FRESNO - The No. 5 Fresno State equestrian team rounds out its fall slate at the Masterson Farms Invitational in Martin, Tenn., on Nov. 9 and Nov. 10 facing two United Equestrian Conference foes. The Bulldogs will ride against No. 10 UT-Martin on Thursday and No. 4 SMU on Friday. The rides are scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. PT for both days.
"We have really been focusing on the basics and accuracy of our riding," said head coach Eric Hubbard. "We have not competed at UT-Martin for awhile now and they may have some new horses that we have not seen before. Fundamental riding will be very important for us this weekend."
Last Time- Fresno State and UT-Martin last met in Delaware in the consolation bracket of the United Equestrian Conference Championships on Mar. 25, 2017. The Bulldogs brought home an 11-4 victory. With the last win, Fresno State owns an 8-3 all-time advantage over UTM.
The Bulldogs last competed against SMU on Feb. 18, 2017 in Fresno where Fresno State earned a 10-9 victory over the Mustangs who were the No. 5 team at the time. SMU was the second ranked team that the 'Dogs defeated in the same weekend, the first being then-No. 1 Baylor. Fresno State holds a 9-4 all-time advantage over the SMU program.
Scouting the Skyhawks- UTM is coming off of an 11-8 win in an exhibition contest against Miami University (Ohio) on Oct. 13.
Prior to that competition, UTM faced Delaware State on Oct. 7 where the Skyhawks earned a 9-6 victory.
Freshman hunt seat rider, Abbie Hopkins, earned NCEA Equifit National Rider of the Month honors in Equitation over Fences for October. Hopkins became the first Skyhawk to earn National Rider of the Month honors since the NCEA began the awards in 2013-14. Hopkins is averaging a score of 83 in her equitation over fences rides this season for UTM.
Scouting the Mustangs- Then-No. 5 SMU knocked off then-No. 4 Oklahoma State in an 11-9 victory on Oct. 21 to hold on to a perfect 3-0 record at home this season.
SMU has notched victories over then-No.6 TCU (Sept. 29), then-No. 7 Baylor (Oct. 14) and then-No. 4 OSU (Oct.21).
The Mustangs will hit the road for the first time this season for the Masterson Farms Invitational, where they will face Delaware State and UT-Martin on Nov. 9 before facing the 'Dogs on Nov.10.
Quick look at the Bulldogs- No. 5 Fresno State has moved up in the rankings for three consecutive rankings announcements. The Bulldogs are 2-2 on the season with their only two losses coming from then-No. 1 Texas A&M and then-No. 2 Georgia.
The 'Dogs last competed on Oct. 21 where they defeated the Jackrabbits of then-No. 10 South Dakota State 12-7 in Brookings, S.D.
Sophomore western rider Paige Barton secured September NCEA Shorty's Reining Rider of the Month honors by going a perfect 3-0 in her rides during the month of September. Barton added her fourth consecutive reigning victory with a 70-69.5 victory over SDSU's Miranda Sullivan on Oct. 21 to remain undefeated in the reining arena.
Senior Sierra Swaffar claimed the September UEC Equitation on the Flat Rider of the Month honors while junior Taeya Harle was named the September UEC Horsemanship Rider of the Month.
FARNAM Top 10 Rankings (Nov. 7)
- Goergia
- Texas A&M
- Auburn
- SMU
- Fresno State
- Oklahoma State
- Baylor
- TCU
- South Carolina
- UT-Martin