NCEA All-American and SEC Rider of the Year. She has numerous All-SEC nods as well as NCEA and SEC Rider of the Month recognitions. As a team captain, she shined in the classroom with many selections to the UGA, SEC, and NCEA honor rolls as well as NCEA All-Academic recognition on top of being named a two-time UGA Western Most Valuable Player and a National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity Finalist. Lantz Breuker was appointed to the Non-Pro National Reining Horses Association committee and has established beneficial contacts in both the NRHA and American Quarter Horse Association.
The daughter of respected reining trainers from Michigan, Lantz Breuker is married to Chris Breuker. The couple welcomed a son, Riggins Matthew Breuker, in February 2021.
Becker Destro ANNA
ASSISTANT COACH - JUMPING SEAT 7th SEASON
2021 NCEA Assistant Coach of the Year
Anna Becker was named assistant coach for the Georgia equestrian team in June 2018. She is primarily responsible for coaching the Fences squad as well as recruiting for the Jumping Seat discipline. She has served as the vice president of Strategic Communications for the National Collegiate Equestrian Association for the last two years.
An undefeated 6-0 home record, including five Jumping Seat competition sweeps (three Fences and two Flat), highlighted the 2023-24 season as the Georgia equestrian team finished 9-6 on the season. The Bulldogs finished third at the SEC Championship and was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the NCEA National Championship.
Becker coached the Fences team to a 9-6, including 41 individual wins and 10 MOP honors. Tessa Downey went 7-2-1 overall in Fences with a 3-0 postseason record, earning SEC Freshman Fences Rider of the Year honors. Junior Catalina Peralta posted a 9-5-1 record, earning a spot on the All-SEC Fences Team and NCEA Ariat All-America First Team accolades. Senior Emma Reichow posted highest score of season with a 91.3 against Auburn in the SEC Championships.
During the 2022-23 season, the Bulldogs went 5-8, plus two wins in Jumping Seat competition, finished third at the SEC Championship and then was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the NCEA National Championship to conclude the season. Becker led the Fences squad to a 10-5-1 record. She coached Emma Reichow to NCEA All-America Honorable Mention honors and Rachel McMullen was named to the ALL-SEC list, while Tessa Brown received SEC ALLFreshmen recognition.
In her fourth season with the Bulldogs, Becker Destro led Georgia’s Fences squad to a 10-4-1 record. Sophomore Jordan Toering and senior Hayley
Mairano received All-SEC recognition, while Catalina Peralta was named to the SEC All-Freshman team. Additionally, three Fences riders received NCEA AllAmerica recognition under her direction. Toering and Mairano earned Second-Team honors, while junior Rachel McMullen received Honorable Mention.
During the 2020-21 season, Becker assisted the team to the program’s seventh National Championship. The team’s accomplishments, and specifically her Fences squad, earned her NCEA Jumping Seat Coach of the Year recognition. After finishing a conferenceonly regular season with a 3-3 dual-meet record, the Georgia equestrian team earned a second-place finish at the Southeastern Conference Championship. Under her direction, Jordan Toering was named the SEC Freshman Fences Rider of the Year. Senior Hayley Mairano was recognized with All-SEC honors for Fences. Both Toering and Emma Reichow were named to the SEC All-Freshman Team for Fences. Additionally, Becker coached Mairano to NCEA AllAmerica Honorable Mention honors and saw two of her riders take home NCEA All-Championship team awards.
Before the 2019-20 season ended abruptly due to COVID-19, Becker assisted the Bulldogs to a 6-6 record in regular season action during her second year with the team. In the final event rankings, the reigning Fences national champions finished ranked third and defeated all Southeastern Conference opponents.
Under Becker’s direction senior Ali Tritschler earned NCEA All-America honors and was named to the AllSEC Team for Fences.
In her first year with the Bulldogs, the Equitation Over Fences group claimed the 2019 NCEA National Title. Maddy Darst earned NCEA Ariat Second-Team
All-America honors for Equitation Over Fences and Honorable Mention for Equitation on the Flat and All-SEC accolades in both Hunter Seat events. Ali Tristschler (Flat- October) and Haley Mairano (FencesJanuary) earned the NCEA Rider of the Month awards during the season.
Becker came to Georgia after being a Hunt Seat coach at Kansas State from 2013-2015. She helped coach the team to back-to-back undefeated records at home as well as a Big 12 Reserve Champion finish in 2015. She has coached several riders to All-Big 12, Big 12 Rider of the Year, and NCEA All-America recognitions.
A collegiate rider herself, Becker contributed to two SEC Championships, two Hunt Seat National Championships, and two team National Championships at Auburn University from 20102013. She graduated Cum Laude with a degree in marketing.
Prior to college, Becker trained with Julie Becker, Michael Dowling, Stacia Madden/Beacon Hill, and Emil Spadone/Redfield Farm as a junior. She has top finishes at USEF Medal Finals, ASPCA Maclay Finals, USET Finals, and the Equitation Championship at Capital Challenge, including a third place finish at the 2008 USET Finals East in the Gymnastics Phase and a third place finish at the Marshall and Sterling Finals in 2007.
Most recently, Becker has worked for the Washington International Horse Show as an Operations Manager in Washington, D.C. and received a master’s degree in Sports Business from NYU.
Becker Destro married Mark Destro in July 2021.
MATT
Lantz
ASSISTANT COACH - WESTERN 1st SEASON
Matt Lantz joined the Georgia equestrian staff in July 2024.
Lantz, who has been training, selling and breeding quality reining horses for 40 years, will assist the western events, primarily focusing on Reining.
“What a joy to welcome Coach Matt Lantz to our team,” Boenig said. “He adds an extraordinary depth of knowledge, experience, and recognition to our program. As a longtime supporter of NCAA Equestrian, he knows what produces success in both the NCAA and NRHA at the highest levels. Having great skill in both training and judging, Coach Lantz will hone our ability in the fine details that capture high scores. What an opportunity to grow from his educated eye. His care, his horsemanship and his desire to give back to the program is greatly appreciated. There is no match for his genuine desire to support Georgia.”
During his time in the industry, Lantz has not only seen success as a showman having shown several NRHA Futurity and Derby finalists and Congress Champions but has also coached NRHA World Champions, NRHA Futurity and Derby Finalists and All American Quarter Horse Congress Champions. His most recent stint in the NCEA helped produce NCEA Riders of the Year including two NCEA Championship MOP riders.
Before joining the Georgia staff, he has served as a volunteer coach at California State University, Fresno and Southern Methodist University, including making it to the national championship final round in his first season at SMU. He currently serves on the NRHA Judges Committee and the NRHA Stewards Committee while also continuing to be an influential member of the Reining and Ranch Riding industry.
The Newaygo, Mich. native married the former Lori Woodruff in 1984. They have one child, McKenzie, who is the Associate Head Coach for the Georgia Equestrian team.
GRACIE
Himes
GRADUATE ASSISTANT - WESTERN 1st SEASON
Former University of Georgia equestrian team captain Gracie Himes joined the Georgia staff as an assistant in July 2024.
Himes, a five-time letterwinner in Horsemanship, will act as an assistant coach primarily focusing on the western events. She comes from a family of equestrian competitors and continues to be a force in the arena.
As a Bulldog, Himes was named team captain for her senior season. She collected five Most Outstanding Performer honors throughout her career, while posting a 4-1 record on the road as a graduate.
Himes was named to the APHA NCEA All-Academic First Team in 2022 and Second Team in 2024. She was a five-time SEC Honor Roll honoree and a four-time J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Honor Roll recipient. After her graduate season, she was named to the J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Dean’s List.
She was also unanimous champion of the 2018 World Show in Showmanship and earned multiple Reserve Champion, Top 5, Top 10 and finalist titles at the All American Quarter Horse Congress in Horsemanship, Showmanship, Equitation and Trail. Himes has consistently secured top placings at the AQHA World Shows, All American Quarter Horse Congress, and AQHA year-end results throughout both her youth and amateur careers.
JERE W. MOREHEAD
UNIVERSITY
PRESIDENT
President Jere W. Morehead began his tenure as the 22nd University of Georgia president on July 1, 2013. Under his leadership, UGA has risen in the rankings of the best public colleges and universities and has completed a series of initiatives to enhance student learning and success, including a requirement for experiential learning for all undergraduates.
Additionally during President Morehead’s tenure, the university completed the most successful capital campaign in its history and established the UGA Innovation District, through which students and faculty partner with industry leaders to create products and enterprises that strengthen Georgia’s economy. UGA has increased its research expenditures by more than 50% over the past decade and is ranked first in the nation for the number of research-based products reaching the marketplace.
In keeping with his focus on student success, President Morehead launched the ALL Georgia program to support students from rural areas and created the Double Dawgs program, which enables students to save time and money by earning an undergraduate and graduate degree in five years or less. Demand for a UGA education has more than doubled during the past decade, and the university’s enrollment reached an all-time high last fall.
President Morehead has served the University of Georgia for more than 35 years in both faculty and administrative roles. Before becoming president, he was senior vice president for academic affairs and provost from 2010 to 2013. Prior to 2010, he held several key administrative assignments, including vice president for instruction, vice provost for academic affairs, associate provost and director of the Honors Program, and acting executive director of Legal Affairs.
He is the Meigs Professor of Legal Studies in the Terry College of Business, where he has held a faculty appointment since 1986. He is a co-author of several books and book chapters, including The Legal and Regulatory Environment of Business, and he has published scholarly articles on legal topics ranging from export controls to jury selection. He has served as editor-in-chief of the American Business Law Journal.
President Morehead currently serves as co-chair of the University Leadership Forum, a national initiative led by the Council on Competitiveness. Additional service includes membership on the boards of the Georgia Research Alliance, Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Atlanta Regional Council for Higher Education, Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, and Emory University Candler School of Theology. He also is a member of the National Football Foundation board of trustees.
He is the immediate past chair of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I board of directors. He previously served as president of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and chair of the SEC executive committee and as a member of the NCAA’s board of governors; presidential forum; working group on name, image, and likeness; and federal and state legislation working group.
In 2021, he received the Chief Executive Leadership Award from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education District III for outstanding leadership and service in support of education. He has received several university-wide teaching awards, including the Josiah Meigs Award—UGA’s highest honor for teaching excellence, the Russell Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, the Teacher of the Year Award in the Terry College of Business, and the Lothar Tresp Outstanding Honors Professor Award. He also earned the UGA School of Law’s premier honor for alumni, the Distinguished Service Scroll Award. Following a nearly $12 million capital campaign, the University System of Georgia Board of Regents named the Honors College at the University of Georgia in his honor.
JOSH BROOKS
J.REID PARKER
DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS
J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Josh Brooks, a finalist for Sports Business Journal’s Athletic Director of the Year in 2023, continues to lead the University of Georgia Athletic Association through historic success. Georgia Athletics boasts remarkable accomplishments over the last three years, including a No. 7 final ranking in the 2023 LEARFIELD Directors Cup — Georgia’s highest mark in 18 years, a record-setting student-athlete GPA in each of the last two academic campaigns, unparalleled fundraising and over 15 capital projects that have been completed or are in progress.
Bulldog athletic teams have won three team national championships and a total of seven SEC crowns, while there have been 15 individual national champions.
The women’s soccer and volleyball teams have made the NCAA tournament in back-to-back years for the first-time ever. The baseball program advanced to a NCAA Super Regional for the first time since 2008 during Wes Johnson’s first season as head coach. Keidane McAlpine guided the soccer team to the 2023 SEC Championship, finishing with its highest ranking ever at No. 13 nationally.
In addition to back-to-back national titles in 2021 and 2022, Georgia’s football team boasts an incredible 39-0 regular season record during Brooks’ three-year tenure. They have also recorded three-straight 12-0 regular seasons – the first time in SEC lore a program has done so. The Bulldogs enter the 2024 campaign having won an SEC and school record 27-straight regular season conference games and riding a school record 25-game home win streak.
From academic and athletic success to historic fundraising and a multitude of facility projects, Brooks has continued to sustain Georgia’s standing as a national powerhouse. The Georgia Bulldog Club set new fundraising records in each of the last three years with $86.4 million raised in 2022, $102 million in 2023 and $113 million in 2024.
Brooks has overseen substantial facility upgrades that include the brand-new Lindsey Hopkins Indoor Tennis Courts, improvements to the south side of Sanford Stadium, a $45 million renovation to Foley Field, a $38 million upgrade to the Jack Turner Softball Stadium, a new $1.8 million men’s and women’s basketball weight room as well as expansive updates to Stegeman Coliseum and a renovation project in the Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall.
Georgia also built a new, state-of-the-art track and field locker room and recently announced plans to construct a one-of-a-kind track facility off South Milledge Avenue. This project will include the only indoor track and field venue in the state of Georgia and will allow the Bulldogs to host NCAA and SEC events as well as summer camps.
While facility upgrades have been at the forefront, Georgia’s emphasis on Name, Image, and Likeness has further enhanced its commitment to the student-athlete experience. Georgia Athletics was one of the first departments to announce a comprehensive NIL program, which provides wide-ranging education, multi-media management tools and brand-building training. The Bulldogs became one of the first schools to build an in-house NIL department with an Athlete Manager to help student-athletes navigate this space.
Under his guidance, Georgia re-branded the mental health and performance department, bringing in a new full-time director and an additional clinical counselor as well as adding sports psychology services for every team. A Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee was also established as Courtney Gay was hired to lead in the department’s DEI efforts.
A native of Hammond, La., Brooks’ vision of competing for championships and postseason success and his passion for student-athletes began well before his time as Athletic Director. Before returning to UGA in 2016 as Executive Associate Director of Athletics, Brooks served as Deputy Athletics Director at the University of Louisiana Monroe from 2015-16 and Director of Athletics at Millsaps College from 2014-15. He also served in capacities as Director of Football Operations (2008-11) and Assistant and Associate Athletic Director for Internal Operations (2012-14) in his previous stint at UGA.
