NCEA Announces January Riders of the Month

NCEA Press

WACO, Texas – The National Collegiate Equestrian Association on Friday announced its January Riders of the Month, recognizing outstanding performances from the fourth month of the 2013-14 collegiate equestrian season.

Georgia’s Abby O’Mara was named the January Equitation Over Fences Rider of the Month. She went 2-0 in the month of January with wins against Delaware State and UT-Martin, with both coming away from home. She earned MVP honors in both meets, coming on consecutive days, and posted a score of 85 in both meets. She defeated her opponents by an average of nine points, the highest of any Georgia fences rider in the month of January.

Oklahoma State’s Samantha Harrison was named the January Equitation On The Flat Rider of the Month. Harrison won both of her head-to-head match-ups and earned MVP honors for her 94-point flat ride (23-point spread) against Delaware State rider Hayley Jeske’s score of 71.

Delaware State’s Alexis Gratkowski was named the January Horsemanship Rider of the Month. She posted a 3-0 record in the month of January in horsemanship with wins against Oklahoma State’s Ty Paris, Auburn’s Stephanie Rucci and Georgia’s Anna Sasser. She scored a 72 in horsemanship against Georgia at UT-Martin, earning MVP with the high score of the meet.

Oklahoma State’s Mackenzie Fugitt was named the January Reining Rider of the Month. Fugitt competed in one competition in the month of January, at Delaware State. Earned MVP honors and won her head-to-head match-up against DSU rider Darby Mailhot with a score of 71-68.5.

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NCEA Riders of the Month (January 2014)

Equitation Over Fences: Abby O’Mara, Georgia

Equitation On The Flat: Samantha Harrison, Oklahoma State

Horsemanship: Alexis Gratkowski, Delaware State

Reining: Mackenzie Fugitt, Oklahoma State