When we say that we will root for anyone wearing red and black to beat anyone wearing any other color on a competitive athletic field, we mean it. In fact, we extend that privilege to other species. We also want any horse garbed in red and black to beat any horse wearing other colors, and that horse’s rider as well.
Mission accomplished.
Your Georgia Bulldog equestrians triumphed over the weekend in Ocala, Florida at the National Collegiate Equestrian Association Championships, downing the Mustangs of SMU (both the hooved and unhooven ones) 12-8 to secure UGA’s eighth mounted national title.
The Mane ‘Dawgs had to go through some familiar foes to reach the final. First the #7 seeded Athenians put #2 Auburn out to pasture in decisive fashion, beating the Plainsriders 13-4 in the quarterfinals. The Red and Black then advanced past another perennial SEC power, Texas A&M, 16-4 in the semifinals to book a spot in the championship.
Once they arrived it took a complete team effort to put the Ponies on the trail back to Dallas with an L. Georgia prevailed 3-2 in reining behind a career-high 72.2 score from sophomore Kennedy Buchanan and a season-high 72.7 from sophomore Cadence Eger.
But it was in the Flat competition where the Mane ‘Dawgs put this one away, beating SMU 5-0 behind a season-high 91.7 from Senior Catalina Peralta.
The victory is Georgia’s first national title since 2020-21, and the eighth overall since the program began in 2001 under coach Meghan Boenig. Coach Boenig was also inducted over the weekend into the NCEA’s Hall of Fame in recognition of her substantial contributions to collegiate equestrian competition. That, as they say, is another Bulldog point of pride.
Congratulations to the Athenian Equestrians, and…
Go ‘Dawgs!!!