Brooks also served as director of football operations at the University of Louisiana-Monroe beginning in 2004. He gained experience as a student at Louisiana State University, working as an equipment manager and a student assistant coach. During his four years at LSU, the Tigers participated in the 2000 Peach Bowl, 2002 Sugar Bowl, and won the 2001 Southeastern Conference championship.
Brooks graduated from LSU (’02) with a degree in Kinesiology and completed his master’s degree in Sport Management from UGA (‘14). He and his wife, Lillie, have twin sons, Jackson and James, born in July of 2009 and a third son, Davis, born in March of 2012.
He and his wife Lillie have become a vital part of the Athens community. On January 20, 2021, just two weeks after becoming Athletic Director, Brooks pledged $100,000 to create a need-based scholarship to support UGA students from Athens-Clarke County. His gift created a Georgia Commitment Scholarship (GCS), adding to the more than 550 endowed, need-based scholarships created under the GCS program since its launch in January 2017.
Administration ATHLETIC
Glada
Beth Dziedzic
Leland
Leigh Futch
Christopher Lakos
Tray Littlefield
Bradley AMBER
BARN MANAGER 18th SEASON
Amber Bradley joined the UGA Equestrian program in 2006 as farm manager. She is responsible for overseeing the care of the program’s 50-plus horses, as well as all facilities used by the Equestrian team.
A native of Pauline, S.C., Bradley has enjoyed a lifelong association with horses. She grew up on a 124-acre horse farm and first began showing Hunters & Jumpers at the age of five. By age 15, she managed her family’s farm.
In 2002, Bradley moved to Georgia, and began attending college at Athens Tech. While in school she managed a 300-acre horse farm and supervised three community living facilities. She was also a member of the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association, from which she won several division titles, two state crowns and the Southeast regional championship.
Bradley and her husband Andrew — who won the team’s “Mane Dawg” award in 2008 for extraordinary service to the program -- are the parents of two children, son James Audie and daughter Agnes.
Support StaffEQUESTRIAN
Gracie Himes Graduate Assistant
Kim Fraher Program Specialist
Kayla Jaconette Barn Manager
Jenna Farmer Assistant Barn Manager
Anna Highsmith Facility/Event Coordinator
Wade Tucker Facility Foreman
Will McDaniel Facility Foreman
Tanner Stines Sport Facilitator
Mary Kate McLean Compliance
Steve Flippen Compliance
Charlotte Warren Mental Health & Performance
Glada Horvat Academics & Eligibility
MIscha Jahn Equestrian Intern
Kalli Meagher Team Assistant Ally Jones Team Assistant
Anna Randa Sports Medicine
Maddie Cope GBSM Video Producer
Whitney Burton Academic Counselor
Katie Cousins Athletic Trainer
Julia Maenius Sports Communications Director
Ana Escamilla Sports Communications Assistant
Jared Goldberg Strength & Conditioning
Madison Whitmire Sports Nutrition
Harrison Welch Fan Engagement
Equestrian Complex UGA
The UGA Equestrian Complex is located in Bishop, Ga., approximately 12 miles south of the UGA campus. The 109-acre farm offers UGA’s equestrian program the finest in equine accommodations.
The facility features a new $3.1 million Clubhouse, which opened in the fall of 2019. The 7,000-square foot facility has a fully equipped locker room and dressing facilities, team meeting room, sports medicine space, uniform storage and laundry facilities as well as coaches’ space, including an office suite and locker room.
Other features of the complex include a barn, four practice and competition arenas, including a covered arena, and a horse walker among other things.
Formerly known as High Point Farm, the facility served the Athens-area equine community with boarding and training facilities since 1993. In 1996, High Point was selected as the training site for the U.S. Dressage Team, which competed in the Summer Olympic Games at the International Horse Park in Conyers, Ga.
Prior to moving to its home in Bishop in January 2009, the Georgia equestrian team shared more than 100 acres with the Animal Science Arena, just minutes from UGA’s campus.
The University of Georgia Athletic Association (UGAAA) is committed to being the nation’s premier NCEA equestrian program, both in competition and facilities.
DIRECTIONS TO THE UGA EQUESTRIAN COMPLEX
From UGA Campus: From GA-10 Loop, take exit 4A to merge onto GA-15/US-129/US-441 toward Madison/ Watkinsville. Continue to follow US-129/US-441 South for about 10 miles. Turn left at Astondale Road and the UGA Equestrian Complex will be on your left.
From Atlanta via I-20 E: Take I-20E toward Augusta for 56.8 miles. Take the US-129/US-441 exit, EXIT 114, toward Madison/Eatonton. Turn left onto Eatonton Rd/US-441/US129/GA-24. Turn right onto Lions Club Rd/Brooks Pennington Memorial Pky/US-441-BYP N/US-129-BYP E/GA-24-BYP E. Continue to follow Brooks Pennington Memorial Pky/US441-BYP N/US-129-BYP E/GA-24-BYP E. Brooks Pennington Memorial Pky/US-441-BYP N/US-129-BYP E/GA-24-BYP E becomes US-441/US-129/GA-24. Turn right onto Astondale Rd. The UGA Equestrian Complex will be on the left.
From Atlanta via GA-316 E: Merge onto I-75 N/I-85 N/ GA-403 N/GA-401 N. Keep left to take I-85 N/GA-403 N via EXIT 251 toward GA-400/Greenville. Merge onto GA-316 E via EXIT 105 toward Lawrenceville/Athens. Turn right onto Oconee Conn. Oconee Conn becomes Mars Hill Rd. Mars Hill Rd becomes Experiment Station Rd/GA-53. Merge onto US-441 S/US-129 S/GA-24 S/Macon Hwy. Turn left onto Astondale Rd. The UGA Equestrian Complex will be on the left.
From Greenville via I-85 S: Take I-85 S toward Atlanta for 71.8 miles. Take the US-441/GA-15 exit, EXIT 149, toward Commerce/Homer/Banks Crossing. Turn left onto US-441 S/ GA-15 S. Merge onto US-441 S/US-129 S/Paul Broun Pky/ Athens Perimeter Hwy/GA-8 N/GA-15 S/GA-10-BL N via the ramp on the left toward Watkinsville. Merge onto US-441 S/US-129 S/US-29 S/GA-15 S/GA-10-BL S via EXIT 10C toward GA-10-LOOP INNER/Watkinsville/Lexington. Merge onto US-441 S/US-129 S via EXIT 4A toward Watkinsville/ Madison. Turn left onto Astondale Rd. The UGA Equestrian Complex will be on the left.
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA WESTERN ARENA
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA JUMPING SEAT ARENA
Team MEET THE
FRESHMAN (2023-24): Did not compete.
OTHER: 2023 AQHYA Bronze Champion in 14-18 Horsemanship… 2023 AQHYA 4th place in 14-18 Western Riding… 2022 NSBA Youth All-Around Champion…2022 AQHA Year-End High Point Youth Showmanship…2022 NSBA Year-End High Point Youth Showmanship…backto-back AQHYA Reserve World Champion placings in the 14-18 Trail…finished third at the 2022 All American Quarter Horse Congress 15-18 Showmanship…named the 2022 NSBA World Champion 14-18 showmanship…2022 NSBA World Show Top 5 14-18 Trail and Horsemanship… placed AQHYA Top 5 Level 2 14-18 Horsemanship in 2021.
JUNIOR (2023-24): Went 5-7-3 in Reining…received a pair of MOP honors against TCU and Texas A&M…rode to a season high of 73.5 against Texas A&M… was named to SEC Winter Honor Roll...J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Dean’s List…named to NCEA All-Academic First Team…received NCEA APHA Academic Honor Roll recognition.
SOPHOMORE (2022-23): Went 3-10-1 on the year in Reining…rode to a high-score of 73 against South Carolina…placed on the NCEA All-Academic Second Team… named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll… named to the J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Honor Roll in the fall and Dean’s List in the spring.
FRESHMAN (2021-22): Ended the year with a 7-3 record… named to the SEC-All Freshman Reining Team and recognized as a 2021-22 Reining NCEA All-American Honorable Mention… earned MOP three
times against SDSU and South Carolina twice… accumulated five-straight wins over SDSU, Minnesota Crookston, South Carolina, Auburn, and UT Martin.
OTHER: claimed the 2020 Level 1 Boxing World Champion title and Level 3 Top 10 at the AQHYA World Show… at the 2020 and 2019 AQHYA World Shows, was a Level 3 Eq Over Fences finalist and level 3 Working Hunter finalist… was the 2019 NSBA World Champion Equitation Over Fences… was the 2020 NSBA Reserve World Champion Equitation Over Fences… also a 2020 Team USA World Cup Rider.
PERSONAL: The daughter of Jim Bound and Lisa Lubbert.
Western • Freshman Elkhorn, Wis.
Other: AQHYA World Show Level 3 Equitation champion…AQHYA World Show 14-18 Equitation Reserve Champion in 2022…2023 NSBA World Champion 14-18 Equitation…Bronze AQHYA World Show Champion L3 14-18 Equitation…finalist at the AQHYA World Show Level 3 14-18 Horsemanship…Reserve AQHA Congress Champion 15-18 Equitation and NYATT Equitation…sixth AQHA Congress 15-18 Horsemanship… NSBA World Show 14-18 Horsemanship third place in 2022…winner of NSBA Year-end High Point in 14-18 Equitation for 2023.
SOPHOMORE (2023-24): Did not compete…named to SEC Winter Honor Roll…J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Honor Roll…NCEA APHA Acadmeic Honor Roll recognition.
FRESHMAN (2022-23): Did not compete… named to the J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Honor Roll in the spring.
OTHER: Crowned Circuit Champion in the 15-17 at the Venice Equestrian Tour during the winter of 2021… participated in the 2021 Gold Star Clinic… placed fifth in the Midwest NCEA Hunt Seat Medal Finals in 2020 and 2021… High Point Rider for the Marshall and Sterling Junior Medal 2020… finished her junior year of high school with a 4.206 GPA.
PERSONAL: The daughter of Jim and Janet Bresch…sister Ceci (2019-2023) was a senior on the team during her freshman year.
Jumping Seat • Junior Bloomfield, Conn.
SOPHOMORE (2023-24): Overall record of 18-13-1 in Fences… Received three MOP Honors…recorded a season-high score of 90 in Fences…notched a 5-1 record at home…was named to the J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Dean’s List… SEC Winter Honor Roll…tabbed NCEA All-Academic First Team…received NCEA APHA Academic Honor Roll Recognition.
FRESHMAN (2022-23): Rode to a 9-7 record in Fences, went 1-0 in Flat…received SEC All-Freshman recognition… earned two MOP honors- against Sweet Briar and in the SEC Championship against Texas A&M… received a season-high 88 against Lynchburg in Fences and 87 against SMU in Flat… named to the J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Honor Roll in the fall and Presidential Scholars in the spring.
OTHER: Winner of the 2020 WIHS Equitation Finals… named Best Junior Rider at the 2020 Washington International Horse Show… placed fourth at ASPCA Maclay Finals 2021… placed 11th at USEF Medal Finals 2021… Gold Medalist at Prix De States Junior Jumper Team Final in 2020… in 2019, placed fourth at USEF Medal Finals…. winner of the Old Salem Equitation Challenge 2019… winner of $10,000 Gold Cup Medium Junior Jumper Classic 2019… earned a dual diploma in Global Studies… achieved High Honor Roll status in high school… an Ambassador for JustWorld and the Equus Foundation.
LYLA BELLAR
Western • Freshman Peru, Ind.
JAX BOUND
Western • Senior Fort Atkinson, Wis.
MAGGIE BRESCH
Jumping Seat • Junior Barrington, Ill.
TESSA BROWN
SHAELYN BOUTELLE
KENNEDY BUCHANAN
Western • Sophomore Scottsdale, Ariz.
FRESHMAN (2023-24): Did not compete.
OTHER: Crowned the 2022 NRBC Unrestricted Youth Circuit Champion and the NRBC 14-18 Reserve Highpoint Circuit Champion… the 2021 Best Of The West Non-Pro Derby Level 1 Reserve Champion… 2021 AQHA Youth Reining Top 10 Year End High Point… 2021 Sun Circuit Rookie Level 1&2 Champion… finished Top 10 at the 2020 NRHA Futurity North American Affiliate Championship 14-18…named champion at the 2020 NRHA Southwest Regional Affiliate Championships Youth 14-18.
PARKER CLIFF
Jumping Seat • Sophomore Folsom, Calif.
FRESHMAN (2023-24): Did not compete…named to the J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Honor Roll.
OTHER: Two third place finishes at Talent Search Finals West Coast in 2019 and 2020… member of the 2019 Zone 10 Junior Young Riders Team… 2022 Reserve Champion 3’3 Small Junior Hunter Finals and placed fourth in the 3’3 Large Junior Hunter Finals, both at Blenheim… 2022 NorCal Finals Reserve Champion at the Sac International… two-time Champion National Hunter Derby at the HMI Murieta...the NRBC 14-18 Reserve Highpoint Circuit Champion… the 2021 Best Of The West Non-Pro Derby Level 1 Reserve Champion… 2021 AQHA Youth Reining Top 10 Year End High Point… 2021 Sun Circuit Rookie Level 1&2 Champion… finished Top 10 at the 2020 NRHA Futurity North American Affiliate Championship 14-18…named champion at the 2020 NRHA Southwest Regional Affiliate Championships Youth 14-18.
KINSEY COOPER
Western • Junior Montrose, Ga.
