COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The No. 8 Texas A&M equestrian team starts the 2014-15 season Thursday, Sept. 25 with a home contest against the University of Tennessee at Martin (0-1). The Aggies and Skyhawks will begin the meet at 11 a.m. central at the Thomas G. Hildebrand DVM '56 Equine Complex located on campus. The hunter seat squad will compete against Alabama at 3 p.m.
“We are really looking forward to officially getting this season started,” Head Coach Tana McKay said. “I thought we had a great warm up with our Maroon and White scrimmage last week. We have a great mix of seasoned veterans to go along with some new talent. They have been working very hard the past few weeks and we are all anxious to get started. It's time to see that hard work pay off.”
The 2013-14 Aggie equestrian team reached the National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) Championships in Waco in the spring marking the third straight year to reach the championships. Texas A&M was the No. 12 seed and dropped a narrow 8-7 decision to No. 5 Kansas State to finish 2-11 and 1-5 in Southeastern Conference action.
The Aggie equestrian program has won 11 national titles including the 2012 NCEA Overall National Championship as well as the 2012 NCEA Western National crown.
This will mark the first full season in the Thomas G. Hildebrand DVM '56 Equine Complex located on campus. The venue will also host the 2015 SEC Conference Championships, Mar. 27-28. All four SEC schools are ranked in the country's Top 10. The 2015 NCEA Championships will take place Apr. 15-18 in Waco.
Part of the first phase of an $80 million equine initiative project, the Hildebrand Equine Complex becomes the premiere collegiate equestrian facility in the country. The Aggies' new home includes locker rooms, offices, a concession building, a 50-stall barn, two covered warm-up arenas and two covered competition arenas.
Each of the four SEC equestrian programs are ranked among the nation's Top 10 in the latest NCEA rankings announced on Tuesday. (Full rankings to follow.)
UT-Martin dropped its season opener 13-7 at home against No. 3 Auburn last Friday (Sept. 19).
The Crimson Tide hunter seat program competes in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA).
2014-15 NCEA Rankings (September 23, 2014)
1. Georgia (0-0)
2. Oklahoma State (0-0)
3. Auburn (1-0)
4. South Carolina (0-1)
5. Kansas State (1-0)
6. Baylor (0-0)
7. TCU (0-0)
8. Texas A&M (0-0)
9. New Mexico State (0-0)
10. SMU (0-0)
BOLD INDICATES SEC SCHOOLS