The SMU equestrian team had an outstanding 2012 season starting in January when it went from Varsity Equestrian to the National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) – a higher level of equestrian competition.
SMU opened the spring season as No. 10 against No. 3 Texas A&M with a 6-4 victory over the Aggies.
Moving up to No. 9, the Mustangs took on South Dakota State, which resulted in another 10-2 victory.
Jordyn Pettersen and Greer Hindle won MVP honors for the Mustangs at that competition.
The Mustangs fell to No. 1 Georgia in the next competition, but entered as the No. 5 seed in the National Championship, making the highest rank in school history.
Freshman Emma Roberts was named 2012 All-American by NCEA.
“We are extremely proud of Emma [Roberts],” head coach Haley Schoolfield told SMU Athletics. “She has been a great competitor this year and is very deserving of this award. To get this recognition as a freshman speaks volumes to her hard work this season.”
In the NCEA Championships the Mustangs fell in a tiebreaker to Kansas State.
To start the fall semester off the Mustangs came out strong in September with a 926-818 victory over Baylor.
“Today was a great chance for our young team to get experience against Baylor, the defending national champion in hunter seat,” Schoolfield said.
In the season opener, the Mustangs defeated Delaware State in a close 785-768 fight.
In October, SMU could not back its previous victory over Texas A&M as the team fell to the Aggies 9-3.
An October highlight was Julianna Fischer, who won the $10,000 Fleur de Lis Jumper Derby.
To start off November, the Mustangs dominated Fresno State 9-3. Freshman Schaefer Raposa and Hindle earned MVP honors for SMU.
“We really came together as a team today and got the job done,” Schoolfield said. “Special kudos to our flat team that knocked it out of the park with stellar rides. The two MVP awards were icing on the cake.”
To close out the fall season, No. 10 SMU defeated No. 1 South Carolina 5-4.
“We could not be more proud of our team today,” Natalie Burton, assistant coach, said.
“They set their minds on getting the win this morning, and they never let up. It feels great to end the fall season with a win over the No. 1 team in the country, but it feels even better to see the team come together, determined to win and succeed.”
Schoolfield recently announced the signing of National Letters of Intent by Julia Fowler, from Hartford, Conn., and Charlotte Jacobs, from East Aurora, N.Y.
Fowler and Jacobs join the recruiting class along with Addie Audette, Taylor Schmidt and Sylvia de Toledo.
The team’s season picks up again Feb. 8 at the WEF Invitational in Wellington, Fla.