SOPHOMORE (2023-24): Did not compete…named to SEC Winter Honor Roll…NCEA APHA Academic Honor Roll and named to J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Honor Roll in the fall and spring.
FRESHMAN (2022-23): Did not compete… named to the J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Dean’s List in the fall and Honor Roll in the spring.
OTHER: In 2021, was an IEA Reining Team National Champion, Reining Individual Reserve Champion, and IEA Region 4 Team and Individual Champion… several state year-end champion awards… 2021-22 FFA State Secretary… member of the BETA Club and National Honor Society… recognized as an Honor Roll Student and an Honor Grad.
PERSONAL: Born Jan. 18, 2005… the daughter of Lee and Duana Cooper… has one sibling, Rhett… intends to major in Agribusiness.
LIZA CRAM
Jumping Seat • Sophomore Aiken, S.C.
FRESHMAN (2023-24): Did not compete… named to J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Dean’s List in the spring and honor roll in the fall.
OTHER: Finished Top 24 at the 2022 ASPCA Maclay Finals… finished 12th at the 2022 WEC Premier Equitation Cup… named Reserve Champion in the Age Group Equitation at 2022 Capital Challenge… placed 10th at 2022 Maclay Regionals… won two national derbies in March 2021 and March 2022… Champion in Childrens Hunters in June 2021 at the WCHR week at the Saratoga Horse Show…placed third at the NAL Childrens Jumper Finals at the 2020 Capital Challenge.
named to the J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Honor Roll in the fall and spring.
OTHER: Placed third at the 2022 USHJA Medal Finals Flat Phase… finished 45th overall at the 2022 Capital Challenge Horse Show…scored her first score of 92 during WEF in 2021…has numerous top placings in equitation and hunters throughout her juniors career.
Jumping Seat • Junior Holmdel, N.J.
SOPHOMORE (2023-24): Tallied a season record of 5-6 in Flat…notched season-high score of 89 against Baylor… awarded J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Presidential Scholar Honors in the spring and dean’s list in the fall…named to NCEA APHA Academic Honor Roll…tabbed NCEA All-Academic Second Team…SEC Winter Honor Roll.
FRESHMAN (2022-23): Made her lineup debut in Fences against Sweet Briar… went 0-1… named to the J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Dean’s List in the fall and spring.
OTHER: Finished second in the North American Equitation Championship at Capital Challenge in 2022… placed fourth at the 2022 USEF Medal Finals and fifth at ASPCA Maclay Finals… finished fifth at the 2022 USEF Talent Search Finals… placed sixth at the WEC Premier Cup and 10th at the WEF Equestrian Championship in 2022… in 2021, placed 12th at USET Finals East, sixth at Zone 2 Maclay Regionals, and 12th at the North American Equitation Championship… was champion at the USHJA Hunter Seat Medal Finals in 2020… finished fourth at the USHJA Jumping Seat Medal Finals in 2020… was a member of National Honor Society and Learn2serve.
PERSONAL: Born Aug. 4, 2004… the daughter of Joseph and Bonnie David… has one older brother, Joseph… intends to major in Business.
SARINA DA CRUZ
Jumping Seat • Sophomore East Northport, N.Y.
FRESHMAN (2023-24): Did not compete…
ISABELLA DAVID
JORDAN DAVIS Western • Senior Madisonville, Texas
JUNIOR (2023-24): Went 7-7-1 overall in Horsemanship…went 3-2 at away meets… tallied a high score of 76.5 against South Carolina…made the J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Dean’s List in the fall and honor roll in the spring…tabbed NCEA All-Academic First Team…named to the SEC Winter Honor Roll and NCEA APHA Academic Honor Roll.
SOPHOMORE (2022-23): Went 4-5 on the season in Horsemanship… made her lineup debut on the road at Delaware State… rode to a high score of 77 at Oklahoma State… received NCEA All-Academic Honorable Mention… named to the SEC Honor Roll… named to the J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Dean’s List in the fall and Honor Roll in the spring
FRESHMAN (2021-22): Did not compete.
OTHER: 2021 AQHA Level 2 Horsemanship World Champion…placed fifth at the 2020 AQHYA World Show 14-18 L3 Western Pleasure… was a finalist in L3 14-18 Showmanship… received a spot in the Top 30 L3 14-18 Horsemanship…Claimed the 2020 NSBA World Show Top Ten 14-18 Showmanship and Top 10 14-18 Western Pleasure… won Bronze Champion at the 2019 AQHYA World Show L2 Western Pleasure… was a finalist at the 2017 AQHYA World Show L3 14-18 Western Pleasure… was the 2017 All American Quarter Horse Congress Reserve Champion L1 14-18 Western Pleasure… was the President of the Texas Quarter Horse Youth Association.
PERSONAL: The daughter of Chris and Janna Davis...majoring in sports management…from Madisonville, Texas.
East Medal Finals in 2021…President’s Cup and High Point Equitation rider at the 2022 Saratoga Horse Show… Champion in the Low Junior Jumpers at the Vermont Summer Festival in 2022…15th in the WEC Cup final and 5th in the first round..
Jumping Seat • Sophomore Houston, Texas
Jumping Seat • Freshman Ocala, Fla.
OTHER: Reserve Champion at Maclay Regionals in 2022…third overall in the HITS Equitation Winter Final in 2023… Champion in the Junior Hunters at Lake Placid and finished first in the USET at South
EMMA DEJONG
Western • Freshman
Bargersville, Ind.
OTHER: Winner in the 12-14 Horsemanship at Congress…2023 NSBA Color Youth Hunter Under Saddle Champion…2022 AQHYA Level 2 14-18 Hunter Under Saddle World Champion…2021 AAQHC 12-14 Horsemanship Champion…AAQHC 12-14 Hunter Under Saddle Champion in 2021….2020 AQHYA 13&Under Hunt Seat Equitation World Champion…NSBA Novice Hunt Seat Equitation World Champion in 2020.
Western • Junior Hickory Corner, Mich.
SOPHOMORE (2023-24): Made her lineup debut against UT Martin and scored a 71.5 in the outing…J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Honor Roll in the spring…named to SEC Winter Honor Roll and NCEA APHA Academic Honor Roll.
FRESHMAN (2022-23): Did not compete… named to the J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Dean’s List in the fall and Honor Roll in the spring.
OTHER: A 2020 Nutrena Level 1 Youth 14-18 Reserve Champion… a 2019 NSBA Reserve World Champion and Bronze World Champion… multiple top finishes at the AQHA Youth World Show and Quarter Horse Congress… National Honor Society member… recognized to both High Honor Roll and Honor Roll all four years of high school.
PERSONAL: Born Sept. 9, 2003… the daughter of Anthony and Haylee Dixon… intends to major in Marketing
FRESHMAN (2023-24): Went 7-2-1 overall in Fences…went 3-0 in the postseason… rode to a high score of 88 against Auburn… named SEC Freshman Fences Rider of the Year.
OTHER: Selected to the US Junior Team for FEI Jumping Nations Cup Youth Finals in Opglabbeek, Belgium…Winner of the 2023 Gladstone Equitation Cup…Team Gold on the Junior team at the NAYRC… third at the 2023 Maclay Finals, 5th at the 2023 Medal Finals and won the 2023 North American Palm Beach Equitation Championships… third place finish at the 2022 ASPCA Maclay Finals…Zone 7 Team Gold and Individual Silver at the 2022 Prix des States…finished Top 12 at the 2022 USET Finals…placed fourth at the 2021 WIHS Equitation Finals… Top 25 Maclay Finals and Medal Finals in 2021.
ELLA DUFFY
Jumping Seat • Junior Marietta, Ga.
SOPHOMORE (2023-24): Did not compete…named to the J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Dean’s List in the fall and honor roll in the spring…named to SEC Winter Honor Roll and received NCEA APHA Academic Honor Roll recognition.
FRESHMAN (2022-23): Did not compete… named to the J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Dean’s List in the fall and Honor Roll in the spring.
OTHER: Zone 4 Junior Team Gold at the 2022 North American Youth Championships… placed first at the Medium Junior Jumper Classic at the Lexington Spring Classic 2021… also placed first at the Medium Junior Jumper Classic at the Piedmont Jumper Classic 2021… was a member of National Honor Society… won the President’s Education Award.
PERSONAL: Born July 22, 2004… the daughter of Chris and Michelle Duffy… father competed on the U.S. Rowing Team… has one sister, Brooke… intends to major in Business.
KENDALL DEAN
TESSA DOWNEY
ALYVIA DIXON
FRESHMAN (2023-24): Went 2-3 overall in Reining…rode to a high score of 72 against Texas A&M…won MOP honors against South Carolina…SEC Freshman Reigning Rider of the Year…named to the J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Honor Roll.
OTHER: A two-time Quarter Horse Congress champion- the 13 and under Reining in 2019 and the 14-18 Reining in 2021…2023 NRHA Non-Pro Derby Finalist…Buckeye Reining Series 4 YO NP Derby Stakes L4 and L2 Champion…won the 2020 Buckeye Reining Series Derby Level 2 and 4… numerous reining and horsemanship wins for the Future Intermediate Team and individual classes within the IEA, including a nationals win in 2018…won the Level 2 and Level 4 of the four-year-old stakes Buckeye Derby along with winning the Youth Derby at the Buckeye Derby in 2023.
PERSONAL: Born and raised in Marysville Ohio...the daughter of Craig and Angela Eger... has one brother, Cole… majoring in animal science.
QUINN EISENFELD
Western • Junior Scottsdale, Ariz.
SOPHOMORE (2023-24): Did not compete…received J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Dean’s List honors for the fall and spring semesters…named to SEC Winter Honor Roll and NCEA APHA Academic Honor Roll.
FRESHMAN (2022-23): Did not compete… named to the J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Dean’s List in the fall and Presidential Scholars in the spring.
OTHER: Ranked fifth nationally in AQHA Year End Youth Level 1 Reining and ninth nationally in Youth Level 3 Ranch Riding…a Level 2 Reining Finalist, Level 2 Ranch Riding Reserve Champion, and Level 3 Finalist at the 2020 AQHA Youth World Show… multiple state year-end champion awards… 2019 Youth Level 1 Champion in Reining and Reserve in Ranch Riding…
National Honor Society Vice President… highest GPA in her class during the 2020 and 2021 school years… Harvard Book Award for the state of Louisiana.
PERSONAL: Born Jan. 30, 2004… daughter of Steve Eisenfeld and Amanda Butler… cousin to former Washington Nationals player, Cutter Dykstra…majoring in International Business with a minor in Spanish.
Ga.
JUNIOR (2023-24): Did not compete…named to SEC Winter Honor Roll.
OTHER: Qualified for Maclay Regionals, Medal Finals, and Jumping Seat Medal Finals in 2020…qualified and competed in NHS Hamel Medal Finals in 2020…qualified multiple horses for Junior Hunter Finals in 2019 and 2020… finished fifth at the Tryon Spring National Hunter Derby out of 35 with scores of 90 and 86… seventh place finish at the JR/AM Derby out of 45 at WEC Ocala… she was the highest scoring non-pro in the National Derby Aiken Summer Classic.
OTHER: Earned Reserve Champion at 2022 Regional International Derby Finals South 2022…Reserve Champion Zone HOTY 3’6 Junior Hunters 15&U in 2022…third overall in the 15-17 equitation at 2022 WEC Winter Circuit…fifth in the Kentucky Splitrock Equitation Challenge…finished Top-20 in the USHJA Jumping Seat Medal Finals East flat phase in 2022…earned ribbons at Devon, Junior Hunter Finals and the Pennsylvania National Horse Show.
OTHER: Finalist and Top 15 at the National High School Finals Rodeo in 2021…National High School Rodeo Association Southeastern Showdown Reined Cow Horse Champion in 2022…2023 Southern Reined Cow Horse Alliance Non Pro Futurity Champion in 2023…
New York Reined Cow Horse Association Non Pro Futurity and Non Pro Bridle Spectacular Champion… the National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity Limited Non Pro high score cow work…2024 National Reined Cow Horse Association Tres Osos Limited Non Pro Derby Champion…Reserve Champion Intermediate Non Pro Derby and Non Pro Derby Top 10.
JUNIOR (2023-24): Went 2-3 overall in Fences…notched a 2-1 record at away meets…rode to a high score of 86 against South Carolina…named to SEC Winter Honor Roll and NCEA APHA Academic Honor Roll.
SOPHOMORE (2022-23): went 1-0 in Fences with a win against Sweet Briar… scored an 88 for her course…named to the SEC Honor Roll…named to the J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Honor Roll in the spring.
FRESHMAN (2021-22): Made her first appearance as a Bulldog on Oct. 29 against Texas A&M…scored an 80 in Fences.
OTHER: Finished first in the Ocala Masters… 3* USET Talent Search in 2017, 2018 and 2009… placed second at the Southeast Maclay Regionals in 2018… first place in the Saratoga Classic II, Presidents Cup in 2019, at Saratoga Classic II, National Hunter Derby in 2018… champion at the I Love New York Horse Show in the 3’6 Large Junior Hunter 15/u in 2018 and Reserve Champion in Low Junior Jumpers… qualified for Maclay, USEF, WIHS, and USET Finals in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019.
OTHER: Champion and reserve champion at the 2024 Lake Placid horse show in the low junior jumpers…second in the Kathy Scholl equitation championship in 2024…placed 10th at the New England Equitation
MELISSA DERYN FOSTER
Jumping Seat • Senior Toronto, Ontario
JOSIE EVANS
Jumping Seat • Senior Covington,
SKYLER EZZELL
Jumping Seat • Freshman Peachtree Corners, Ga.
CAROLINE FLETCHER Western • Freshman Greenville, S.C.
