The second-ranked University of Georgia equestrian team started its spring season with a 13-5 victory over UT Martin on Friday at the Ned McWherter Agricultural Complex in Martin, Tennessee. The Bulldogs swept the fences event and dominated overall, while the Skyhawks earned most outstanding performer honors in the western disciplines.
The University of Georgia equestrian team, ranked No. 2 nationally, opened its 2026 spring schedule with a convincing 13-5 win against UT Martin at the Ned McWherter Agricultural Complex. This matchup marked the Skyhawks' spring opener as well, where they managed to sweep the most outstanding performer (MOP) awards in the western disciplines despite the overall defeat.
In the fences event, Georgia achieved a clean sweep for the second time this season. Sophomore Ella Witt tied her career-high score of 85, contributing to the strong performance. Tessa Downey earned her second MOP of the season with an impressive 87 points, highlighting the Bulldogs' jumping seat strength.
The horsemanship discipline saw Abbey Zawisza leading Georgia with a score of 76.5. However, UT Martin's Ruby Gunderson received the MOP honors in this event, showcasing the Skyhawks' resilience in western riding.
Junior Parker Cliff kicked off the flat event strongly for Georgia, scoring 87 points. Ella Duffy followed with 85 points to secure her first career MOP award, further solidifying the Bulldogs' lead.
Competition concluded in reining, where Raegan Shepherd topped Georgia's scores at 70.5. UT Martin's Claire Carpenter was awarded the MOP for this discipline, completing the Skyhawks' sweep of western MOPs against the defending national champions.
Georgia, known as the Mane Dawgs, now looks ahead to hosting No. 5 Texas A&M on February 7 at 11 a.m. in Bishop, Georgia. This victory sets a positive tone for the Bulldogs' spring campaign in the competitive equestrian landscape.
