November 04, 2006
The Texas A&M equestrian team will host long-time rival Oklahoma State at N.W. ?'Dick?â„¢ Freeman Arena at 11 a.m. on Sunday.
The Aggies (2-0) will be facing the Cowgirls (3-0) for the first time in a strictly head-to-head English and western varsity competition. The two teams combined to win 13 of 14 possible regional team championships in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) before both elected to compete solely under varsity guidelines beginning this season.
Sunday?â„¢s match will mark only the second time this season that the Aggies?â„¢ vaunted western riders have been put on display. A&M, who won 18 individual and three team IHSA western national championships over the past seven years, sports a very young western team thanks to a pair of stellar recruiting classes the last two years. Only two upperclassmen are scheduled to ride against the Cowgirls while six freshmen and four sophomores will hit the arena floor to try to continue the Aggies?â„¢ impressive western tradition.
A&M?â„¢s English squad has excelled this season as well, having been primarily responsible for both of this season?â„¢s victories. The hunt seat squad cleaned house against Stephen F. Austin in the season opener, 7-1, to push the Aggies to an eventual 11-5 win. Three weeks ago, the A&M English riders rode to a draw with Southern Methodist, 6-6, but were awarded the win after going to the tiebreaker.
Sunday?â„¢s show is free of charge. There will be plenty of activities for the whole family. The 12th Man Team Rewards Program will also be in attendance stamping/scanning its members in the pavilion area.
Freeman Arena is located on FM 2818/Harvey Mitchell Parkway, approximately one mile north of the University Drive exit on the west side of the road.