MIA FRIGON
Jumping Seat • Freshman Sudbury, Mass.
CADENCE EGER
Western • Sophomore Marysville, Ohio
Championships in 2021…finished ninth at the 2023 Zone 1 Maclay Regionals in 2022…champion in the Low Junior Jumpers at Old Salem, Reserve Champion in Low Junior Jumpers at Lake Placid Horse Show…sixth in the $50k National JR/AM Hunter Derby at HITS Saugerties…has had top placings in the Equitation and Jumpers at WEF, the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival and the Hampton Classic.
of Athletics Dean’s List in the fall and spring.
OTHER: Champion of the USHJA Zone 3 3’3” Hunter Finals in 2020…competed at ASPCA Maclay Finals in 2020, 2021, and 2022…competed at USEF Medal Finals in 2021 and 2022…placed fifth in the Zone 3 Mideast Maclay Regionals in 2022… graduated with a 4.0 GPA…made the honor roll all four years of high school.
Jumping Seat • Senior Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y.
JUNIOR (2023-24): 2-1-1 overall record in Flat…rode to a high score of 87 against South Carolina… named to SEC and NCEA honor rolls… named to J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Dean’s List in the spring.
SOPHOMORE (2022-23): Rode to a 3-1 record in Flat…received a high-score of 92 versus Lynchburg…named to the NCEA and SEC Honor Roll…named to the J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Dean’s List in the fall and Honor Roll in the spring.
FRESHMAN (2021-22): Made one Flat appearance on the 2021-22 season… earned her first win as a Bulldog against Minnesota Crookston on Feb. 19.
OTHER: Placed sixth at 2018 USEF Pony Medal Finals and ninth in the classic round at Junior Hunter Finals 3’6 Small Juniors… qualified for Medal and Maclay finals in 2019 and 2020… qualified for Junior Hunter Finals 3’6 Small Juniors in 2019 and 2020.
Personal: The daughter of Scott and Natalie Guginsky... from Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y.
Jumping Seat • Junior Richmond, Va.
SOPHOMORE (2023-24): Did not compete…named to the J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Honor Roll…named to SEC and NCEA honor rolls.
FRESHMAN (2022-23): Did not compete named to the SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll…named to the J. Reid Parker Director
Jumping Seat • Sophomore Germantown, Tenn.
FRESHMAN (2023-24): Did not compete… named to the J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Dean’s List in the fall and spring.
OTHER: Qualified and competed in USEF Medal Finals five times as well as the ASPCA Maclay Finals three times… Champion in the adult hunters at the 2023 Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show…placed fourth in the 17 year old Medal Finals WarmUp at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show and Reserve Champion in the 15-17 year old equitation at the Kentucky National Horse Show in 2022…finished as Reserve Champion in the 1.25 Junior Jumpers at the 2021 Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show.
SALLY IVES
Jumping Seat • Freshman Durham, N.C.
OTHER: Reserve Champion at the 2023 USHJA jumping Seat Finals East in 2023… second-place finish in the Jumping Phase... finished 12th place in the Gymnastics Phase…Reserve Champion in the 16 year old Equitation Division at Capital Challenge in 2023…finished in the Top 25 in the USEF Hunter Seat Medal Finals…was Reserve Champion at the ASPCA Maclay Mideast Regionals…winner of the EJ Haun Memorial Medal Finals at the 2023 NCHJA Annual Show…scored a 91 in the first round of the 2022 Gladstone Cup Equitation Classic…top 20 in the WEC Premier Equitation Cup…12th place in the HITS Equitation Championship.
4 Non-Pro Derby Final wins and a Level 2 Reserve Champion at the 2023 AQHYA World…2023 AQHYA World 14-18 Reining Level 3 Top 10…Quarter Horse Congress 1418 Reining Top 3 and Level 2 NH NP Champion at the 100x and South Central Affiliate Championship…finished fourth in Level 3 Reining at the 2022 AQHYA World Show…1418 Reining Reserve Champion at the Quarter Horse Congress…Level 1 Reining Reserve Champion at the 2021 Quarter Horse Congress at the 2021 Quarter Horse Congress.
SENIOR (2023-24): Did not compete.
JUNIOR (2022-23): Did not compete.
SOPHOMORE (2021-22): Did not compete.
FRESHMAN (2020-21): Did not compete.
OTHER: Won the NRHA 2018 Reserve Youth World Title and switched horses to place third at Worlds the same year… notched two additional Top 10 finishes at the NRHA Youth World Show.
PERSONAL: Born Oct. 15, 2001… the daughter of Wayne and Stacey Jones.
Ill.
OTHER: Placed first at the IHJA Junior Medal Finals in 2022…sixth at the 2023 Maclay Regionals…competed in the USHJA Jumping Seat Finals East, NHS Hamel Finals, NCEA Medal Finals, ASPCA Maclay Finals, the Gladstone Cup and Junior Hunter Finals… ribboned at Capital Challenge, Junior Hunter Finals and Devon…placed eighth at Junior Hunter Finals and seventh in National Hunter Derby in Brandywine Horseshow at Devon… finished sixth at Midwest NCEA Final…placed third on the flat USHJA Zone 5 Horsemanship Medal Final.
Western • Freshman Chelsea, Mich.
OTHER: Has two NRHA Affiliate Level
ALLY JONES Western • Graduate Franklin, Ky.
AGGIE HAHN
JESSICA GUGINSKY
MADISON HILL
KATIE JEDELE
EMMA LACKEY
Jumping Seat • Freshman Glencoe,
SOPHOMORE (2023-24): Went 10-4-1 overall in Reining…went 5-1 at home…earned MOP honors against Oklahoma State…rode to a high score of 72 against Texas A&M at the NCEA National Championships…named to the All-SEC Reining team…received NCEA Ariat All-America honorable mention honors… named to SEC Winter Honor Roll.
FRESHMAN (2022-23): Went 2-2-1 on the season…received SEC All-Freshman recognition...made her lineup debut on neutral ground against South Dakota State, winning her point…received a high score of 71 against South Carolina…named to the J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Honor Roll in the spring.
OTHER: A five-time Quarter Horse Congress champion…multiple top five finishes at the AQHA Youth World Show and Quarter Horse Congress…won gold, silver and bronze at the AQHA Youth World Show…2021 NRHA Youth 14-18 World Champion…participated in the FFA… named to her high school’s Honor Roll.
Western • Senior Sumter, S.C.
JUNIOR (2023-24): Did not compete.
SOPHOMORE (2022-23): Did not compete… named to the NCEA and SEC Honor Roll… named to the J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Honor Roll in the fall.
FRESHMAN (2021-22): Did not compete.
OTHER: Placed Top 5 Youth in Reining at the 2019 AQHA Congress in 2019… earned the 2019 NRHA Derby Green Reiner Co-Champion title… was runner up for Green Reiner 2… was crowned the 2017 IEA Future Beginner Champion.
PERSONAL: The daughter Wendy Nichols... from Sumter, S.C.
SOPHOMORE (2023-24): Did not compete... named to J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Honor Roll in the spring…SEC Winter Honor Roll…NCEA APHA Academic Honor Roll.
FRESHMAN (2022-23): Did not compete… named to the J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Honor Roll in the fall and Dean’s List in the spring.
OTHER: Finished top 10 at the 2021 AQHA Congress NYATT in Horsemanship…third place at the Ohio Quarter Horse Association year-end 14-18 Horsemanship top 10 in Youth Color Horsemanship at the 2020 NSB World Championship Show…finalist at the 2020 AQHA Ford Youth World L2 Western Riding…in 2019, was a finalist at the All-American Quarter Horse Congress NYATT in Horsemanship and semi-finalist at the AQHA Ford Youth World in L2 Western Horsemanship Reserve Champion of the 2018 Nutrena Level 1 Youth Horsemanship 14-18… a 2016-2020 IEA Dare Equestrian team member…received honor roll recognition all four years of high school.
FRESHMAN (2023-24): Did not compete… named to the J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Honor Roll in the spring.
OTHER: Had top placings at Junior Hunter Finals, including being sixth overall…qualified for the 2022 Gladstone Cup and 3’3 EMO/USHJA 3’3” Medal Jumping Seat Finals… qualified for the 2021 Maclay and Medal Finals and the Gladstone Cup… numerous top placings at WEF.
JUNIOR (2023-24): Did not compete…named to the SEC honor roll.
SOPHOMORE (2022-23): Did not compete… Named to the NCEA and SEC Honor Roll… named to the J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics
Honor Roll in the fall
FRESHMAN (2021-22): Did not compete.
OTHER: Finished with top placings at Junior Hunter Finals… had a top placing at Capital Challenge… placed sixth at THIS Finals 2020.
PERSONAL: The daughter of Jay and Katie Meagher... from Virginia Beach, Va.
FRESHMAN (2023-24): Did not compete... named to J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Dean’s List in the fall and spring semesters.
OTHER: Finished Top 24 at the 2022 ASPCA Maclay Finals in 2022…placed first at the 2021 USHJA Gladstone Cup Equitation Classic –West and the 2021 CPHA Foundation Finals… winner of the 2020 R.W. Mutch Equitation Championship.
SOPHOMORE (2023-24): Did not compete... named to the J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Dean’s List in the fall and spring… SEC Winter Honor Roll...received NCEA Academic Honor Roll recognition.
FRESHMAN (2022-23): Did not compete… named to the J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Presidential Scholars in the fall and Honor Roll in the spring.
OTHER: Second place finish at the 2022 ASPCA Maclay Regionals…placed sixth in Equitation on the Flat at the Capital Challenge Horse Show 2021…named Reserve Champion in the USHJA Zone 7 3’6” 15-17 Equitation Championship 2021…named Champion in Zone 7 15-17 Equitation Championship in 2021…earned top ribbons in the Junior Hunters at Capital Challenge, the National Horse Show, and Great Lakes Equestrian Festival…recognized as a High Honor Roll member as a sophomore and Honor Roll member as freshman and junior at the Kinkaid School…member of the National Charity League, Heroes for Children Teen Board, the Houston Greek Festival, and Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral.
JUNIOR (2023-24): Combined for a 19-9-2 record on the season... went 9-5-1 on Fences and 10-4-1 on Flat...was undefeated at home in Flat (6-0)…earned MOP honors eight times against Texas A&M (twice), TCU, Auburn (twice), South Carolina, UT Martin and South Dakota State...named to the All-SEC Fences and Flat teams…First Team NCEA Ariat AllAmerica in Fences and Honorable Mention for Flat... named to SEC Fences Rider of the Month for February...NCEA Rider of the Month for Fences in October and February…named to the SEC Winter Honor Roll... named to NCEA APHA Academic Honorable Mention.
SOPHOMORE (2022-23): Competed both Flat and Fences in all but two meets…compiled a 7-8 record in Fences and 9-4-2 record in Flat… received NCEA Second Team All-America honors in Flat…received a Flat high-score of 92 twice — against Baylor and at Delaware State…notched a season-high Fences score of 87 against South Carolina…named to the J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Honor Roll in the fall and spring.
FRESHMAN (2021-22): Finished the season with a 6-3 Fences record… named to the SEC All-Freshman Fences team… earned her first MOP honor as a Bulldog with a career high of 90 on March 4 against Auburn.
OTHER: 2019 Gold Medal winner while representing the United States at the Junior Nations Cup Team at Deeridge Farm… won the Gold Medal in 2015 and Silver Medal in 2016… other winnings include first place at the 2019 Region Three ASPCA Maclay Regionals… finished Top 11 at the 2019 ASPCA Maclay Final… placed third at $10,000 Junior/ Amateur 2019 Stake at the Hampton Classic Horse Show… fourth at the $25,000 2019 Central Florida Hunter Jumper Association Grand Prix… notched a Top 25 Finish at the ASPCA 2018 Macal Final… claimed the Reserve Champion in the Low Junior/Amateur Jumpers at the 2018 Washington International Horse Show in 2017… was crowned the United States Equestrian Federation Low Junior Jumper National Champion.
PERSONAL: The daughter of Ezequiel and Wendy Peralta...from Geneva, Fa.
OTHER: Awarded first and second place in the NAL Children’s Hunter Finals at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in 2018…earned Championships and Circuit Championships at HITS, Great Lakes Equestrian Festival, Old Salem, Upperville, Lake Placid and WEF...is the younger sister of current Georgia equestrian captain Sophia Pilla.
Conn.
SENIOR (2023-24): Went 10-4 on the season in Flat...posted a 5-1 home record...was undefeated during the spring season…received the highest Flat score over all three days of competition at the NCEA Championships… earned three MOP honors against UT Martin, Oklahoma State and Texas A&M...rode to a high score of 91 against Baylor...J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Honor Roll in the fall and spring...NCEA Ariat All-America Flat Second Team...named to NCEA All-America First Team...NCEA and SEC honor roll recognitions… was named SEC Flat Rider of the Month for February.
JUNIOR (2022-23): Rode to a 14-3 Flat record, including seven away wins, two MOP honors, and went undefeated in the spring and into postseason… received NCEA First Team All-America and All-SEC honors… named the NCEA and SEC Rider of the Month in February….rode to six scores of 90 or better with an average score of 87.2…. her high mark of 99 against South Carolina was the highest among all SEC riders that season and is tied for the best score in program history, making her only the third Bulldog to achieve the near-perfect score and the first since 2019… placed on the NCEA All-Academic First Team… Named to the SEC Honor Roll…named to the J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Dean’s List in the fall and Honor Roll in the spring
SOPHOMORE (2021-22): Ended the season with a 9-5 Flat record… named to the 2021-22 NCEA All-America Flat Second Team… had three MOP honors against Fresno State, Sweet Briar, and Texas A&M… named to the APHA NCEA All-Academic Team and 2021-22 SEC Winter Academic Honor Roll.
