No. 10 TCU Equestrian team returns home for competition

After falling to New Mexico State 12-6, the No. 10 TCU equestrian team is moving forward and returning home for the first time in a month to compete against South Dakota State at October Hill Farm in Hudson Oaks.

The 2011-12 season schedule, which began in September, has kept the team on the road but allowed the riders and horses to build stamina for the 2012 NCEA National Championship in April.

“The team has grown a tremendous amount by traveling on the road and we are ready to showcase those skills at home with our fans,” interim western head coach Kindel Huffman said.

The Horned Frogs are facing the Jackrabbits for the second time in program history. TCU (3-9) will be competing in hunt seat equitation, equitation over fences and reining and western horsemanship this weekend.

“It has been a long season of traveling, and it will be nice for our fans to be able to see our team in action,” head hunt seat coach Logan Fiorentino said. “I’m very excited to be hosting South Dakota State this weekend at home.”

Last weekend, South Dakota State (3-6) competed against Sacred Heart in Fairfield, Conn. South Dakota State ended up tying Sacred Heart but won the competition in raw score. Three riders earned MVP honors for their performances.

Junior Kolby Simonson earned the only MVP accolade for the Horned Frogs at New Mexico State.

TCU had a stronger performance in western events than in hunt seat. TCU outscored New Mexico by raw score in western, but the team came up just short in points. After struggling for the majority of the day, the Horned Frogs dropped a hard fought 3-2 decision in equitation on the flat in hunt seat.

TCU enters the competition Saturday looking for its fourth win of the season and third-straight victory at home in Hudson Oaks.

TCU vs. South Dakota State
When: 10 a.m. tomorrow
Where: Hudson Oaks