FRESHMAN (2020-21): Made one appearance on the Flat lineup against Auburn on Oct. 23… had a 2-0-1 Flat Exhibition record... named to the SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll and the University of Georgia Dean’s List… recognized as a Philanthropic Achiever by her coaches and teammates for her community service in Athens.
OTHER: Finished in the equitation, hunters, and jumpers at premier shows across the country including the Washington International Horse Show and the National Horse Show in Kentucky… won the Overall Washington Equitation in Lake Placid and the Maclay in Wellington, which qualified her to compete in the George Morris Equitation Championship… won multiple championships in the Junior Jumpers in 2018, which qualified her for the US Jumper Championship in Washington where she took second in the speed round… finished in the top 25 at USEF Medal Finals in 2017, and was 4th and 12th at the Zone 1 Maclay Regionals in 2016 and 2017, respectively… crowned a twotime national champion in the Junior Hunters at Devon in 2015.
PERSONAL: Born Dec. 30, 2000… the daughter of Philip and Leah Pilla.
OTHER: Winner of the 2022 Rookie Shootout at the Florida Classic…won the Novice Horse Non Pro level 3 at the North American Reining Stakes… placed Top 5 in Non Pro Derbies…was the 2022 GQHA 4H/ FFA Reining Buckle Series Champion, FRHA Rookie 1 Champion (year-end) and Rookie 1&2 Graduate.
SENIOR (2023-24): Did not compete...named to SEC Winter Honor Roll.
JUNIOR (2022-23): Did not compete…named to the SEC Honor Roll…named to the J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Honor Roll in the spring.
SOPHOMORE (2021-22): Named to the SEC Winter and NCEA Academic Honor Rolls…did not compete.
OTHER: Crowned the 2019 Reserve Champion in the 15-18 L# Youth Trail…named the Reserve AQHA Youth World Champion in the L2 Showmanship…earned multiple top five and top ten finishes at the All-American Quarter Horse Congress…placed 11th in L3 Hunt Seat equitation at the 2019 AQHA Youth World.
PERSONAL: Born Jan. 14, 2000…the daughter of Doug and Kerri Relick.
BAYLIE ROBBINS
Western • Freshman
Port St. Lucie, Fla.
OTHER: Was fourth place in 2023 All American Quarter Horse Congress Novice 14-18 western pleasure…placed fifth at 2022 All American Quarter Horse Congress Youth 15-18 Western Pleasure…2022 Sudden Impulse Novice Youth Western Pleasure Champion.
OTHER: Won Novice of the Year at the NSBA Cinch Horsemanship Invitational in 2023… Bronze Champion in Level 2 Youth Equitation at AQHYA Youth World in 2023…finished seventh in Color Horsemanship and seventh in Color Youth Equitation…fifth in Youth Showmanship 14-18 at the NSBA World Championship Show in 2023…placed third in Level 2 Equitation and first in Level 2 Youth Showmanship 14-18 at the 2023 AQHYA Youth World Show…finished fourth in Level 1 Youth Equitation, fourth in NYATT Showmanship, first in NYATT D1 Team Georgia and was a finalist in 15-18 Youth Horsemanship at Congress…IEA National Champion King Show Horses Western Team in 2021… 2022 IEA National Champion JV Novice Ranch Riding…third place Level 1 Youth Showmanship NSBA Congress in 2022… reserve world champion in L1 horsemanship at the NSBA World Show 2022.
OTHER: Placed in the Level 2 14-18 Horsemanship Finals at the AQHYA World Show two years in a row…finished 15th
in Level 2 14-18 Horsemanship at the 2023 AQHYA World Show…third place in Level 2 14-18 Horsemanship at the Big A…placed fourth in Level 2 14-18 Trail at the Big A… third place in Level 1 14-18 Western Riding at the Big A…2022 Florida Gold Coast fifth place in Level 2 14-18 Horsemanship…Florida Gold Coast fourth in Level 2 14-18 Trail.. finished 11th in Level 3 14-18 Horsemanship at the AQHYA World Show…14th in Level 2 14-18 Horsemanship at the AQHYA World Show.
RAEGAN SHEPHERD
Western • Junior Clayton, N.C.
SOPHOMORE (2023-24): Finished the season with a 7-6-2 record…rode to a season-high score of 72 and received MOP honors for the ride against South Carolina in the SEC Championships…named to the All-SEC Reining Team…NCEA All-Academic Honorable Mention…named to the J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Honor Roll in the spring…SEC honor roll.
FRESHMAN (2022-23): Compiled a 4-7 Reining record…received SEC All-Freshman recognition with regular season wins against Auburn and Texas A&M and at the SEC Championship against South Carolina…won MOP honors against Auburn, receiving her high score of 72.5…named to the J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Honor Roll in the spring... named to SEC Winter Honor Roll.
OTHER: Champion in the Rookie 1 and 2 at the 2022 NRHA Derby…2021 NRHA Derby Youth 14-18 Reserve Champion top five and 10 finishes at the 2021 Quarter Horse Congress multiple state year-end champion awards… participated in 4-H Club and FFA…also played basketball.
PERSONAL: Born March 10, 2004…the daughter of Josh and Wendy Shepherd… has one sibling, Addison…intends to major in Agribusiness.
JILLIAN STOPPERICH
Western • Senior Venetia, Pa.
JUNIOR (2023-24): Tallied a 13-2 record on the season...went undefeated at home and away sites...notched the most wins on the team with 13…received three MOPs against South Carolina, Texas A&M and South Dakota
State...named SEC Horsemanship Rider of the Year…named to NCEA All-America First Team for Horsemanship...SEC Co-Rider of the Month in March…named to NCEA Academic Honors Honorable Mention... named to SEC Winter Honor Roll.
SOPHOMORE (2022-23): Rode to a 9-4 overall record in Horsemanship with two MOPs, both against SEC opponents…received NCEA AllAmerica Honorable Mention…received All-SEC recognition…named the NCEA and SEC Rider of the Month for October…received a high score of 78.5 against SMU…named to the SEC Honor Roll…named to the J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Honor Roll in the spring.
FRESHMAN (2021-22): Ended the year with a 7-31 Horsemanship record…named SEC Freshman Horsemanship Rider of the Year… All-SEC Horsemanship Team… 2021-22 Horsemanship NCEA All-America Second Team… earned two MOP honors against SDSU and UT Martin… had a season-high score of 77, metting it twice against SMU and Texas A&M.
OTHER: won the AQHA Markel Insurance Overall All-Around Youth for year ending 2021… 2021 NSBA High Point in Youth Horsemanship and Reserve High Point in Youth Trail…multiple AQHA All American Quarter Horse Congress Champion and Reserve Congress Champion; including 15-18 Youth Horsemanship Champion, 15-18 Hunt Seat Equitation Champion, 12-14 Youth Horsemanship Champion and 15-18 All-Around Youth…multiple AQHYA Youth World Show Top-Five finishes in horsemanship, showmanship and equitation… multiple NSBA World Show Top-Five placings
PERSONAL: The daughter of Shawn and Lauren Stopperich from Venetia, Pa… siblings include: sister Paige and brothers Alec and Aidan.
FRESHMAN (2023-24): Did not compete...NCEA APHA Academic Honor Roll recognition...named to the SEC Winter Honor Roll.
OTHER: Walked on the team in August 2023 through try-outs…has nine years of riding experience…finished third placing at Junior Hunter Finals East in 2021 and top 10 overall finish.
ARDEN STROMNES
Jumping Seat • Senior Marietta, Ga.
ELLIE ROYAL
Western • Freshman Grayson, Ga.
LAUREN SANDERS
Western • Freshman Watkinsville, Ga.
JORDAN TOERING
Jumping Seat • Senior Waterford, Va.
SENIOR (2023-24): Posted an overall record of 10-6-1...went 10-4-1 in Flat...went 0-2 in Fences…rode to a high score of 94 in Flat against Baylor...received one MOP in Flat against Auburn...named to the J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Honor Roll in the spring… All-Sec Flat Team…NCEA Ariat All-America First Team for Flat...named to SEC Winter Honor Roll.
JUNIOR (2022-23): Rode to a 7-7 Fences record and 8-5-1 mark in Flat…earned two MOP honors in Flat with scores of 91 against Delaware State and 97 against Lynchburg… named NCEA and SEC Flat Rider of the Month for November…Flat score of 97 is her high mark…received a high-score of 92 in Fences at Delaware State…received NCEA All-Academic Honorable Mention…named to the SEC Honor Roll
SOPHOMORE (2021-22): Recognized as the SEC Flat Rider of the Year… All-America Flat First Team and Fences Second Team… named All-SEC in Flat and Fences… in total, had seven combined Flat and Fences MOPs (five in Flat, two in Fences)… swept Jumping Seat MOPs against SDSU on February 18… finished the season with a 12-2 Flat record and 10-4-1 Fences record… rode to a 97.5 against UT Martin, the fifth highest Flat score in program history… earned spots on the APHA NCEA AllAcademic First Team and SEC Winter Academic Honor Roll.
FRESHMAN (2020-21): Was named SEC Freshman Fences of the Year and AllFreshman Fences Team… chosen to the AllChampionship team in Fences at the National Championship after a 2-1 record during the week... competed dually in Flat and Fences… rode to a record of 6-4-2 (Fences 6-3-1, Flat 0-1-1)... earned a spot on the SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll… was named the 202021 Rookie of the Year.
OTHER: Placed in the top 25 at both USEF Medal Finals and ASPCA Maclay Finals in 2019… placed 7th at ASPCA Maclay Regionals in Kentucky as well… named the 2019 Grand Champion USHJA Young Pony Hunter Championships, 2018 VHSA Medal Finals Winner, 2018 VHSA Equitation on the Flat Finals winner, 2018 VHSA Horsemanship
Challenge winner, and the 2018 AYR Equitation Challenge winner… crowned the $15k National Derby Winner at the WEC Invitational, the 2018 HOTY Small Junior Hunter Champion, the 2018 HOTY Large Junior Hunter Champion, the 2017 HOTY Large Green Pony Hunter Champion and the Large Regular Pony Hunter Champion.
PERSONAL: Born Nov. 20, 2001… the daughter of Rick and Jayne Toering.
FRESHMAN (2023-24): Did not compete… named to the J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Honor Roll for the fall and spring semesters.
OTHER: Placed in the top 5 in multiple events… Reserve World Champion at the 2022 NSBA World Show… placed in the top 5 in multiple events at the NSBA World Show…a Level 1 Non-Pro all-around, Level 1 Youth all-around, and multiple circuit champion at the 2022 Arizona Sun Circuit… won multiple circuit championships at the 2022 EMO Championships… won the yearend 14-18 all-around in the Washington State Quarter Horse Youth Association… finished in the top 10 in multiple events in the year-end AQHA standings.
JUNIOR (2023-24): Did not compete…named to the J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Honor Roll in the fall.
SOPHOMORE (2022-23): Did not compete… named to the J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Honor Roll in the fall.
FRESHMAN (2021-22): Did not compete.
OTHER: Was the 2017 American Ranch Horse Association World Show Overall Youth Champion… was the 2018 Georgia 4-H Horse Show Sr overall Champion in Ranch Horse Division and 2018 American Ranch Overall Youth Champion… finished third overall in the 2019 Stock Horse Division… placed third overall in the Ranch Horse Division and in the 2019 Southern Regional 4-H Horse Show… was the 2020 SERHA McGee Farm Fall Classic Green
Champion… ranked in the American Quarter Horse Association Youth World Top 15 in Level 1 Boxing.
ELLA WITT
Jumping Seat • Freshman Califon, N.J.
OTHER: Winner of the 2021 USHJA 3”3’ Hunt Seat Medal Finals…finished second in the 2021 USHJA Jumping Seat Medal Finals East jumping phase…first in 14-15 equitation at the National Horse Show in 2021…finished 9th in New England Equitation Finals in 2021…6th in the Kathy Scholl Equitation Championship at the Lake Placid Horse Show in 2023…earned second place in the 1.40m Horseflight Speed Class at the 2023 Split Rock Jumping Tour.
FRESHMAN (2023-24): Did not compete.
OTHER: Five-time NSBA World Champion, two-time NSBA Reserve World Champion, twotime NSBA World Show Bronze Champion… four APHA World Champion nods and two APHA Reserve World Champion to her name…IEA 2023 National Championship Open Reining… AQHYA World Show Reining Finalist… competed at the APHA Youth World Games with Team USA in Germany, bringing home the gold… finished fifth in the Level 3 Horsemanship at the 2021 AQHYA World Show…finished first in OQHA’s year-end standings for Youth 14-18 Horsemanship and Equitation in 2021… the IEA 2021 National Champion Open Horsemanship, 2020 Reserve National Champion Open Reining, 2019 National Champion Future Intermediate Horsemanship and Reining.
ALLIE ANN WHEELER Western • Senior Coolige, Ga.
ABBEY ZAWISZA Western • Sophomore Findlay, Ohio
DEVIN VANZANTEN Western • Sophomore Lynden, Wash.
MEET THE
Horses
BANDIDO
FROSTY
CAMPO
MR. BOAZ
Reining
Donor: The Roper Family
ROYCE
Reining
Donor: Cliff Reeder
Donor:
ODIE
Reining
Donor: Calvin Burger
SAL
Jumping Seat
Donor: Tristan Harstan
OLIVE
Horsemanship
Donor: Sharon Baumgardt
SALLY
Jumping Seat
Donor: The Screnci Family
TEDDY
Horsemanship
Donor: Holly Ann Tufan
OTTO
Jumping Seat
Donor:
SLASH
Reining
Donor: The Blumer Family
Horsemanship
Donor:
SNOOKIE
Jumping Seat
Donor: Elizabeth O’Heaney
Horsemanship
Donor: Chris Harrison
WYOMING
Jumping Seat
Donor: Amanda McMillan
Hammer-Jadick Hunters LLC
PEPPY
Jewett Tucker
PERRY
Jumping Seat
Donor: Alyson Griffiths
SODA POP
SUNNY
Jumping Seat
Courtney Neely
SWANK Jumping Seat Donor: Liz and Mike Hilton
TITO Horsemanship Donor: Holly Ann Tufan
TY Reining Donor: UGAAA
WILBUR Reining On loan from the Lynch Family
WOODY Reining Donor: UGAAA
TRAVIS
Reining
Donor: The Schramm Family
WILLIS Horsemanship
Donor: The Robinson Family
2023-24
Season Recap
After going 8-4 throughout the regular season, plus seven combined event sweeps, the Georgia equestrian team finished third at the SEC Championship and was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the NCEA National Championship to conclude the 2023-24 season.
Junior Jillian Stopperich was named the SEC Horsemanship Rider of the Year after riding to a 13-2 record overall. She went 11-1 in the regular season and posted an undefeated record at home. She was 8-1 against SEC opponents with three Most Outstanding Performer honors on her way to being named to the NCEA Ariat All-America First Team.
Tessa Downey and Cadence Eger were named Freshman Rider of the Year in Fences and Reining, respectively. Five Bulldogs reveived All-SEC honors and five Riders claimed NCEA All-America nods.
Graduate Caitlin Lyons was named the SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year. She is only the second Georgia equestrian to receive that honor. She also received received the SEC Brad Davis Community Service Award and was granted the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. She is one of two institutional nominees for the 2024 NCAA Woman of the Year Award on behalf of the Southeastern Conference.
2023-24 RESULTS (9-6)
SOPHIA PILLA
CAITLIN LYONS
CATALINA PERALTA
JILLIAN STOPPPERICH
2023-24
Meet-by-Meet
GEORGIA 13, UT MARTIN 5 SEPTEMBER 30 -- BISHOP, GA. FENCES
GEORGIA - 3 2 - UT MARTIN
Melissa Deryn Foster- 80 82 -Kate Mills
Jennifer Staniloff- 79 78 -Haley Kane
Catalina Peralta- 86 81 -Gabby Adams
Emma Reichow- 85 * 66 -Sydney Hott
Tessa Brown- 76 77 -Elizabeth Becker FLAT
GEORGIA - 4 1 - UT MARTIN
Sophia Pilla- 83 * 77 -Haley Kane
Nora Andrews- 78 76 -Bridget Vieau
Isabella David- 83 86 -Sophia Sundem
Catalina Peralta- 84 79 -Sydney Hott
Jordan Toering- 79 73 -Elizabeth Becker HORSEMANSHIP
GEORGIA - 3 1 - UT MARTIN
Alyvia Dixon- 69 71.5 -Lexi Bailey
Jordan Davis- 74 71.5 -Emma Schaefer
Gracie Himes- 74.5 * 71.5 -Ava Newsom
Leah Anderson- 73 73 -Kate Davis
Jillian Stopperich- 74 71 -Mia McAfoos REINING
GEORGIA - 3 1 - UT MARTIN
Jordyn Budzynski- 68 70 -Logan Putvinski
Raegan Shepherd- 66.5 63.5 -Emma Schaefer
Jax Bound- 68.5 68.5 -Lexi Bailey
Shelby Lynch- 69.5 67.5 -Aubrey Malone
Caitin Lyons- 70 * 66.5 -Kate Davis
TEXAS A&M 13, GEORGIA 6 OCTOBER 6 -- COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS FENCES
TEXAS A&M - 3 2 - GEORGIA
ALi Treuting - 81 80 - Tessa Brown
ALexa Leong - 83 60 - Jordan Toering
Brooke Brombach - 85 84 - Emma Reichow
Kate Egan - 79 * 86 - Catalina Peralta
Devon H. Thomas - 78 85 - Melissa Deryn Foster FLAT
TEXAS A&M - 3 1 - GEORGIA
Devon H. Thomas - 81 * 74 - Sophia Pilla
Rylee Shufelt - 75 73 - Nora Andrews
Devan M. Thomas - 79 75 - Catalina Peralta
Maggie Nealon - 80 80 - Jessica Guginsky
Brooke Brombach - 75 78 - Jordan Toering HORSEMANSHIP
TEXAS A&M - 4 1 - GEORGIA
Millie Landon - 73.5 72.5 - Leah Anderson
Ellie Gerbrandt - 71 68.5 - Austin Layer
Hanna Olaussen - 78 * 74 - Jordan Davis
Ella Petak - 72 73 - Jillian Stopperich
Cori Cansdale - 75 73.5 - Gracie Himes REINING
TEXAS A&M - 3 2 - GEORGIA
Mattie Gustin - 74.5 72 - Cadence Eger
Keesa Luers - 76 * 70 - Caitlin Lyons
Gracie Casebolt - 70 70.5 - Raegan Shepherd
Emmy Lu Marsh - 72 71 - Shelby Lynch
Lauren Hanson - 73 73.5 - Jax Bound
GEORGIA 15, SOUTH CAROLINA 4 OCTOBER 13 -- BISHOP, GA. FENCES
HEAD COACH: MEGHAN BOENIG SOUTHERN EQUESTRIAN CHAMPIONS
Date Opponent Location Results
09.24 Kentucky Athens, Ga. W, 1217.5-1182.5
10.07-08 Big 8 English Tourn. Athens, Ga. 1st
10.21 at South Carolina Blythewood, S.C. W, 1202-1184.75
11.05 at Berry College Rome, Ga. W, 2236.5-2229.5
11.11 Auburn Athens, Ga. W, 1229-1219.5
01.27-28 at Big 8 Western Tourn.
2006-07
HEAD COACH: MEGHAN BOENIG SOUTHERN EQUESTRIAN CHAMPIONS
VARSITY EQUESTRIAN RESERVE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
Date
09.23-24 Kansas State, Baylor Athens, Ga. 1st 10.06 South Carolina Athens, Ga. W, 9-6 10.21 at New Mexico State Las Cruces, N.M. W, 16-11 11.10 at Auburn
2007-08
HEAD
2008-09
HEAD COACH: MEGHAN BOENIG SOUTHERN EQUESTRIAN CHAMPIONS VARSITY EQUESTRIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
HEAD COACH: MEGHAN BOENIG NCEA RESERVE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
Date Opponent
11-9 11.11 Auburn Bishop, Ga. W, 10-8 11.18 vs. Delaware State at UT Martin Martin, Tenn. W, 19-1 11.19 at UT Martin Martin, Tenn. W, 12-6 02.04 South Carolina Bishop, Ga. W, 11-8
03.09 at TCU Fort. Worth, Texas W, 9-8
03.10 at Oklahoma State Stillwater, Okla. L, 13-10
09.13 Texas A&M* Bishop, Ga. W, 17-5 10.12 at Baylor Waco, Texas W, 14-10 11.02 South Carolina* Bishop, Ga. L, 11-8 11.09 at Auburn* Auburn, Ala. L, 13-7 11.16 at South Dakota State Brookings, S.D. L, 8-8
2013-14
HEAD
2014-15
16-3 02.14 at Auburn* Auburn, Ala.
10-9 02.28 Texas A&M* Bishop, Ga.
03.06 at Fresno State Fresno, Calif. W, 14-6
03.07 vs. TCU at Fresno State Fresno, Calif. W, 10-5 03.27 vs. Auburn% College Station, Texas W, 13-6 03.28 at Texas A&M% College Station, Texas W, 12-5 04.17 vs. Kansas State$ Waco, Texas
10-5 04.18 vs. Auburn$ Waco, Texas
10-6 04.18 vs. South Carolina$ Waco, Texas
* SEC Meet % SEC Championship $ NCEA Championship
GEORGIA EQUESTRIAN
2018-19
HEAD COACH: MEGHAN BOENIG
NCEA
RESERVE NATIONAL
CHAMPIONS
Date Opponent Location Result
10.05 at South Carolina* Columbia, S.C. L, 10-9 10.13 at SMU Dallas, Texas l, 11-8 10.20 Oklahoma State Bishop, Ga. W, 13-6 11.09 Auburn* Bishop,
2019-20
HEAD COACH: MEGHAN BOENIG
2020-21
HEAD COACH: MEGHAN BOENIG NCEA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
Opponent
02.27 at Auburn* Auburn, Ala.
03.06 at Texas A&M* College Station, Texas
03.26 vs. Texas A&M% Bishop, Ga.
03.27 vs. Auburn% Bishop, Ga.
04.15 vs. TCU $ Waco, Texas
04.16 vs. Oklahoma State $ Waco, Texas
04.17 vs. SMU $ Waco, Texas
* SEC Meet
% SEC Championship
$ NCEA Championship
2021-22
HEAD COACH: MEGHAN BOENIG
Date Opponent
10.08 at No. 1 Auburn * Auburn, Ala.
10.22 No. 7 Fresno State Bishop, Ga.
10.29 at No. 5 Texas A&M * College Station, Texas
10.30 at No. 3 SMU Dallas, Texas
02.12 No. 2 Texas A&M * Bishop, Ga.
2022-23
HEAD COACH: MEGHAN BOENIG
2023-24 HEAD COACH: MEGHAN
BOENIG
15-4 10.20 at No. 2 Auburn * Auburn, Ala.
12-8 10.27 vs. No.1 TCU Martin, Tenn.
8-7 10.28 at No.10 UT Martin Martin, Tenn.
14-5 11.18 No.6 Oklahoma State Bishop, Ga. W, 11-6
01.27 at Baylor Waco, Texas L, 11-8
02.10 No.5 Auburn * Bishop, Ga. W, 11-7
02.17 No. 2 Texas A&M * Bishop, Ga. W, 13-7
02.24 at No.4 South Carolina * Blythewood, S.C. W, 11-9
2/7/09 N W, 9-5 2/13/10 H W, 17-3 11/19/10 A W, 11-5 2/16/11 H W, 15-1 11/17/12 N W, 12-4
2/13/16 H L, 12-8
3/26/16 N L, 11-7
11/11/16 H W, 11-7
2/11/17 A W, 10-8
3/25/17 N W, 10-9
4/15/17 N W, 9-7
11/10/17 A W, 12-8
2/9/18 H L, 12-6
3/31/18 N W, 12-7
4/21/18 N L, 10-5
11/9/18 H L, 11-6
3/8/19 A L, 17-3
4/20/19 N L, 8-7
11/15/19 A L, 16-4
2/8/20 H L, 12-8
10/23/20 H L, 10-8
2/27/21 A L, 12-3
3/27/21 N L, 15-5
10/8/21 A L, 13-7
3/4/22 H W, 13-7
3/25/22 N L, 12-7
10/7/22 H L, 11-8
2/18/23 A L, 14-4
10/20/23 A L, 12-8
2/10/24 H W, 11-7
3/29/24 N L, 12-7
BAYLOR (13-4)
H: 5-0 | A: 5-4 | N: 3-0
9/24/06 H W
2/10/07 A W, 9-7
9/29/07 A W, 16-8
2/17/08 H W, 13-7
11/21/08 A W, 16-4
1/24/14 N W, 17-3
2/8/15 H W, 16-3
10/3/15 A W, 9-5
2/4/17 H W, 18-2
11/17/17 A W, 13-7
2/28/19 H W, 15-4
11/28/22 A L, 11-8
FRESNO STATE (17-0)
H: 6-0 | A: 8-0 | N: 3-0
3/12/05 A W, 901-802
2/11/06 A W, 2064-1924
9/21/08 H W, 12-8
2/7/09 A W, 9-7 11/6/09 H W, 14-6
11/20/10 N W, 14-2
2/26/12 H W, 17-1
1/26/13 A W, 12-4
9/27/13 H W, 16-3
3/6/15 A W, 14-6
10/2/15 N W, 12-8
2/27/16 H W, 16-4
3/3/17 A W, 11-8
4/14/17 N W, 12-3
9/29/17 A W, 10-8 11/8/19 A W, 10-6 10/22/21 H W, 16-3
KANSAS STATE (10-2)
H: 6-0 | A: 2-2 | N: 2-0
3/5/04 H W, 1218-1084 9/23/06 H W
3/11/07 A L, 11-8
3/9/08 A W, 11-7
3/7/14 H W, 17-3 3/5/16 A W, 12-7 10/23/16 H W, 17-2
OKLAHOMA STATE (7-4) H: 5-0 | A: 0-3 | N: 2-1 2/21/04 H W, 1005.31-984.03 2/16/08 H W, 10-8 3/10/12 A L, 13-10 4/19/14 N W, 8-6 10/16/15 H W, 14-6 11/19/16 A L, 10-10 10/20/18 H W, 13-6 4/16/21 N W, 10-6 2/11/23 A L, 11-8 4/13/23 N L, 13-7 11/18/23 H W, 11-6
SACRED HEART (1-0)
H: 0-0 | A: 1-0 | N: 0-0 3/20/10 A W, 16-0
SMU (5-3)
H: 2-1 | A: 1-2 | N: 2-0 10/26/14 A L, 9-9 4/15/16 N W, 12-4 3/2/18 H W, 11-8 10/13/18 A L, 11-8 10/26/19 H W, 10-8 4/17/21 N W, 9-7 10/30/21 A W, 11-9 2/24/23 H L, 10-9
2/25/17 H W, 12-7 4/15/17 N L, 11-5 10/13/17 H W, 12-4
197-82 200-77
All-Time Record Dual-Meets All-Time Record Including Jumping Seat Only Meets
86 95
Dual-Meet Wins at Home Wins at Home Including Jumping Seat Only Meets
.706 .722
3/10/18 A W, 13-7 4/19/18 N W, 13-1 11/16/18 A W, 11-8 2/9/19 H W, 12-8 3/29/19 N L, 12-8 4/18/19 N W, 8-7 10/25/19 H L, 10-8 2/1/20 A L, 9-9 (1535.5-1519) 10/29/20 H W, 10-9 3/6/21 A W, 9-8 3/26/21 N W, 10-10 10/19/21 A L, 13-6
2/12/22 H L, 9-9 (1532-1523) 10/22/22 H W, 10-8 3/4/23 A L, 12-8 3/24/23 N L, 10-8 10/6/23 A L, 13-6
2/17/24 H W, 13-7 4/18/24 N L, 11-7
All-Time Records Dual-Meets Home, Away, Neutral
Winning % Dual-Meets 86-20, 67-48, 44-20
Winning % Including Jumping Seat Only Meets
Denotes Undetermined due to COVID-19
About The NCEA
NCEA
FAQs
HOW MANY WOMEN ARE ON A TEAM?
There is no roster size limit. The teams range from 15 to 85 girls. The average team has about 46 members.
CAN NCEA TEAMS ONLY COMPETE NCAA?
No, schools that are members of the NCEA are permitted to compete in both the NCAA-NCEA head-to-head format and IHSA (club) competitions. However, universities can only compete in one National Championship event.
HOW MANY COACHES ARE THERE?
There can be anywhere from one to five coaches. Some teams also have volunteer coaches designated by the team- one western coach and one jumping seat coach for the whole season.
WHERE DO THE TEAMS PRACTICE?
Practice and competition facilities can be owned by the athletics department or can be multiple use facilities on campus partnered with the Agriculture or Animal Science Department. Some programs lease a private facility.
WHO PROVIDES THE HORSES?
Most programs have their own string of horses for practice and competition. These horses are donated, purchased or leased for the competition season.
TYPICALLY HOW MANY COMPETITIONS ARE THERE?
Teams can have up to 15 dates of competition, not including conference or national championships. Competitions that last more than one day, or tournaments can be considered one date, up to five times.
WHAT DOES IT COST TO RUN AN EQUESTRIAN TEAM?
Annual operating budgets can range from $100,000 to $450,000, depending on the size of your program. The average cost per student athlete is $3,000 to $7,000.
WHAT ABOUT GRADES?
The average equestrian grade point average is 3.2
ARE THERE SCHOLARSHIPS?
The sport of equestrian can offer up to 15 scholarships per team. The NCAA defines equestrian as an equivalency sport, allowing the scholarships to be divided amongst the team.
CAN STUDENT-ATHLETES RECEIVE COURSE CREDIT?
Some universities offer class credit for participation.
NCEA HISTORY
In 1998, Equestrian was identified and adopted by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Committee on Women’s Athletics (CWA) as an emerging sport for women at the Division I and II levels. Currently, there are 16 Division I and four Division II programs sponsoring equestrian.
The National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA), a non-profit corporation, was created as a governing body to advance the sport of equestrian. The NCEA is responsible for the development and administration of equestrian rules and guidelines. Equestrian is subject to all NCAA policies and procedures in the same manner as other sports.
The NCEA developed sub-committees for areas critical to the advancement of equestrian. These sub-committees consist of coaches and administrators from member institutions. Coaches and administrators are invited to serve on any of the various NCEA Committees of their choice. The committees include but are not limited to: Membership Services, Competition, Strategic Communications, Sponsorship, Selection, and Championship. Each committee is charged with helping to progress equestrian to championship sport status within the NCAA. Additionally, liaisons from the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) interact with and provide input to these committees and the NCEA Executive Committee.
Part of the NCEA’s structure includes a National Advisory Board (NAB) comprised of corporate leaders, philanthropists, and equine industry experts. The goal of the NAB is to develop the financial support to make Equestrian the first financially-independent nonrevenue generating collegiate sport. NAB efforts have shown early success in the form of grants to help sustain current NCEA teams, as well as providing financial strategies for the development of new Equestrian teams across the nation.
MISSION
The NCEA, in concert with the mission and vision of the NCAA, is committed to providing collegiate opportunities for female equestrian student-athletes to compete at the highest level, while embracing equity, diversity and promoting academic and competitive excellence.
VISION
To be recognized globally as the premier level of competition for elite female collegiate equestrian student-athletes.
About SEC EQUESTRIAN
The Southeastern Conference (SEC) adopted the sport of equestrian during the 2012-13 academic year. The four programs that currently comprise the SEC have a rich history of elite success in the sport.
Since the National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) began contesting a national championship in 2002, all SEC programs have won a national championship. The annual NCEA Championship is held in Ocala, Florida each year.
Georgia has tallied a league-leading seven overall national championships, including three consecutive from 2008-10 and most recently in 2021. Auburn follows with six and South Carolina has three national titles, while Texas A&M has two overall national titles.
The three schools of the formerly 12-member SEC have been contesting a yearly Southern Equestrian Championship since 2003, which in 2012-13 was replaced by the first-ever SEC Championship, involving all four schools.
The Southern Equestrian Championships were held on campus sites on a rotating basis. Georgia won a league-leading six Southern Equestrian Championship titles, while Auburn captured three and South Carolina one.
The first-ever SEC equestrian meet was held on September 9, 2012 when Georgia hosted Texas A&M in Bishop, Ga. In March of 2013, the first-ever SEC Championship in the sport of equestrian was held in Auburn, Ala., with South Carolina taking home the inaugural trophy.
Equestrian 101
KEY TERMS IN EQUESTRIAN
CROP
A short whip used in riding, only as an aid to reinforce the rider’s leg.
DIAGONALS
The correct posting, up/down motion, of the rider in sequence with diagonal movement of the horse’s legs at the trot.
EQUITATION / HORSEMANSHIP
In competitions, these indicate that riders are being judged on their ability to control and show the horse while maintaining the correct riding position. Riders have the added challenge of riding an unfamiliar horse, one that they draw for in a lottery system just before their event.
FENCES
An individual performance where each rider shows a horse over 8-10 jumps up to three feet, six inches high. Riders are judged on their ability to position the horse correctly at the jumps and avoid interfering with the horse’s balance, while maintaining the correct riding position and producing a smooth, polished performance.
FIGURE EIGHT
Two circles connected by a change of direction, most often seen in Reining patterns.
GAIT
Three ways — canter/lope, trot/jog, or walk — by which a horse can move by lifting the feet in different order or rhythm..
HORSEMANSHIP
Refers to an event in Western discipline which is judged on a predetermined pattern consisting of several maneuvers is performed by each rider. The rider’s overall position and effectiveness in the saddle are major factors in scoring.
JUMPING SEAT
The category of Equitation English riders compete in, whose foundation lies in jumping and riding across country, such as foxhunting.
LEADS
They are determined at the canter/lope by which front foot is leading. Correct leads have the inside foreleg reaching furthest.
NATURAL AIDS
Body signals from the seat, legs, hands and voice to communicate commands to the horse, all the while appearing comfortable, relaxed and balanced. These signals should be subtle or imperceptible to the judge and spectators and exaggerated shifting of the rider’s weight is not desirable. The resulting performance shown by the horse is not to be considered more important than the methods used by the rider in obtaining them.
REINING
In this class, Western riders perform an individual,
COMPETITION FORMAT
The National Collegiate Equestrian Association tests five riders from each team in head-to-head competitions. Five horses are selected for each event. Each rider is paired with one of the five horses in a random draw before the competition. The rider is able to watch the horse warm up and receives four minutes to practice on her assigned mount before competing. Riders from opposing teams compete on the same horse in the headto-head competition. Each rider receives a score, and the rider with the highest score receives one point for her team. In NCEA competition, the level of difficulty is demonstrated by the accuracy of the pattern and how the competitor uses the horse that she draws to the best of her ability.
GENERAL SCORING
Jumping Seat riders are scored on a scale of 1-100. There are eight maneuvers each worth 10 points, plus an overall score worth 20 points, to total 100 possible points per ride. Maneuvers are scored on this scale: 10=Excellent; 9=Very Good; 8=Good; 7=Fairly Good; 6=Satisfactory; 5=Sufficient; 4=Insufficient; 3=Fairly Bad; 2=Bad; 1=Very Bad; 0=Not Executed. Scores usually range from 70-85, depending on the judge. Western riders are scored on a 70-point scale. There are a minimum of eight maneuvers which are scored on the following scale: +1.5=Excellent, +1=Very Good, +.5=Good, 0=Correct, -.5=Poor, -1=Very Poor, -1.5=Extremely Poor. Scores range from 68 to 74. Horsemanship and Jumping Seat riders are judged on their ability to control and show the horse while maintaining the correct riding position. Fences riders are judged on their ability to position the horse correctly and not interfere with its balance while maintaining the correct riding position for a smooth, polished performance. Reiners are judged for precision and application of natural aids as they execute intricate maneuvers at varying speeds.
pre-assigned pattern from memory, demonstrating a variety of stops, turns and maneuvers at various speeds. The emphasis on this class is on precision, technical application of natural aids and the rider’s ability to show unfamiliar horses.
ROLLBACK
A tight turn performed in the Jumping Seat Fences class to show control of the horse and rider’s ability to maintain a position between two fences. . In Western Reining, a rollback is a 180 degree pivot with speed after a halt.
SCHOOLING
The horses will be schooled, or prepared for competition using stretching and suppling exercises at various gaits, or practice jumps if necessary by riders who will not compete the day of the show.
SLIDING STOP
A smooth stop from the lope, in which the horse is supposed to balance on its back feet while the front feet continue to move.
SCORING
JUMPING SEAT - FENCES
The judges evaluate the rider’s position, consistency on course, smoothness, flow from jump to jump, the number of strides (steps taken by the horse) in a line and the rider’s plan to complete the course. Scoring for the event is out of a perfect score of 100.
JUMPING SEAT - FLAT
The riders have to perform a flat test on their horses in a 40 x 20 meter arena. The test consists of eight movements to be judged on accuracy, smoothness and overall position of the rider. Each movement receives a score from 1-10. The ninth and tenth scores judges the position and seat of the rider and the correctness and effectiveness of her aids, and the overall accuracy of the test. The score is out of a perfect score of 100.
WESTERN - HORSEMANSHIP
This event is designed to evaluate the rider’s ability to execute a prescribed set of maneuvers with precision and smoothness while maintaining a balanced, functional and fundamentally correct body position. The ideal horsemanship pattern consists of seven to nine maneuvers and is extremely precise with the rider and horse working in complete unison, executing each maneuver with subtle aids and cues. Exhibitors are scored for each sequence of maneuvers with a -1.5 to +1.5 score for each maneuver with a base score beginning at 70.
WESTERN - REINING
This event based on set patterns and a precise scoring system. Within these patterns the horses’ and riders’ athletic abilities are tested in a series of maneuvers including spins, stops, flying lead changes and circles with changes in size and speed. In collegiate competition, the rider must perform one of the set National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) patterns. There are a total of eight parts to a reining test with each individual maneuver judged from -1.5 to +1.5 with a base score beginning at 70.
CHAMPIONSHIP FORMAT
DUAL DISCIPLINE CHAMPIONSHIP
The top eight dual discipline teams will be competing in the NCEA National Championship Dual Discipline Championship. Each team will compete head to head with five riders in each of the Events: Fences and Flat for the Jumping Seat events and Horsemanship and Reining for the Western events. The team that receives the most points (20 possible points available for each matchup) will advance to the next round. The dual discipline competition begins on Thursday with the quarterfinals. The semifinals are on Friday and the conclusion of the dual discipline events run on championship Saturday.
SINGLE DISCIPLINE CHAMPIONSHIP
The top four single discipline teams will be competing in the NCEA National Championship Single Discipline Championship. Each team will compete head to head with up to five riders in each of the Jumping Seat events: Fences and Flat. The team that receives the most points (10 possible points available for each matchup) will advance to the next round. The single discipline competition begins on Friday with the semifinals. The conclusion of the single discipline events run on championship Saturday.
Championship History
Jumping
Fences
INDIVIDUAL
Overall
Jumping
Overall
Jumping
Jumping
INDIVIDUAL
Reining
Championship History
Bulldogs have won the most national championships in NCEA history with seven. In 20 years of championships, a non-SEC school has won only one title.
Honors Awards &
NCEA ALL-AMERICA
96 Awards by 58 Riders Fences
24 Awards by 16 Riders
2011
Carly Anthony, Abby O’Mara
Grace Rogers (Honorable Mention)
2012 Michelle Morris (Honorable Mention)
Abby O’Mara (Honorable Mention)
2013 Carly Anthony, Olivia Dorey
2014 Liza Finsness (Second Team)
Abby O’Mara (Honorable Mention)
2015 Leylan Gleeson (Second Team)
Meg O’Mara (Honorable Mention)
2016 Addy Cord (Second Team)
Meg O’Mara (Honorable Mention)
2017 Meg O’Mara (First Team)
Liza Finsness (Second Team)
2018 Maddy Darst (First Team)
2019 Maddy Darst (Second Team)
2020 Ali Tritschler (Second Team)
2021 Hayley Mairano (Honorable Mention)
2022 Jordan Toering (Second Team)
Hayley Mairano (Second Team)
Rachel McMullen (Honorable Mention)
2023 Emma Reichow (Honorable Mention)
2024 Catalina Peralta (First Team)
Flat
32 Awards by 18 Riders
2011 Carly Anthony, Michelle Morris
Grace Rogers (Honorable Mention)
2012 Carly Anthony
Kylee Arbuckle (Honorable Mention)
Michelle Morris (Honorable Mention)
2013 Carly Anthony
2014 Liza Finsness (First Team)
Olivia Dorey (Honorable Mention)
2015 Kylee Arbuckle (First Team)
Liza Finsness (Honorable Mention)
2016 Liza Finsness (Second Team)
2017
Meg O’Mara (First Team
Liza Finsness (Honorable Mention)
2018 Maddy Darst (First Team) Addyson Cord (Second Team)
Grace Bridges (Honorable Mention)
2019 Maddy Darst (Honorable Mention)
2020 Ali Tritschler (Second Team)
Grace Bridges (Honorable Mention)
Hayley Mairano (Honorable Mention)
2021 Isabelle Heckler (First Team)
Ali Tritschler (Honorable Mention)
2022 Jordan Toering (First Team)
2023
Sophia Pilla (Second Team)
Ceci Bresch (First Team)
Sophia Pilla (First Team)
Catalina Peralta (Second Team)
Nora Andrews (Honorable Mention)
2024 Jordan Toering (First Team)
Sophia Pilla (Second Team)
Catalina Peralta (Honorable Mention)
Horsemanship
20 Awards by 11 Riders
2011 Maria Salazar (Honorable Mention)
2012 Megan Hawkins
Maria Salazar (Honorable Mention)
Paige Stawicki (Honorable Mention)
2013 Maria Salazar
2014 Heather Schmidt (Second Team)
Rachel Kolb (Honorable Mention)
2015 Paige Stawicki (First Team)
Sara Parr (First Team)
2016 Bailey Anderson (First Team)
Heather Schmidt (Second Team)
TWO EVENT ALL-AMERICANS
Thirteen Georgia riders have recieved NCEA All-America honors in two events. Only one of those riders, Graysen Stroud, earned the distinction in both Western events.
2019 Graysen Stroud (Horsemanship and Reining), Annabeth Payne (Reining), Jordan Carpenter (Reining)
2021 Ali Tritschler (Fences and Flat),
Jordan Toering (Fences), Isabelle Heckler (Flat), Hayley Mairano (Flat), Leah Anderson (Horsemanship), Courtney Blumer (Reining), Jordan Carpenter (Reining)
NCEA
COACH OF THE YEAR
2021 Meghan Boenig
NCEA ASST. COACH OF THE YEAR
2021
Anna Becker (Jumping Seat)
SEC RIDER OF THE YEAR
21 Awards by 15 Riders
Fences- 3 Awards by 2 Riders
Flat- 8 Awards by 7 Riders
Horsemanship- 3 Awards by 3 Riders
Reining- 7 Awards by 4 Riders
2013 Carly Anthony (Equitation on the Flat)
McKenzie Lantz (Reining)
2014 McKenzie Lantz (Reining) Liza Finsness (Equitation on the Flat)
2015 Kylee Arbuckle (Equitation on the Flat)
Paige Stawicki (Horsemanship)
Lauren Garmon (Reining)
2016 Bailey Anderson (Horsemanship) Liza Finsness (Equitation on the Flat)
Lauren Garmon (Reining)
Meg O’Mara (Equitation Over Fences)
2017 Meg O’Mara (Equitation on the Flat)
Meg O’Mara (Equitation Over Fences)
2018 Maddy Darst (Equitation Over Fences) Addy Cord (Equitation On The Flat) Graysen Stroud (Reining)
Sara Parr (Horsemanship - February) 2015-16 Bailey Anderson (Horsemanship- February) 2016-17 Meg O’Mara (Equitation Over Fences- October)
Kyndall Harper (Reining- January) Meg O’Mara (Equitation on the Flat- February) 2017-18 Madison Anger (Horsemanship- November)
Maddy Darst (Equitation Over Fences- November)
Kyndall Harper (Reining- November)
Madison Newman (Equitation on the Flat- November)
Maddy Darst (Equitation Over Fences- April)
Graysen Stroud (Reining- April)
2018-19 Ali Tritschler (Equitation on the Flat- October)
SEC Freshman of the Year 16 Awards by 14 Riders
4 Fences, 3 Flat and Horsemanship and 6 Reining
2014 Liza Finsness (Equitation on the Flat) Liza Finsness (Equitation on the Fences) Charley Thiel (Reining)
2015 Addy Cord (Equitation on the Flat) Bailey Anderson (Horsemanship) Kyndall Harper (Reining)
2016 Graysen Stroud (Reining)
2017 Sydney Hutchins (Equitation on the Flat)
Sydney Hutchins (Equitation Over Fences)
2018 Sara Lewis (Horsemanship)
Courtney Blumer (Reining)
2021 Jordan Toering (Fences)
2022 Jillian Stopperich (Co-Horsemanship)
Jax Bound (Reining)
2024 Tessa Downey (Fences)
Cadence Eger (Reining)
SEC COACH OF THE YEAR
Jordan Toering (Fences- February)
Hayley Mairano (Equitation Over Fences- January) 2019-20 Courtney Blumer (Reining- March) 2020-21 Sara Lewis (Horsemanship- November) Ali Tritschler (Flat- November) 2021-22
Jillian Stopperich (Horsemanship- March) 2022-23 Jordan Toering (Flat- November)
2016 Bailey Anderson (First), Addy Cord (First) Liza Finsness (First), Lauren Garmon (First), Leylan Gleeson (First), Rachel Kolb (First), Kyndall Harper (Second), Charley Thiel (Second) Lindsay Cheek (HM), Sammie Johnson (HM) 2017-18 Bailey Anderson (First), Madison Anger (First), Grace Bridges (First), Addyson Cord (First), Kyndall Harper (First), Samantha Johnson (Second), Sydney Hutchins (HM) 2018-19 Madison Anger (First), Emma Mandarino (First), Graysen Stroud (First) Grace Bridges (First), Ali Tritschler (First) Sydney Hutchins (Second), Lexie Lane (Second)
Madison Newman (HM)
2020 Grace Bridges (First), Maddie Fiorante (First) Isabelle Heckler (First), Kate Kramer (First) Julia Spreng (First), Ali Tritschler (First) Sara Lewis (First), Annabeth Payne (Second) Maddy Darst (HM), Courtney Blumer (HM) Lindsay Guynn (HM) 2021 Ceci Bresch (First), Kendall Gill (First), Isabelle Heckler (First), Sara Lewis (First), Caitlin Lyons (First), Ali Tritschler (First), Courtney Blumer (Second), Jordan Carpenter (Second), Kaitlin Dierks (Second), Taylor Burgess (HM), Addy Cullum (HM), Lexie Lane (HM), Rachel McMullen (HM) 2022 Leah Anderson (First), Courtney Blumer (First), Kendall Gill (First), Lindsay Guynn (First), Grace Himes (First), Sara Lewis (First), Caitlin Lyons (First), Sophia Pilla (First), Emma Reichow (First), Jordan Toering (First) Ceci Bresch (Second), Rachel McMullen (Second) 2023 Leah Anderson (First), Courtney Blumer (First), Kendall Gill (First), Sara Lewis (First), Caitlin Lyons (First), Rachel McMullen (First), Sophia Pilla (First), Emma Reichow (First), Jax Bound (Second), Ceci Bresch (Second), Jordan Davis (Honorable Mention), Sophie Lucas (Honorable Mention), Jordan Toering (Honorable Mention) 2024 Leah Anderson (First), Jax Bound (First), Tessa Brown (First), Jordan Davis (First), Caitlin Lyons (First), Sophia Pilla (First), Emma Reichow (First), Isabella David (Second), Gracie Himes (Second), Catalina Peralta (Honorable Mention), Raegan Shepherd (Honorable Mention), Jillian Stopperich (Honorable Mention)
NCEA ACADEMIC HONOR ROLL
212 Awards
2013 Lauren Tieche, Megan Hawkins, Sara Parr, Anna Sasser, Megan Southam, Nicki Alexander, Samantha Baker, Madi Berger, Honey Beth Campbell, Faith Fiorenzano, Jenny Freeman, Allison Haspel, Julia Hemingway, Jackie Hoyt, Morgan Justiss, Selby Merritt, Kate Skoglund, Ali Sullivan, Kelsey Thatcher, Brittlan Wall
2014 Nicki Alexander, Morgan Beavers, Madi Berger Jaclyn Beckley, Caroline Blackshear Honey Beth Campbell, Madi Clark, Sydney Crenshaw Emily DuPont, Faith Fiorenzano, Audrey Gallager, Heather Ham, Julia Hemingway Jackie Hoyt, Brittany Lynch, Laura Malone Selby Merritt, Kate Skoglund, Kelsey Thatcher
2015 Allie Harbert, Caroline Blackshear, Emily DuPont Emma Schauder, Heather Ham, Jan Sutcliff, Kendall Fately, Laura Malone, Madison Beasley, Madi Berger, Mikailla Waltos, Morgan Beavers, Sarah Novak, Sydney Beasley, Sydney Crenshaw, Taylor Davis, Morgan Justiss, Sara Hunt, Olivia Gaude
2018 Jessica Blum, Anna Hutlas, Alex Mougalian, Catherine Sullivan, Danielle Walawender, Kathryn Kramer, Stella Martin, Carly Reinsel, Shaelyn Vering, Taylor Carman, Meghan Flanagan, Elizabeth Goodlett, Ashlyn Lawrence, Eva Maracelis, Grace Porter, Kelly Skoglund
2019 Carter Anderson, Charlotte Anguiano, Jessica Blum, Maddie Fiorante, Sam Gastelum, Isabelle Heckler, Lauren Hull, Anna Hutlas, Kate Kramer, Meg Lemons, Alyssa Luckhardt, McKenzie Maloney, Stella Martin, Sarah McDonald, Alexis Mougalian, Carly Reinsel, Alexa Schwartz, Shaelyn Vering, Danielle Walawender
Jillian Stopperich ..............77.5............ vs. Texas A&M 2/17/24
R E I N I N G
Megan
Sarah Locker 78.5 at New Mexico State 10/21/06
Sarah Locker 78.5 vs. South Carolina 2/27/10
Becca Haaland 78.5 vs. TCU 10/23/11
Graysen Stroud 78.0 vs. Auburn 11/11/16
Megan Darby 77.5 at New Mexico State 10/21/06
Maria Salazar 77.5 vs. Fresno State 11/6/09
Carly Lambros 77.5 vs. Fresno State 11/6/09
Morgan Strauss 77.0 at Texas A&M 2/26/05
Morgan Strauss 77.0 at Fresno State 3/12/05
Kate Stewart 77.0 vs. Auburn 11/11/07
Kate Stewart 77.0 vs. Auburn 11/11/07
McKenzie Lantz 77.0 vs. TCU 10/23/11
Sarah Meier 76.59 vs. Kentucky 3/20/04
Sarah Meier 76.5 vs. Ohio State 11/13/04
Carly Veldman 76.5 at South Carolina 10/21/05
Megan Darby 76.5 vs. South Carolina 10/6/06
Sarah Locker 76.5 at Auburn 3/7/08
Sarah Locker 76.5 at Auburn 3/7/08
Hannah Dyer 76.5 vs. Fresno State 9/21/08
Sarah Meier 76.03 at Auburn 2/12/05
Tricia Fowler 76.0 at South Carolina 10/21/05
Sarah Locker 76.0 vs. TCU 9/23/07
Sarah Locker 76.0 at Fresno State 2/7/09
Sarah Locker 76.0 vs. Auburn 11/13/09
Becca Haaland 76.0 vs. Kansas State 10/22/11
Claudia Spreng 76.0 vs. Auburn 11/11/16
Kate Stewart 75.5 vs. Kentucky 9/24/05
Loren Buck 75.5 at New Mexico State 10/21/06
Lindsey Stier 75.5 at New Mexico State 10/21/06
Kate Stewart 75.5 vs. Fresno State 9/21/08
McKenzie Lantz 75.5 vs. South Carolina 10/23/10
Tricia Fowler 75.48 vs. Auburn 11/5/04
Sarah Meier 75.48 vs. Auburn 11/5/04
Morgan Strauss 75.48 vs. Auburn 11/5/04
Megan Darby 75.4 vs. Ohio State 11/13/04
Morgan Strauss 75.4 vs. Ohio State 11/13/04
Sarah Dunsmore 75.0 at South Carolina 2/13/04
Sarah Meier 75.0 vs. Auburn 11/11/05
Carly Veldman 75.0 at Auburn 3/4/06
Kate Stewart 75.0 vs. Baylor 9/24/06
Megan Darby 75.0 vs. Auburn 2/17/07
Nichole Grant 75.0 vs. Auburn 11/11/07
Kate Stewart 75.0 at Fresno State 2/7/09
Diandra St. Hilaire 75.0 at Fresno State 2/7/09
Sophia Pilla was undeafeated in the spring and recorded the highest Flat score at the NCEA Championships with an 85.67.
All-American Catalina Peralta won nine points with five Most Outstanding Performer honors last season.
Sarah Locker 75.0 vs. UT-Martin 3/27/09
Becca Haaland 75.0 vs. South Carolina 2/27/10
Jackie Hoyt 75.0 vs. South Carolina 10/23/10
Lauren Tieche 75.0 at Texas A&M 3/8/13
McKenzie Lantz 75.0 at Texas A&M 2/1/14
Charley Thiel 75.0 vs. Auburn 11/11/16
Graysen Stroud 75.0 vs. South Carolina 2/17/18
Sophie Lucas 75.0 vs. South Carolina 2/4/23
Jillian Stopperich was named SEC Horsemanship Rider of the Year after posted 13 wins wiht an undefeated record at home. All-SEC reiner Shelby Lynch compiled 10 wins with a 5-1 record at home last season, earning All-America nods.
